Clark fiscal court closes year, terms

Published 9:36 am Thursday, December 27, 2018

The Clark County Fiscal Court closed 2018 with a handful of committee appointments and acting on surplus property.

The court had previously delayed re-appointing two members to the East Clark County Water District board out of concern about county firefighters having access to the district’s fire hydrants for fires.

Magistrate Daniel Konstantopoulos said he and Clark County Fire Chief Ernie Barnes recently met with the district’s board to share their concerns.

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Konstantopoulos said there are a couple details to finalize, but the district was “very willing” to work with the county and the fire department.

With that, board members Harry Fiefhaus and Kenneth Segress were reappointed 6-1 to the water district board.

Magistrate Greg Elkins cast the dissenting votes.

The court also approved the appointment of outgoing magistrate Sheila McCord to the Winchester-Clark County    Heritage Commission. Elkins voted against it, as it would overlap with her term as magistrate, which ends Jan. 7 and the commission appointment begins Jan. 1. County Attorney Brian Thomas indicated there was nothing improper, but Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham suggested that McCord could resign as magistrate on Jan. 1.

The matter was approved with a 5-1 vote, with McCord recusing herself and Elkins voting no.

Wednesday’s meeting was the last ones for Branham, McCord and Magistrate Pam Blackburn. All three were defeated in the November general election. McCord leaves after serving one term. Blackburn served several terms as magistrate and Branham ends his third consecutive term as judge-executive.

The three will be replaced by Chris Pace as judge-executive, Chris Davis as district five magistrate for McCord and Travis Thompson as district two magistrate, succeeding Blackburn.

In other action, the court:

— approved an employment change for Daniel Burton from firefighter III to part-time/volunteer firefighter.

— approved the special bond for Clark County Sheriff Berl Perdue Jr. for the 2019 sheriff’s advancement.

— declared two copiers as surplus from the county clerk’s office.

— approved sealed bids of $2,400 for a surplus 2005 Ford Crown Victoria and of $1,600 for a 2002 Dodge Ram pickup truck from the Clark County Detention Center. Both bids were submitted by Les Dixon.

— approved the purchase of 15 patrol rifles, training and ammunition for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. The equipment was purchased with a grant for $12,181 from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security.

— approved the second reading of an ordinance to rezone property at 514 E. Broadway St. from agriculture to planned development.

— approved the annual affiliation agreement with the Medical Reserve Corps.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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