Questions arise about services NorthKey is offering during pandemic
Taxes, chickens, goats and mental health were discussed at the Pendleton County Fiscal Court meetings on Tuesday, August 18. The court held a special called meeting at 5:30 to address an animal abuse case, the bridge project and a county right-of-way waiver, and then, in their regular caucus meeitng, they discussed tax rates and contracts for services in the county.
The court had taken ownership of a collection of animals in the Travis Hicks animal cruelty case with many suffering from illness. Several have died over the course of the past weeks.
Twenty-two chickens have been cared for by a farm owner not located in Pendleton County. By observation and conversation with the veterinarian familiar with the case, the caretaker believes the chickens have Marek disease.
Magistrate Josh Plummer provided information to the court that many, if not most, chickens will develop the disease. Ducks are most susceptible.
Animal Control Officer John Bloomfield indicated that the chickens are infected for life. No effective treatment or cure for the disease has been found.
The information provided to the court and to Bloomfield indicates that it does not affect human consumption of the chickens.
The court discussion was split among euthanizing the birds to prevent any spreading of the illness and allowing the caregiver to take ownership with condition of signing an waiver that she would never sell or give them away.
Magistrate Rick Mineer was the most vocal that the chickens needed to be destroyed.
Other members listened and were unsure of the correct action.
Magistrate Alan Whaley pointed out that they did not even know if the chickens have it as they have not been seen by a vet.
Magistrate Darrin Gregg made the motion that was seconded by Plummer that the caregiver be able to take the ownership of the chickens for the $200 cost that she had incurred for housing the animlas with a waiver that she would not sell or give them away. The waiver would need to be approved by the county attorney, making sure that the county had no liability in the case.
Judge David Fields said he would run it past County Attorney Stacey Sanning after the motion passed 3-1 with Mineer voting in the negative.
On a similar issue, a goat from the case has Johnes disease and has been housed at the vet’s office since the beginning of the issue.
The vet would like to take ownership of the goat and has agreed to waive housing costs in exchange of ownership. She has not charged the court for housing since July 14. Presently, there is a $909 bill for medical costs associated with the 32 animals.
Mineer pondered the question of who makes the decision and when do you make the decision to euthanize an animal in these situations over the county spending hundreds of dollars on them.
Gregg made the motion to allow the lady to take ownership with the waiver of hospitalization housing costs, and that was agreeable to Mineer. He also requested that the county attorney look at any liability issues the court may have with approving the waiver.
The matter passed unanimously.
The bridge on Hogg Ridge Road was on the list to be addressed but, because of assessments, it would not be completed this year.
Fields suggested to the court that they address the Milford Road Bridge because it does not have to have the same assessments and could be completed this year.
Gregg, whose district has the Hogg Ridge Road, said, “As much as I would like to have something done to that bridge, this is one big county.”
Mineer pointed out that the Milford Bridge was to be replaced earlier, but things slowed it down, and the Mullins Road bridge was replaced in its place, similar to what is being done now.
It passed unanimously.
On Robinson Road, a homeowner is looking to run some water pipe, and the court waived the fee under the condition that once the project is finished, the owner puts it back the way it was, including after the ground settles and needs to be backfilled.
With adjournent of the special called meeting, the court moved into a caucus meeting and discussed the county and mental health tax rates for the upcoming year.
The court was focused on providing some relief to taxpayers during this economic upheaval because of the pandemic while also being responsible for the county’s financial situation.
They discussed keeping the county rate at 15.5 and lowering the mental health to $2. The vote on the tax rates will be at the Tuesday, August 25 fiscal court meeting that starts at 6 p.m.
Fields indicated that most of the parties who have tax rates will be present to discuss their proposed rate.
The county tax rate provided $918,918 last year and with new tax assessments, the same rate as last year will produce $926,059.
The court expressed several concerns as they read through the NorthKey contract regarding the mental health tax rate. The concern centers on the fact that North Key is not providing services except for one that is required in the contract.
After the magistrates’ discussion, Fields indicated that they could suspend dispensing the funds till someone comes to speak the court.
The contract for janitorial services at the Justice Center was discussed, and they leaned toward rebidding the contract based on several parts of the contract not being performed by Scioto. Scioto had received the bid.
Code Red is the program that allows emergency dispatch to make all calls is a $13,000 contract for four years at the three year cost.
“In 2012, then-magistrate Gary Veirs said many people told him that this service saved them when the tornado hit Peach Grove,” said Fields.
The members also discussed conferences offered to magistrates throughout the year, Rumpke, and Cincinnati Bell offering Internet in the county.