Fiscal Court Meeting Search

Meeting of June 10, 2024

6-10-24 Ohio County Fiscal Court Special-Called Meeting · Watch on YouTube ↗

Summary

Ohio County Fiscal Court – Special-Called Meeting, June 10, 2024

The court handled routine business first, approving the minutes from May 28, the bills and claims, and the treasurer's and clerk's financial reports for April and May. It then gave second readings and unanimous roll-call approval to two ordinances: an update to the county's administrative code and a solar farm ordinance regulating large solar developments.

A significant financial item was authorization to refinance the hospital's bond debt into a USDA loan, cutting the interest rate from about 7% to 3.5%. The court also approved opening two pass-through bank accounts seeded with $100 each to facilitate this refinancing.

The court moved to declare a small house and lot near the Rosine Cemetery as surplus property, with plans to have it appraised and advertised for sealed bids; two private developers have expressed interest in the site, which has sat unused for years. The judge executive also researched KRS provisions allowing the county to accept sealed bids without a prior appraisal, which the court may use to expedite the sale.

Magistrate Jason Bullock raised a road matter involving an extension of Hawker Road to serve a new four-to-six house subdivision; the court appointed a committee (Rip, Jason, and Charlie Shields) to review an existing easement and begin the standard road-taking process. A personnel action changing an employee (Tamara Guzman) from part-time to full-time status was also approved.

In committee reports, the court approved a $36,000 purchase of a 2024 Chevrolet Colorado work truck for the animal shelter from Bachman Chevrolet. The road department reported ongoing storm debris cleanup tied to a FEMA emergency declaration, and noted delays in blacktop paving due to slow coal severance tax revenue. No bids were received for a dump truck. Magistrate Michael McKinney also flagged water infrastructure problems at the Cromwell ballpark for discussion at a future meeting.

Agenda (16)

  • 0:02

    Call to order and invocation

    The meeting was called to order by the judge executive, followed by a prayer led by Sheriff Adam Wright and the Pledge of Allegiance.

  • 1:19

    Approval of May 28 meeting minutes

    The court approved the minutes from the May 28 meeting without corrections.

  • 1:55

    Approval of bills, claims, payments, and transfers

    The court approved payment of bills, claims, transfers, and a late list of claims.

  • 3:02

    Treasurer's May financial report

    The court acknowledged the treasurer's financial report for May with no discussion.

  • 3:29

    Clerk's April and May financial reports

    The court separately acknowledged the county clerk's financial reports for both April and May.

  • 4:16

    Second reading: Administrative code ordinance 2024-6

    The court passed the second reading of an ordinance making minor changes to the administrative code, approved by unanimous roll call.

  • 5:04

    Second reading: Solar farm ordinance 2024-7

    The court passed the second reading of a solar farm ordinance regulating solar development and land use, approved by unanimous roll call.

  • 6:35

    Hospital bond refinancing and pass-through bank accounts

    The court authorized refinancing the hospital's bonds into a lower-interest USDA loan (from about 7% to 3.5%) and approved opening two pass-through bank accounts with $100 deposits each, with the judge executive authorized to sign the paperwork.

  • 8:11

    Rosine property: declare surplus and advertise for sale

    The court discussed a small house and lot near the Rosine Cemetery that has sat undeveloped for years; two private developers are interested in it. The court moved to declare it surplus, have it appraised, and advertise it for sealed bids, with a final sale requiring court approval.

  • 12:34

    Personnel status change: Tamara Guzman

    An employee's status was changed from part-time to full-time at $14.64 per hour, effective July 1.

  • 13:08

    Hawker Road extension and easement/road committee appointment

    Magistrate Jason Bullock discussed extending Hawker Road roughly 300 feet to serve a new subdivision of four to six houses; an existing easement from a 1960s subdivision plat may cover part of the route. The court appointed a road committee to review the matter and begin the standard road-taking process.

  • 21:59

    Animal shelter vehicle purchase

    The court approved purchasing a 2024 Chevrolet Colorado crew cab work truck for the animal shelter for $36,000 from Bachman Chevrolet.

  • 25:00

    Cromwell ballpark water infrastructure issue

    Magistrate Michael McKinney raised concerns about water problems at the Cromwell ballpark, noting the nonprofit board still owes about $1,800 for bathroom and water line repairs; the item will be added to a future agenda.

  • 26:50

    Road department report: storm debris cleanup and paving delays

    The road department reported ongoing storm debris cleanup tied to a FEMA emergency declaration, no bids received for a dump truck, and delays in blacktop paving due to slow coal severance tax revenue.

  • 30:00

    Legal review of sealed bid process for Rosine property sale

    The judge executive reported research into KRS provisions allowing the county to accept sealed bids for surplus property without a prior appraisal, provided certain factors are documented; the property description and intended use were read into the record for the minutes.

  • 32:56

    Adjournment

    With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Motions & votes (11)

  • 1:25

    passedApprove the minutes of the May 28 meeting

    Moved by Larry Morphew · seconded by Bo Bennett · unanimous voice vote

  • 2:43

    passedApprove bills, claims, payments, and transfers including a late list

    Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Michael McKinney · unanimous voice vote

  • 3:10

    passedAcknowledge the treasurer's May financial report

    Moved by Larry Morphew · seconded by Bo Bennett · unanimous voice vote

  • 3:41

    passedAcknowledge the county clerk's April financial report

    Moved by Larry Morphew · seconded by Bo Bennett · unanimous voice vote

  • 4:02

    passedAcknowledge the county clerk's May financial report

    seconded by Michael McKinney · unanimous voice vote

  • 4:38

    passedApprove second reading of administrative code ordinance 2024-6

    Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Michael McKinney · unanimous roll call: McKinney, Bullock, Bennett, Johnston, Morphew all yes

  • 5:15

    passedApprove second reading of solar farm ordinance 2024-7

    Moved by Larry Morphew · seconded by Jason Bullock · unanimous roll call: McKinney, Bullock, Bennett, Johnston, Morphew all yes

  • 7:14

    passedAuthorize refinancing hospital bonds into a USDA loan, open two pass-through bank accounts with $100 deposits each, and authorize the judge executive to sign related paperwork

    unanimous voice vote

  • 10:41

    passedDeclare the Rosine cemetery-area house and lot surplus property and advertise it for sale, pending appraisal and return to court for final sale approval

    Moved by Bo Bennett · seconded by Jason Bullock · unanimous voice vote

  • 12:43

    passedApprove personnel status change for Tamara Guzman from part-time to full-time effective July 1

    unanimous roll call: McKinney, Bullock, Bennett, Johnston, Morphew all yes

  • 21:59

    passedPurchase a 2024 Chevrolet Colorado crew cab work truck for the animal shelter for $36,000 from Bachman Chevrolet

    Moved by Michael McKinney · seconded by Bo Bennett · unanimous voice vote

Transcript (27 segments)

  • 0:01

    [Music] call this meeting of Ohio came Fiscal Court to order on this fth day of June 10th day of June got WR on here 10th day of June 2024 at 5:00 p.m. going to ask our Sheriff Adam Wright to lead us in a prayer and play the flag let's bow our heads Heavenly Father we thank you so much for this wonderful day and we thank you for the people that's in this room father I pray that you watch over them guide them give them the strength and wisdom they need father we pray that you be with those around the world who are hurting we pray that those who haven't found you find you soon father we thank you for all the wonderful things you provide for us in your name we pray Amen to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all uh before you have the uh minutes of

  • 1:17

    the May 28th meeting we need a motion to approve motion by Larry morphew second by Bo Bennett is there any discussion any discussion Corrections or additions to the meing being none on fav say I post like sign most carries uh before you have the bills claims payments and transfers including A late list we need a motion to approve that I should say we don't that's that's m cop your your L list is underneath your mics I saw the lake yeah hang on second I have a motion second then we can discuss itot motion by Jason Bullock second second by Michael mckenny discussion I'm

  • 2:50

    ready other questions B none on in favor say I I post like Bill are paid you have for you the treasur uh May financial report we need to uh acknowled yes so motion Valar morphew second by Bo bannett is there any discussion or questions for the treasur B none all in favor say I oppos like sign motion carries we we have the clerk's April and May financial report it's the same way we need to to acknowledge we got motion by Larry morphew thaning by Bo Bennett any discussion B none all in favor say I I post like sign that was April now I need same thing for may make motion wece motion by B second second by Michael any

  • 4:04

    discussion B none all in favor say I I posos like sign motion Carri okay uh the last meeting we had the first reading of ordinance 2024 day 6 on those few changes on Administrative Code this will be the second reading because it's ordinance I'll make a motion to accept uh Administrative Code second reading the 202 24-6 motion by Jason second second by Michael got it ready any discussion it is an ordinance you have to roll call it mckenny yes Bullock yes Bennett yes Johnston yes morphew yes passed the the second reading of administrative Court ordinance passed next we have the Sol Farm ordinance second reading uh 20 24 day 7 just like the first one correct changes right so move motion Larry morphew I second second Jason Bullock any

  • 5:18

    discussion and if we find anything wrong with this is it changes because I know this you can amend it you can always amend it because I know this is going to be probably a a constant change for possibly but I feel good about it I I know this is we don't have dust in here but it's more so to keep the construction of the things in line uh more so than anything so what I've got my opinion about it what it's going to do to farm land but we don't have no control over that no well they got to buy it and the property owners got to agree to sell go R call it wonder if they can call go for it mckenny yes Bullock yes Bennett yes Johnston yes Mor that uh that pass as well the next thing thing I talked to some of you about but I haven't got to talked to all

  • 6:32

    of you about the item number nine on your agenda the hospital has got a deal where they can refinance that the bills up there those bonds for a much lower interest rate from the 7% they're paying down to three and a half and cut it in half but to do so they got to change it into a uh USDA loan from the bonds so I need a motion to do that and to also to allow us to open up two bank accounts for to pass through the county on and authorize the treasurer to deposit $100 into each account yeah and authoriz the judge executive sign those papers make a motion Motion in there I'll second a couple questions though disc so that if if we decide to ever go back can you go back once it's the loan I don't guess they our bonding potential is done but will it always be alone from this point on yes yes but we can go back and refinance the loan if you want to if you find somebody's going to do at a lower rate lower rate which is three a three and a half we're not responsible

  • 7:41

    are we we own it it's ours so we but there's a people waiting in line wanting to buy it we've never wanted to sell it so you got the motion second right yes on fav say I post like sign motion carry and and I believe this next item I believe Jason may be the only one I got to talk to about it but uh as you know we on a little house on the corner of the uh by the Rosine cemetery on a very small lot we had dreams for things to happen that never did we tried to get to Bill Monroe foundation and and the all the different entities in the bluegrass music to do something with it they didn't now we have private developers that are interested in taking it and making something out of it uh so what I'm proposing is declared Surplus and advertise it but it wouldn't be sold to come back to this court and youall agree for the price that we get in for it well we have to we have to have it

  • 8:55

    appraised if we're going to sell any real estate so it has to happen crazy uh actually we had one when we got it we still need to do it again M okay we'll do how long we had that'll be about four or five years I don't remember turn Cemetery Road big house right there on the left white and green right yeah it was donated uh don we would try to clean it up one toward CED okay yeah I know where it's at now yeah house in pretty bad shape it looks bad but it's stable still but it will come back for y'all to accept how much Brown deserve uh not much at all not much at all less than a half acre I believe tell proba qu of an AC we didn't have to pay nothing but we have to do any we wasn't out nothing no volunteers went up there and worked a day or two I believe Jason was in it does it tell there how much it is how big it is uh half acre one half acre I just did yes but it don't seem nothing it's also supposed to be square foot and it seems like it's small but what I'm proposing is just do declare