Webster County fiscal court members zipped through a full agenda Monday morning during regular session in Dixon.
Under the recommendation of County Judge/Executive Jim Townsend, magistrates were quick to approve the reappointment of county treasurer Paula Guinn to another four-year term.
“We’re very fortunate to have Paula, she does a very fine job,” commented Judge Townsend.
Guinn, who will be serving her sixth-consecutive term as county treasurer, also drew praise from the magistrates.
“She’s been very open and very helpful to us as new magistrates,” noted Tony Felker. “She really takes the time to help out.”
In old business, court members approved a bid from Diamond Equipment of Morganfield for a new backhoe. Although the bid for the CASE backhoe was not the lowest bid, it seemed to fit the needs of the county road department.
“The lowest bid is for the New Holland backhoe. However, I don’t think that’s the best bid,” stated Judge Townsend about the offering from Southeastern Equipment of Evansville. “The CASE is heavier and has a longer reach. For our purposes, I think this is the machine we need.”
Although the CASE backhoes was approximately $5,000 higher than the New Holland, magistrates took the recommendation of Townsend and Webster County Road Foreman Rob Mooney to purchase the new piece of equipment from Diamond Equipment.
“The CASE suits our needs much better. Plus, Diamond has been very good about helping us out on some of our equipment even though the warranty has run out,” Mooney explained. “They’ve taken care of things and it hasn’t cost us a dime.”
Mooney also noted that the $58,318 price tag for the backhoe also included a hydraulic ‘thumb’ which would allow operators to pick out debris such as tree limbs out of ditches.
“There was a big difference in bidding on that item,” he said.
Court members then entered into a road hearing session to approve an extension of Wright Clayton Road. The measure extended the road 900 feet past the residence of Roger Nance and put the road back into the county road system.
“For years and years, we took care of the road,” Judge Townsend stated. “They just want it opened back up and I think it’s in the best interest of the county to do so.”
Magistrate Chad Townsend asked if much work would need to be done to prepare the road.
“Probably just some gravel and ditching, maybe a culvert,” Judge Townsend answered.
Fiscal Court members also approved a cooperative agreement with Webster County Coal, LLC, for the construction of a rock dust facility on Red Oak School Road.
Under the 5-year agreement, Webster County Coal will be allowed to haul rock dust to the facility but will have to maintain a 1.4-mile stretch of the road that begins at the intersection of Hwy. 120.
“They will be responsible for the road (Red Oak School Road) as well as the turn onto Hwy. 120 back into Providence,” Judge Townsend emphasized. “This will be at no cost to the county. But we’ll certainly monitor this because this is one of our newer blacktopped roads and it’s in very good shape. They’ll have to keep it like that. But they’ve (Webster County Coal) always worked well with us in the past.”
Magistrate Tony Felker, who abstained from the vote on the matter because he’s an employee of Webster County Coal, noted that this was “a good thing.”
“This means they’re coming back (mining) into Webster County. They’ll have two mining units out there and this rock dust facility will save a lot of travel time underground,” he explained.
In other new business, magistrates approved a bid from GM Telecom Communications of Madisonville for a new phone system for offices in the courthouse and the road department.
In the June 4 meeting, Judge Townsend asked magistrates to allow the county to seek bids for an updated phone system, noting that the current one was over 25 years old and was outdated because of unavailable parts and service.
Bids were received from BGT Communications of Henderson ($12,706), GM Telecom ($11,020.33) and Cunningham Communications of Cadiz ($12,353).
It was also noted that not only being the lowest bid, GM Telecom had recently serviced Hopkins and Crittenden counties with phone systems and the company had received very favorable reviews from those counties.
Funds were transferred from the general fund and the road department to make the purchase, which allowed the court to apply the transaction to the 2006-07 budget.
In personnel matters, magistrates approved the hiring of three part-time deputies at the Webster County jail. Terry Groves, Hugh DeMoss and Michelle Carden were granted employment with a 3-0 vote.
In road requests, Magistrate Townsend asked for county workers to take a look at a bridge on Henry Mitchell Road, noting that the concrete seemed to be deteriorating. Magistrate Pete O’Nan requested some rip-rap on Watkins Sebree Road near Cambridge Acres. Magistrate Felker asked for limbs to be trimmed back on Pleasant Valley Road. He also noted that the Pleasant Valley Church Cemetery Committee was requesting to close a portion of a road in the cemetery in order to sell plots in the area.
“We’ve researched the matter and the road is not in the county system,” he said. “They’ve (committee) been mowing and taking care of it for a long time.”
A measure was passed with a 3-0 vote to have Webster County Attorney Clint Prow to proceed with legal documents giving the road to the cemetery committee.
Judge Townsend also reported to magistrates that the old railroad bed in Clay had been blacktopped and the county was now requesting that the city of Clay take the road into its system.
“About 15 years ago we had an agreement to maintain it. Now it’s blacktopped and we’re asking them (Clay) again to take it,” Townsend said.
“That’s been an issue for quite some time, hasn’t it?” Chad Townsend asked.
“Yes it has,” Judge Townsend replied. “Hopefully this will take care of it.”
Townsend also noted that he was in Frankfort last week and met with Transportation Department officials concerning additional road funds. But he painted a grim picture on Monday in the hopes of securing money road money for Webster County.
“State road money will be very short, if any. The road fund is very tight and it will be tough the rest of the summer as far as blacktopping and chip-and-seal work,” he emphasized. “We know we have some roads that need work but the legislature did not follow through and designate money that was supposed to be used for roads.”
In final business, magistrates were presented a review of salaries for county workers. In was noted that the salaries had already been approved because they were in the 2007-08 budget.
Court members were also presented special taxing district budgets including Lower Tradewater Conservancy District ($27,000), Webster County Soil Conservation District and Pitman Creek Conservancy District.
Court members then entered into executive session to discuss property aquisiton and reconvened with nothing to report.
