The bigger chipper is finally in Hickman. For several weeks Fulton County Judge/Executive David Gallagher tried to find out exactly when the chipper was going to be available to start eliminating the massive pile of storm debris located at the northwest corner of Broadway and 1099 By-Pass in Hickman.
During the Fiscal Court meeting July 13 he informed the magistrates and those in attendance pieces of equipment began arriving July 12.
“Hopefully within a couple of weeks,” said Judge Gallagher, the pile of debris will be nothing more than a memory. He also said that there is a market for the chips that will result from the chipping.
There are approximately 1100 county residents not on city water. Of those residents approximately 50 of them are members of the Twin Cities Ambulance Service.
Recently, the ambulance service increased rates to meet expenses. “It would be beneficial to the ambulance service to reach some of the non-members,” commented Judge Gallagher.
Road Department Supervisor Dennis Warner informed magistrates the road department is in need of a new mow trimmer. “We need one to reach higher,” he said.
Judge Gallagher asked him to obtain additional information and magistrates will discuss the purchase at the July 27 meeting.
“Those we have employed through Project ICE, have worked out well,” Judge Gallagher stated, adding, It is possible a couple of those employees, whose service ends this month, might be retained by the county through September to assist with seasonal work and FEMA projects.
Warner also informed the court the county is looking for alternate locations to obtain gravel, as the current location is dwindling. “We have been using that location since 1992,” he said.
The county is looking into the cost of adding fire hydrants throughout the county and what affect it would have on insurance rates.
“It costs approximately $3,000 to set one hydrant,” Magistrate Billy “Bubba” Nelms said. That doesn’t include the cost to make sure there is enough water pressure for the hydrant to work properly.
In business the county approved the following:
•Statement of Affiliation between Fulton County Fiscal Court and Fulton County Rescue Squad (retroactive to July 7, 2009)
•Agreed to a four-year contact with Won-Way One Call New System •Fulton County Clerk Quarterly Report (April-June 2009)
•Fulton County Sheriff Quarterly Report (April-June 2009)
•Award County of Fulton Audit for FY Years 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 in the amount of $14,000 to Romaine and Associates (in some years past it has cost the county up to $20,000 for a one-year audit when they went through the state)
•Approved Road Department employee salary order effective July 19, for Tommy Ramsey and one for Steve Sellers
•Approved new Fulton County Detention Center employees all part-time, including Donna Brooks, Tonya Arnold and Cara Kinney
•Approved Treasurer and Finance Officer’s Quarterly Report & Annual Settlement (subject to audit)
•Authorized advertising in local newspaper of County of Fulton Annual Settlement (subject to audit)
•Transfer of $105,753 administrative costs from Road Fund to General Fund •Transfer of $161,275.64 from Road Fund to Jail Fund
Before approving bills, the County awarded a contract to Robin Parker of R & P Construction in the amount of $150 an hour for approximately 120 hours to remove over hangs resulting from the January ice storm.
Work to repair both the roof at Carnegie Library and the Courthouse has been approved. “We are now waiting for the contractors to perform the work,” said Judge Gallagher.
A crew from the Detention Center is currently cleaning out the old Fulton County Office Building, also damaged during the ice storm. The plan is to have a few offices available for lease, with the Detention Center using some for storage.
The old Sheriff’s Office, located across from the Courthouse will eventually be torn down.
The plan is to construct additional parking spaces for the Courthouse. The Court will decide what can be removed from the structure before it is demolished.
The Court will meet again in regular session July 27 at 9 a.m. in the County Office Building located on Myron Cory Drive in Hickman.
