Titles, Towers, and Transmissions
(L-R) Magistrates Ronnie Miller and Daniel Bragg, Treasurer/Fiscal Court Clerk Page Edwards, and Judge/Executive Larry Wilson. Photo | PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court met on Thursday, February 27th with everyone in attendance.
The agenda was adopted and the minutes from the February 13th meeting were approved as written after motions were made by Magistrate Ronnie Miller and seconded by Magistrate Daniel Bragg.
The first item of business was a presentation of excess fees to the fiscal court by the Metcalfe County Clerk, Shannon Fields.
After presenting a copy of the 2024 Financial Statement to each magistrate Fields stated the excess fees to the county were $122,548.24.
Judge/Executive Larry Wilson stated that he and his daughter had visited a car dealership and learned that the paperwork for a car purchase can now be sent electronically to the clerk’s offices.
Fields replied, “…we’re also trying to encourage all of the customers, if they buy a vehicle, to bring it to Metcalfe County or ask the dealership to send it to us, because it does bring in a lot of revenue for us. I mean, we’re losing money if they don’t…it goes to their county.”
Judge Wilson gave attention over to Page Edwards to explain the Ambulance CD. “Okay, one of our CDs is maturing in March, March, 18. It’s been on a nine-month timetable, earning 5.05% interest.”
“I called this morning, and if we renew it for six months, the rate today is 4.32% and the nine-month is 4.11%. What we have in the ambulance fund right now is right at $180,000 little over our payment to the ambulance service is right at $30,000 a month. That $180,000 will last six months.”
“So, I guess what I’m asking is, when March 18 comes, do you want to renew this with the same amount that’s in there right now, and at which time period? Or do you want to take and hold some of that out and put in the ambulance fund to carry us a little longer?”
Magistrate Bragg talked about it a bit saying, “We want to go six months and get the CD for six months…it is 4.32%. But right now, I probably just get the highest rate you can, right, and do six months?”
“We can vote to renew it now, and you can just tell us what the rates are on that day. So, I’ll make a motion we renew that CD for six months,” said Bragg. The motion was seconded by Magistrate Harvey Hawkins, and it was approved.
Due to many of the fiscal court members being at training seminars on March 12, 13, and 14th the next meeting date was changed to Tuesday, March 11th.
A Resolution to extend Penny Lane another 160 feet was brought up for a vote. All the prerequisites had been met and the Magistrates approved the extension.
Another Resolution brought up for a vote was to change the name Earl Shives Road to Earl Shive Road, simply removing the s. The Resolution was approved.
Not one, but two separate closed sessions were approved. The first was a short 5 minutes for litigation and upon return, there was no action taken. The second for property acquisition was a short 12 minutes with no action taken.
The budget transfers included one item for DES in the amount of $26,000. It was specified as a payment for the DES tower and Edwards added that insurance had already paid the claim. This was also reflected in the inter-fund transfers. Both were approved.
Edwards explained, “When you get to the road department claims, I have one to add to that…I was waiting till this morning to get an actual invoice. Chris and I have talked. They have ordered another transmission. They’ve used this company before, and we’ve had no issues. We’ve ordered one for another truck… so I couldn’t actually write a check for it, so that’s why it’s not on the list. But I also, when you approve these claims, I want you to include this is for $4,395 to Best Buy Transmission.”
The new transmission cost includes delivery and a 5-year or 100,000-mile warranty. The transmission is for the Dodge truck used as a snowplow. Compton stated it was cheaper than having the old one rebuilt. The claims including the additional one were approved.
Reports from the Road Department, Recycling Center, and DES were included in the paperwork for reference/questions.
In other business, Judge Wilson stated that there was flood damage. “They are finding some places that on the roads that have been damaged, also the Sulphur Well, Park has got some damage…We’re all going to go out get pictures (of damage) …”
After magistrates check the roads in their districts for damage they are going to meet and the damages can be sent to FEMA.
The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, March 11th at 9 a.m. in the fiscal courtroom.
