Chandelier Project
Magistrate Kevin Crain looking over the draft ordinance during the discussion. Screen Capture | Metcalfe County Fiscal Court
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court held its special-called meeting on Tuesday, October 14th, due to scheduling around fall break. Those in attendance were Judge/Executive Larry Wilson, Magistrates Ronnie Miller, Daniel Bragg, Harvey Hawkins, and Kevin Crain, County Attorney Sharon Howard, and Treasurer/Fiscal Court Clerk Page Edwards.
Judge Wilson declared a quorum present, and the agenda was adopted after motions by Hawkins and Crain.
The minutes from the September 25th regular meeting were approved after motions by Bragg and a second by Miller.
The next item was the Animal Cruelty Ordinance, which was tabled at the last meeting.
Howard stated, “I only changed to make it look like an ordinance, okay, I mean, there may be some accidental errors.”
Judge Wilson added, “It was brought to my attention just before the meeting that Sharon just got it done, which is fine, but some of the magistrates come in, they would like to take it and read it and come back and vote at the next meeting.”
Bragg stated, “That’s fine. I read through the KRS that Sharon gave us here. They addressed my concerns that I had, okay… I know Sharon had mentioned something about the $1,000 per animal…”
Howard then replied, explaining that some of the charges on the draft ordinance were felony level fines, and those might need to be lowered. It was also noted that one of the definitions did not fit the KRS listed and needed to be changed. “So, it’s just little things like that that I see that may need to be gone over and corrected,” added Howard.
Judge Wilson suggested tabling the ordinance until the first meeting in November to give Howard time to ‘tweak’ the language, penalty amount, etc. “It’s a serious ordinance, and we’ve got to do it right.”
The motion was made by Bragg to table the ordinance until the November 6th meeting. Crain seconded the motion, and it was approved.
The next item required a motion to enter closed session pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(b) for property purchase or acquisition. It was made by Miller, seconded by Bragg, and approved. Approximately, twenty minutes later, the same magistrates motioned to return to open session.
“No action was taken in closed session,” said Judge Wilson.
In the budget transfers were approved. Court Clerk Page Edwards explained that the repairs listed were for the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) or courthouse and what they refer to as the Chandelier Project. The work was approved by the state, and once completed, she submits the invoices for reimbursement from the state. Edwards also advised that she is waiting for approximately $25,000 to be reimbursed.
Next were the interfund transfers, and listed was a transfer of $30,000 for the jail payment. Edwards advised that the bill for September was down slightly.
In the claims listing, Miller asked what the $58,470.75 item for Chris Reece HVAC was for. Edwards replied that it was part of the AOC Chandelier Project and the county would be reimbursed for that.
With the meeting being scheduled on a different day than usual, it is considered a special-called meeting, and no items can be discussed or voted on that are not listed on the agenda.
Judge Wilson advised the magistrates to review their information on the solar ordinance, as it would be discussed at the next meeting.
With no other items on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned.
As a reminder, the following court dates are set for the remainder of the year: Thursday, November 6th at 9 a.m., Thursday, November 20th at 10 a.m., Thursday, December 11th at 9 a.m., and Tuesday, December 23rd at 9 a.m.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 23rd, at 9 a.m.
