BY MELINDA J. OVERSTREET
GLASGOW NEWS 1
The Barren County Fiscal Court has approved the appointments to a committee that will review population changes and draw new magisterial district lines as appropriate.
County Clerk Helena Chase Birdwell told the fiscal court at its special meeting Tuesday afternoon that this would have normally happened soon after the 2010 census figures were released, but it was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her nominations of Brad Bruton, who served in the last round, Patrick Staples and Joe David Houchens met with no objection among the eight of nine members present. Magistrate Ronnie Stinson was absent.
Birdwell and the two Barren County Board of Elections commissioners that are representatives of their respective political parties are nonvoting members of the committee, Birdwell said.
She said the pay is $100 per meeting, and she anticipates maybe two meetings, as the county’s population of 44,485 had not changed significantly. They have 60 days from this appointment date to meet and provide recommendations for an updated map to the fiscal court, and if it meets with their approval, it’s then forwarded to Frankfort.
Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd said that each of the three members is from a different district and they met other required criteria as well.
The fiscal court also approved, with all votes unanimous, the following:
— Payment of claims presented;
— Appropriations account transfer;
— Expenditure of up to $10,000 to repair a Road Department truck that’s been out of commission almost a year with fewer than 100,000 miles on it, with the quote of $6,337.37 but allowing for the possibility other issues will be discovered;
— A quote for a John Deere tractor with trade-in of a New Holland tractor that is “constantly in the shop,” according to Magistrate Tim Coomer, who chairs the fiscal court Transportation Committee, at the price of $69,002.02, with $32,500 allowed on the trade, bringing the final amount to $36,502.02;
— Opening of a new bank account/fund for a federal grant earmarked for the Barren County Economic Authority for use at the Chapatcha industrial park project in Cave City;
— Payment of anticipated primary election (May 16) expenses;
— Final appropriation to the Barren County Health Department for the 2023-24 fiscal year, $811,271;
— Waste tire agreement for FY ’24;
— Payment to Betner Communications of $9,108 for work on the county’s radio infrastructure for the fire departments and emergency management;
Byrd also brought up an online-only auction for surplus items from a variety of departments. The preview time is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 19. Bidding begins at 10 a.m. Monday, May 15 and ends at 5:30 p.m. May 25.
The fiscal court went into closed session for roughly 20 minutes to discuss a matter related to property, but it took no action upon returning to open session other than to adjourn.
Budget process
A public hearing is set for 3 p.m. Wednesday for input on the county’s use of state grant funds related to road work, and then another special-called meeting takes place at 3:30 p.m. for the fiscal court to have first reading on the ordinance establishing he budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for the fiscal court’s regular meeting for this month, May 23.
Comments