Fiscal Court: Public Library Tax Increase, Various Reports

Darren Doyle, story
It was a low-key fiscal court meeting overall on Monday, September 12, 2016 at the Edmonson County Courthouse as no major discussions were held or brought before the court.

​Road Foreman Ray Page reported that the Willie Webb Road Bridge issue had been repaired, and in the process, crews hauled around twenty loads of dirt to Bee Spring Park and around six loads to HWY 70 Park. He said crews had also completed a large amount of work at Chalybeate Park around the trails. He also said that the new county trucks will be picked up between Oct 1 - 15th of this year.

Jailer Hank Vincent reported that the overall number of county inmates currently lodged in the Hart County Jail had dropped to 14. He reported that one is enrolled in home incarceration and that there were no current major medical claims. He also added that one jailer's vehicle was broken down.

Parks and Rec Administrator Greg Hudson reported that the dirt hauled to Bee Spring Park dirt was leveled for an area of the park to be used as temporary ball field. He said the field will be open with no fence.

He also said Parks and Rec is now planning a two mile run and a one mile walk for October 29 and is working on this year's Halloween in the park. He also announced that this year's final concert in the park will be held on September 24 at 6pm, and will be a DJ'd sock hop concert.

The court also approved the Parks and Rec Policy and Procedure handbook which Hudson said was much needed.  Magistrate Edd Rich said he supported Greg, because he had helped the program to move forward. Judge Wil Cannon agreed.“Greg has lots of good ideas and is doing a good job of making things happen," he said. Cannon noted that a policy and procedure manual helps to protect county entities from liability.

The court also acknowledge a small increase in the county's Library Tax rate from 6.8% to 7.3%  Library officials noted that there hadn't been any increase in three years.

Rhonda Clemmons, Tourism and Chamber of Commerce Director said the chamber is in the process of finalizing this year's Golf Scramble as well trying to finalize a "Shop EC" program, where gift certificates can be purchased at one place for multiple county businesses and organizations. She also announced that the Annual Chamber Dinner will be held on November 10th at Mammoth Cave Hotel. 

The court also approved a 25mph speed limit for Kailey Court, a small road in the Arthur Blvd subdivision off KY HWY 1749 in Wingfield.

County Clerk Kevin Alexander said the recent delinquent tax sale on Sept 6 was well attended and brought in around $38K for the county. He also said he was preparing for the upcoming general election: He noted that the Wingfield Voting Precinct will be open for the election but the border between Wingfield and the SEES district fell at North and South Alexander Creek Road. He said those on the east side of the road will still vote at SEES. Everyone on the west side will be moved to Wingfield Fire Dept. "Some people say that they were told if you lived on the east side but owned land on other side, you could vote in Wingfield, but that's not true," he said. "We understand there are still frustrations, but that's just incorrect information. Where you live 51% of the time is the same district in which you vote."

The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 26, 2016 at 9am. 

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