Mika Milburn-Kee attended her first regular Bourbon County Commission meeting as the newly appointed commissioner for District 3.
The zoning public hearing process was discussed. Commissioner David Beerbower said that the first zoning advisory committee meeting had been held on April 17 where the committee elected their chairperson and other officers. They also adopted bylaws that include having one commissioner present at meetings to serve as a resource. Beerbower said the commissioners could take turns doing that.
The zoning advisory committee has expressed an interest in hosting several public hearings and will announce the dates for those as they are finalized. The next committee meeting will be Wednesday, April 23 at 6:30 in the county courthouse commissioner room.
Public Comments for Items Not on the Agenda
Larry Paddock for the city of Fulton, came to ask the commission if the city could bring rubble from a condemned and torn down building to the county landfill at a reduced rate.
The commission chose to add the issue to next week’s agenda to allow time to discuss the matter with the landfill and public works supervisor.
Bob Reed, a 15-year Bourbon County employee, came to talk to the commission about how they will handle injuries at work. He was in a serious work injury on March 10 and he asked the commissioners to consider changing the way they handle sick time and vacation time for injured employees.
“Our vacation and sick time is earned,” so we have the right to decide how it’s used, he said. “We shouldn’t be forced to use it on a work-related injury.”
He also expressed concern about insurance issues for future employees who get injured.
Whisenhunt and Beerbower thanked Reed for sharing and offered to look into it and see what they can do.
New Business
Road Closure Application: Bradley Plaster
Plaster asked that the alley between lots 3 and 4 off Dragon Road in Hyattville, which is unincorporated, be closed. He had signatures from the two other affected land owners also asking for the closure. The road, in district 2, is not even graveled and is overgrown with trees.
Beerbower will confirm that it is county property and the commission will make a decision at next week’s meeting.
Human Resources Discussion
Beerbower moved to table it until they could have the County Clerk, Susan Walker, present at the meeting to enable discussion.
Procedures
Commissioner Milburn wants to smooth out county operations and has made notes and adjustments to the current county handbook, which is more than 20 years old. She said the purpose of this work is to “establish procedures to implement a corrective action plan and personal improvement plan to assist in our expectations of employment with the goal of being transparent, consistent with expectations, and improving the overall function with a supportive approach.”
Milburn asked the other commissioners for edits, changes, corrections and additions to the handbook. Beerbower offered a work session to combine Milburn’s work with the work done earlier this year by the department heads on employee procedures.
“That’s good. Hit the ground running,” said Whisenhunt of Milburn’s work.
He made the motion to keep “Procedures” on the agenda every week until they reach the point of being able to implement them. Commission approved.
Sheriff Vehicle Requests
Sheriff Bill Martin asked the commission to approve the purchase of a new vehicle to replace the one that was in an accident earlier this year. That 2014 vehicle was hit and rolled several times and is most likely totaled. It had 200,000 miles on it. They are awaiting insurance payments from the counties insurance and the driver who caused the accidents insurance.
Martin said any funds received from insurance will go back to the county to help offset the cost of the new vehicle.
The vehicle he is requesting to purchase is a 2025 and will cost $66,914 once fully equipped.
Whisenhunt asked if he had any funds in his budget to help cover the cost of the vehicle, but the sheriff has no extra funds in his budget right now.
Beerbower moved to table it until next week to allow the commission time to look at the budget for the funding needed. Commission approved.
Commissioner Comments
Milburn read a statement expressing her desire to hear from her constituents about their desires and priorities for Bourbon County. She said she will listen with the goal of understanding and will ask questions to that end.
“The question right now is what you want your county to look like in 10, 15 or 20 years. How we get there is going to be of great debate,” she said.
Milburn welcomes input, and asked that county citizens send letters, email, or call to share their ideas about the future of Bourbon County.
Final note
A citizen in audience wants to thank whomever cleaned up hwy 54 west of town. “It looks way better and I’d like to thank somebody, but I don’t know who to thank.”
Whisenhunt said that whoever did it should let the county know so they can be thanked.
