Representatives from the Extension Service offered a presentation before the Bell County Fiscal Court on Tuesday to educate court members on the wide variety of services provided by the agency.
"The University of Kentucky cut their budget quite a bit and they brought another agent and they feel like they need another $130,000. We're right now shy of $90,000," said Bell County Judge-Executive Bill Kelley.
According to the UK Website, the Cooperative Extension program began in 1914 when county, state and federal governments agreed that by joining together they could provide all citizens with access to the wealth of knowledge generated by public universities.
The agency now cooperates with county governments in an effort to solve local problems.
Kelley said the agency is important to the community.
"They do a lot. They work with all the agencies and the schools. They have a lot of organizations in the school system. That's why we're hoping to get creative and that the schools can help us."
In other business, the court approved the first reading of the annual budget for the 2005-2006 year. According to Kelley, the budget is the largest passed since he took office, but the county was still operating "on a shoestring."
A large portion of the budget is comprised of capital projects. Kelley said the county's total operating budget ranged from $6.5 to $7 million beyond those projects.
Capital projects are funded primarily from state coal severance money and state bonding funds.
State Representative Rick Nelson attended the meeting to present approximately $3 million (as represented by two large checks) in state funds to the court for water projects and equipment purchases.
"Since 2003, there's been over $3 million we've brought in for water and sewer and over $2 million for projects and equipment," said Nelson.
Kelley said the county looked forward to receiving the promised funds.
In other news the court:
- accepted the treasurer's financial statement for April
- accepted the Bell County Sheriff's Department's Claim Sheet.
- passed a resolution approving the determination of just compensation for acquisition of property in the Fourmile Target Area.
- approved pay resolution No. 2 for the Fourmile Mitigation Project.
- accepted the 2004 balance of excess fees from Clerk Joan Asher Cawood.
- approved payment of more than $20,600 to Vaughn & Melton Consulting Engineers for design and resident inspection services for the Don Green Road, Brownies Creek Road and Meldum Water Project.
- approved payment of $215,000 to Akins Excavating Co., Inc., for services in the Don Green Road, Brownies Creek and Meldum Water Project.
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