Hatfield adds two staffers; receives budget bump [Commonwealth Journal, Somerset, Ky.]

Dec. 14--SOMERSET -- Pulaski County Attorney Martin Hatfield is welcoming two new members onto his staff -- and Pulaski Fiscal Court is tossing a few more dollars his way so he can better compensate his employees.

Magistrates voted on Monday to approve an additional $15,000 for the county attorney's office to be divided between his two assistants, Marcus Vanover and Jessica Crockett, who will begin on Jan. 1.

"Marcus has done excellent work and I know that Jessica will be a fine addition to our staff," Hatfield told fiscal court. "These people are full-time like myself and (assistant county attorney Greg Ousley). That put a lot of time in on county business and an additional $15,000 to supplement my budget will help me provide them adequate compensation."

Hatfield also announced that Thomas Reed, a former Fort Lauderdale, Fla., police officer, will join his staff as a detective on Jan. 1.

"Fiscal court approved a county detective for my office -- a position that we've never had here in Pulaski County," Hatfield said. "We're very fortunate to have found a person of Thomas Reed's caliber to come in and take this position."

Magistrates on Monday voted to waive Reed's county insurance and instead supplement his salary by $637 per month.

In other news from Pulaski Fiscal Court:

--Magistrates voted to accept Pulaski County Sheriff Todd Wood's new policy on holiday compensation for his deputies. They now will be paid for an additional five hours, or time and a half, for working holiday shifts.

"For the nine years I've been here these guys work every holiday without any kind of special compensation and it just didn't seem fair," Wood explained to the court. "I think this makes it fair for everyone."

--Fiscal court voted to accept a slew of roads back into the county road system. These roads had been maintained by the state during various construction projects.

"I'll have to sign a resolution for each individual road for our records," said Judge-executive Barty Bullock. "But for our purposes today, (Hatfield) has advised me that we can accept them back into the county in a bundle."

--Magistrates also voted to take four additional roads into the county road system. Saddle View Drive, Timber Creek Drive, Gilmore Drive and Carla Drive will now be maintained by the county.

--Marlene Haney was re-appointed to the Pulaski County Extension Board, while Marvin Kinch was also appointed to his first term.

Meanwhile, Scotty Nole was re-appointed to the Cemetery Board.

--Pulaski County Clerk Ralph Troxtell had his budget and salary cap approved.

--The Dec. 27 fiscal court meeting was canceled.

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