Priscilla Gravitt and her husband, Rob, appeared before the Pendleton County Fiscal Court caucus asking about the status of county water and what was the plan.
“Are we doing something?” she asked the court. “Seventeen years is a long time for nothing.”
Judge Executive David Fields explained they are down to just certain roads in the county but further offered that in their case going under the railroad tracks is the issue.
“It is expensive to go under the railroad. Might not be possible,” he added.
Fields went on to explain that each magistrate gets a sum of funds to use in their district and some combine their funds with the water district funds.
“We are not opposed to county water wherever it is needed. It is always a matter of funding. I am trying to get one done and the money has been alocated for several years but we cannot find a contractor,” said District 1 Magistrate Alan Whaley.
Fields reiterated, “The majority of the cost will be associated with going under the railroad tracks. I will keep you informed moving forward.”
Gravitt expressed she would be at the next water district meeting to continue pushing for access to the water line.
Chief Deputy Marty Hart was present to remind the court of an agreement for the use of the CARES funds from the federal government. The funds are from costs associated with dealing with covid virus.
Approximately $30,000 was returned to the court via the closeouts but with the agreement that the court would purchase new computers for the vehicles of the sheriff’s office.
“We cannot just give them the money but we can buy it for them,” explained Fields.
Hart explained that the laptops would allow the officer to communicate with dispatch through the CAD system. He explained that the state is doing away with the paper citation and with each vehicle having the laptop and printer, they will move to the new system. He added that the old computerrs will be passed onto other government officers in the county.
County Jailer Tony Gillespie was on hand to discuss the 2021-22 budget for the jailer’s office. Total Receipts and Appropriations for the office balance out to $614,928.
Presently, the contracts with other counties (basically cost of keeping inmates at jails in other counties) was budgeted to remain at $300,000.
In 2020-21, it stands at $210,000 with March, April and May left in the fiscal year explained Fields and Gillespie.
“Thinking it will be $290,000 at the end of the fiscal year,” stated Gillespie.
Fields added, “So far it is $210,000 but when courts open up we are not sure what’s going to happen.”
Gilespie did respond to a question about why the juvenile services line item dropped from $8,000 to $500.
“There is now not a truancy charge from the schools for not going to school. They were being arrested beforehand,” he explained on why there has been a marked drop in juvenile charges.
Fields proposed to the court that they consider a 2% CPI for all county employees.
There was also a brief discussion on the International Building Code being used to help with enforcing part of the nuisance ordinance.
At the next meeting on Tuesday, March 23, there will be a public hearing for the CDGB Grant which serves as a pass through for the county budget. It will be a six figure grant to help reimbursed those who have losses with utilities during the pandemic.
Fields is preparing for the bidding process for mowing county properties and roadside mowing.
The court will meet in regular session on Tuesday, March 23 at 6 p.m. for action that was discussed in caucus or on the agenda.
