Friends:

It is an honor to serve as the new President of our Association, I truly appreciate the confidence that you all have in me.  I know economic times are tough all around, but because of you, your dedication and your support, our association remains strong. I pledge that I will do everything I can to see that it stays that way. I know it is only strong because of you and our counties. You are the best.

The race for Governor is in full swing and now is the time to get commitments from the candidates. After the election is over it is too late. Be sure to speak to all of the candidates and let your needs be known. We have all the constitutional offices up for election so talk to all. 

Our new board of directors took office in July representing all areas of the state. They are all great leaders and serve willingly with one common goal, to keep the association true to its purpose.

Call Richard, Kathy or me anytime with whatever is on your mind. Remember, the association is always here to help. Thanks.

Stephen Stark, President KMCA

by Richard Tanner

Judicial Reform:
If you think you have heard enough, then hold on. The next level is working with status offenders. Should those juveniles be incarcerated is the question? And will it save money for the state and county? Most of the status offenders are truancy problems.

In 2011 there were 1,221 status offenders being treated by the department of those 945 were in out-of-home care. Many of those are not near their home. Cost of the status offender program: around $37 million with $12.5 million from the general fund. Just a point -- Kentucky is one of only three states with a status offender law.

Counties are responsible for the entire $94 dollars per day when these juveniles are jailed for status offenses. However, counties are reimbursed for the juveniles that are jailed for committing a criminal offense. It can cost as much as much as $162 a day, which is too much for something that is not even a crime. And as the Kenton county jailer has said - blending status offenders with criminals is not a good idea.

HB 463 is not over either. It is the responsibility of the fiscal court to monitor the medical costs incurred by inmates to ensure that only the Medicaid rate is being paid.
It is illegal to pay more.  All costs of over $1000 should be sent to the state. Work with your jailer and review the bills for cost control.

Question:  Has the new judicial reform act had any effect on you jail operation to date?     Please email your thoughts on this issue to Richard.tanner@kmca.net  or send to 350 Englewood Drive, Frankfort, KY.

Legislative issues for 2012 session:

Review and funding of the 911 call centers ... will be on the agenda again this year. Funding of this service is getting difficult but counties will provide and the legislators know it. But attempts for reform will be made.

Changes to HB 44 will be on the table again. And again, the revision will further limit counties ability to raise the revenue needed to provide to their citizens. Our
association has historically opposed any changes that limit counties ability to fund their obligations. One of the Governor candidates talks of tax reform and if that were come to pass - the entire tax system can be dealt with.

Constables:
Sheriffs still wants Constables to be regulated and want our help and commitment
to work with them on limiting their powers. Getting the office eliminated takes
a constitutional amendment with little chance of that happing limiting their power is the next best option. We have always wanted control over the constables and should consider this approach.

One Question and approach that no county has yet considered is the probable fact that the office of constable is a fee office and all fees should go to the county. Think about it. The sheriff pays all excess fees to the county, so does the clerk.  Constables are fee officials - Think about it.

How is redistricting coming along? You should be well on your way to having the
county  district lines redrawn.  If not, please start or let everyone know that your county does not need to re-work its district.

This session the General Assembly will re-draw their representative and senate district lines. Counties must be finished first. So if you are not involved get started. 
Redistricting and the budget will be biggest issues in this years session, consuming a great deal of the time and energy of the members.

Question: Has your county changed the number of Magisterial districts for next term?

What is next? A question that is generic. It is for most any issue that confronts anyone about anything. As I write this opinion it is all about what is next. During my brief time on our high school football team I remember us asking the
coach many times “What Next� both when we were doing well and when it was bad.

KMCA works on and plans your conventions and constantly thinks about that question; our next agenda. A part of our convention wrap-up is to look at what is good and what is bad about our workshops and the changes that need to be made for the next meeting. Whats next?

Our lobbying efforts work at the same angle if we get resolution to a problem that is effecting counties then we move on to another one. There are always more issues coming up and many will never get a legislative remedy. KMCA, KACo,
KCJEA all work hard for legislative remedies and just had some success on HB463. Even when we get stuck we ask What next?

So you see that your Association is always looking  to “What is Nextâ€� just as you are in your county. Solve a problem then what next, That’s your job just as it is ours.

The Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association Government Out On Drugs Committee has met and derived a full committee report dealing with the illegal drug issues facing our Commonwealth.  The report will be forthcoming, watch your mailbox.

One of the most important conclusions of the report is the plain fact that people must get involved. County officials can and must be leaders in this fight and never give up.

Do you know how big the illegal drug problem is in your county and the different programs that are available to help people who face drug addiction?  Find out. Read the report when it arrives and take action.

 Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association...YOUR Association 

During this first year of your term you should know by now that your association is always a focal point for assistance to its members, ready and willing to help in anyway it can. The only reason it exists is to assist its members. The KMCA has been helping court members for almost 60 years. The association is always available to help members reach their goals, be professionals, and serve with knowledge.

The training sessions and information that is provided by KMCA is always accurate, informative and unbiased; “You may not like what you hear, but we tell it like it is.�

The Association works for you, you can depend on it.  Those who use the services, attend the conferences, correspond and read the material will tell the rest. Your association is strong and never loses it focus, we work for you.

WHAT'S YOUR E-MAIL? 

It is very important that we have your email address. As you well know, express communication is more important now than ever. If you do not have email, you or someone in your family soon will have. KMCA needs to have all the addresses possible. Please email us at Kathy.Marshall@kmca.net with your address so we can keep our files up-to-date. Any address that can be used to contact you is good. Kathy.Marshall@kmca.net is our email - what is yours?

Kathy Marshall
KMCA Association Manager

Where has the summer gone? I enjoyed seeing everyone in Northern Kentucky last month. The dedication you all
have to your associations and to your counties is second to none.   The convention had a great turnout of attendees as well as candidates for constitutional office. Those candidates that were in attendance know what an influential group you all are.

There are many things on the horizon for this coming year: the election, the upcoming session of the General Assembly, etc. Next years Spring Conference will be totally revamped. We are exploring the idea of an entirely new format. We need your input with hot topics of interest and issues that you want to learn more about. Call us with your ideas. 

What’s do you want to see on the next convention agenda or legislative topics? Let us know. Email Richard.tanner@kmca.net or Kathy.marshall@kmca.net or drop a line to 350 Englewood Drive. Frankfort
40601. 

Thanks, Kathy Marshall

  KACo Leasing Trust - KAColt

Funding for your Capital Projects

Loans or leases are now available to most special districts including health districts and library districts.  Interest rates are better than ever. Talk to Grant @ 502 223 7667 for more information.  This is a great tool for your county.  Look into it.
-- Richard

 LOBBYING  

In reality, you pay Vince Lang with KCJEA, Shellie Hampton and Denny Nunnelly of KACo, Sam Crawford, Ellen Williams, and Renee Craddock contract lobbyists and me.

I can assure you that we all have applied ourselves to the best well being of local governments and have never failed to work in a professional way.

Payoff for our counties can’t be measured only in dollars and cents. The conduct of your team has gained the respect of many - the key to successful lobbying.

As we continue to promote our causes and work against detrimental issues, counties can be assured that they are represented with class and excellence.

Last years conference was a success. There were over 700 city and county officials registered for the conference. Commissioner Tony Wilder said he was pleased with his first conference and contributed its success to the dedication and hard work of the DLG staff and the continued support of Kentucky's local officials. Governor Steve Beshear addressed the crowd during the luncheon and presented the Spirit of Kentucky Award to the City of Carrollton.

Coal Severance Tax is helping the state get through the slowdown. The last quarter receipts were over $80 million. That number is far more than budged and if the severance tax holds relatively steady for the rest of the year, the severance tax revenue will exceed budget amounts by several million.  Good for coal counties and the state.

Over $40 million in this quarter goes to the entire state not just the coal producing and impacted counties. 

This year there are 562 magistrates and commissioners. 

Bath, Boone, Boyd, Campbell, Clark, Daviess, Graves, Greenup, Johnson, Kenton, Marshall, Mason, McCracken and Montgomery are the 14 counties that have a Commissioner form of Government.

There is no difference in the duties of the Fiscal court in a commissioner form verses a magisterial form of government, only the way they are elected, and the variation of the number of members.

Hilman Dotson, Pike County Magistrate was awarded the 2011 Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association’s Public Servant of the Year at the KMCA Spring Conference recently held in Louisville. 

The PSY is awarded to a member who exhibits outstanding leadership skills both at home and within this association. 

Hilman Dotson, Pike County Magistrate, was awarded the 2011 Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association’s Public Servant of the Year at the KMCA Spring Conference recently held at the Galt House in Louisville.  KMCA President Phil Sammons presented the award to Dotson. 

Throughout Dotson’s years of public service he has concentrated on improving opportunities for children and seniors in his district. During his tenure, he has seen the construction of three new Senior Citizen Centers, two new Community Centers, five new playgrounds and two new Volunteer Fire Departments.

During the recent flooding that ravaged Pike County leaving many of its residents homeless and stranded, Magistrate Dotson climbed on a backhoe and went to work - rebuilding roads, constructing make shift bridges and returning creeks to their original banks. He worked tirelessly for days until everyone in his district had access to their homes.

Most mornings Dotson can be found cooking eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy for the seniors at the Phelps Courthouse, a tradition he started many years ago. 

Hilman is a public servant, over 20 years of unselfish service to his community as a leader, volunteer and neighbor makes him this year’s choice for KMCA’s Public Servant of the Year.