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A recent meeting of the Clark County Fiscal Court on Wednesday, December 11, led to different decisions and discussions. 

Among them was one regarding payment of pre-authorized utility bills going forward. 

Magistrates of the Clark County Fiscal Court approved to go forth with the process of moving payments for utility bills online while utilizing automatic debit payments when available. 

Providing some background information early in the meeting, Clark County Judge-Executive Les Yates spoke of previous issues when doing so by mail whether it be electric bills, gas bills, or other. 

“We’d…put them in the mail and mail them in, and sometimes the mail could be [responded to] two weeks late,” he said. “What this..is about…[is] to get them paid on time, and without going through the mail system, the only way is [using] online payment.” 

Fran Howard, who currently works as Clark County Finance Officer, supported and further advocated for the decision, noting that it is an issue she saw prior to working in Clark County as well. 

“Over the last couple of weeks, the Kentucky [Association of County Treasurers and Finance Officers] has sent out emails that the utility bills are getting posted incorrectly or they’re not getting there in a timely manner,” she said. “I have looked at some of our patients…the mail service is taking anywhere from seven to twenty-five days longer for people to receive our checks.” 

Magistrate Mark Miller was the first to make a motion for the change. 

Clark County Attorney William Elkins, who also acts as counsel to the Fiscal Court, was asked how the process would need to be in order to make sure no violations occurred based on any action. 

After crediting Howard, he responded. 

“I think the safer method would be to set it up on auto pay and still run the bills on your pre-authorized list”, he said. 

Howard, responding to concerns related to two signatures being needed for debit card payments on the accounts, further spoke. 

“What we had talked about is still doing the check process with two signatures, and then the treasurer would take that check with a copy of my utility bill, post the payment online, print out the payment confirmation, and then we would stamp the check to say online payment. Therefore, the check could never be used again,” she said. 

“If your state auditor says that that meets muster, then I think you’re fine,” Elkins responded. “I would suggest a written authorization would suffice, but I don’t think you need any additional authorization.” 

In addition, Howard asked for the Court’s permission regarding a matter of the Clark County Road Department. 

“I would also like to ask the Court’s permission to post electronically today the Road [Department’s] Kentucky Utility check, that we received back in the mail, that has four accounts on it,” she said. “The check’s good. It’s from October 30, but we just received it on December 9th.” 

The Court motioned in favor unanimously.