Fiscal Court Moves through Large Agenda
Members of the Cumberland County Fiscal Court gathered in the courtroom of the courthouse Monday, preparing to hear reports and make decisions. On the agenda that evening were advertising for bids on the Splash-pad, tax rates and as always, roads.
By Greg Wells
CCN—Editor
Monday night, the Cumberland County Fiscal Court approved advertising for bids. These bids are for a splashpad and another for bathroom facilities.
The location chosen, after protracted discussions last week about locating it on city land, is to be the county’s lot on North Main Street.
“There is just so much room there,” District 2 Magistrate Lane Cope said.
County Judge-Executive Luke King started the discussion by pointing out that using the county’s land would put the facility as a centerpiece for continued local recreation and events.
He went on to mention that the location in Veterans Memorial Park was perceived as inconvenient by some given that that area was already used for other purposes during things like Little League, River Festivus and other events.
Cope returned to that theme after the meeting, saying he could see so much space for growth on the property fronted by David L Williams Lane.
The vote was unanimous in favor, and bids are due back in early October, with several commenting that there is no reason local bidders can’t throw their hats in the ring.
During the meeting, several texting districts presented their rates to be printed on the county tax bills.
For a full accounting, see the official chart presented to the court.
With the presentation of a street sign and a commendation the National Weather Service recognized Cumberland County as a Storm Ready community.
The National Weather Service’s Mike Kochasie, left, shook the hand of Cumberland County Emergency Management Director Greg Cary as congratulations to the county, all the workers and staff, on the hard work completed which earned us the Storm Ready designation. The training, preparations and paperwork to earn this was something that only 90 of the 120 counties in Kentucky have managed.
The court handed out some recognition of its own to County Jailer Thomas J. Brown. King said that Brown took the initiative to secure some state funding that would provide in the neighborhood of $12,000 a year in state funds to cover some jail costs.
They had earlier expressed appreciation for his, the County Attorney’s and others’ work at keeping jail costs down, mentioning that the cost to the county in the previous month was significantly lower.
In other business, the final reading of the petition to close Frank Murley Road, already removed from the county road system, was passed.
The first reading of a petition to close Chowning Road was also held, will be advertised, and then voted on at the next regular meeting of the court.
A special meeting is expected in one to two weeks. That meeting will address the “corrections and cleanup resolution,” for County Roads. At the last two meetings of the court, magistrates have been requested to compile a list of roads that have been, erroneously, left off of the state’s map of County roads.
“This is not a backdoor way to add county roads,” King said. He said that to be included, the roads in question must have been maintained by the county for 15 years already.
County Road Supervisor Ricky Melton told the court it would take one or probably two weeks to get physical measurements on these roads to ensure they are properly added to the state’s list.
Magistrates also approved the second reading of the ordinance necessary for the lease of new equipment secured already by the county.
The final reading of the ordinance regarding special purpose vehicles was also unanimously approved. King stressed that these vehicles must be street legal and cannot be used for over 20 miles of travel.
