Martin County fiscal court approves routine financial measures, hires deputy and updates capital-asset thresholds

Martin County’s fiscal court approved a package of routine fiscal and personnel items at its April 15 meeting, including minutes, vehicle donations from the health department, fund-account changes, capital-asset threshold updates, a budget amendment, a personnel hire and several financial transfers and claims.

Actions taken included approval of minutes from a special meeting on March 20, acceptance of two donated 2013 Ford Escape vehicles from the health department for county use, and authorization to open a separate LGEDF account at the auditor’s request to better track funds used for courthouse and park projects. The court approved a staff-recommended update to capital-asset thresholds—raising the machinery/equipment threshold to $5,000 and vehicles to $10,000—and approved the second reading of a fiscal-year 2023–24 budget amendment to account for unbudgeted receipts, grant carryovers and related adjustments.

Under personnel, the court approved the hiring of Justin Bellamy as a deputy for the Martin County Sheriff’s Office at $16 per hour, to be funded from opioid settlement monies. Financial actions approved by voice vote included a cash transfer list, appropriations transfers and payment of claims (bills), some attachments of which related to Warfield Park renovation work.

All motions described above passed by voice vote as recorded in the meeting; the court used standard motions and seconding procedures for each item.