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Fiscal Court wants AOC to abide by original agreement Melodie Phelps News Editor Since the Wayne County Justice Center opened almost a year ago, the county has had the contract to clean and maintain the new facility. But that may all change soon, according to County Judge-Executive Bruce Ramsey. Ramsey told magistrates during a meeting of Wayne County Fiscal Court on Thursday, February 9 that the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has apparently solicited bids for those services. Ramsey referred to the whole action as political, alleging that it began after State Representative Ken Upchurch complained to AOC officials. Ramsey said he was first made aware of the situation on January 24, when Tim Christopher with the AOC visited his office. Ramsey said he was informed by Christopher that there were complaints about the way the Justice Center was being cleaned, particularly the bathrooms. Ramsey told the court that he and Christopher went to the Justice Center and found the bathrooms were clean. Several days later, Ramsey said there was a walk-through by several companies from Louisville. He said he later found that the solicitation for bids had been issued on January 24, two days before Christopher visited Wayne County. "The contracting out was a done deal," stated Ramsey during last week's meeting. The county was awarded the contract just days before the Justice Center opened last spring, according to Ramsey. He referred to the memorandum of understanding approved by the AOC and the county. He said that currently there is one full-time and two part-time employees who maintain the facility. They are paid through AOC funds. District Two Magistrate Jess Jones expressed concern that if the services are contracted out, the people who are working there now will lose their jobs. "I think they have done a good job and we need to stand up for them and do what is right," stated Ramsey. Ramsey noted that on court days, when 250 cases or more are brought before the judge, it is very difficult to keep areas like the restrooms clean. Magistrates authorized Ramsey and County Attorney Lee Tobbe to pursue negotiations or take any necessary court action to make the AOC comply with the original memorandum of understanding. In a statement issued the day after the fiscal court meeting, State Representative Ken Upchurch explained his involvement in the matter. "My involvement was strictly that I had constituents, an attorney and employees who worked at the Judicial Center express their concern about the uncleanliness of the facility," stated Upchurch. "I simply forwarded these concerns on to the AOC. I was doing my job as state representative." Upchurch said that any time he receives a complaint those concerns are forwarded on to the appropriate agency or cabinet. "The accusations that were leveled against me at the fiscal court meeting by Bruce Ramsey are patently untrue, false and misleading, and I am ashamed that the Chief Executive of Wayne County has such little regard for the truth," stated Upchurch. "I will avail myself at the next fiscal court meeting to answer to those allegations, explain my involvement and answer any questions that members of the fiscal court may have. At that meeting, I will provide documentation that shows that Judge Ramsey was aware of this issue and has chose to ignore it...And at that time, as Paul Harvey would say, they will get the rest of the story." "I await that invitation," Upchurch said. The court addressed several other matters of business during last week's meeting, including the approval of the second reading of a bond ordinance that would refinance bonds for the Wayne County Detention Center. By refinancing at a lower interest rate, the county will realize about a $250,000 savings and pay off the debt a year earlier. The magistrates heard the first readings of two new ordinances. One is am amendment to the park board ordinance, which originally created the board. The move comes after several meetings of both city and county governments, and a joint session between the two entities. At the center of the issue has been the lack of personnel policies and procedures for the Park Board. This amended ordinance by the county includes personnel policies and procedures, as well as several other issues that were of concern to the county. The proposed amendment also sets up a procedure for the removal of members of the Park Board. Under this provision, the County Judge-Executive has the authority to remove any of the county's appointed members who have not fulfilled their duties on the board, subject to approval of the fiscal court. The Mayor holds the same authority for members he has appointed, subject to approval of the City Council. The fiscal court also heard the first reading of an ordinance regarding the control of vicious dogs in the county. The ordinance includes a list of dogs, as well as a definition of what is considered a vicious dog. Under the ordinance, dogs that fall into this category must be registered with the County Judge-Executive's office. It also sets up conditions for owners of these dogs. It also sets up procedures used in the case of violation of registration requirements or other parts of the ordinance. In other action, the court: * Approved the adoption of the Marvin Jones Road into the county road system. * Agreed to donate $1,000 to the Monticello Fire Department for the annual fireworks display. * Agreed to purchase property, at a cost of $6,000, for the Cooper voting precinct. * Appointed Howard Munsey to the Ethics Board. * Heard the monthly report from Solid Waste Coordinator Andrew Parmley who noted that a total of 422 households have participated in the door-to-door pickup of white goods and large household items. He also noted that 10 dumpsites have been cleaned up so far with PRIDE grant money. Another 15 to 20 dumpsites will be cleaned up soon, also with PRIDE money. * Heard a monthly report from Wayne County Jailer Ray Upchurch, who noted that total population at the Detention Center is 161, including 100 state inmates and 61 county inmates. For the month of December the Detention Center received $106,814.10 for housing state inmates as well as inmates from other counties. * Heard a monthly report from EMS Director Bubby Corder, who noted the ambulance service has answered 380 calls since January 1. Corder noted that Wayne County EMS has received a grant through the Center for Rural Development for computer systems that will be placed in ambulances. Add a comment |
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