Inmate Medical Bills
Pictured (L-R): Magistrates Ronnie Miller and Daniel Bragg, Treasurer Page Edwards, and J/E Larry Wilson during discussion concerning inmate invoices that were not paid from four years ago. Photo by PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Metcalfe County fiscal court met in regular session last Thursday, April 25th with all magistrates in attendance. The County Attorney Sharon Howard was not present.
The agenda and the minutes from the April 11th meeting were both approved.
After Road Supervisor Chris Compton, Magistrates Harvey Hawkins, and Ronnie Miller inspected Penny Lane and advised that the road was in good shape. The approval was then given to add 160 feet of Penny Lane to the county road maintenance list.
Inmate medical expenses were on the agenda. Treasurer Page Edwards explained, “I just wanted to bring it to your attention. In the last month, I have gotten several invoices from past, even dating back to 2019, medical expenses. And what I’ve gotten has added up to a little over $12,000. For different medical expenses. Previously they were not paid. They would just not pay them.”
Magistrate Daniel Bragg asked Edwards, “Were they invoiced to us previously and we didn’t pay em?”
Edwards answered yes and stated, “They said their argument was, ‘It was not our responsibility,’ but everything that we have been told, it is our responsibility.”
Edwards stated that for her to get caught up processing these bills it would be about $12,000. It was asked what the charges were for and Edwards explained that there were all kinds of procedures, but some were just daily medications. She invited the magistrates to look at the invoices if they wanted.
Jailer Randall Shive said, “I understand like that daily drugs is where they pay their jail bill back to Barren County that’s what takes care of our medical expenses.”
“Now, I’m not sure, but I was told that they (inmates) lose their medical card status once they enter the jail…they don’t have that to help pay for it,” said Edwards who has talked with other county offices about it. “It’s not just us,” referring to the other counties having the same issues.
One of the largest county expenses is paying for the jail usage.
Brandon Bell was scheduled to be in attendance to discuss the Metcalfe County Extension Office FY24/25 Budget; however, he was unable to attend. The item has been moved to the Monday, April 29th meeting so that he could be present.
The next topic discussed was where the magistrates think the chip seal is needed most in their districts. It was noted that last year a total of 8 miles was chip sealed. That work was divided among the districts as closely as possible. A brief discussion ensued with Miller asking Compton which roads need chip sealing.
“There’s several roads that need to be rechipped but, we gotta know a mileage that we wanna do so you pick out the roads and I can get the rock and the oil set up.”
“Well if we look at where our worst roads are at,” said Hawkins to which Compton added, “Yeah that’s what we tried to do last year, but we need to double chip em instead of single. The single just don’t hold up.”
Judge/Executive Larry Wilson, “Can you guys kindly look, see what ya need worst in your district? Get with Chris (Compton).”
“Pick out ya worst roads, we’ll add ’em up and see what it is,” said Compton.
It was decided that each magistrate would pick out the worst areas of roads and bring that information back to next Monday’s special called meeting.
The March financial report and the Quarterly financial reports were both approved along with the budget and inter-fund transfers and the claims.
Other Items
Representative Amy Neighbor attended the meeting and let the court know that people at Summer Shade spoke with her last summer and she was able to work with the transportation cabinet and get the Summer Shade bypass project back on the schedule. “It’ll take a few years to see it through completion, but at least the first phase has been funded in this budget. That along with a few other projects here in the county too.”
Judge Wilson asked, “Is it normal for the process to take this long?
Neighbors replied, “It’s a 6-year road plan and with each phase of the plan you’ve got to get the first phase funded, get that started, then with the next budget, I have to continue to be vocal about funding the second phase of the plan, and so on, and so on. That’s why I said it can take some time.”
This session of the Metcalfe County Fiscal Court can be viewed on their Facebook page at Metcalfe https://www.facebook.com/metcalfecountyfiscalcourt.
After a short break, the magistrates with the exception of Ronnie Miller returned for a special called Budget Workshop meeting.
Treasurer Page Edwards read the draft budget fund by fund starting with Revenue items and moving on to Appropriations. The magistrates and Judge Wilson discussed any possible changes to each. County Finance Officer Winston Harbison was present to answer questions pertaining to state retirement, taxes, insurance costs, and other items.
