Other Issues At This Week's Fiscal Court

There were several more items on this week's fiscal court agenda in addition to the Rocky Hill Gas Plant discussion that we reported earlier. County Road Foreman Ray Page told the court he had hired three new employees, J.D. Pierce, Brandon Hack, and Steve Sturgeon for the upcoming summer season. 

The court also heard from Little League Program Director Greg Hudson. Hudson reported that the season was going well and make up games from rain outs were being worked into the schedule. He also said that the concession stand was thriving. All proceeds from concessions now go back into Parks and Rec, not a third party as has been in the past. 

The court received a request to remove Sally Sanders Rd (Dickey's Mill Rd area) from the county road system. One individual owned all the property on both sides of the road and citizens from the area agreed with the request. The court approved the request.

The court also discussed the boundaries of Chalybeate Sports Complex Park, which has two baseball fields, a playground, horseshoe pits, basketball and tennis courts, walking trails, a disc golf course, and two parking lots. Apparently the survey of the property was never recorded with the clerk's office and a private landowner that joins the park was in the process of having his property logged. Both the landowner and the county wanted to be sure the correct boundaries were in order so the court agreed to contact a professional surveyor to look into the matter.

Judge Cannon also read an update on Green River Lock No. 6. Nothing has changed since the last report. As it currently stands, the locks will remain in place.

Cannon also noted that the court was going to have to either come up with ways to generate more revenue or find cuts in the budget. He said the county had been relying heavily on savings in order to stay within the budget, something he said could not sustain itself at the current rate. With the county's current bills, the budget for the next year must find either $100K in cuts or increase in revenue. Cannon said it wasn't a pleasant topic to bring up but had to be addressed.

The court also heard reports from Sheriff Shane Doyle, Jailer Hank Vincent, and County Clerk Kevin Alexander. We'll have the sheriff's report in a separate article. Jailer Vincent said the new home incarceration program was working well for the county. Non-violent offenders were paying up front for the service, staying out of jail, and continuing to be able to work. The county was seeing a small amount of revenue instead of the cost of keeping someone in jail.

Clerk Alexander reported that his first Saturday of business was a huge success and plans on continuing to make improvements within his office. He said they have received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback on the Saturday opening.

The next meeting was originally scheduled for Monday, May 25th, but has been moved back to Tuesday, May 26th at 9am due to the Memorial Day Holiday.  

Edmonson Voice Staff

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