What about the contract?
Magistrate Ronnie Miller talking directly to Bowling Park Manager Lisa Boswell. Photo | PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court held a special-called meeting on Monday, February 16, with the following in attendance: Judge/Executive Larry Wilson, Magistrates Ronnie Miller, Daniel Bragg, Harvey Hawkins, County Attorney Sharon Howard, and Treasurer/Fiscal Court Clerk Page Edwards.
Also in attendance were Financial Officer Connie Taylor, Occupational Tax/ABC Admin. Lorrie Gilpin, Emergency Mgmt. Director Adam Bennett, Sheriff Lonnie Hodges, Bowling Park Manager Lisa Boswell, and for the Herald-News, PJ Martin.
Judge Wilson declared a quorum present, with three of the four magistrates in attendance. Kevin Crain was absent.
At the regular meeting held on Thursday, February 12th, Miller voiced his choice to rescind his yes vote for the contribution to Bowling Park for the fireworks display planned for the 250th celebration. The result was this special-called meeting.
There were only two items on the agenda, and Judge Wilson began, “The first item of business would be discussion and or approval of the Bowling Park contribution.”
Miller started explaining, “I just want to say this is nothing personal. It was the fact that I’ve got negative feedback about the money. That much money we don’t even give our fire department. Like $15,000 a year is what we give our fire department. And people were telling me that, you know, for 20 minutes you’re gonna go for $13,000 of the taxpayer money. It was a little excess, so that’s the reason I rescinded. It had nothing to do with you, Lisa, or anybody. And I love the fireworks. I go up there to my son’s house and watch them every year with the grandkids. I love them, but with putting out that much money was a was a problem, and that’s just where I come from.”
Next, Judge Wilson commented, “Well, I’m going to say this, it is a lot of money, more fireworks, but this is for a 250-year event. It’s a one-time deal. It’s not something we do on an annual basis. And I thought a lot about it, not only that, but other things that have come up in our fiscal court meetings here lately.”
“It’s election year, and people are talking more than they’ve ever talked. And I’m afraid if we’re not careful as fiscal court, if we listen too much to people, we’re going to mess up. Well, we can’t go by everything we hear, and we’ve got to do what we think is best. And the veterans are the community that’s putting this on, and it’s a big event. The county’s working and planning it’s going to be a big event. And I know it is a lot, but we probably won’t do it again for another 250 years. So, I’m going to encourage you to pass it.”
Lisa Boswell asked, “What about the contract? I signed the contract based on the fiscal court.”
“I asked, had you requested the money? She said no,” pointing to Edwards, Miller added, “But I didn’t know anything about the contract.”
Edwards stated, “I received the bill last Tuesday or Wednesday.”
“If she’s got a contract and it’s on. We don’t have to do anything. Motion I made is no good,” noted Miller.
The contract was received by Boswell prior to the money being approved by the fiscal court at the January 22nd meeting. Boswell then signed the contract based on the court’s vote to assist with the cost.
“There’s a whole lot to this,” stated Miller as he looked at the contract.
Boswell asked Miller, “Why didn’t you just call me? I could have given you all of these dates and provided you with this (the contract in her hand)?”
Miller replied, “I didn’t know. I’ve learned…”
Moving on, Judge Wilson said, “So next on the agenda will be claims, and the claim is in the amount of $13,000 to give the park their money. Can I hear a motion in a second we approve the claims?”
After a pause, Hawkins made a motion, followed by a second from Bragg, and the claim was approved.
With no other items on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 26, at the special time of 9:30 a.m.
