by Matt Hughes
J-E News Editor
Representatives of Alliance Resource Partners hand delivered their property tax checks to the Webster County Fiscal Court on Monday, along with a message.
“On behalf of Alliance Coal, we are glad to be part of your community,” said Kim Humphrey who works in the Alliance offices at River View Mine in Union County. “Webster County has always been a good partner with our operations.”
Humphrey introduced Dan Durham, who took over as General Manager of Sebree Mining in July. He presented a check in the amount of $485,612.55 to Sheriff Frankie Springfield.
“I don’t live in Webster County, but I do have family that lives here,” Durham said. “The event we had at Sebree, I’ve never seen another community be as supportive of a mine as Webster County was.”
Over the summer a “squeeze” caused the mine to halt operations for several weeks. Durham said the people of Webster County were willing to help in anyway they could.
Webster County Mining (Dotiki) General Manager Gary Thweat was unable to attend, so in his place he sent Dotiki Chief Engineer Eric Blanford.
He presented Sheriff Springfield with a check for $850,393.91.
Humphrey also delivered checks of $27,630.37 for CR Services and another in the amount of $16,294.50 on behalf of Steamport Dock.
Alliance’s Webster County operations generated a total of $1,379,931.33 in property taxes.
In other business, the court voted to award a bid for a new forklift to MH Equipment of Evansville in the amount of $26,179.
Next on the agenda was the contract for janitorial services at the Webster County court house. Karen Sutton overseas the employees who clean the building.
“I think we are paying Karen $3,200 a month to clean the courthouse,” said Judge Executive Jim Townsend. “She asked if, since we just gave raises to county employees, we would consider doing the same thing for her.”
Townsend said that Sutton requested a two percent raised, but he thought the county should do better.
“She asked for two percent, or $34 a month. I would suggest we increase it to $3,300.”
Sutton has three employees who work to clean the courthouse.
Magistrates approved renewing the contract and increasing the amount as suggested.
A committee of Poole citizens was on hand to hear county attorney Clint Prow’s report on a suggested ordinance that would allow the court to order properties cleaned with the threat of a lien being placed on the properties.
“A county is in the same boat as a city,” he said. “The state would allow us to pass on an ordinance for the cleanup of property that has become dangerous. I have spoken with officials in both cities about their experiences.”
The court agreed to schedule a work session to help draft an ordinance.
After many months of deliberation, the county might be about ready to begin construction of the new dog pound. Magistrates voted on Monday to attempt to purchase a 22 or 23 acre plot of land located past the current Road Department and animal shelter.
The property owner was asking $2,200 per acre for a total of $48,000.
Finally, Magistrate Jerry “Poogie” Brown reported that he has spoken with a biologist about a tree on Hester Winstead Road that the county has been trying to cut down for several months. Earlier this month the property owner got the demolition halted with a clam that a group of red tailed hawks called the tree home.
“He said that there is not a nest in the tree, so it is not protected habitat,” Brown reported.
The county will proceed with right-of-way surveys before deciding the future of the tree.
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