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Edmonson County's Number One Source For Local News and Information

Fiscal Court: Constables And Lights Discussed Again, Various Reports, More

6/13/2016

10 Comments

 
Darren Doyle, story
The Edmonson County Fiscal Court dissolved their current Animal Shelter/Dog Warden Contract with Greg and Kim Carroll at today's meeting, which you can read by clicking here. 

In other fiscal court business, Edd Rich reminded the court that the county had voted against the use of flashing or oscillating blue lights on constable vehicles. Mag. Rich said he saw Constable Tim Skees' car with blue and red lights installed and working on his car.  He pointed out that laws were laws and they need to be enforced.

Sheriff Shane Doyle was asked if he had recently seen any blue lights on constable vehicles, and his thoughts on the matter if any constable has flashing blue lights, to which he replied. "You have the letter of the law and you have the intent of the law. We as a department have always sought to enforce the intent of the law, or what those who passed the laws intended those laws to mean."

He said that he has seen lights on a constable's car that when activated, shine solid blue but don't flash or oscillate. He said the solid lights or a flashing red light may not violate the written law, but it's possible that it violates the intent of the law.

There was a discussion on the possibility of raising the bond amount for all constables. The current bond for an Edmonson County Constable is $10,000. 
​
The Edmonson Voice contacted Constable Tim Skees, who was not present at today's meeting. In a written statement, Constable Skees said: 
KRS states "flashing, rotating or oscillating blue lights are prohibited." I use only lights which are allowed to the letter of the law. My lights may be blue, yes, but do not flash, oscillate, or rotate, therefore are no more illegal that the ice blue headlights or blue lights everyday persons use on trucks and cars seen every day on roads. The law states shall not be equipped with "flashing, oscillating or rotating blue lights." My view would be "Why is Mr. Rich so against the law, and those who are elected to represent it by the people?" I have the same authority and jurisdiction as any other Edmonson Co law official. Our special deputies which are also not Richmond certified, run blue lights every day, and perform traffic stops and peace officer duties. The exception is they are furnished county vehicles, county tags, county blue lights, and county radio privileges. I work for free, just as the special deputies all do. Only difference between myself and special deputies , is that the people elected me, and special deputies are appointed. I have full support as a peace officer from every county law enforcement officer in the county. However, Magistrate Rich chooses to ignore their judgement and issue his personal thoughts. I pay to serve the people of Edmonson county out of my pocket with zero support of magistrates. If they can justify their stance to the public, I'd like to see that.
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Judge Cannon said the matter would be discussed further after some research. He also said that a decision for raising the bond would be made at the next meeting. 
In other Fiscal Court business:
​​
Road Report: Road Foreman Ray Page reported his crew had been busy with various blacktopping jobs throughout the county, mowing crews were working on county right of ways, and new 35mph signs had been posted on Oak Hill Road.

Sheriff Report: Sheriff Doyle reported on two different serious accidents in as many days. He also spoke of a rash of burglaries around Cave Hollow Bay, and that his office is investigating a suspect. He also reported that several DUI arrests were made during recent traffic safety checkpoints, which we will have in an upcoming report.

Parks and Rec: Program administrator Greg Hudson said that little league baseball is in process of finishing this week and All Star season will begin soon. He announced some of the details for the upcoming Freedom Festival and said that the parks are planning on offering a soccer program for this fall.

County Attorney Annual Report: J.B. Hines said that the state requires his office to give an annual report. In the report he described the source of office funds which were:  1. County Attorney traffic school ($3K). 2. Cold check account-fees ($4k) 3. Delinquent tax fees (over $51K) He said the total expenses were around $49K, for the past fiscal year. He said the upcoming year will be increase with the addition of hiring an asst. county attorney to help with delinquent tax collection.

New Business:
The court opened sealed bids for county road materials from Scotty’s Construction, Caneyville Crushed Stone, Asphalt Materials & Co, Bluegrass Materials, and Park City Stone. Judge Wil Cannon said it was standard practice to accept all bids if it benefits the county.

​The court also:
     Reappointed Yvonne Campbell to serve on Aging Committee.
     Reappointed Mike Stoyonovich as a citizen member to BRADD.

Radio System Finance Approval: Radio System Approval: $115,000.00, paid over 5 years, as per agreement between Edmonson County, KACO, and Magnolia Bank.

Property Donation To County: Judge Cannon said that Mr. Robert Vincent wanted to donate a half acre piece of property off KY HWY 728 to the county, however; the Judge said the county accepting the donation would not be beneficial. He said the county would have no use for the property but would have to maintain it, or incur expense to sell it. He said the best way for the property to benefit the county would be for it to remain in private hands so property taxes could be paid on it. "It's a very generous offer from Mr. Vincent, who doesn't live in the county, but I think it would be better if it remained in private ownership." 

Magistrate Edd Rich suggested that the court wait on a decision until magistrates had a chance to inspect the property, to which the Judge agreed.

The meeting was adjourned and after a short recess, attendees reassembled for the purpose of discussion on the animal shelter situation.
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10 Comments
tim skees - Constable
6/13/2016 09:18:40 pm

I have a few words for those on fiscal court whom would like to jack up constables bonds to knock them out of office by requiring a bond which they cannot afford or find, just to knock them from office.

The public elected official bond is a bond required of an elected official, a surety guarantee that they WILL PERFORM THE DUTIES FOR WHICH THEY WERE ELECTED. So is Judge Cannon suggesting the magistrates raise my bond due to the fact I am NOT doing my sworn duty ?

I contacted the Attorney Generals office, regarding magistrates thoughts on jacking our bonds to knock us out of office. His representative called me, and said when that happens, you call me. It is QUITE illegal to be used for that purpose.
What would even be a just cause to raise a bond that stands for someone doing their job, when that is what fiscal court is trying to PREVENT !

Thusly I have consulted locally as well and have a few words for fiscal court:

Attourney General
and
Gary Logsdon

Reply
kara dearing
6/14/2016 02:25:36 am

Tim skees has proved yet again that he is dedicated to HELPING this county! If everyone was as dedicated to HELPING edmonson county like tim skees than maybe our county would be known for something other than a bunch of meth heads. I don't understand why this Magistrate has such a problem with someone that is so willing to help our County that he is willing to do it for free. would they do their jobs for free? I think not. So instead of fussing about the color of lights on his car or if they blink or not how about we focus on more important matters shall we? And furthermore if someone is so into helping our County let them, maybe that way we can get some of the rotten apples out

Reply
Tim Skees
6/14/2016 02:29:14 am

Okay, this "bond" they want to jack up for one reason. Simply to force us constables out of office.
There is NO other reason to do this.

The constable bond is NOT for this use.The TRUTH ( which is hard to find in fiscal courts musings on constables) is, that the bond of a constable, is a bond which REQUIRES a constable to FULFILL his duties to the fullest extent of the law.( It also covers monies handled by constables, for the justice of the peace courts, which were abolished by the 1975 creation of district courts.) So what the magistrates are doing, since this bond obviously does not cover me handling money for the courts, nor do I have ANY problem doing my job to the letter of the law, then it MUST be to simply force me out of office. A low-down move and a slap in the face to 413 voters in district 2.
This bond has nothing to do with liability. It has to do with an elected constable, fulfilling the duties which FISCAL COURT doesn't want him doing.
And FYI fiscal court, yes you are gods in those chairs, BUT, even gods must abide by the laws of this state, and when you jack constable bonds, for none other reason than kicking us out of office, THEN you become liable to this state as well as civilly.

Here is the very explanation from KaCo, the county's elected official insurer, about a constable bond :

"A public official bond guarantees the honest and faithful performance of the duties an elected official performs as prescribed by law, including the honest account of all monies entrusted to the official while in office." - KaCo

So using this as a weapon, as I have been previously threatened with, is QUITE illegal.

But I'm sure magistrates are right, and the A.G. has no idea what he is talking about.

I love chess. Play me.

Reply
GARY COSTELLO
6/14/2016 04:10:43 pm

No emergency vehicle, public safety vehicle, or any other vehicle covered by KRS
189.910 to 189.950 shall use any light of any other color than those specified by
KRS 189.910 to 189.950. Sirens, whistles, and bells may not be used by vehicles
other than those specified by KRS 189.910 to 189.950, except that any vehicle may
be equipped with a theft alarm signal device which is so arranged that it cannot be
used by the driver as an ordinary warning signal

Reply
GARY COSTELLO
6/14/2016 04:34:48 pm

You can not pull over people in the state KY.using a RED flashing light they can only be used for courtesy and/or right of way.

Reply
Dist. 2 Constable
6/15/2016 12:24:19 am


You are exactly correct Gary. COURTESY light. However, law REQUIRES ANYONE to comply with the lawful order of a peace officer.
There are so many "grey areas" surrounding this issue.

Point I'm trying to make is this. Via election by the people, I AM the law. I hold that authority, whether fiscal court likes it or not.
Part of the duties of ANY peace officer, the KRS PLAINLY states, is " Police officers, sheriffs, their deputies, CONSTABLE, and their deputies SHALL ENFORCE the TRAFFIC and CRIMINAL statutes of this state, and it SHALL be the DUTY of EACH OF THEM...."
It's the LAW, look it up. Didn't mention a magistrate anywhere in there as having the ability to be in charge or intervene in that.
*I do my job, which the law REQUIRES me to do.
*I do not go outside my "scope of practice" as a peace officer.
*I have faithfully and without waver, carried out the office the people elected me to.
If you have an issue with YOUR constable, address that with fiscal court, the Judge exec, or state lawmakers.

*I have been a sworn peace officer for several years prior to being elected constable.
*I was vetted and appointed/ commissioned by the Governor and justice cabinet secretary to that position.

If magistrate rich and some of the others object to myself being in a law enforcement capacity, and serving the people of Edmonson County for FREE, that does not speak ill of me, it speaks to THEIR LACK of just judgment.
*I serve on FOUR county fire depts.
*I serve on the Edmonson Co Rescue Squad.
*I help at ANY emergency scene when I can be of help, or if asked, I gladly go watch/ direct traffic for emergency personnel.

The sheriff has yet to have to ask me to leave a scene, nor has he ever ask me to do something to assist him, and I not happily complied with his request. Same goes for the City Police.

The FACT that is getting overlooked here, is that I do MASSIVE amounts of volunteering for this county (past 7 years), all for no pay, and all while paying to do this. I ask the county for nothing in return, but fair treatment, which obviously, they can not afford to give. Best they can do is spit in my face.

Magistrates are NEVER out at 4am fighting fires with us.
They are NEVER out cutting people out of cars with us.
They are never faced with the horrors we emergency personnel have to take home with us from wreck scenes and fires when people are killed.
Magistrates only sit in judgment over all us, and in my case as constable, they tell me I'm not good enough to do these things now, simply because im a constable also.

Our Judge Exec stated in open court, that " You choose to do these things, no one makes you.."
Well, I beg to differ judge Cannon. The VOTERS make me do it, sir.
I would invite Magistrate rich to come help me remove a dead child from a wreck some time ( over the years I have a few) . I ask him to come out in -2 degree weather in January and February and fight a house fire with me with icicles hanging of me .
If you can not do what I do, then you have NO RIGHT to damn me and tell me I'm not good enough to do my job.

The day these few negative magistrates come out and walk in our volunteer men and womens' shoes, is the day I'll cast my vote for them once again.
I serve those whom elected me and the people of Edmonson County.
I have shown what I do for the people. Ask in the streets of anyone.
Cars I have stopped for running 69 in a 35, will all tell you they were treated with respect and kindness and asked to PLEASE slow down when driving through Brownsville, drive safe and have a good evening.

If magistrate rich finds fault with that, he needs to find another line of work or explain to 413 FREE American voters of District 2, and the rest of Edmonson Co, why he thinks their votes do not matter.

The disgust in our country over the old school grumpy politicians is running high everywhere. People are sick and tired of people of influence stomping on others cause they have power. Next election, we very well may have all new magistrates, with more modern, thoughtful and caring points of view. The people in general are sick and tired of the old ways and want to grow and be better. They should start with questioning the judgment of some of the magistrates, because if they are not here for the greater good, are they just there for the power and for the monthly salary ?

My deepest wish is for fiscal court to do the RIGHT thing, not the POLITICAL thing. Just cause our judge hates constables and a few of our magistrates hate constables, there is no reason to make the county suffer the loss of another volunteer, willing to risk his life on behalf of others. The magistrates sure don't do anything like that at all !
.

GARY COSTELLO
6/15/2016 03:19:17 pm

Just because magistrates don't support you having blue lights does not mean they are against their community that voted them in...They are trying to support us working people!! On the issue you said is a grey area the fiscal court has full authority in not allowing any constable to have blue lights.

Reply
Dist. 2 Constable Office
6/16/2016 11:53:51 am

The issue is not the lights, the underlying issue is, fiscal court wants to abolish Constables.

THAT is the issue at heart. When a magistrate states in an open " I thought we said we wasn't gonna let constables do anything..." THAT shows ignorance of the law, and Judge Cannon quickly had to explain the constitutional law of the constable office to this particular magistrate.
If magistrates don't know the laws regarding what they are trying to quash, is one thing, and sometimes understandable, but making laws up as you see fit, is AGAINST the law. Magistrates were stripped of their "Justice of the Peace" powers in 1975, with the creation of District Courts. Now, they are relegated to financial matters and county fiscal matters. Constables, however, remain full authority, law enforcement officers, until legislators change that. Fiscal courts have NO SAY about constables' authority or jurisdictions, only about bonds and lights, and the bonds, we will soon address it appears.

Reply
Neal Lindsey link
6/16/2016 01:58:30 pm

I am a resident of Bee Spring for over 25 years and a life long native to Edmonson County. I do not know Mr. Skees and I commend him for his voluntary service to our county. I have had, and continue to have friends and relatives whom have served in law enforcement, volunteer fire depts. and the rescue squad. This is very admirable by Mr. Skees and I thank him for his service. But I am also married to my wife for over 35 years and I have watched she and her family suffer agony because a sherriff and his deputies gunned down her brother and shot her father twice just outside their kitchen door in 1978. Her family won a judgement for over a million dollars but never collected a penny. The right to carry and use firearms to uphold our laws is a very serious responsibility and should never be entrusted to anyone without forethought and never ending and exten sive training. I support my magistrate whole heartily in this matter and hope he continues to hold what is in the best interest of the public foremost,

Reply
Dist. 2 Constable Office
6/18/2016 05:59:50 pm

My heartfelt condolences go out to those in your family whom were affected by this.

So what you are saying, in effect is, since CERTIFIED "real cops" shot this person, then constables have no chance to be of any use, because they are simply to dangerous to exist.

So why don't we do away with ALL constables, special deputies, sheriffs and have only mistake proof KSP troopers patrolling. Well, wait a minit, they also make mistakes here and there, being they are HUMAN.

ALL men make mistakes my friend. No matter what position they have in life, ALL do. Let's try judging constables by their deeds and actions and what they have established as a track record.

You may find out that some of those Constables come pretty highly recommended. And most importantly....TRUSTED.

God told me, in church Sunday HE was my judge, NOT a magistrate and a ditch digging, road maintenance supervisor.

Vote to pay the bills, and let the law do the law work.

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