County’s jail expansion, clean up progress Hickman Courier 03/17/09 Charlotte Smith Email this story to a friend Gas bills at the Fulton County Detention Center and Hickman Senior Citizens jail expansion, animal control, storm debris clean up and a revised bill from Jim Moss with Moss Farms, were topics of discussion during the regular monthly meeting of the Fulton County Fiscal Court. Moss, who said he performed services and provided equipment during the recent ice storm at the request of J.L. Atwill, has added items to his bill to the court. Atwill was part of the Emergency Operations Center. Moss was asked to attend the next fiscal court meeting to discuss his bill further. Unusually high gas bills were sent to the Detention Center and the Senior Citizens Center in December 2008. It has been requested that new dial be installed on the Detention Center’s gas meter, while it is still unknown what is causing the high amount of usage at the Senior Center. County workers and those contracted by the state are continuing to pile debris in the northwest corner of the intersection at Broadway and By-Pass 1099, Hickman. Crews contracted from the state have made major progress in Brownsville on State Route 309. It is yet to be determined if the contractors will meet the April 6 deadline. Fulton County Judge David Gallagher updated the Court regarding animal control in the county and the two cities of Hickman and Fulton. “I will be meeting with City Managers Larry Myatt and Kenney Etherton within the next several days,” said Judge/Executive David Gallagher. He also said that it looked like a dog pound would be constructed in Fulton and that the county would help support both entities. The court was informed the jail expansion is progressing. and bills for the month were approved. The court will tour the site March 23. The March 30 meeting has been moved to March 23 because of the High Water trip scheduled for March 30 at 9 a.m. All magistrates plan to attend with other members of the community from the City, Riverport and Levee Board. The group will meet in Caruthersville, Mo. and travel to Blytheville, Ark. Judge/Executive Gallagher recently addressed the Obion County Court to express Fulton County’s appreciation for assistance provided during the recent ice storm. In regular business the Court: •Approved Emergency Management Supplemental Planning Coordinator and Salary Order, hiring J.L. Atwill to work April 1 to Aug. 31 •Authorized expenditure for materials to replace and repair portion of Jail roof •Emergency Order for repairs to Fulton County Courthouse •Approved sale of generators to Administrative Office to the Courts •Approved revision to Fulton County Clerk’s year-end report with County Clerk Betty Abernathy, who reported a total of excess in fees paid to the county, in the amount of $16,209.62. •Authorized advertising for Fulton County Road Department Materials for FY 2009/2010 •Authorized Treasurer and Finance Officer to make necessary end of third Quarter transfers County Attorney Rick Major updated the Court with budget information for the county attorney’s office. Two cuts within the last eight months have been absorbed in their office while some other offices in the state have had unpaid furloughs because of the budget cuts. Currently there are three caseworkers handling 2,500 cases. Mimi True recently retired from his office and Laura Spadafino has been hired to take her place. Major also mentioned the Hickman-Fulton County Riverport Authority and Hickman River City Development Corporation recently met with “very positive” results. They met to discuss upcoming projects vital to both entities as well as the county, such as the installation of rail. Henry Callision, magistrate and member of the Riverport board agreed the meeting was “very positive and very fruitful.” The Court is slated to meet again March 24 at 9 a.m. in the board room of the Court offices on Myron Cory Drive, Hickman.