The state is asking the county to place a value on all of its land, roads, and equipment to strengthen its bonding capability. While the practice is standard for private business, the state is now requiring the same of public property to strengthen the county's bonding capability.
“This is something the state has mandated we do,” said Judge-Executive Bill Kelley. “We need to start now getting a value on all our roads, our buildings, our equipment. It will improve our ratings for our bonds. This way we can show a net worth of what properties are owned by the county. We are hopping that in the future, while it is not right now changing government as it is, but in the future we are hopping it will give us a better rating on bonding and it will save us money on bonding or any growth going on in Bell County.”
Magistrates voted to approve a resolution adopting the execution of a County Road Aid Discretionary Bond Fund agreement between the county and the Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The new roads the state will work include Little Clear Creek, Sims Fork, Old House Branch, Kettle Island, Long Branch, Williams Branch, Blacksnake, and Abby Lane Court. Each road is close to a mile long or longer to qualify.
A resolution approving Coal Severance Projects was approved without question. This is the third time the list has been submitted to the state. The county was told the projects would not be approved, however, state officials now say if the fiscal court approves the projects, they may be funded. The projects are listed in the state's budget, but at present are not funded. This includes sewer and water projects.
Payment of $19,553.77 to Vaughn & Melton Consulting Engineers for work on the Laurel Fork, Martin Green Straight, Four Mile and Wilson Lane water project was approved.
Akins Excavating Co., Inc. was paid $206,830.98 for work on the same projects. The installed water lines are reaching those, for the most part, that were missed in the initial pipeline construction.
The fiscal court approved payment of $87,04.64 to Stotts Construction Company for work on the U.S. Hwy. 25E sewer extension project, at the north city limits of Middlesboro. On the same project, magistrates approved payment of $10,668.15 to Vaughn and Melton Consulting Engineers..
Magistrates approved payment of $24,720 to G & J Willis, Inc. for work in the industrial building in Middlesboro.
Two payments, $2,300 and $9,500, were approved by the court to be paid to S & M E Inc. for professional services for the proposed Bell County Detention Center.
A contribution of $2,500 was made to the Laurel Fork Water Board and Transfers to help water customers connect to water.
The court accepted the fee account claim sheet from the sheriff's department in the amount of $13,936.07 for September 2006 collected fees.
Checks in the amount of $22,604.59 from Bell County Court Clerk Joan Asher Cawood were approved by the magistrates.
C.J. Harte is a Correspondent for the Daily News. He can be reached via e-mail at charte@middlesborodailynews.com.
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