by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Webster Fiscal Court was in session on Tuesday. Discussion of county roads and road bids for the 2014-2015 fiscal year dominated the meeting.
Court officials opened bids received for gravel, asphalt, salt, oil and culverts from companies both locally and from as far away as North Olmstead, OH. After spending nearly a half hour reading the bids, magistrates voted to take the bids under advisement until their next meeting, which will be held on June 23, 2014 at 9:00 a.m.
Judge Jim Townsend told the court that he was expecting some additional funding for road work, and suggested that the three magistrates take a careful look at roads in their districts.
“I’m looking at about $250,000 for blacktopping present roads and another $250,000 for coal severance,” Townsend said.
He added that this half a million dollars still falls far short of what the county had for road aid last year. Following a winter that was exceptionally hard on county roadways, the county is looking a doing things a little differently in the upcoming year.
“We may have to look at doing some patch work this year instead of paving,” Townsend said.
In other business, the court voted to appoint Tom Henry to represent the Sebree, Slaughters and Poole areas on the County Board of Assessment. Henry, who Judge Townsend said has filled this position before, will be replacing Dennis McKully who is about to come off of the board.
Webster County 911 Director Doug Sauls reported that he was applying for a 100% grant to update the county’s 911 recording equipment. This equipment is the final piece needed to bring the county up to “Next Generation 911” standards.
Judge Townsend reported that the county is currently working to get a grant from Homeland Security to build an antenna tower at Oak Heights.