New Finance Officer
The new full-time finance officer Connie Taylor. Photo by PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court met in a special called meeting on Thursday, December 12th with all magistrates present.
The agenda was adopted and the minutes from the November 26th special called meeting were approved after a motion made by Magistrate Daniel Bragg and seconded by Magistrate Kevin Crain.
Judge/Executive Larry Wilson introduced the new full-time Finance Officer Connie Taylor. Most are familiar with Taylor who previously worked for the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Medical Services. She also attended Metcalfe County Schools and is married to MCES SRO Michael Taylor.
Wilson explained why the former finance officer Winston Harbison was replaced, “Winston was only able to give few hours…we tried to get him to stay, come here full time, but he didn’t want to give up the park (Bowling Park). So, he’s still working with Connie to train her. She’ll be taking care of payroll, insurance, all that stuff. And she will be eventually picking up some of the lower jobs Lorrie took, because Lorrie keeps talking about retirement…”
Next was the approval to add finance officer Connie Taylor as a signer at Edmonton State Bank. The motion was made by Magistrate Ronnie Miller, seconded by Bragg, and approved.
The next item on the agenda was a discussion on the Edmonton 911 fees for the Barren-Metcalfe 911. Judge Wilson told the court, “We’ll try to have you figures on what we’ve been getting from the phone company. We have a new inter-local agreement that gives us the right to transfer those fees, collection of them, take them off the phone company, and possibly for the water, the phone fees are just not quite getting it. We’re not off track much, but we don’t want to be off track any at all…”
In the past, the landlines were providing enough from fees to pay the 911 costs, but with landlines becoming a thing of the past, they are no longer providing what is needed. The discussion is adding a fee to the water bill in order to collect the fees needed to support 911. This involved six different water companies. Once those amounts are known, a Resolution to move the fee over from the landlines to the water must be created and voted on. This will be on hold until the Monday, December 23rd meeting.
The Edmonton 911 Center is having trouble getting workers. Judge Wilson stated that Beth Wilson has resigned or is retiring.
“So, part of the problem they’ve had up there (911 Center) is getting people to work. They have about 12 part-time people and three full-time and part of the problem is there are no benefits or anything to go with that job. So, there’s some discussion of adding them to either the city or the county, and both entities will contribute to and I will have you figures on that also (next meeting),” said Judge Wilson.
Finances
The November 2024 financial statement and budget transfers were approved.
Treasurer/Clerk Page Edwards explained the inter-fund transfers, “We have three, the first two, the motion, and the second can cover the first two from general to LGA and general to DES. I need a separate motion and second from the ARPA to general, because that will be closing…”
Both motions passed without further discussion.
The lone large item in the claims was a payment on the government building of $113,452.50. Edwards was asked how often the payments are made to which she answered bi-annual due in July and January.
The Recycling and Road Department reports were included in the paperwork for information.
Other Business
Judge Wilson noted that he had received a reply from Sandy Simpson (James Comer’s office) about a grant for helping repair the sidewalk in Center. There is a lot of safety concern about the hole and the drainage underneath the sidewalk near the restaurant at Center.
Judge Wilson asked Crain to talk to Road Supervisor Chris Compton to see if there is a temporary fix for the hole. “Could we put a little piece of steel in there and pour some concrete that might fix it up? I mean, it’s very temporary, but we gotta do something … until we get the new sidewalks.”
Bragg asked, “Can you just cut it bigger and put a grate over it? That might be a better idea.”
Miller asked if it was bad enough to be a safety issue and Wilson said yes and if anyone gets hurt it would come back on the court.
Due to Christmas, the next meeting is rescheduled to Monday, December 23rd at 9 a.m. as usual.
