BENTON – Marshall County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Tuesday, March 15th. A moment of silence was held for Mitchell Dean Hobgood, who retired fro the Road Department. A retirement service was held for him a week ago Friday, he then entered the hospital on Sunday and passed away on Thursday.
Josh Tubbs brought news to the court of a project interested in locating in Marshall County which would be approximately a $12 million dollar capital investment in the community, create about 48 jobs at an average of $36,000 a year with fringe benefits.
They will be applying for the state incentives at the end of the month and Tubbs requested a commitment of the Fiscal Court for the 1% occupational tax rebate to go along with the up to 4% from the state level.
The court approved the 1% incentive from the county over a 15-year period.
Roger Ford asked the courts approval to submit his 2016-2017 budget which the court approved.
Robert Chandler informed the court that the federal government wants to give him a 2016 Jeep for veteran transportation to Marion, Nashville and St. Louis but ask for $23,000 for the vehicle. Chandler said he will not ask for that and drove to Frankfort last week and talked to the Assistant Director of Transportation who said they will give the county a 2007 Chrysler mini-van.
Chandler asks if it can be added to the county fleet for insurance and fuel. Chandler also said the Veterans Administration may also cover these expenses as well as things like oil changes and new tires and plans to try that route first.
Judge/Executive Kevin Neal said there may also be an opportunity to get a vehicle through the PADD office.
CORRESPONDENCE
North Marshall Water District
A letter from the district stated that Bobby Gifford’s employment with the county ceased on February 25, 2016 and on February 26, 2016 NMWD hired Gifford as the district’s permanent Superintendent and immediately began work.
The letter served as notice that the inter-local cooperative agreement made between the county and the district on June 15, 2011, relating to Gifford’s employment is now terminated. The agreement pertained to Gifford’s status an interim Superintendent.
State Auditor
Judge Neal asked the court’s approval to sign the Fiscal Court engagement ending June 30, 2015 from the State Auditor which was approved.
Loyd Ford
Judge Neal received correspondence from Ford concerning Kentucky Open Records on meetings that go into Executive Session. Judge Neal said they plan to expand on it and be more specific in nature when entering into Executive Sessions.
Relay for Life
Judge Neal encouraged the community to take part in this worthy event and challenged the commissioners and himself to make a donation to the event.
Commissioner Bob Gold would like to see how many county employees would be interested in forming a team and sponsoring that team.
OLD BUSINESS
Sanitation District #2
Jay Hite with Wayne Shelton and Associates, CPA, gave a report on the district as of June 30, 2015.
Hite reported in their findings that the district did not maintain their accounting records in accordance with the accrual basis of accounting and their recommendation would be to put into place procedures to accurately recognize assets and liabilities.
The billing and collection process was reviewed with recommendations made. Currently one operator is working at maintaining the system during the day and working with his wife in the evenings on billing customers as well as collect the payments.
Board members are not being billed for sanitation in lieu of board membership compensation and the district is not filing proper IRS tax forms for the board member compensation. A recommendation was made to have the board members pay for their sewer services and to pay a monetary amount to pay board member, if any at all, which is up to the commissioners.
The internal controls were reviewed with recommendations made and said it is not recommended that one person do all the accounting functions. Recommendation that the district look at other ways to segregate the duties which could include an outside accounting firm.
Insurance policies were reviewed and found no policies in place for general liability, workers compensation or on equipment the district owns. The recommendation is to get general liability insurance as soon as possible.
Recommendations were made to change the bank statement cycle from mid-month to the beginning of the month, making it easier to reconcile their accounting records on month and year-end statements.
Organizational, by-laws and policy and procedure documents were not found and a recommendation was made to prepare these documents to help govern the board and the day-to-day operations.
The financial condition of the sanitation district was reviewed and based on the information it appears the district will experience a cash short-fall in the upcoming years.
Oak Level/Brewers Project
Judge Neal said he has reservations concerning the loan application that was signed in December for $107,500 saying the project is not complete and he would like to halt the loan application with KIA until the court and the Benton City Water District can discuss the future of the project.
NEW BUSINESS
Refuse District Audit and Budget
The court approved receiving the district’s 2015 Audit and accepted the 2017 Budget, commending their management of the refuse.
Treasurer’s Report
The court approved both the Intrafund Transfer, Treasurer’s Report and Appropriation Transfer subject to audit.
Ronnie Heath
Mr. Heath lives in the Pirate’s Cove community is a member of the newly formed South Marshall Fire Department.
Heath said in their Thursday night meeting, Keith Sirls informed them that the county is looking at transferring the 911 dispatch center to KSP. He asked the court to look very hard at it before making any final decisions and realizes it may save money but said, “cheaper is not always better”.
He asked that the court look into the amount of calls the center dispatches out on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and look at how many dispatchers KSP has on staff and their amount of calls.
Judge Neal asked if he or Chief Sirls went to the recent Alliance meeting, saying that it would have been very informative for them. He told him to reach out to the 911 chairman or director and get the information from the meeting.
Hickey said he wants to learn more and would like to be involved in the process.
Judge Neal told him to research Representative King and her work in fighting and championing for 911 for the last few years.
The April 5th meeting of the Fiscal Court has been canceled. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 19th.