Meeting of July 20, 2023
Grayson County Fiscal Court Meeting 07.20.2023 · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
Grayson County Fiscal Court – July 20, 2023
The court moved through a lengthy list of routine approvals at the start of the meeting: minutes, treasurer's budget transfers and settlements (monthly, quarterly, and annual), the revised administrative code and personnel policy, the FY2022 county audit, magistrate incentive pay, the Lincoln Trail hazard mitigation plan update, jailer payment bills, and several sheriff's office settlements and tax reports. All of these routine items passed without recorded opposition.
The court also approved the purchase of two new ambulances from Penn Care Inc. for $258,000, with a 24-month delivery window and pricing locked in except for the vehicle chassis. A related motion approved paying in advance for mechanical stretchers (about $44,456–89,127, figures were garbled in the recording) to avoid an anticipated August price increase.
Magistrates discussed ongoing complaints about trash and junk at a residence on Louisville Street. The judge-executive explained that the health department has reopened an investigation and the matter has been referred to the county attorney's office; he noted threats of litigation against the county and himself but said the court would continue to follow proper process regardless.
A large portion of the meeting was devoted to the judge-executive's account of a proposed joint farmers market land purchase with the City of Litchfield. After the county bought a nearly 4-acre property on Highway 62 to prevent it from being outbid, the city council ultimately voted down its half of the funding despite the project having been included in the city's budget. The judge-executive described the miscommunication in detail, said the county still intends to pursue a farmers market, and apologized for a brief, since-reversed decision to pull county jail inmates and staff from helping at the city animal shelter amid frustration over the vote.
Committee reports touched on storm debris cleanup on county roads, progress on the courthouse annex/plumbing work, and parks and recreation upgrades at Loxton Valley. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.
Agenda (23)
- 0:01
Approval of minutes
The court approved the minutes of the previous meeting.
- 0:09
Treasurer's budget transfers
The court approved the treasurer's budget transfers as presented.
- 0:19
Treasurer's monthly settlement
The court approved the treasurer's monthly settlement.
- 0:27
Treasurer's quarterly settlement
The court approved the treasurer's quarterly settlement.
- 0:37
Treasurer's annual settlement
The court approved the treasurer's annual settlement covering July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.
- 0:51
Revised administrative code and personnel policy
The court approved the revised Grayson County Fiscal Court administrative code and revised personnel policy.
- 1:07
Fiscal court audit acceptance
The court accepted the Grayson County Fiscal Court audit for the year ending June 2022, with no comments noted on the audit.
- 1:24
Magistrates' incentive pay
The court approved incentive pay payments for magistrates.
- 1:40
Lincoln Trail hazard and flood mitigation plan update
The court approved an update to the Lincoln Trail hazard and flood mitigation plan.
- 1:52
Jailer's payment bills
The court approved payment of the jailer's bills.
- 2:02
Sheriff's monthly settlement
The court approved the sheriff's monthly settlement.
- 2:12
Sheriff's 2023 second quarter budget
The court approved the sheriff's 2023 second quarter budget.
- 2:24
Sheriff's 2022 county tax settlement
The court approved the sheriff's 2022 county tax settlement.
- 2:33
Sheriff's 2022 state tax settlement
The court approved the sheriff's 2022 state tax settlement.
- 2:44
Sheriff's request to sell surplus and unclaimed property
The sheriff's office requested approval to sell surplus and long-unclaimed property recovered from a burglary case years ago, including fishing gear, batteries, boating items, and holiday decorations, via GovDeals; the court approved the request.
- 3:46
Update from fiscal court committees
Magistrates gave updates on road debris cleanup after storms, courthouse annex/plumbing progress for the new clerk's office and PVA office, and parks and recreation improvements at Loxton Valley including handicap seating.
- 5:57
New business
No new business items were raised; no comments were received on recent tax settlements.
- 6:14
Old business: ambulance purchase approval
The court approved purchasing two ambulances from Penn Care Incorporated for $258,000 with a 24-month delivery time, with pricing locked in except for the chassis.
- 8:15
Old business: stretcher purchase approval
The court approved advance payment for two mechanical stretchers to avoid an anticipated August price increase, with the cost included within the $258,000 ambulance package.
- 10:02
Louisville Street trash/garbage complaint
The judge-executive detailed ongoing resident complaints about trash and junk at a Louisville Street property, noting the health department reopened an investigation and the matter was referred to the county attorney, amid threats of litigation.
- 17:09
Farmers market land purchase and city partnership update
The judge-executive gave a lengthy account of the county's purchase of Highway 62 property for a proposed joint farmers market with the City of Litchfield, and the city council's subsequent vote against funding its share despite it being in the city budget.
- 33:10
Animal shelter funding and county-city relations
The judge-executive discussed the county's longstanding contributions of inmate labor and staff to the city animal shelter, a brief decision to withdraw that support after the farmers market vote, and his subsequent reversal and apology.
- 44:10
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned.
Motions & votes (18)
- 0:01
passedApprove minutes
Moved by Neil · seconded by Brenda · unanimous
- 0:13
passedApprove treasurer's budget transfers as presented
Moved by Darren · seconded by Ben · unanimous
- 0:23
passedApprove treasurer's monthly settlement
Moved by Brenda · seconded by Jason · unanimous
- 0:31
passedApprove treasurer's quarterly settlement
Moved by Darren · seconded by Brian · unanimous
- 0:46
passedApprove treasurer's annual settlement (7/1/22 to 6/30/23)
Moved by Ben · seconded by Darren · unanimous
- 0:46
passedApprove sheriff's 2023 second quarter budget
Moved by Darren · seconded by Ben · unanimous
- 1:00
passedApprove revised administrative code and revised personnel policy
Moved by Neil · seconded by Jason · unanimous
- 1:01
passedApprove sheriff's 2022 state tax settlement
Moved by Jason · seconded by Neil · unanimous
- 1:17
passedAccept fiscal court audit for year ending June 2022
seconded by Brian · unanimous
- 1:32
passedApprove magistrates' incentive pay payments
Moved by Neil · seconded by Darren · unanimous
- 1:47
passedApprove Lincoln Trail hazard and flood mitigation plan update
seconded by Brian · unanimous
- 1:57
passedApprove jailer's payment bills
Moved by Brian · seconded by Ben · unanimous
- 2:07
passedApprove sheriff's monthly settlement
Moved by Neil · seconded by Brenda · unanimous
- 2:28
passedApprove sheriff's 2022 county tax settlement
Moved by Darren · seconded by Ben · unanimous
- 3:44
passedApprove sheriff's request to sell surplus and unclaimed property
seconded by Brian · unanimous
- 8:07
passedApprove purchase of two ambulances from Penn Care Incorporated for $258,000 with 24-month delivery
Moved by Darren · seconded by Brian · unanimous
- 9:45
passedApprove advance payment for mechanical stretchers ahead of August price increase
Moved by Neil · seconded by Jason · unanimous
- 44:10
passedMotion to adjourn
seconded by Brian · unanimous
Transcript (37 segments)
- 0:01
I'll make that motion motion by Neil and second by Brenda all in favor aye next we have approved treasurer's budget transfers as presented motion motion by Darren second by Ben all in fact all right next we have approved treasurer's monthly settlement motion by Brenda second by Jason all in favor next we have approved Treasures quarterly settled motion motion by Darren second second by Brian all in favor all right next we have approve the treasures annual settlement settlement seven one 22 to 6 30 23. motion by Ben senior second by Darren all in favor next I need a motion to approve the Grayson County Fiscal courts revised administrative code and revised Personnel policy say a motion by Neil second by Jason all in favor all right next I need a motion to accept Grayson County Physical Court audit for year ending in June 2022. you got
- 1:15
anything on the audit there's no audit comments second by Brian all in favor aye I need the motion to approve the magistrates in Senate at incentive pay payments I'll make that motion motion by Neil second that second by Darren all in favor next we need to approve the Lincoln Trail Hazard and flood mitigation Plan update by Brian all in favor next we have to approve the jailers payment bills motion by Brian second by Ben all in favor next we have to approve the sheriff's monthly settlement motion by Neil second by Brenda all in favor next we have approved the sheriff's 2023 second quarter budget motion motion by Darren second by Ben all in favor next we have to approve the sheriff's 2022 County tax selling
- 2:28
motion motion by Darren say second by Ben all in favor aye next we have a motion need a motion to approve the sheriff's 2022 state tax settlement motion motion by Jason second by Neil all in favor all right next we have to approve the sheriff's request to sell per Surplus and unclaimed property yeah it all it is is that we had uh we worked at burglary several years ago we put an ad in the paper to people come pick up their stuff we we have a bunch of fishing poles we've got some batteries we've got some boating stuff life jackets we've got Christmas stuff that was up in there that that we're putting on gov deals um and it's I mean some of us John the fishing stuff is pretty nice but some of us John we're just trying to clear up upstairs at the old office um and let's see that's really the only unclaimed property that we have to sell everything else is uh just stuff that we have upstairs it's not not it doesn't have a serial number on it or anything like that make a motion
- 3:42
motion about iron second by Brian all in favor all right next we have update from Fiscal Court committees the building committee talk to the road supervisor today about the roads and we had a lot of debris still yet out there to pick up people just need to be patient they're picking up as fast they can there's just a lot of it from the storms yeah they're chipping ceiling too of course the weather's not cooperating real well and uh we had a pretty heated voicemail yesterday was it yesterday or today yesterday Darren went and checked it out and it I think it's resolved as best can be if it wasn't quite that it was nothing somebody's uh having a bad day I guess just wanted to take it out on on us on Marianne and myself and Marianne is it was totally uncalled for it was it was nothing I went out and looked at it was absolutely nothing and uh for somebody though talk to both of them that away is just rather pathetic to be honest with you
- 4:55
I'm used to it this day so uh on the building committees what what's we got the walkway uh the back filler should have the plumbers in next week so we can try to get the slam forward as soon as possible that's what the that's what the new clerk's office and PDA office okay yeah yeah the thing looks like it's going pretty smooth so uh then Parks and Rec I think that we've done some stuff down at loxton Valley on during the concert to uh put in the handicap seating area which will probably look at some more upgrades too if you all can think of anything too that we need to be doing so of course we didn't get to meet normally before we do to talk about these committees so that's why I wanted to address them in the meeting there so uh next we have a new business Norman new business uh now we we didn't get any comments on our tax settlements either so we were good on that 14 for the good okay anything no no sorry Jeremy no okay old
- 6:10
business I've got uh the ambulance uh approval on the purchases I was I got with the director and they requested us to go ahead and approve uh they went and looked at both units and they wanted to approve the two ambulances from Penn Care Incorporated that was for the purchase price of 258 000 and uh it's going to be a 24 month delivery time so it'll be two years Kevin are they locking that price in yes okay except except for the chassis which is if Ford decides to upgrade it'll be case it could be possibly be more so uh but as far as the work as far as the unit in the back that's what it'll be but I mean they normally do you think you don't know what Ford's going to do in you know when they receive you know the chassis I mean it's but uh I mean you a good roll the dice and weight and it go down but I don't know it ain't gonna go down so I just wonder if they're going to lock it in that's just what I've it will
- 7:24
be everything's locked in but the chassis yeah but that was the same with both company companies yeah because they they that's the problem with the delivery is uh they can't get them they can't get the chassis so anyway emotions of y'all didn't discuss it or anything or nothing I mean we've heard it whenever we open you know and the beds up and that's what they recommend do so I'd entertain a motion uh to go and purchase these with a 24 month delivery date for 258 000. make the most motion by Darren second second by Brian all in favor aye any opposed and also we need to approve to pay for the stretchers in August because that could also be a price increase which is a total of 444 563.80 and that's those mechanical stretchers that they use for the back of the units and uh how many of that was there two of
- 8:38
them there's two of them yeah yeah and the reason for them is because of uh price increase in August so as long as they get ordered by August and we paid about that time 258 000. right so it'll be 97 000. it'll be 80 89 127.60 but that is in the 258. that's what I thought I was wondering I thought those was included with the ambulance they they are but but we don't have to pay for the actual ambulances until the delivery dates okay just put in there that they'll be a thought price increase August after August 30th 31st so I mean I might say going up they didn't tell us yeah it'll be plenty yeah I'm sure it could be two dollars could be two that house is right it could be ten thousand yeah I'll make a motion okay motion by Neil and second by Jason all in favor all right thank you I think you'll see