Magistrates Work Through Business

Members of Meade County Fiscal Court worked through a lengthy agenda Tuesday (4/12) night.

At the beginning of the meeting, Judge Executive Leslie Stith recognized and presented a plaque to Rick Sturgeon for his work and dedication to the county as the Solid Waste and Recycling Director. Sturgeon served as manager for the department since April 2017 and officially retired on Monday(4/11).

Fiscal Court approved a letter of support for the Meade County Chamber of Commerce application Rural Innovation Strong Economy grant through the US Department of Agriculture. The funding would be used for construction of a new facility for a new job acceleration program for high waged jobs in the area. The building would include space for classes and offices for the Chamber of Commerce and the Meade County Industrial Authority. The groups have out grown the space and need a functional space for business meetings and functions for each group. The cost of the project is $1,221,000. Chamber Executive Director Annie Hamilton asked magistrates for letter of support for twenty percent matching the funds of $124,000 from the county and with the Chamber and Industrial Authority to provide, $100,000. The grant request is for $997,000. The county would only be out the funds if the grant request is approved.

Magistrates approved the lease extension with Baptist Health on the former Jewish Medical Facility. The court also approved the request from the County Clerk Judy Jordan and the Board of Elections to increase precinct workers pay to $150 and the elections fees estimated at $11,000 for the May primary election. County leaders approved a resolution and subrecipient agreement for $250,000 of American Rescue Plan Act to Doe Valley for sewer restoration work. They also approved the Meade County Extension Board Budget and a second reading of an ordinance for Planning and Zoning amendments.

Fiscal Court approved the appointments of Jeremy Stull to the County Board of Appeals, David Padgett and Adam Benham to the Riverport Authority, and Bruno Ilario was re-appointed to the Meade County Fire Protection District. The court also approved the process to terminate the original ground lease agreements of the Riverport. County Attorney Jessica Brown Roberts said that the property is now owned by Nucor and with work on the new Riverport Facility in a different location it would eliminate the need for the agreement.

Fiscal Court opened several bids during the meeting. The first bid was for architect designs for a new addition and maintenance building for the Parks Department at Meade Olin Park. The single bid was from PCC Designs for $9,500. The second bid was for the new Meade County EMS Station 3 in Payneville. Two of three the bids received included Prodigy Construction at $696,500 and T&T Construction for $1,108,000. The last bid was only for the roof of the new building. The third bid was a single bid for construction of the E911 Center Phase 1 addition by Prodigy Construction at $1,055,000. Magistrates approved requests by EMS Director Carissa Walters to declare the old med 5 ambulance as surplus and advertise for bids on a new replacement ambulance.

Toward the end of the meeting, Judge Executive Stith read proclamations designating April as National Donate Life Month and Child Abuse & Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Magistrates entered into a 20 minute closed session to return for action related to the resignation of EMT and to pay $990 for indigent services for the County Detention Center.

You can watch the full meeting of the Meade County Fiscal Court in our “On Demand” section.