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Adair County Fiscal Court Report, Mon. April 14, 2008 In last night's Adair Fiscal Court meeting
By Ed Waggener In last night's Adair County Fiscal Court meeting, Judge Ann Meltonmade environmental advances a major part of the meeting praising localbusinesses, civic groups, and individuals for the unprecedentedsuccess of Adair County Pride 2008 Clean-up Day and Picnic. "It was agreat day for Adair County," Judge Melton said. "and it wasfun." Judge Melton made the remarks during Adair County Solid WasteCoordinator A.L. Sinclair's report. "In all the 11 years I have beenworking with this program," Mr. Sinclair said, "I've never seen peoplecome together and pitch in and do their part the way they didSaturday." Judge Melton sent a special thanks to her own staff and to othermembers of county government who had volunteered their own time forthe event. She gave special thanks to Adair County's best in Kentuckycounty road department. "They started before everyone else and didn'tquit until the trash bags were picked up from along the highway, andthe park was cleaned up." Mr. Sinclair noted the special dedication of the local Wal-Mart storemanager and associates. "Danny Bragg had 15 people (actually 17. -CM)out pickup up garbage. He gave money, and he supports the clean-up andrecycling. We couldn't ask for more." Judge Melton said, "So many organizations and individuals gave moneyand prizes that we were drawing for winners all during the picnic. Weeven had people like Johnny Jones, who had already donated his timeand barbecue cooker, give a $20 prize after dozens of prizes had beengiven out." To see a list of donors to the effort, In a related presentation, Mr. Sinclair presented the coveted"Recycler of the Month" award to Ralph Waggener, President of SouthCentral Printing, Inc. "My friend has been with us from the start," Mr. Sinclair said. "Ralphhas helped lead the way." He noted that a large pickup, over 2 tons,had been picked up at South Central Printing in the last couple ofdays. Tire amnesty not until next spring, but alternative available Sixth District Magistrate Joe Rogers asked Mr. Sinclair about old tiredisposal. "We found six along the road Saturday," he said. "Tires are a problem," Sinclair said. "It costs $3 a tire to get ridof them. But we'll take them. We're getting a load to take to Edmontonin June. They're taking tires June 5-7." There is no limit on thetires, at this time, Sinclair said. The regular Tire Amnesty programwill not be available until next spring, he said. New part-time employee at Recycling Center added Sinclair got a new part-time employee for the Recycling Center.Hershey Giles, who has been working at the Adair County RoadDepartment, had been helping stepping across the lane from the CountyRoad Barn to the Recycling Center to help out when the work loadrequired it. "He does a good job," Judge Melton said of Hershey Giles. The courtapproved the transfer. Mr. Giles will be paid $8.00 per hour. Recycling Center director on family medical leave In a related matter, after meeting in executive session the boardvoted to put Donnie Claywell, the Recycling Center Director, on familymedical leave. The action means that Claywell is on leave without pay,but can return to his job. The vote was 7-0. The action, Judge Meltonannounced, "Is effective today." Jailhouse Life: Romance stymied, smoking, dipping out; inmate doctor bills remain high Romance between inmates, jail employees must wait for six months after leaving the Adair County Regional Jail. There's a country song in there somewhere. But it's what the State Department of Corrections demanded and it's what the Adair Fiscal Court added to the Adair County Jail Policy and Procedures Manual. Furthermore, in another move, the court voted to adopt another revision, and this one stops inmates from smoking or dipping anywhere, and requires employees to go to designated outside areas to smoke. Furthermore, inmates will still have to pay $40 for medical visits, instead of the $10 recommended by Adair County Regional Jailer Wm. "Bug" Knight, through Deputy ACR Jailer Pam Yarberry, in last night's April 14, 2008, meeting. Humanitarian, Golden Rule, Christian practices aside, the court opted to continue the unconscionable insult to injury practice of charging persons deprived of their freedom for medical care and their own incarceration (and a per diem for the privilege of being locked up). Such is the Dickensian nature of the Kentucky law enforcement/court/prison industry, where business matters more than professed Christian principles, in a county where prisons are an industry, in a state where more people are incarcerated per capita than any other, in a United States of America where more people are locked away than in any country in the world. Somehow, nobody has connected the dots to see how higher and higher rates of incarceration is crippling state govenment budges, lowering other state funded aid to counties and puts a heart hardened edge toward our fellow man. Nor do we sense that Kentucky society as a whole has been the frog in boiling water while the massive prison and allied industries have grown powerful and formidable, and forbidding. Surely there's a country music song in that. The vote on the make 'em pay when they are down and out medical measure was 7-0. But on the smoking issue and the change to prohibit "personal involvement" between a jail employee and an inmate while the inmate is in custody and for six months after the inmate leaves jail, Sixth District Magistrate Joe Rogers bucked the other six members of the court and voted no. Maybe Joe Rogers will be two-thirds a hero in the song. Jail report approved Deputy Regional Jailer Pam Yarberry reported that total billings for the jail for March 2008 were $93,688.70 including Adair County, and $71,141.98 after the Adair County cost of incarcerations were deducted, and $81,220.94 after additional charges, including medical and per diem, were added back in. The report was approved 7-0 on a motion by Billy Dean Coffey (5), seconded by Joe Rogers (6). Part time jail employee hired The court approved , on a motion by Perry Reeder (1), seconded by Danny Goodin (2), the hiring of Samantha Jessee as a part time jail employee. She will be paid $5.85 per hour. Insurance bids opened, but decision put off to April 24, 2008 Four insurance groups entered bids for the Adair County employees'health insurance, but the complexity of the situation prompted a voteby the magistrates to postpone a decision for further study, and adecision to call an emergency meeting on Thursday, April 24, 2008, atwhich only health insurance and a presentation of the 2008-2009 budgetwill be on the agenda. The current carrier, Anthem Blue Cross, represented at the meeting byJason Corbin of Adair County Kentucky Farm Bureau, presented aguaranteed rate of $701.95 to continue the current coverage past thecurrent expiration date of April 30, 2008. The Anthem coverage was theonly plan which guaranteed the rate. However, the rate represents analmost doubling of the current premium cost of $344..92 permonth. The court was told that the steep increase was caused by highutilization, coupled with low participation. Older employees are inthe plan, younger employees tend not to be in it. Three other agencies, American General Life and Accident Co, ReedBrothers, Columbia, KY; and KACO, presented an alternative $522.06 permonth rate, all for Bluegrass Family Health, but that figure waspredicated on a 49 individuals out of the 52 eligible employees,taking the plan. All three of the Bluegrass Fmily Health vendors offered a lowerbenefit, lower rate option of $491.20; but again, that rate would bedependent of high employee participation. Employees could be subsidized at the rate of $300 per month, JudgeMelton said. She said that she and County Treasurer Barry Corbin haddetermined that $300 would be the maximum the County canafford. Another option, which would requires the county to insure allemployees, would be to insure under a KACO plan, costing $460 permonth. This plan would give all 52 eligible employees, and would befully funded by the court. Where that option taken, the county wouldbe paying approximately $295,000 for health insurance for allemployees. Jason Corbin said, even though he would not get the business, that thefully county funded plan would be the best way to go, if the countycould afford it. Bob Davis, representing KACO, agreed, but pointed out that this planwould require the county to sign a three year contract. "Right now,the rates are staying level," he said, "but the plan is due for asubstantial increase. Some underwriters have said that it could be asmuch as 60%." Such an increase would raise the county's healthinsurance cost to around $500,000 a year. Even underpaid Donnie Melson says he could afford barebones plan When a barebones insurance plan, costing employees only $55 a monthwas presented as an option by Bob Davis, representing KACO, threeemployees in he audience were polled. Lee Ann Roy, Chief Dispatcher atthe 9-1-1- Center, said she would go into that plan, as did AssistantChief Dispatcher Justin Bailey. Donnie Melson, with the Adair County Road Department was asked if hecould afford that plan. "I'm underpaid as it is," Melson said, drawinglaughter with the one liner. But, on prompting by the CJE,acknowledged that he could afford that. "Krishana would make me dothat." His wife, Krishana Melson, was also in attendance. When Magistrate Terry Hadley asked why the county couldn't just give amonthly stipend for health insurance to each employee and let them gettheir own, Magistrate Sammy Baker noted that some employees would notbe able to afford individual plans, because of pre-existing medicalcondition. Judge Melton said that she was afraid younger employees would seehouse payment, clothes for young children, and groceries as morepressing matters and would use the money for more immediateneeds. Magistrate Baker told the court that if the health insurance questionsweren't answered, "We're not going to be able to keep goodemployees." Sheriff Curry says 98% of tax collected Sheriff Ralph Curry reported that $133,044.20 in taxes were collectedin March 2008. The sheriff said that 98% of the taxes have beencollected. "We'll be having a tax sale on April 25 (2008)" the sheriffsaid. His report was approved 7-0 on a motion by Magistrate Joe Rogers(6), seconded by Magistrate Sammy Baker (3). County has money in the bank Treasurer Barry Corbin reported that the county had $1,550,934.25 inall bank funds at the close of business March 31, 2008. His report wasapproved unanimously. Lisa Lee authorized to sign applications for FEMA flood relief On Judge Melton's recommendation, the court voted 7-0 to authorizedCJE Administrative Assistant Lisa Lee to sign applications for FEMAgrants. Judge Melton said that the county suffered over $600,000documented damage from Spring 2008 flooding. She said that Lee isready to submit applications to FEMA for funds to cover the losses.The vote came on a motion by Wid Harris (2), seconded Billy DeanCoffey (5). County gives second readings to two road changes Adair County 9-1-1 coordinator Mary Allender presented two roadchanges for second readings.
Judge Melton said that, as far as she could determine, it had alwaysbeen the policy of Fiscal Court to grandfather in roads that shouldhave been listed as county maintained roads but had been left offbecause of an administrative oversight. "This one fits that rule," shesaid. "I've talked to Jobe (Jobe Darnell, Adair County Road DepartmentSuperintendent) and he told me that Garrett Road has had countymaintenance over the years." The vote was 7-0, on a motion by Magistrate Baker, seconded byMagistrate Perry Reeder (4) to accept the road into thesystem. Agape PRC representative did not appear A representative of the Agape Pregrancy Resource Center, StephanieCaldwell, was scheduled on the agenda, but was not at the meeting. Aletter on the center was included in the Magistrate's informationpacket, however. Minutes, other routine matters, unanimously approved The minutes for the March 11, 2008, regular meeting and for the March28, 2008, emergency meeting, were approved in separate 7-0votes. Similar 7-0 votes were recorded for approval of bills and late bills,road work, and approval of budget transfers. All of Report for April 14, 2008 special regular monthly meeting To see Report for last regular monthly meeting, Tuesday, March 11,2008, at 7:00pmCT, Information about Your Adair County Fiscal Court Regular monthly Adair County Fiscal Court meetings are held at7:00 p.m., each second Tuesday. The meetings are open to thepublic. A LIST OF YOUR ADAIR COUNTY OFFICIALS Adair County Judge Executive Ann Melton 421 Public Square, Suite 1, Columbia, KY 42728 Phone 270-384-4703; Fax 270-384-9754 OTHER ELECTED ADAIR COUNTY OFFICIALS
The ADAIR COUNTY FISCAL COURT
Magistrates on the Adair County Fiscal Court:
Adair County Constables
APPOINTED OFFICIALS
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Adair Fiscal Court will hold special health insurance meeting Good news: Gizmo is back. Search is off (ADV) What's for breakfast this morning! The coffee is brewing Bean Supper and Benefit Auction: Casting for Cody Casting for Cody Yard Sale is May 10, 2008 City Council Special Called Meeting report, Mon., April 14, 2008 Summit Manor Relay 4 Life Team yard sale, Sat., April 18, 2008 Adair County Bands Spring Concert Sunday, April 20, 2008 2nd Annual Rex L. Coffey Memorial Charity Ride is April 26, 2008 Westlake Regional Hospital Auxiliary meets April 21, 2008 View even more articles in topic News |
 
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