Fiscal court gives final OK to 2014-15 budget, expanded inspection program
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, June 3, 2014, 3 p.m. — Nelson Fiscal Court approved final reading of its $22.4 million 2014-15 budget at its meeting this morning. Magistrates closely reviewed the budget at the last meeting, and it passed Tuesday without additional discussion.
Magistrate Sam Hutchins, left, looks over his paperwork while Magistrate Keith Metcalfe and Judge Executive Dean Watts discuss details. Click to enlarge.
INSPECTIONS EXPANDED. The court also gave final approval to an expansion of its building code inspection program. The addition means the county inspection program will now include “high hazard” buildings that include storage of hazardous or flammable materials — including bourbon warehouses.
Judge Executive Dean Watts said the expanded inspection program means the inspection fees paid to the state will now be paid the county. “For large buildings, like a whiskey warehouse, the inspections generate substantial fees,” Watts said.
INDUSTRIAL PARK CROP AGREEMENT. Fiscal Court agreed to lower the per-acre rent for a certain tract located in the Nelson County Industrial Park that had been of interest to economic development prospects.
The current rent is $456 per acre for farming the undeveloped areas of the industrial park. The county had asked the farmer not to plant a certain tract of land in the park that was of interest to several prospective businesses. The court voted to reduce the per-acre rent to $225, which will allow the farmer to plant a crop at his own risk and releases county government from liability if a business prospect starts construction on the tract before the growing crop matures.
ROAD PROGRAM. The magistrates voted unanimously to give Watts authority to sign an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to give the county its share of the gasoline tax revenue to help maintain the county’s roadways for the 2014-15 fiscal year.
Nelson County’s anticipated share of the state gas tax revenue is $1.57 million, Watts said. The first disbursement of $915,809 represents 60 percent of the county’s total. The exact amount of the second disbursement will depend on the actual gas tax revenues.
The money is used by the county road department for road maintenance and repairs, Watts explained.
TAX MORATORIUMS. Fiscal Court approved tax assessment moratorium applications for properties located at 206 East Beall and 109 West Broadway. The moratorium means that the property tax assessment will be stay the same for five years once the owners have completed planned repairs.
Watts said the tax moratoriums help the community by encouraging individuals to invest in properties that need repair or renovation.
In other business, Nelson Fiscal Court:
— approved the purchase of a trash compactor that is now being rented for use at the Nelson County Landfill. The $14,000 per month rental fee paid to Marcel Equipment will be credited toward the $181,000 cost of the compactor following an engine rebuild by the leasing company.
— gave final approve to changes to the county’s alcohol control ordinance to allow liquor sales on election days, and;
— approved Jason Heath’s appointment to the Bardstown-Nelson County Tourist and Convention Commission. Heath is owner of The Rickhouse and Moby Dick restaurants.
UP NEXT. Nelson Fiscal Court next meets at 9 a.m. June 17, 2014, in the Fiscal Court meeting room in the Old Courthouse.
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