Martin County Fiscal Court approves routine measures, applies for grants and authorizes project advertisements

The Martin County Fiscal Court on May 16 approved a series of routine administrative actions, authorized several grant applications and directed staff to advertise bids and proposals for road and pool work.

The court, convened by the presiding judge, voted to approve the minutes of its April 2024 meeting and to pay the county clerk the statutory fee associated with motor vehicle and boat registration mailings. An unidentified court member said Kentucky Revised Statutes mandate paying the county clerk 15 cents per motor-vehicle/registration bill; the clerk mailed 13,114 bills, and the court approved the payment of $1,967 based on that calculation.

In other business, the court approved payment for election workers at the same rate used previously so staff can promptly compensate workers for an upcoming election. The court also approved the annual county road-aid agreement for fiscal year 2025, which the presiding judge said is about the same amount as prior years, and moved to continue road work once funds arrive.

The court voted to reapply for the annual waste-tire grant, citing recent success removing tires from the county, and approved participation in that program for another cycle. For procurement planning the court authorized the judge to advertise for gravel bids for fiscal year 2025 and to advertise for state-funded blacktop projects for FY25; the presiding judge emphasized the advertisements begin the bid process and do not themselves commit the county to purchase.

The court approved a resolution supporting an LMPP proposal that would provide generators to the water district. The presiding judge stated, "The county will not be out any funds on this," and characterized the county's role as providing administrative or in-kind support for the grant application.

Finally, the court authorized advertising for proposals to inspect and estimate what it would take to reopen the county swimming pool. The presiding judge said the advertising is intended to gather information and cost estimates and is not an authorization to spend county money on repairs or reopening without a subsequent decision by the court.

Votes at a glance: the court carried motions by voice vote or unanimous 'aye' on approval of April minutes; payment of the county clerk fee ($1,967); election workers pay at the prior rate; the FY25 county road-aid agreement; reapplication for the waste-tire grant; authorizations to advertise for gravel and for state-funded blacktop; approval of the resolution supporting the LMPP water-district generator proposal (no county funds required); and authorization to advertise for swimming-pool proposals.

The court took no contested or recorded roll-call votes during these items, and no named dissent or abstention was recorded on the matters taken up at the meeting. The court adjourned after approving the listed items.