Leases and Lights

By PJ Martin 

Editor 

The Herald-News 

 

The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court met in a special called meeting on Tuesday, November 26th with all magistrates present. 

 The agenda was adopted and the minutes from the November 12th meeting were approved after motions were made by Magistrates Daniel Bragg and Harvey Hawkins. 

 “Our next item will be discussion to purchase lease vehicles, the sheriff’s office, the jailer, and DES, I think the jailer’s vehicle, he has went over on his mileage. Now we’re having to pay mileage fee, if I’m correct…” said Judge/Executive Larry Wilson.  

 It doesn’t have to be paid until the end of the lease in July 2025. At that time, the county will have the option to either purchase the vehicles or continue to lease and pay the overage of miles which is 10 cents a mile. The lease is with Don Franklin of Somerset and the invoice lists the 5 vehicles between $25,000 and $32,000 each. 

 Judge Wilson added, “I talked to the Sheriff yesterday. We’d be better off to just leave it like it is.” 

 Sheriff Lonnie Hodges said, “One thing, though, in the future…and I don’t think it’s in these contracts with these leases, the buyout price probably should have been in the lease.” 

 Treasurer Page Edwards, pointed out, “Another thing is you gotta remember, these prices include their vehicles with all their equipment. It’s a fair price.” 

 The item was tabled until July when the lease expires. 

 The next item was a discussion of adding Christmas lights in the courthouse yard. Judge Wilson said, “I’ve had a couple of people ask me about putting lights in the courthouse yard.” 

 It was noted that the city puts up Christmas decorations on the poles around town, but there are limited plugs to add many lighting decorations. 

 Magistrate Ronnie Miller suggested wrapping the chains with lights. Judge Wilson said perhaps decorating the bushes around the courthouse with lights. Bragg suggested setting a budget and asking if the Service-Learning students would want to put the lights up. Then maybe add a few lights each year. 

 Bragg stated, “I’m here for ideas. I don’t know, I don’t know how much effort or money you would want to put into decorating it, just it would look good to have. You go through all neighboring counties around their squares. They make it look a little more Christmas.” 

 After discussion, a motion was made to set a budget of $1,000 to add lights and the motion passed unanimously. 

 A motion was passed to change the Earl Shives Road sign back to its original Earl Shive Road by removing the s. Road Supervisor Chris Compton is going to take care of the sign. 

 The budget transfers, inter-fund transfers, and claims were all approved with no noteworthy items. 

 The Recycling and Road Department reports were included in the paperwork for information. Judge Wilson said he had forgotten to tell EMS Director Adam Bennett that he needed to provide at least a once-a-month report as well.  

 After a short discussion, it was decided to change the last meeting in December from the 26th to Monday the 23rd at 9 a.m. in the fiscal courtroom. 

 The next regular meeting will be Thursday, December 12th at 9 a.m. as usual.