By TRICIA NEAL, CJ Staff Writer
Commonwealth Journal
Somerset —
Pulaski County Judge-executive Barty Bullock is hoping to get fiscal court’s approval for a new position — but most magistrates were tight-lipped upon hearing Bullock’s idea earlier this week. During a fiscal court meeting Tuesday, Bullock told magistrates he’d like to create a position for a “community development coordinator.” The individual who would be named to the proposed job would “be so much more than a grant writer,” Bullock said, although grant writing would be a vital component of the position. The community development coordinator would seek out funding for local projects, write grant applications for projects, and serve as a liaison to fiscal court concerning ongoing projects, Bullock said. “There is a huge need for this, and it’s more than our office staff can do. It’s more than a full time job,” he added. Bullock told magistrates the individual hired for the position could help create projects which will, in the long run, make Pulaski County a more attractive option to families and businesses considering making a move to the area. He noted that the county’s Industrial Development Foundation has already committed to sharing in the cost of the individual’s salary if the court approves the position. Bullock is envisioning a salary of $32,000 to $33,000 for the qualifying individual. With the Industrial Development Foundation’s help, the cost to the county should only be around $17,000. “I think it would be very well accepted by the public, and it would be a great help to our court and our county,” Bullock said. The county judge’s idea didn’t appear to be very well accepted by magistrates, however. The idea was essentially met with silence. Magistrate Kenny Isaacs suggested that the job description sounded much like one of a deputy judge. Bullock noted, however, that a deputy judge’s position would demand a higher salary — ”and the development foundation is not going to pay half of their salary.” Magistrate Mike Strunk said, if the community development coordinator’s position is created, the county’s current grant writer position should be eliminated. The court opted not to take any action on the matter this week. Isaacs suggested that the magistrates take more time to look at Bullock’s proposal.