Published: May 21, 2008 06:21 pm            

FLOYD COUNTY: Commissioners approve funds to hire 'trained smeller'

The Floyd County Commissioners approved $1,200 for improvements to the M.L. Reisz Building along Spring Street at its Tuesday night meeting.

The money includes $300 for a trained smeller to sniff out the building after a foul odor was reported. County probation offices recently moved into the renovated Reisz Building after the North Annex had fallen into disrepair.

Commissioner Chuck Freiberger said it was natural that some problems would arise after moving into a new building.

The trained smeller will be hired to determine whether the foul odor reported in the building could be a health concern.

“In light of safety issues, we need to go ahead with this,” Commissioner Mark Seabrook said.

Freiberger noted that the same individual who reported this odor also reported an odor in the old building. He said that he was not discounting the complaint, but added that the person could just have a sensitive nose.

“It could just be the newness of the (renovations),” he said.

Also, leaks were reported in the Reisz Building, and the commission voted 2-0 to approve funding to mortar the ceiling. Commissioner Steve Bush was on vacation and not present at the meeting.



IN OTHER BUSINESS

The county also will look into the possibility of allowing people to pay their taxes online using a credit card. Floyd County Treasurer Darlene McCoy sent a contract for online payments to the commissioners, and they agreed to put the issue on the agenda for the next meeting.

Dana Fendley, of the Floyd County Council, who attended the meeting, said she has been pushing the county to accept more payments through the Web site. She said it makes it convenient for people who do not want to drive to the county building.

Fendley said the service would not cost the county anything. People who pay online would be charged a small fee, she said. That money would go to the credit card companies.

The county clerk’s office already accepts online payment for court costs and traffic tickets.

“As we all go to more online transactions, people expect that you can do these things online,” Fendley said. “I think it’s great.”

        

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