Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 117, No. 37	September 16, 2009

Did officials waste taxpayer $?

By ROBYN GREGORY
Messenger Staff

During the Fiscal Court’s regular meeting, Magistrate Herbie Chism questioned an expenditure during what is normally a routine approval of the county’s claims and transfers. The claim was for $1,076.32 for hotel rooms at the Galt House in Louisville for a state-sponsored training conference.

“I question why they were getting rooms and staying overnight rather than driving back and forth to Louisville,” explained Chism. “I question why the county should pay for that. Now if it had been somewhere where it would be unreasonable to drive, then that would be a different story. I understand this has been going on for some time there in Louisville.”

The Governor’s Local Issues Conference was held at the Galt House Aug. 17 – Aug. 19, with 950 elected officials from Kentucky counties and cities. It offered 10.5 hours of training, and included speakers like Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson and University of Kentucky Coach John Calipari.
The conference was one of many funded by Kentucky’s training incentive program which began in January 1999 with the enactment of House Bill 810 (KRS 64.5275). The program provides state-approved training for county judge-executives, fiscal court members, clerks, sheriffs and jailers relevant to their official duties.

The Kentucky Department for Local Government monitors participation, and authorizes incentive payments. Participating officials may earn payment each calendar year by providing documentation of 40 hours of approved training (one unit). Currently, officials receive $882.00 per unit of training from Meade County. This amount is also multiplied by the years served in office up to a maximum of four years or $3,528.24.

Meade county budgeted $29,000 this year to pay the training incentive. The county also budgeted $77,886 for the salary of the judge executive, $37,557 divided by all six fiscal court magistrates, and $18,000 for their expenses.

Judge Executive Harry Craycroft, Magistrate Thomas Goddard, Magistrate Mark Hubbard, and Magistrate Steve Wardrip and their wives stayed at the Galt House according to Chism. Magistrate Tony Staples commuted with Magistrate Randall Hardesty.

Chism did not attend this governor’s conference or the previous one.

“The last two I wasn’t able to attend because I had other issues,” he said. “I have my forty hours in for this year. I think everyone else does too. I think they’re accumulating hours towards next year.”

Craycroft explained that the county can elect not to fund the training, but knows of no county that has
ever done that.

“We can get a stipend for this training but the county doesn’t have to take it. If he’s so concerned about county money, I’m willing not to take mine if he’s (Chism) willing not to take his -- or any other magistrate theirs. When I go to these trips I don’t turn in mileage. I don’t turn in meals. Its out of my pocket.”

Craycroft readily acknowledges he stayed at the Galt House, but returned to Brandenburg on the second night to attend to business - and the submitted claim does show a hotel credit for that.

“I did stay and I’m not ashamed of it,” Craycroft said. “At another conference in Lexington, we stayed
and Mr. Chism drove back and forth. Our bill for the hotel was less than his voucher for gas and parking tickets. At the Louisville conference I stayed for two nights, and it cost $228.00. Mr. Hardesty drove back and forth which is fine. He turned in his gas bill and his parking, and his was $190.00. So if it will make him happy I’ll write the county a check for $38.00 I made enough important contacts to justify $38.00.”

Magistrate Steve Wardrip also defends the Galt House room.

“They start this training at eight in the morning and they usually go until five. In the evenings there are things to attend. By the time you get home it’s time to go right back. It’s what most counties do,” he said.
He went on to add there is a benefit to staying and informally meeting with officials from other counties.
Craycroft seconds that point.

“When you go these conferences, its not the meetings that are important. Its the contacts you make outside of the classes. The state officials take their coats and ties off, and this is where you get to know them. You make contacts all around the state and you can pick up the phone and ask for this, or an answer on that. They know your face, they know your name and will help you,” he explained.
Hubbard agreed.

“You just don’t fly in and leave. The best information I get is the networking. Other magistrates, a judge, department of transportation, the governor’s chief of staff or whoever it may be, you know who you’re talking to and can build a bond,” said Hubbard. “Networking is invaluable. I was talking to a magistrate in Spencer county when we had solid waste issues, and he was able to help advise me for example.”
Chism acknowledges the virtue of making contacts, but said it still is not a just expenditure.

“That’s true, you can learn a lot from meeting others from around the state,” said Chism. “My concern is why didn’t they commute? If they had to pay for it out of their own pocket they probably wouldn’t do it. We couldn’t give our employees a raise this year, and yet we can go to Louisville and stay overnight. I just can’t justify that. I don’t do it and I don’t think they should.”

Hardesty agrees with Chism.

“Tony and Herbie and I don’t stay. That was one of the reasons they started having these meetings closer to home rather than Frankfort and Lexington. Some just spend the taxpayers money anyways. The purpose is to make contacts at these meetings and we do too. There are breaks and all and we have plenty of time to meet the other officials,” said Hardesty. “Its taxpayers dollars and we try to save where we can.”

Craycroft went on to point out that since Jan.1, 2007 he has only received $782.00 for expenses from the county, and only $55.00 of that is for mileage. He said Chism has received $1,396.00 - a difference of $613.00.

“I don’t know why he does this, you’d have to ask him, but he’s fought everything progressive the county has tried to do for three years. He fought garbage collection. I have to wake up in the morning and look myself in the mirror. I can do that. I go to bed and sleep good at night knowing I did the best I could,” said Craycroft..”We’ve accomplished a lot in the past three years despite his negative votes. I just wish he would take his knowledge and his experience and work for the county instead of trying to work against everything we try to do.”

Ultimately, Hubbard doesn’t think the controversy will affect the court’s functioning.

“Do we always agree? No. Do we all voice our differences and opinions? Yes. That’s democracy. We can all work to try to do what’s best for the citizens of Meade County,” he said.

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