New county budget provides 3 percent across-the-board raises
Magistrate Jeff Lear was absent from Tuesday’s Nelson Fiscal Court meeting.
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
June 6, 2017, 8 p.m. — Nelson County government employees will see a 3 percent pay raise beginning with the new fiscal year on July 1.
Magistrate Keith Metcalfe listens as Tourism Director Dawn Prystal answers his question related to the tourist commission budget at Tuesday’s Nelson Fiscal Court meeting.
Judge Executive Dean Watts told Nelson Fiscal Court that the budget they gave final approval to Tuesday includes an across-the-board pay increase. The budget also includes appropriate pay increases for employees who complete additional job-related training or certifications.
TOURISM TO ADD EMPLOYEE. The magistrates approved the proposed 2017-18 budget for the Bardstown-Nelson County Tourist Commission — but only after their questions were answered about an increase in salaries.
The new budget anticipates an increase of $29,500 in restaurant tax revenue and an $21,500 increase in room tax revenue as part of its total projected $929,500 revenue.
The budget included an increase in the salary line item of $46,905, prompting the questions from the magistrates.
Tourism Director Dawn Prystal explained the board of directors decided to quit outsourcing some of its public relations and social media efforts and bring them in-house by creating a new full-time position. The move resulted in a decrease of $20,000 in the commission’s public relations expenses and a $10,300 reduction in its contract labor expenses for the 2017-18 budget.
The new position will focus on public relations and social media. Prystal said the pay will depend on experience.
RURAL SECONDARY ROAD AGREEMENT. Fiscal court authorized Watts to sign the rural secondary road agreement that provides up to $196,335 in state funding for county road repairs.
Brad Spalding, county engineer, discusses the bid for materials the magistrates were asked to approve at Tuesday’s meeting.
The state funds will be used for paving a 1.5 mile section of Holt Ridge Road; a 1.4 mile section of King Road; a 1.4 mile section of Pottershop Road; and a 0.4 mile section of Newton Valley Lane.
DISTRICT 1 PAVING REQUEST. The court approved Magistrate Keith Metcalfe’s road paving requests totaling $171,000.
The list includes:
– 12,450 feet of Patton Road between Rolling Fork Church Road and KY 46;
– all of Newton Valley Road;
– all of Culvertown Schoolhouse Road;
– chip seal all of W.T. Thompson Road.
– 2,420 feet of Dee Head Road
– all of Terrapin Lane.
A request to repave 5,050 feet of Simon Greenwell Lane was held for further review.
In other business, the court:
— approved a request to advertise for bids for two police cruisers and a vehicle for the county’s code enforcement office.
— approved reappointing Dexter Watkins to the Northeast Nelson Fire District board.
— approved two zoning changes related to the new rock quarry adjacent to the county landfill on Old Airport Road.
— approved zoning regulation changes that affect short-term rentals.
— approved the bids for materials used by the county for road maintenance/repairs and vehicle maintenance.
— heard from EMA director Joe Prewitt that two new outdoor warning sirens will be installed. One will replace an existing one in the area of Nelson County High School; the second will be placed on the Nazareth campus.
NEXT UP. Nelson Fiscal Court next meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 20, 2017, in the fiscal court meeting room at the Old Courthouse.
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