Meeting of July 23, 2024
7-23-24 Ohio CountyFiscal Court Meeting · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
The Ohio County Fiscal Court met on July 23, 2024, opening with prayer, the pledge, and routine approval of minutes and bills, including a discussion about voucher numbers on community contribution accounts. The court also approved the treasurer's June financial statement and a pending year-end settlement for the fiscal year that ended June 30.
A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a presentation from the District 2 KYTC transportation team led by Scott Phelps, who outlined roughly $1.3 million in flex and state funding for road projects, including replacing an aging, rusting culvert (estimated at $650,000-$900,000) and resurfacing options on KY 505. The court voted to keep its flex funds and proceed with the recommended culvert replacement, directing any leftover money toward paving on 505.
Larry Castile asked the court to consider an ordinance banning grass-blowing into roadways, citing motorcycle safety concerns. After discussion of enforcement and scope, the court agreed to send the issue to the road committee for further review before the next meeting.
The court passed the second reading of Ordinance 2025-1 (a budget amendment allowing use of surplus funds) and approved a resolution enabling use of KIPDA funds for the industrial park road extension project. It also acknowledged several routine reports from the county clerk's office regarding June financial statements, delinquent tax transfers, and the annual county financial report.
A significant vote concerned reallocating grant money originally intended for the Cherryville waterline project. After lengthy debate, the court voted 4-2 to approve the water district's request to redirect the funds to serve 54 previously unserved homes rather than risk losing the money, effectively ending the Cherryville project as currently conceived.
The meeting closed with the jailer's report, reappointments to the airport board, a personnel appointment for a park maintenance position, committee updates (including a planned road committee meeting on the grass ordinance), and public comments covering truck traffic issues near Taylor Mine Road, a request for county road maintenance near a cemetery on Huff Creek, and a resident's frustration over a delayed and possibly incomplete flood debris cleanup contract along a local creek.
Agenda (22)
- 0:02
Opening prayer and pledge of allegiance
Magistrate Larry Morphew led the prayer, followed by the pledge of allegiance.
- 1:22
Approval of minutes from July 9 meeting
The court reviewed and approved the minutes from the previous meeting with no corrections.
- 1:44
Approval of bills, claims, payments and transfers
The court approved the bills and claims list; a magistrate questioned differing account numbers on community contributions, which was explained as separate voucher numbers per magistrate account.
- 3:57
Treasurer's June financial statement
The treasurer's June financial statement was presented and received by the court.
- 4:21
Year-end settlement for fiscal year ending June 30
The court discussed and approved the pending year-end settlement for the fiscal year that just ended.
- 5:17
KYTC District 2 road funding presentation
Scott Phelps and the KYTC transportation team presented planned road projects and funding, including a culvert replacement and resurfacing options for KY 505 and KY 1414.
- 15:59
Proposed ordinance on blowing grass into roadways
Larry Castile requested an ordinance banning mowers from blowing grass clippings into roads, citing motorcycle safety; the matter was referred to the road committee for further review.
- 23:55
Ordinance 2025-1 budget amendment, second reading
The court passed the second reading of a budget amendment ordinance allowing use of surplus funds.
- 25:18
Resolution for industrial park KIPDA funds
A resolution was passed authorizing use of funds for the road extension project at the industrial park.
- 26:21
County clerk's June financial report
The court acknowledged receipt of the county clerk's June financial report submitted while she attended a conference.
- 27:00
Transfer of delinquent taxes
The court acknowledged the transfer of delinquent taxes from the sheriff's office to the clerk's office.
- 27:28
Annual review of county financial report
The court acknowledged the annual detailed county financial report for fiscal year 2024, described as a transparency measure.
- 29:05
Water district request to reallocate Cherryville waterline funds
The water district requested authorization to reallocate grant funds originally for the Cherryville waterline project to instead serve 54 unserved homes; after debate the court approved the reallocation.
- 34:11
Jailer's annual report
The jailer presented his commissary report covering July 2023 to June 2024, which the court voted to receive.
- 35:25
Airport board appointments
The court reappointed several members to the airport board whose terms had expired.
- 36:27
Personnel appointment for park maintenance
The court approved hiring Paul Ma as a full-time level two park maintenance employee at $16.49 per hour.
- 37:11
Committee reports
Updates were given on the road committee (meeting scheduled for the 13th to discuss the grass ordinance) and a note that the landfill committee needs to schedule a meeting.
- 38:16
Magistrate comments and road department updates
Magistrates discussed the inactive park board needing to be reactivated and road department staffing and mowing operations.
- 42:31
County officials' comments including coroner's office HVAC issue
Donnie raised concerns about incomplete HVAC ductwork installation at the coroner's office bays, requesting the contractor finish the job as originally bid.
- 46:19
Public comment on truck traffic near Taylor Mine Road
A resident requested a 'no semis' sign near Taylor Mine Road due to trucks getting stuck trying to turn, with confusion over city versus county jurisdiction.
- 49:28
Public comment on cemetery road maintenance
Charles Davidson requested the county maintain about two miles of gravel road leading to the Gentry Patty Cemetery on Huff Creek.
- 51:56
Public comment on delayed creek debris cleanup contract
Randy Haney raised concerns about an incomplete and overpriced debris/log jam cleanup contract along a creek near his property following tornado damage, urging the court to investigate.
Motions & votes (14)
- 1:25
passedApprove minutes of the July 9 meeting
Moved by Brian · seconded by Morphew · unanimous voice vote
- 1:54
passedApprove bills, claims, payments and transfers
Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Michael McKinney · unanimous voice vote
- 4:07
passedReceive treasurer's June financial statement
Moved by Jason · seconded by Bullock · unanimous voice vote
- 4:53
passedApprove pending year-end settlement for fiscal year ending June 30
Moved by Michael · seconded by Jason · unanimous voice vote
- 13:30
passedKeep flex funds and proceed with KYTC recommended culvert replacement, with excess funds to go toward paving on 505
unanimous voice vote
- 24:21
passedApprove Ordinance 2025-1 budget amendment, second reading, allowing use of surplus money
Moved by Jason Bullock · unanimous roll call: Daniel yes, Morphew yes, McKinney yes, Bullock yes, Bennett yes, Johnson yes
- 25:33
passedApprove resolution for use of funds for industrial park road extension
Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Michael McKinney · unanimous voice vote
- 26:46
passedAcknowledge county clerk's June financial report
Moved by Jason · unanimous voice vote
- 27:19
passedAcknowledge transfer of delinquent taxes from sheriff to clerk's office
Moved by Jason · unanimous voice vote
- 28:41
passedAcknowledge annual review of county financial report for fiscal year 2024
Moved by Jason · seconded by Bullock · unanimous voice vote
- 33:24
passedReallocate Cherryville waterline grant funds to serve 54 unserved homes instead of returning the money, pending state approval
seconded by Michael McKinney · 4-2, roll call: Daniel yes, Morphew no, McKinney yes, Bullock yes, Bennett yes, Johnson no
- 34:30
passedReceive jailer's commissary report for July 2023 to June 2024
unanimous voice vote
- 35:25
passedReappoint members to the airport board (John Guther/Rowe, Mark Rowe, Jim Duke, Travis Wilson)
unanimous roll call: Daniel yes, Morphew yes, McKinney yes, Bullock yes, Bennett yes, Johnston yes
- 36:33
passedApprove hiring Paul Ma as full-time level two park maintenance employee at $16.49/hour
unanimous roll call: Daniel yes, Morphew yes, McKinney yes, Bullock yes, Bennett yes, Johnson yes
Transcript (49 segments)
- 0:01
[Music] call this meeting of O fisal board to order on this uh 23rd day of July 2024 at 5:00 P p.m uh I'm going to ask M Larry morphew to lead us in a prayer and pl of black Lord we come to you tonight praise you and giving you thanks Lord we just ask you to be with us tonight Lord help us give us the strength the courage and the wisdom to do your will Lord and let be pleasing to you and God we just pray that you'll be with our country as Lord we're in terrible shape Lord but God be with each and every one tonight be with the court as we make decisions lead guide and give us strength courage and wisdom in Christ's name amen amen I pledge alance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation God indivisible with liberty and justice for all before you have the minutes of the
- 1:21
July the 9th meeting need a motion to approve make a motion motion by Brian Dani second secondar Mor any discussion Corrections or additions to the minutes any discussion Corrections or additions B none all in favor say I I oppos like sign pass before you have the bills claims payments and transfers including the late list and the extra light [Music] list need a motion to approve house I the motion's approved motion by Jason bu second second by Michael mckin I got a question and on page three on community contributions how come there's two different numbers or different accounts uh what do you looking at there I'm looking at my account and the other four and mine is a different number than what the other the four was well that's to keep each of them separate keep what
- 2:34
that's to keep each account separate he saying they the dollar amount all all the others 1 2 3 4 five is the same number except mine's different you mean the dollar amount no no well yeah but account number oh [Music] [Music] those are voucher numbers or like check numbers the system issues about well how come all four of them is the same and mine's different well because you didn't contribute any money to sleep in Heavenly peace yours went to the Roan car Department those was all the same sleep and the same account correct no each each each magistrate has a separate account those are voucher numbers you're looking at it's like a check number
- 3:53
to sign bills are paid you have the treasures uh June financial statement for you we got it motion by Jason second by B any discussion or questions for being on I like [Music] sign okay the year end for the for the uh year the fiscal year that just ended June 30th you have a a settlement there we need to approve that pend pending [Music] a these are here that man Treasures yes make a motion second motion by Michael second by Jason any questions discussion really number 11 the agenda what M
- 5:07
[Music] and okay no questions post sign that's done okay we're going to move on a a little different we're going to have order because the transportation folks are here and uh Scott why youall come on up and do your presentation and every one of you and introduce all your folks with you there this is District Two Transportation good evening good evening David and rest of fisal Court uh so we'll begin most of you know me Scott Phelps and transportation engineer supervisor for kytc over maintenance in Davis Hancock and Ohio counties that Den h Anderson here who is our chief District engineer and Matthew West who is our branch manager and then we got Clayton who is just learning this business so he's he's getting a full experience tonight yeah so we'll get into the numbers I did make an error on one page that Matt just
- 6:21
uh pointed out to me so I wish it were true but it's not uh so our total funding is going to be 1.3 million dollars of the flex funds for the county $365,500 our state funds is $96,700 years ago steel plate it's rusting um we're going to try to replace that with a big aluminum box instead of being a double barrel it be just one big wide box that one is is projected to be about $650,000 we do have an issue on that where there's a driveway coming off of that that could pose a problem we're going to have to talk to the property owner about realigning their driveway a little bit so the error is on the next one uh for 50 yeah I wish we could pay 2 miles a row for $250 but that's going to be
- 7:34
$250,000 I'm sorry go and accept that one yeah I wish we wish we could we'd have everyone in the county paid uh we're going to resurface portion of 505 uh beginning uh going well if you're going backwards from us 622 over to oon and that's going to be from the 11.75 to the 14.13 for 2.3 uh miles $250,000 now I do have an alternative for number one there on 1414 if you so desire we can continue Paving on 505 we should be able to get about another four miles of Paving on 505 if you want that would go from 62 over towards us231 so that's up to the Fiscal Court how you want which way you want us to go on that so how bad is number one number one something that can be we have reduced the weight on it one time we've already reduced the rate the weight on it once I can't tell you how long it's going to take before I think it's around
- 8:47
25 tons is the weight limit on it right now is that the one where the school bus is they've been having issues with the school bus and has to go around no that we took care of that one a couple years ago okay uh yeah it's this one is right at the 8.3 mile marker um you come around the curve there's a mobile home sits off to the right the driveway comes off to the right at an angle and um you know where the place is where the the there's like the trailer sitting there where they got the Schwan's bed sitting on it there's a camper off on the right I know what you're talking about close to Ammon Lane yes blue so okay so yes this cover is right before that uh went and looked at it and one of the barrels is almost full of silt now so the aluminum box that we would put in would be slightly bigger than what the flow area is now but I just don't know we've got the money now and that's the reason I put this on here was I don't know what the future is going to break are we going to have the money next year or we going to have it the year after if we need to well and you're also talking about a project that was done 60 to 70 years ago