County Receives $$$ Through CARES Act
By Eugenia Jones
eugenia@highland.net
During their regular August meeting, McCreary County Fiscal Court approved the first reading of Amendment #1 placing $392,943 received as a result of the federal CARES Act into the County’s General Fund. The CARES Act provides payments to state, local, and tribal governments navigating the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. The CARES Act money will be used to cover expenditures incurred by several departments including County Court Clerk, EMS, and Sheriff’s Department while dealing with the public health emergency relating to COVID-19. The County has until the end of December to claim an additional $150,000 of CARES funding.
In other business, the Court voted to table the first reading of an amendment of Ordinance Number 410.1 regarding the Alcohol Beverage Control Ordinance. The proposed amendment reduces the licensing fee for the Golf Course (Stearns) from $1400 per year to $700. A reduction in the licensing fee was requested because the Golf Course is not open year round. In comparison to McCreary County’s limited golf license fee of $1400 per year, Williamsburg’s fee is $150. Somerset’s limited golf license fee is $1,050 per year. Magistrate Roger Phillips was the only magistrate voting “nay” on the motion to table the item. Phillips voted “nay” since he opposes a reduction in the license fee for the Golf Course. Phillips expressed his concern that reducing the fee for the Golf Course could establish a precedent for reductions in other licensing fees related to Alcohol.
The Fiscal Court also heard the following updates.
-Free bulk drop-off was a success with disposal of fifty truckloads of items. Another free dump day is tentatively planned for November.
-Paving of County roads has begun. Work on the Hayes Creek slide has been completed.
-Tire grant money has been received. Tires can be disposed of at the Transfer Station on Fridays from 12:00 until 4:00 while grant money is available. No dealers or car lot operators allowed. Someone will be on site to unload tires. All sizes of tires will be accepted.
-Judge Greene has decided to funnel money earned from auctioning off surplus items from various departments back to those departments. As a result, McCreary County funded local law enforcement with 39,000 extra dollars by auctioning off surplus items from the Sheriff’s Department. Litter Abatement, Road Department, and Ambulance Service are among those departments who can gain extra funding as a result of having surplus departmental items to auction.
-County Attorney Austin Price noted the County will work with delinquent tax-payers on payment plans. Call 376-2333.
-As of now, the Blazin’ Bluegrass (September), Trail Ride (October), and Yamacraw Trail Run (November) are still scheduled.
-Magistrate Randy Maxwell asked citizens to contact state officials, including State Representative Ken Upchurch and State Senator Max Wise, to get help repairing dangerous state roads.
-Noting CARES funding is based strictly on county population, Deputy Judge Executive Nathan Nevels urged everyone to complete the 2020 Census. An accurate population count is crucial to McCreary County receiving the maximum amount of funds available from state and federal levels.
The McCreary County Fiscal Court meets in regular session at 6:00 on the second Thursday of each month at the McCreary County Courthouse.
