Statue Update
Tommy Garrett and Jason Neighbors updated the court on the statue’s progress. Photo by PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court met in a special session on Friday, August 23rd with everyone present except County Attorney Sharon Howard. A quorum was present with all four magistrates.
The magistrates adopted the agenda followed by the approval of the August 13th special called meeting minutes with no changes.
Circuit Court Clerk Tommy Garrett accompanied Jason Neighbors who spoke to the court about the current status of the Judge Tom Emberton statue for the Justice Center.
Neighbors explained, “We’ve gotten to a point in this project where we had to find a new artist.”
The previous artist hit the group with a large price increase at the last minute. A new artist named Amanda Matthews with the Prometheus Foundry, LLC has been chosen. She has created statues at the state capital and in New York City and is a well-known and respected artist.
The court was provided a copy of the contract for her and when it is signed the first payment will need to be made. Neighbors explained that he would be working with the community statue fund and transferring the increments to the county so that the checks would come from the county. Once completed the statue will be owned by the county.
To lessen confusion about the five payment stages, Magistrate Daniel Bragg made a motion to approve the payment schedule in full including making each payment as it comes due up to the total of $99,000. The motion was seconded by Magistrate Ronnie Miller and was unanimously approved.
Per the contract, the statue date of delivery is projected to be late summer-fall of 2025.
Tax Rates
The following tax rates are not determined by the fiscal court, but the court does acknowledge the tax rates set by each entity.
The court acknowledged the 2025 tax rates for the Metcalfe County Library District for real estate of 11.9 per $100, personal property of 14.9 per $100, and motor vehicle/watercraft rate of 3.31 per $100. The rates were unchanged from the previous year.
The court acknowledged the tax rates for the Metcalfe County School District will be 52.2 per $100 for real property, 52.5 per $100 for personal property, and the motor vehicle/watercraft tax rate will remain at 56.6 per $100.
The court acknowledged the tax rates for the Metcalfe County Extension District for real property at 10.3 per $100, personal property at 12.9 per $100, and the motor vehicle/watercraft rate of 3.0 per $100.
Gazebo
The gazebo currently located in the historic courthouse yard will need to be moved to make way for the construction of the permanent stage. The construction has already been delayed until after this year’s Pumpkin Festival. The tourism committee did not need the gazebo and the options to move the gazebo to Sulphur Well Park or bidding it out for sale were discussed. It was pointed out that only two properties are county-owned and can legally accept the gazebo Sulphur Well Park and Metcalfe County Lake and Park.
Magistrate Kevin Crain noted, “It’d probably serve a better purpose at Sulphur Well.”
Steve Whitley asked about Firehouse Lane. Photo by PJ Martin
Judge/Executive Larry Wilson said he had spoken with Terry Edwards at the Sulphur Well Homecoming and learned they would like to have the gazebo. Crain then made the motion to move it to the Sulphur Well Park and Bragg seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Steve Whitley addressed the court about Firehouse Lane in Summer Shade, “It’s washed out so bad…no one uses it. Just need to shut it down.”
Bragg looked up the residents on the lane and noted that 2 residents would be landlocked. “I’d never landlock anybody.”
It was discussed that the water runs down under the rocks and ditch work has caused it to become worse. Bragg stated, “I think the only way to fix it you’d have to pour concrete on this section where you can drive over it… I don’t think shuttin’ it down is the answer.”
It was decided that the road would be fixed. Road Superintendent Chris Compton said to fix the road they would have to drill in the rock, put rebar in it, and pour concrete. It was approved to repair the section of road with the water damage.
Other Items
The Recycling Center and Road Department reports were available for questions. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 9 a.m.
