County approves funds for PVA, detention center

The Marion County Fiscal Court approved a slight increase in funds for the Marion County Property Valuation Administrator's Office during its regular monthly meeting Thursday.

The Finance Cabinet advised the fiscal court in March that the court should pay the PVA's Office $41,284.55. Based on the updated property values, the Finance Cabinet has increased that amount to $41,784.55.

The court approved this change 3-0. Magistrates John Arthur Elder III and Steve Masterson were not present for this vote, although Elder arrived later in the meeting.

The court also voted to transfer $21,000 in litter abatement funds to the Marion County Detention Center.

In other business:

- The court approved a change order for work American Renovation Group for its work at the old Marion County Courthouse. The initial estimate for their work to repair drywall and repaint problem areas in the courthouse was $7,681. The additional cost to complete the repairs was $2,933. The reason for the additional work is because the trim had to be removed in some places and repaired before repainting could be done and because two more rooms were opened for work after the initial walk-through to assess what repairs were needed.

- The court approved its annual $2,500 allocation for Marion County youth basketball.

- The court received a request from the Marion County Distinguished Young Woman program for a financial donation. The court postponed a decision on this request.

- Josh Ballard of the Loretto Fire Department reported that the county's fire departments and the Marion County Rescue Squad would like to try a service by eDispatches that can equip smartphones to receive pager alerts. Ballard said other departments that have used the service have reported increases in the number of responders to emergency calls.

The court voted 4-0 (Elder was present at this point) to allow the county's emergency services to utilize a 30-day trial of the service during October.

- The court voted in favor of creating the position of county finance officer. This will replace the current position of deputy county judge.

- The court voted in favor of hiring a part-time employee to assist with cross-referencing mapping information that is required for the county to be eligible for E911 service. This will be an employee of the fiscal court, not the PVA's Office, although the PVA Office's has assisted with the mapping.

(This is a corrected version of this news item.)

- The court approved allowing Mattingly to use $2,244 of his community project funds to sponsor newspapers for the Newspapers in Education program.

Library trustees recognized

Marion County Judge/Executive John G. Mattingly proclaimed Sept. 12 as Library Trustee Appreciation Day. The proclamation was presented to Marion County Public Library Director Amy Morgeson during the Sept. 6 fiscal court meeting.

The proclamation was issued as two long-time trustees are stepping down from the library board. Library Board President Sondra Gwinn has served three terms and nearly 12 years on the board. Treasurer Lisa Osbourne has also served three terms and 12 years. Both will attend their final board meeting on Sept. 12.