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Clark County Fiscal Court discussed Wednesday whether to raise salaries for county department heads.

Motions were put forward but tabled for consideration at the next meeting to possibly provide pay increase to county Treasurer Alicia Mayabb, Assistant Treasurer/Director of Finance Amanda Spurling and Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program/Emergency Management Director Perri Wilson.

Proposed motion seeks a $10,000 increase in the treasurer’s salary from $60,600 to $70,600; a $6,920 increase in the assistant treasurer’s salary from $42,500 to $49,420; a $5,492 increase in the CSEPP Director from $41,932 to $47,424.

Magistrates were supportive of providing the raises to these department heads because of top notch job performance and carrying-out additional responsibilities, though there was some reluctance to increase salaries in the middle of the fiscal year for select employees.

Magistrates asked county Judge-Executive Henry Branham to update the positions’ job descriptions before the proposal is discussed at the next meeting.

In related news, the court set a salary levels for county Finance Officer Aric Kaskey and Nova Rison, an executive assistant.

In other matters, the court approved a total of $101,364 in grant funding for various community groups including Rapha Ministries ($2,400); Winchester Community Work Group ($5,000); Friends of Clark Animal Shelter ($2,000); Friends of Holly Rood ($4,000); Habitat for Humanity ($3,000); Winchester Unity Committee ($1,500); Bluegrass Heritage Museum ($5,000); Clark County Homeless Coalition ($3,000); New Beginnings ($3,000); Heritage Commission ($500); BCTC Foundation ($5,500); Upward 40391 ($2,596); City of Winchester $31,117 for pool debt); Kentucky River Foothills ($28,500 for transit bus service); Fourth of July Fireworks ($4,250).

In other matters, Teddy Marcum was reappointed to the East Clark Water District Board of Commissioners and Leanna Clark was reappointed to the Clark County Extension District Board. Pam Reffitt was appointed to the Clark County Extension District Board.

Also, Clark County Jailer Frank Doyle made a presentation regarding the need for more funding to provide the raises need to retain jail employees as well as the need to increase staffing levels so as to attract and maintain federal funding support for the jail.

And county Fire Chief Steve Asbury provided a presentation about pressing and future needs to upgrade the fire department’s fleet of vehicles and equipment.

Lastly, plans are afoot to possibly place the bell that once graced the cupola of the Clark County Courthouse within an exterior structure on courthouse property.