Fiscal Court Recap: County Approves New Truck Bidding Process

L-R: Magistrates Joe Durbin, Buck Simmons, and Edd Rich discuss documents during today's Fiscal Court meeting.

Darren Doyle, story and photos
Fiscal Court was held in the Edmonson County Courthouse on Monday, May 9, 2016. Several county offices gave updated reports to the court.

• The court approved to move forward with the bidding process for the new road department trucks. Judge Cannon announced that the county had estimated a price range of around $102,000 for each truck as Road Foreman Ray Page discussed the requirements and basic option needs for each truck. Once bids are returned to the court from truck dealers, the court will vote on which company will be awarded the bid.
• Page also reported his department had been busy working on maintenance blacktop work throughout districts 1-3 with the remaining districts on the list. He also said two job openings that were posted earlier where still available. Page also reported that there had been recent problems with semi trucks traveling through Mohawk and Willie Webb Road. Recently, there was a semi that was forced into a dead end on Willie Webb Road and had to have help from a semi tow truck to get turned around. Apparently, GPS maps have somehow misguided the trucks through the tiny, one lane roads.
• Sheriff Shane Doyle reported that his department had recently purchased new tasers, funded by seized drug money, and was working on getting one of the county deputies certified to train in the use of the devices, which would allow required training to remain in-house instead of an outside agency. He also reported that several residents in the Cave Hollow Bay area had reached out for a county ordinance to allow certain golf carts on the roads within the small development. The court agreed to look into the issue and discuss later.
• Jim Brown with Hellervik Oil reported that the energy company was no longer looking to purchase property within the Industrial Park for a new gas plant, but rather a different piece of undisclosed property. He said he would report on that property if the company agreed to purchase the land.

L-R: Magistrates Mark Woosley, Johnny Brooks, & Clark Wood, talk with Road Foreman Ray Page while Treasurer Margret Skaggs prepares a document.

In new business, the court approved:

• Ambulance Transport Agreement for prisoners that will save the county around 20%
• Purchase of new pickup truck for Road Department, cost of which will be split between the road department and each district's road money
• Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Workshop, June 8-9 2016 at Lake Cumberland State Park

EC Chamber and Tourism Director Rhonda Clemmons reported on the recent positive feedback received from "ChamberTalk" on D93's  Tony Rose Morning Show with the Edmonson Voice. The monthly radio segment on the popular radio program featured Bank of Edmonson County and WRECC last week. She said the Chamber was very pleased with the coverage provided by WDNS and the Edmonson Voice.

She also discussed the EC Tourism's First Annual Photo Contest in partnership with the Edmonson Voice that launched today. Edmonson Voice readers can submit their photos promoting Edmonson County for upcoming promotional materials with a chance to win prize money. Readers will also choose a first, second, and third place winners. The Edmonson Voice had already received a dozen entries before this morning's meeting.

The court took a short break then opened preliminary discussions for the proposed county budget for the next fiscal year.

The next Fiscal Court meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday, May 23, 2016.