By Lisa Bicknell, CV&T News Editor
During a special called meeting, Estill County Judge Executive Wallace Taylor commended emergency workers for having “boots on the ground” and being prepared for the storms that blew through Estill County on Sunday.
“Fortunately, it didn’t get as bad as it could have been,” said Taylor.
Estill County Fire Department Chief Derrick Muncie presented his annual report to the fiscal court.
The department made a total of 174 runs, during the past three quarters of the year.
Muncie said the department has been awarded $170, 750 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The grant has been made available to purchase turnouts, 45-minute self-contained breathing apparatuses, and a new compressor to fill new cylinders.
He summarized the numerous grants the department has applied for and received over the past decade, and they totaled $762,209 from AFG.
The fire department has also been awarded a $70,000 grant for a fire tower and an additional grant of $10,000 for a thermal camera.
Judge Taylor said the county has paid out less than $30,000 for equipment over the past decade to support the fire department. He thanked Muncie for his management and grant writing.
In the new business section of the agenda, Taylor opened sealed bids for the Communication Tower Site Grounding. There were only two. Lisle Electric bid $60,960, and Master Electrical Service from Winchester bid $99,126. The court voted to accept Lisle’s bid on the condition that it meets CSEPP specifications.
The final quote was approved for siren bids. The bid from Federal Signal and Safety Systems was the only one, and it was for the amount of $390,478.
Because of changes in funding, approval was given by the court to advertise to hire a Senior Citizen Center aide. Approval was also granted to advertise for turnout gear for the previously mentioned AFG grant.
The sewer merger was addressed. Judge Taylor said he spent two and a half hours in negotiation with the Estill County Water District on Monday morning. Some amendments were made to the agreement before sending it back to IMU.
“The county is willing to work,” said Taylor. Some of the grant monies for the Wisemantown sewer extension project have to be applied for before the August 1 deadline.
“There are a couple of million dollars on the table here,” he said.
Taylor said part of the agreement is that IMU charge the same rate for city/out of city customers no matter what side of the river they are on.
The AOC “Blue Form” was approved by the court. Taylor said including utilities and maintenance, the county is saving the state money on the day to day operations of the courthouse.
County tax rates were approved. Taylor recommended the court keep the same rates, except the property tax rate, based on the compensating rate which has been lowered from 8.4 to 8.3.
The Sheriff’s Office Tax Settlement was approved, as well as the transport billing for the Sheriff’s Office was also approved.
The CSEPP salary schedule adjustment was approved. Taylor said that state auditors have asked for a job description and related salary schedule.
‚ÄúWe need to regulate the position-not who’s doing it,‚Äù he said.
After negotiations with the state, CSEPP workers are getting a raise.
Reviewing the treasurer’s report, Taylor said, ‚ÄúThings are getting better.‚Äù
He said when he first took office, ‚Äúwe were lucky to make payroll,” but this year, “we came out of June With a $91,000 check.‚Äù
That money is extra county road aid money which will go back into the road fund.