Roy Fowler, left, pictured with Becky Smith, has retired after twenty years of employment by the county.
In Monday night’s meeting at the courthouse, the fiscal court recognized three county employees who are retiring.
Roy Fowler retired after 20 years of service to the county, including 18 as dog warden. He was the first of Estill County’s animal control officers and began that position when the shelter was still at Cow Creek.
Taylor referred to Fowler as “dog and cat catching, llama chasing, or just about anything else that can be caught.” He also complimented Fowler on his hard work, and said he is “one of the best.”
Sandra Clark, who took over after Fowler, also retired after eight years working for the county. Taylor said she has overseen a lot of work with rescue groups and helped with a lot of adoptions.
David Jenkins was recognized for 20 years with the county road department, and the judge said, “It’s been good to have him with us.”
Clark and Jenkins were not present at the meeting.
In his monthly address, Estill County Judge-Executive Wallace Taylor wished his staff and the entire county a joyful holiday and urged everyone to be patient during a time when fuses are often short. He also urged residents to use extra caution and remember to lock up homes and cars.
Judge Taylor said work has begun to replace the bridge on Marcum Road, and a permit has been issued for plumbing for the restrooms at the Kentucky River Recreational Park.
$1.45 million has been awarded by Kentucky Transportation for the 89 project at the intersection of Dry Ridge and Highway 89. Judge Taylor said 30,000 cubic yards of slate rock will be moved from the road construction site to the park, and the slate will be covered with three feet of clay. The clay will come from the park which will be compensated for the use of it.
One sealed bid was opened for material for a communication tower to be built on Red River near Racetrack Road. The lone bid was from Valmont Structures, for $39, 990, plus $1300 in freight costs and $275 in other costs.
The fiscal court voted to accept the bid once Fred Rogers with CSEPP validates that it meets all the specifications.
In other new business, Raymond Cooper was appointed to the Recreational Trails Board.
An interlocal agreement with the city of Ravenna was approved for the removal of snow and ice. Judge Taylor said Ravenna has a salt supply, a spreader and plow, and the county has an extra truck. After Ravenna’s snow removal is taken care of, the county will have five units on county roads for snow removal for the first time.
Magistrate Gerald Raider said he thought it was a “win/win” situation.
Ordinance No. 13-03, concerning proactive alcohol beverage training for the county, was discussed but the court decided to table it and add penalties that were not included in the original document.
Fred Rogers reported that the CSEPP Computer Refresh Project would replace computers at $514 less than five years ago, saving almost $14,000 for the same number of computers.
The Estill County Water District budget was accepted into the minutes, as required by the Department of Local Governments.
The County Clerk budget, which must be submitted by calendar year, was approved, as well as the County Clerk salary cap at a maximum of $200,000.
The Sheriff’s budget was approved, and the Sheriff’s salary cap was set at $215,000.
In the treasurer’s report, the November bank reconciliation report was approved, as well as appropriation transfers and the intrafund transfer from the general fund to the jail for the amount of $75,000.
Judge Taylor commended WestCare’s day program, which some offenders qualify for in lieu of jail, and said in the month of November alone, the program has saved the county more than $18,000.
He said that there has been some success in helping change individual lives and other counties are beginning to look at the programs here.
County Attorney Rodney Davis, in reference to the day reporting program, said that Renee Alexander deserves a big hand. While acknowledging that not every case is successful, he said some lives are being changed, and the “trickle-down effect” is saving time and money on the juvenile docket, which in turn saves taxpayer and state money.
In other considerations, Animal Control Officer Tommy Mullen presented to the court his idea, already well into the planning stages, to organize a benefit bluegrass concert for the Estill County animal shelter.
On January 10, 2014, at the Estill County fair barn, the Moron Brothers and the Velvet Blue will perform to raise money for the shelter.
Mullen said sponsors have already donated enough to cover expenditures for the concert, so that all money raised from admission can benefit the shelter.