Meeting of January 11, 2022
1-11-22 Ohio County Fiscal Court Meeting · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
The Ohio County Fiscal Court met on January 11, 2022, opening with prayer and pledge before working through a busy agenda covering tornado recovery, jail overcrowding, and routine county business. The court approved minutes with an amendment regarding fire department and city funding of $50,000 each (minus amounts already received), approved bills/claims, and acknowledged several financial reports from the treasurer, clerk, and sheriff.
A major topic was jail overcrowding: Jailer Rick Ray requested $60,000 to cover housing overflow inmates in other counties, which the court approved by transferring funds from reserves, while also discussing possible use of ankle monitors and exploring a regional jail with Butler and Edmonson counties. FEMA representative Chris Arnold and Rachel McCubbins from Senator Paul's office discussed disaster assistance for tornado victims, noting 220 residents had registered and urging others to do so before the February 11 deadline. The judge/executive updated the court on road department cleanup efforts, noting FEMA's extended 100% reimbursement deadline through the end of the month.
The court passed a hospital bond reaffirmation resolution, approved advertising for heavy equipment and a truck purchase, awarded a bid for ballfield lighting, and approved (pending review) a bid for medical equipment for EMS. Personnel actions included changing an animal control worker to temporary status, hiring a senior services meal driver, and moving a park ARPA worker to full-time. The court also ratified prior December meeting actions and signed onto an opioid settlement participation form.
Other business included approving funds for a jaws-of-life tool for the EMA director's vehicle, appointing a viewing committee to consider closing a portion of Cotton Lane at residents' request, and a water district board appointment. The meeting closed with committee reports on water infrastructure funding, praise for the road department's snow and tornado response, and a sobering COVID-19 update noting Ohio County's death rate among diagnosed and hospitalized cases was higher than the regional average.
Agenda (21)
- 1:13
Approval of December minutes with amendment
The court reviewed December 14th and 28th minutes, correcting a missed radio/communications line item and clarifying that fire departments and cities would receive $50,000 each unless they had already received funds.
- 4:52
Bills, claims, payments and transfers
The court reviewed bills and claims and a transfer moving Charlie's payroll from general fund into emergency services fund.
- 5:52
Treasurer's and Clerk's financial reports
The court acknowledged receipt of the treasurer's and clerk's December financial reports and fourth quarter report.
- 6:49
PVA vehicle valuation discussion
Magistrates discussed reports that used car values are rising, which may increase vehicle tax assessments statewide.
- 8:33
Clerk and Sheriff 2022 budgets and salary orders
The court approved the clerk's and sheriff's 2022 estimated budgets and annual orders setting deputy salaries.
- 10:59
Jailer's request for overcrowding funds
Jailer Rick Ray reported severe jail overcrowding, with inmates housed in other counties, and requested $60,000 to finish out the fiscal year; the court discussed ankle monitors as a cost-saving alternative.
- 18:39
FEMA update on tornado disaster assistance
FEMA's Chris Arnold explained the registration process, eligibility letters, and the February 11 deadline for residents affected by the December tornadoes.
- 24:44
Senator Paul's office assistance update
Rachel McCubbins described casework assistance available through Senator Paul's office for tornado victims dealing with federal agencies, including mobile office hours.
- 31:58
Road department tornado cleanup update
The judge reported on debris removal progress, a burn site for vegetation, and FEMA's extended 100% reimbursement deadline through month's end.
- 37:04
Hospital bond reaffirmation resolution
The court passed a resolution reaffirming support for hospital bond financing, authorizing the judge to execute related documents.
- 38:51
Equipment advertising and bids
The court approved advertising for a mini excavator and a heavy-duty crew cab truck, and reviewed a single bid for ballfield lighting at the park.
- 44:30
Medical equipment bid for EMS
A bid from Jackson, Tennessee for cardiac monitors was reviewed; the court approved pending review by the EMA director to confirm specs including ventilators and stretchers.
- 48:53
Opioid settlement participation form
County attorney explained the need for an additional settlement participation form related to ongoing opioid litigation, which the court approved.
- 50:57
Ratification of December 22 and 28 meeting actions
The court ratified all actions taken at the December 22 and December 28 meetings as a precaution.
- 51:59
Personnel matters
The court approved changing an animal control worker to temporary status, hiring a senior services meal driver, and moving a park ARPA worker to full-time.
- 55:36
Board appointments
The judge appointed Michael Newman to the Ohio County Water District board and made an appointment to the IDA board.
- 56:17
Committee reports on regional jail progress
Magistrate Larry reported ongoing discussions between Ohio, Butler, and Edmonson counties about building a regional jail.
- 57:31
Jaws of life purchase for EMA director
The court approved purchasing a small jaws of life tool for the EMA director's truck using ARPA funds, discussing coordination with fire departments' own equipment needs.
- 1:01:02
Cotton Lane road closure request
Magistrate Larry presented signed affidavits from landowners requesting closure of Cotton Lane; the court appointed a viewing committee to evaluate the closure process.
- 1:08:47
Water infrastructure funding update
Magistrate Gloria raised a state budget allocation for water/wastewater infrastructure and urged pursuing funds to extend county water access.
- 1:13:30
COVID-19 update
The judge gave a sobering update noting Ohio County's COVID death rate among diagnosed and hospitalized cases is higher than the regional average, despite Omicron possibly being less deadly.
Motions & votes (22)
- 4:39
passedApprove December minutes with amendment regarding fire department/city funding allocations
- 4:54
passedApprove bills, claims, payments and transfers
Moved by Larry · seconded by Sam Small
- 5:59
passedAcknowledge receipt of treasurer's December financial report
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Joe Barnes
- 6:17
passedAcknowledge receipt of clerk's December financial report
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Joe Barnes
- 8:13
passedAcknowledge receipt of clerk's fourth quarter quarterly report
Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Joe Barnes
- 8:35
passedApprove clerk's 2022 estimated budget
Moved by Sam · seconded by Joe
- 9:11
passedApprove clerk's 2022 annual order setting deputy salaries
Moved by Larry · seconded by Joe Barnes
- 9:42
passedApprove sheriff's 2022 annual order setting deputy salaries
Moved by Sam · seconded by Joe
- 10:11
passedApprove sheriff's 2022 estimated budget
Moved by Sam · seconded by Larry
- 13:47
passedTransfer $60,000 from reserves to jail fund to cover overcrowding costs
Moved by Larry · seconded by Larry Morphew
- 37:43
passedPass resolution 2022-21 hospital reaffirmation resolution for judge to execute documents
Moved by Joe Barnes · seconded by Jason Bullock · roll call, all yes
- 39:07
passedAdvertise for purchase of mini excavator and heavy-duty crew cab truck
Moved by Larry · seconded by Larry Morphew
- 43:14
passedApprove bid from Taylor's TNT LLC for ballfield lighting
Moved by Larry Cam · seconded by Jason Bullock
- 46:37
passedApprove bid for medical equipment (cardiac monitors) pending EMA director review
Moved by Jason
- 49:55
passedApprove opioid settlement participation form for judge to sign
Moved by Sam Small · seconded by Larry Campbell · roll call, all yes
- 51:48
passedRatify all actions taken at December 22 and December 28 meetings
Moved by Larry Cam · seconded by Larry Morphew
- 53:15
passedChange Jennifer Darby's status from part-time to temporary animal control/hound patrol officer at $16/hour
roll call, all yes
- 53:46
passedHire Lisa Lowe as senior services meal delivery driver at $9.56/hour
roll call, all yes
- 54:21
passedMove Tori Tennyson from seasonal to full-time park ARPA worker
roll call, all yes
- 55:36
passedAppoint Michael Newman to Ohio County Water District One board
roll call, all yes
- 58:39
passedPurchase jaws of life for EMA director's truck for $6,475 using ARPA funds
Moved by Joe Barnes · seconded by Larry Morphew
- 1:05:47
passedAppoint viewing committee (Nick Woolen, Charlie Shields, Jason Gary) to evaluate closing Cotton Lane
Transcript (62 segments)
- 0:01
[Music] call this meeting ohio camp fiscal court order uh on this 11th day of january 2022 and i'm going to ask sam would you uh pray for us and pledge to play the most gracious heavenly father lord we just come to you tonight and we just ask for your guidance tonight and help us to make decisions that are all pleasing to you lord we just ask that you would be with those who are sick and those who have misfortunes and all those that are still reeling over the the tornadoes lord jesus we just ask that you would undergird and strengthen them lord just go with us forgive us and watch over us in jesus name i pray amen amen i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands one nation under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all
- 1:12
[Music] uh gentlemen before you you have the december 28 minutes and there's also it's been asked for a amendment on the december 14th amendment uh uh meeting which you've all been shown to uh we left out one of the amendments the bei radio land speaker uh communications the motion in the meeting did not the voting did not go through it they didn't show up it just listed it at the line item i need to fix it in a minute [Music] i'm looking at the meeting the fourth organize the 20th they're not going [Music] do i have a motion to prove those or with the change on the 14th you have something to do yeah larry what minutes were those that you were looking at
- 2:24
[Music] that's what we're talking we're talking about i don't i don't have but on larry's on that uh fire department you know i made the motion [Music] and uh larry seconded it it was supposed to be yeah we have fire department and cities and if they had already received our money it would come off there yes okay so that's what we're going for yes okay [Music] also they're having that yeah we need to amend to what do you want to say it needs to be 50 000 to the fire departments and cities except for the ones that's already received are the money and the amount that they receive will be deducted off the people thousand and also never make a motion i made a motion you seconded it yeah it was already on there that way but no [Music]
- 3:38
those corrections what they might okay okay just to clarify so uh city of beaver dam and the city of fortsville have already gotten money so they would not get the 50. if they if they receive 50 or more they would not get it other than other than the uh department switch right if the fire department there i think the one fire department received thirty five thousand and i think one number one was a promo or something received just a little bit for some communication equipment larry well they haven't been paid out anything yet oh okay the city of beaver dam just received for the fire truck so it wouldn't be the city because you're doing cities and fire trucks your fire stations right yes just so the fire station is separate from the city yes uh this will show up later in the resolution that you'll deal with when we find the funds to do that i'll make a motion to accept the changes or amendments okay okay and motion second is there further discussion on the methods [Music] i've done on february i i post like signed local cares uh before you you have the bills claims
- 4:53
payments and transfers so move motion malaria count second but sam small is there any discussion on the bills and claims [Music] any discussion we don't have a wait list right no okay [Music] what's this correct grant balance i just was curious um on the transfers charlie's in the emergency services where he applies to get his payroll back it was going into the general fund but it needs to go into the emergency services fund because that's where his budget is okay so it's just it's just swapping swapping it to the right account okay all right info discussion [Laughter] [Music] being nine on first say aye all right like sign uh that motion carries [Music] uh you have the treasures december uh before financial report statement make a motion to it no motion by sam small segment joe barnes to acknowledge the uh receipt of the treasurer's december uh
- 6:07
[Laughter] report uh any discussion or questions bang none all in favor say aye aye opposed like sign a bunch of carrots [Music] i'll make a motion to acknowledge the receipt of the clerk's december 21 financial report a second motion by sam small segment joe barnes to acknowledge the receipt of the clerk's uh december the 20th of 2021 financial report is there any discussions or questions for bayes being none on favor say aye opposed like saying i do have a question for best real quick a video of mine okay what is i've seen on facebook from the state have you seen that letter going around about people are sharing about excuse me car values going up and causing have you guys seen that or is it just me not just seeing that on facebook i haven't seen it on facebook it was introduction paper okay so there's going to use value and that is a state okay [Music] so they'll reevaluate all your cars all
- 7:22
the used cars that's the way i take it yes they haven't notified us but pva they'll put in the uh i also saw protests in there where uh uh there's a uh state representative putting the bill up to try to reverse it on how far that'll go okay bobby it's good this is ready that way i didn't know anything about it really until i saw that so they're going to re-evaluate and raise their because the used car values are going up so they're getting taxed yeah taxes more is what they're looking at doing this and we also have the clerks quarterly report here i'll make a motion to acknowledge them i'll say clark's quarterly report [Music] most of my jason bullock second and joe barnes to acknowledge the receipt of the clerk's fourth quarter quarterly report any discussion or questions for bass being none on folks say i post like sign motion cares um come on kirk just keeps coming up here how about the clerk's uh 2022 estimated budget motion by sam
- 8:35
i'll second second with joe uh is there any discussion or questions being done on purpose say i post like sign motion carriage [Music] um then also the clerks 2022 annual order setting the amounts of salaries for the deputies now this will be a uh actual uh motion to implement [Laughter] [Music] motion by uh larry morpheus check in with joe barnes and this is her this is parks yeah this one [Laughter] [Music] okay now we have one for the sheriff's uh deputies sheriff 2022 annual order setting salaries for deputies that's certainly who made the motion sam sam and joe sam made the motion joke ii did it is