By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
Carter County is set to receive their share of emergency management performance grant funds thanks to the efforts of EM director Adam Stapleton, a Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) representative told the fiscal court last week.
Jason York, with KYEM, explained to the court that there are certain requirements the state and each county must meet in order to receive funds from FEMA. These include the emergency management performance grant (EMPG). York said he was there to inform the court they would be receiving their share of the money and to commend Stapleton for meeting all the requirements of the EMPG, as well as all other state and federal requirements.
Carter County Attorney Brian Bayes took the opportunity to recognize Stapleton’s contributions as EM director as well. He told the court that he has had three other counties recently reach out to him requesting copies of the wreck recuperation policy that Stapleton drafted and implemented following fiscal court approval. That policy has allowed the county to recoup costs associated with accidents, especially those involving the spill of gasoline or other hazardous materials.
In other action the court moved to appoint two members to the PVA board. The court moved to approve the Judge Executive’s nominee, April Miller, to serve on the PVA board before appointing Tony Collier as their nominee. Other nominees to the board are made by the mayors and city councils.
The court also moved to approve a three percent cost of living raise for all county personnel, and accepted all submitted bids for the road department. Opening and perusal of the bids prompted some conversation about the quality of the materials the county uses, with road department head Jason Carroll explaining that the county is required to use materials that meet state requirements for durability and quality.
Pipe used for drainage tiles, for instance, “has to be to state approved specs,” Carroll told the court.
District 3 Magistrate Millard Cordle, noting that Charles Wallace had the lowest bid on pipe, asked about the possibility of stockpiling some of the pipe in order to “lock in the price” in case supply chain issues might lead to price increases in the future.
Carroll explained that the county generally accepted all bids and, when they needed materials, started by contacting the low bidder with an order. If that bidder didn’t have the materials available, he said, they would then move to the next lowest bidder on the list.
He said they do stockpile some material, however, and acknowledged the problems with supply lines in recent years.
The court moved to accept all bids as presented.
The court also heard from Eric Patton on redistricting (see Moving Magisterial Districts in this issue), accepted claims and transfers, accepted the treasurer’s financial report, and accepted department reports.
Jailer R.W. Boggs gave an update on the use of jail labor to paint portions of the various schools in the county.
Stapleton gave an update on EM training and noted that the department had received an additional $15,000 from TC Energy in the form of a grant for their communication project.
E9111 director Joe Lambert noted that they have all towers back up and working, and that his department is working with chief of the new school police department, R.D. Porter, on school police access to the 911 system.
The court moved to approve a memorandum of agreement with the school force for 911 services at no charge for the first year. After that, Lambert said, the county can reexamine any associated costs and appropriate fees for the department’s access.
The court adjourned following a brief executive session to discuss potential litigation, with no action taken.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com