Outspoken opponents of a new jail made their opinions known on a day when the Fiscal Court also entertained a pitch from a construction management firm.
Jim Codell of Codell Construction Management was at the court meeting Tuesday to introduce the court to his company and the services it provides. Following his presentation, jail opponents hounded him with questions that often reached beyond the scope of his knowledge and expertise.
Codell accommodated the questions from audience members, sharing his own experiences in working with jails across the state.
Codell's company provides daily oversight of the construction project and works with contractors to save the county money. He said his firm would be paid a flat fee, probably of less than 5 percent of the county's total project cost.
The Fiscal Court listened intently to Codell's pitch and members asked questions afterward, but they did not take action.
In other news the Fiscal Court:
Approved an ordinance making the direct depositing of county employee checks mandatory. In a survey conducted by the treasurer's office, 46 county employees were in favor of direct depositing, 24 were against and 10 wanted to go along with whatever the majority decided. Magistrates Bobby Veatch, Dennis Dossett and Jerri Floyd voted in favor of mandatory direct depositing while Joe Clements and Joe Wells voted against it.
Approved a resolution showing support for the United Mine Workers Association and their right to petition employers for union representation. The resolution also denounced the use of intimidation, threats of mine closure or harassment by a company as a means of keeping unions out. UMWA representative Richard Leitchfield said a copy of the resolution will be sent to the CEO of Peabody Energy, which owns and operates several mines in this area.
Was informed that County Attorney Brucie W. Moore filed a lawsuit against the owners of a neglected home and property behind the Presbyterian Church in Sturgis for tax delinquency.
There are a number of liens against the house, including one of $26,000 to a lending institution. Moore said she has filed a motion for summary judgement. The case will go before Judge Renee' Williams on April 10. Williams may judge that the property be sold at a master's commissioner sale at the courthouse.
The Presbyterian Church has been interested in purchasing the property, but the amount of liens against it are too great to be cost-effective, said Moore.
The property contains a two-story house with a room containing four or five canisters of photo-print material that would need to be properly disposed.
-- Moore notified the court she has written a rough draft of a new solid waste ordinance.
Discussed the intersections of the Morganfield Bypass with U.S. 60 North and U.S. 56 West. County Judge-Executive Frank Eiter said the intersections present a dangerous situation, but he has been told by the state there is no money available for improving safety at the intersections. Eiter said the county could request a permit from the state to purchase the safety items, such as, possibly, overhead lighting, reflectors or rumble strips, and have them installed as long as they meet state guidelines. Fiscal Court members encouraged Eiter to seek out the costs of such safety items for future consideration by the court.
Frank Eiter said the county had been approached by an oil and gas company wanting to drill into the 126 acres at Moffitt Lake. The company's representative did not show up for Tuesday's court meeting, and so the issue was tentatively dropped.
Received a report from the county roads superintendent that last week's tire amnesty efforts brought in 2,345 passenger tires, 371 semi tires, and 204 farm tires. Economic Development Director Paul Monsour said Martin Tire has agreed to recycle the tires at its Sturgis plant for a reduced cost.
Eiter informed the court of a Workforce Investment Act through GRADD that places recent high school and G.E.D. graduates at area businesses. GRADD handles all the payroll and insurance issues. Eiter encouraged local businesses to join in the program.
Was informed by Monsour that the potential for an occupant of the spec building is still in the works.
Magistrate Floyd asked for the county's participation in a May 5 cleanup in Uniontown.
