Webster County Fiscal Court members awarded bids, amended its 911 ordinance and heard readings of several proclamations during a busy regular session Monday morning at the Courthouse in Dixon.

Court members opened the meeting by opening bids for new trucks for the road department. In the court’s last meeting, magistrates voted to send the county’s current fleet of two tri-axle dump trucks and two roll-off garbage trucks to auction this month.

So after opening and reading bids from three companies for new trucks, magistrates made a motion to table the issue and award bids at the March 22 meeting. But County Road Department Assistant Superintendent Rob Mooney stated “we need some trucks, we’re down to just one.”

So Mooney, along with Superintendent Linda Wilson, left the meeting to research and compare the bids so magistrates could make a decision before the end of the meeting.

Bids included:

Worldwide, Inc., of Lexington: 2010 Mack rolloffs ($125,051 each), 2011 Mack tri-axle dump trucks ($107,721 each).

Banner Trucking of Evansville: 2009 Mack rolloff ($227,831 each).

Freightliner of Evansville: 2011 tri-axle dump trucks ($109,553 each), 2011 roll-off garbage trucks ($124,606 each).

After reviewing the bids, Mooney and Wilson returned later in the meeting with a recommendation to accept the bids from Worldwide, Inc. Awarding the lower price, they also emphasized that Worldwide could deliver the trucks within 30 days.

Magistrates voted 3-0 to accept the Worldwide bids.

Court members also awarded a bid for the South Sebree Industrial Park, specifically for Sebree Fencing Company, to Madisonville Paving. The work will include excavation, drainage and paving at the facility and the winning bid was $75,827.77.

Webster County Judge Executive Jim Townsend noted that the paperwork for the grant to fund the project had been received from Frankfort and work could begin as early as next week.

Magistrates heard a brief presentation from Donna Bumpus of the Webster County Youth Council. She told of a new movement that would be officially starting at WCHS this week called Green Dot Day.

“This movement actually started on the campus of the University of Kentucky and it promotes safety for everyone. We want to take a stand to do all we can to assure non-violence in Webster County,” Bumpus stated. “This can include any act of violence such as date rape, child abuse, elder abuse, bullying, or hazing. And we’re promoting any act or attitude that stops violence.”

Judge Townsend and magistrates were quick to applaud Bumpus and her group for the movement and for celebrating Green Dot Day on Friday, March 12.

“I admire you for stepping up and doing this. There’s lots of violence that we never hear about and we’re proud of you and your group for starting this movement. We’ll certainly do anything we can to assist,” Judge Townsend stated.

Magistrates heard the first reading of a 911 Ordinance Amendment allowing release of 911 telephone fees to the city of Providence, inside the corporate city limits.

“Providence has passed an ordinance to collect those telephone fees for their enhanced 911 system. This is for phone lines with 667 prefix inside the city limits,” Judge Townsend explained. “This repeals a portion of the county’s ordinance so those folks in Providence are not being double taxed.”

It was noted that cell phone calls and fees are hard to determine since they “bounce” off many different towers. But Webster County 911 Director Doug Sauls did clarify that 911 calls made in Providence would be routed to their emergency system. That also include the Diamond and Green Grove areas.

Judge Townsend read a proclamation declaring March 15-April 15 as “Be Counted In 2010”, noting the importance of the upcoming Census.

“Money that comes into Webster County and this area will depend on the Census,” Judge Townsend explained. “People need to fill them out and fill them out correctly. They will be delivered in March and those homes that don’t return the questionnaire will probably get a visit from a Census worker.

“It is just vitally important that all citizens fill this questionnaire out because of the federal funding as well as the representation in Congress, House of Representatives and state levels as well,” Townsend continued.

The Judge also told court members of some good news concerning a $1 million multi-county water project that had been approved by federal authorities.

“We made application for multi-county coal severance funds that ties Webster County water lines in with Union, Henderson, Crittenden, Lyon, Caldwell and Livingston counties. We just received word that this is “a go” and Webster County will be the lead county in this multi-county effort. This is what they (federal authorities) are looking for, regional efforts rather than a single county trying to work alone,” Townsend explained.

Myra Scott of Providence addressed the court concerning help with youth and wellness programs she’s hoping to promote and advance in Providence.

Scott noted that programs are already underway at the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church’s Family Life Center.

“We’re hoping to start a computer lab and also a wellness and fitness center and we need tools and resources to empower these youth,” Scott stated. “I’m concerned that low-income and black youth’s only path is down the road of crime and we’re hoping to continue our work of empowering these youth with resources and skills. That’s a great passion of mine.”

It was noted that a Youth Community Day was held once a month and that many volunteers were already involved with after-school and summer programs at the Life Center.

“We’re trying to educate and put in place programs that are going to empower youth because there’s such a great disparity in programs for low income and black children right now and that disparity only seems to get wider. And it seems those federal funds are not filtering down. We’re looking at programs to develop skills and for educational work.”

Suggestions were offered concerning Community Development Block Grants as well as working with GRADD, local school programs, Badgett Center funding and other outreach programs in the area.

Webster County Treasurer Paula Quinn suggested that Scott provide court members with specific funding numbers that could be used in upcoming budget talks and workshops.

In personnel matter, magistrates approved the hiring of Alan Stone as a part-time deputy at the Detention Center as well as Mary Poe as a part-time nurse at the center.

“We have one full-time nurse and one part-time nurse but she doesn’t want additional hours,” Jailer Terry Elder stated.

Magistrate Tony Felker presented a request from Shirley Melton on Diamond-Green Grove Road for a tile that needed to be cleaned. Magistrate Pete O’Nan requested some help from the road department for gravel on Buchannan road and Boyd Jackson Road.

Linda Wilson told court members of the upcoming Commonwealth Cleanup Week March 21-27.

Court members then enter into closed session to discuss pending litigation or personnel matters. The court re-convened with no action to report.