The Union County Fiscal accepted money Tuesday from the Sheriff’s Office, the Clerk’s Office and from the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo).
Both the Sheriff and Clerk’s offices turned in their end-of-the-year excess fees. Sheriff Mike Thompson presented the court with $200,484.91 in excess fees and Clerk Trey Peak presented the court with $56,289.03 excess, both of which were on target for their budgets.
Peak reminded the court that approximately $35,000 in excess fees did go to restore and encapsulate real estate and marriage records for permanent preservation. These records, dating from 1980 to present, are open to the public.
Peak also noted that traffic has increased in the office due to extended office hours on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Clerk’s Office is now open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday. “It’s catching on,” he said. “(People) seem very grateful, especially during farming months.”
KACo Regional Agent Rob Brown seemed eager and excited to present the first dividends of the KACo All Lines Fund, the county’s liability insurance carrier, in the amount of $16,878.53.
“It’s a big deal to us,” Brown said, as this is the first time in history the association has been able to give back to counties. “The is the best part of being in a pool—to share in the benefits, when there is a benefit.” Union County is currently under a 5-year contract with KACo, assuring insurance rates will not increase during the length of that agreement.
The KACo All Lines Fund has been providing property/casualty insurance coverage to county governments and political subdivisions across the Commonwealth since 1987. The fund currently insures 112 out of 120 Kentucky Fiscal Courts. The county’s portion, 11 percent, stems from claims from the Fiscal Year 2005-2006, in which the agency collected a total of $3 million in dividends for their county court clients.
The court must now choose to receive the dividends in a one-time payment or as an insurance renewal credit on premiums for the next fiscal year, starting July 1.
Brown expects claims from FY 2006-2007 could also produce returns as early next year, if the trend continues.
In other matters:
-- The court adopted a resolution with the Delta Regional Authority to maintain the GIS server at an annual reoccurring cost.
-- The court will advertise for two emergency generators for the Union County Jail and the Senior Citizens Building, respectively, on March 17 and 24. The court will open sealed bids on March 30 at the fifth Tuesday meeting at 5:30 p.m.
-- Jailer Marty Girten brought a refund request for booking and release costs to the court Tuesday from an unnamed individual. Girten explained that this person wished the fees for finger printing and booking be refunded to him. County Attorney Brucie Moore advised the court,“(It is) not appropriate for this court to act on this. I believe this should be addressed at the district court level, on each individual case, at the time it is brought before the district. “ The court took no action, while Moore is reviewing the jail refund policy.
-- The court approved all claims, transfers and the treasurer’s report.
-- Clements Job Corps Academy has completed three picnic tables for the Wildlife Area, reported Mag. Dist. 1 Terry Rodgers. Rodgers is contacting Wildlife Management to schedule a time for the tables to be delivered.
-- The May 11 meeting of the Union County Fiscal Court has been rescheduled to Monday, May 10 at 9 a.m.
The next meeting of the Fiscal Court is Tuesday, March 23 at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse. All meetings are open to the public.
