Scout shows how it’s done

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners officially adopted $1.64 million in budget cuts for the current fiscal year to address predicted revenue shortfalls.

Most cuts came from the road department, which is saving $1.19 million by delaying the purchase of asphalt for road projects this year. That is due to the department being busy working on Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax projects, officials said.

The remaining $450,000 in savings was achieved by individual county departments, reported Finance Director Mary Holland.

The highest saving departments included $64,575 from the sheriff’s office; $42,750 from fire services; $33,900 from human resources; $29,400 from elections and $28,400 from the clerk of superior court.

Commission Chairman Jack Smith thanked Holland and County Manager Jack Krakeel along with department heads and elected officials.

“It’s a testament that they are cognizant of what is happening and are working together to help the county in these economic times,” Smith said.

In other business, the commission honored local Eagle Scout Alex Smith for installing a disc golf course at McCurry Park. The course features metal baskets used as “holes” for frisbees and the game is played much like golf.

Smith raised the funds and built the course with help from fellow scouts as part of his Eagle Scout project. He spent more than 200 hours on the project and was able to return about $500 in raised funds back to his troop because they were unspent.

The county also:

• Approved allowing Fayette Senior Services to use land next to its facility near Jimmie Mayfield Boulevard for a therapeutic garden. The $30,000 to $40,000 in funds for the project will be raised by FSS, said Director Debbie Britt.

• Denied a tax refund appeal from TDK based on errors that were made in its 2006 and 2007 personal property tax returns. The company did not have a representative at the meeting to make its appeal.

• Accepted $2,000 from the Fayette County Board of Education to purchase materials for the county library’s books on loan program which allows students to access books and other materials in the evenings and during summer break; and

• Approved the execution of tag and title documents for the sheriff’s office which is purchasing four new vehicles with federal drug seizure funds.

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