SALYERSVILLE – The Magoffin County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Tuesday, November 17, discussing reducing energy costs, changing the name of a road and reminding the public to be safe as local COVID-19 cases continue to surge.
Magoffin County Judge-Executive Matt Wireman announced that any poll workers that worked the November 3 election can pick up their checks at the judge’s office.
The court approved fund transfers of $35,000 from the general fund to the jail fund and $35,123 from the general fund to the LGEA fund (to pay for the playground equipment, which will be reimbursed).
Wireman updated the court on ongoing projects, noting that they are continuing to put up road signs and they have received the new (used) patcher. He said the road crew is using some trial and error on learning how to use the patcher.
He said that the park at Half Mountain is being prepped for the playground equipment, explaining that they hope to have it ready for the community to use by the spring.
The fiscal court approved a list of surplus items, including some items from the 911 move and racks for the old voting machines.
They approved to advertise a request for proposals for an energy service performance contract. Wireman explained that he had been skeptical of similar contracts in the past, but as working as the financial officer for the Floyd County Board of Education he had learned about the effectiveness of the programs, noting that laws now require the companies guarantee savings. He said he had a company review the judicial center and they had identified approximately $60,000 in savings on the energy costs by upgrading some equipment. The savings would go toward bond payments for the new equipment, but the process would keep the judicial center up to date for many years to come, he said. Four judicial centers in the state are currently using a similar program, as are many county government buildings and schools.
“This will help future-proof that building for many years, but the first step is to do a request for proposals and that commits us to nothing,” Wireman explained to the court as they unanimously approved to advertise for proposals of the service.
After receiving a signed petition from the residents of “Gingerbread Road,” requesting that the name be changed, the court agreed to change the name of the road to Drybread Fork, which it is already known as locally.
Wireman also explained that he has been able to create the position director of economic development and tourism, appointing Jimmy Salyer to that position.
The court thanked the local veterans for their service, with Wireman explaining they will have a ceremony at a later date for all of the veterans that have passed away since the pandemic started, but for now, he is not bringing the group back together while COVID-19 numbers are still so high.
He said that the Masonic Lodge and Rainbow Girls’ veterans’ to-go dinner served over 100 chili meals on Saturday.
Wireman pleaded with the community to take the ongoing pandemic seriously and to protect one another.
“We are a red county,” Wireman said. “If you’re watching this [meeting], wear a mask. It’s not about civil liberties or your rights. It’s about people’s lives. The opposite of love is not hate.
The opposite of love is to not care about other people and only care about yourself. I don’t want anybody to get this and it take them out. For someone to be so selfish and self-centered to blatantly defy the guidance from health officials, I just don’t understand it.”
The Magoffin County Fiscal Court’s next regularly-scheduled meeting is slated for December 15.
