Fiscal Court votes to accept state road money

Published 9:35 am Thursday, March 14, 2019

The Clark County Fiscal Court voted to accept approximately  $528,000 in state maintenance funds for the coming fiscal year.

The bulk of those funds, $407,000, will be spent by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to resurface portions of two state roads running through Clark County, said Bret Blair, a project engineer with the cabinet.

The remaining $121,000 is part of the state’s “flex fund” program where counties have the option to use the money for county roads of its choosing or leave it with the state for other road projects in the county.

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The court voted to keep the flex funds, though not specific projects were identified. Blair said the funds are restricted to be used for full road width resurfacing projects.

Blair said the state planned to use the $407,000 to resurface about 2.4 miles of McClure Road and another 2.4 miles of Flanagan Station Road. The funds will be available after July 1, which is the beginning of the next fiscal year, he said.

Had the fiscal court not kept the flex funds, Blair said the state likely would have used it to resurface about a mile of Ford Road.

Later in the meeting, the court voted to contribute $10,000 to the Clark County Fair Board toward the construction of a new concession stand at the fair grounds.

The only question was where the money would come from. Magistrate Robert Blanton made a motion, which was seconded, to take the money from the $150,000 in excess fees turned over by former county attorney Brian Thomas in December. Before the magistrates could vote, Clark County Judge-Executive Chris Pace made a motion to amend and use $10,000 from the balance of the Clark County Community Foundation.

The fiscal court administers those funds through an application process in the fall.

“Those community funds were set up for a different purpose,” Blanton said.

The amendment was approved 5-2 with Blanton and Magistrate Travis Thompson voting no. The motion to make the contribution then passed unanimously.

In other action, the court:

— approved the hiring of a heavy machine operator for the county road department, but Pace said the employee had already resigned.

— hired Ken Bradley as a temporary detective for the county attorney office at a maximum of 100 hours per month.

— promoted Taylynne Britton to animal control officer from animal shelter attendant II.

— noted the indigent burials of Kelly R. Hatton and Miranda Hatton.

— approved the suspension of road department employee Aaron Rogers.

— approved the recommendation to terminate the employment of Payton Skillern at the animal shelter.

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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