Lincoln magistrates unhappy with $1,000 plumbing bill from jail

STANFORD — Magistrates grudgingly approved Tuesday more than $1,000 in plumbing repair costs for the Lincoln County Regional Jail.

Judge-Executive Jim Adams said the jail recently had some plumbing issues and called Roto-Rooter in Lexington to make the repairs. The bill from Roto-Rooter totaled $1,065.

“We’re responsible for the jail and we’re responsible for those prisoners and we need to pay this bill,” Adams said.

After servicing the plumbing, Roto-Rooter employees refused to leave until they received payment, but agreed not to cash a check until after the fiscal court approved payment, Adams said.

Magistrate David Faulkner said he thinks a local company could have done the same work for a third of the price.

"There's a local plumbing outfit that typically takes care of us," he said. "They were not contacted."

Magistrates Joe Stanley, Bill Dyehouse and Johnnie Padgett also expressed dismay that the jail had opted for the Lexington company, which they believed to be more expensive.

"I don't think we need to be calling these dudes anymore," Dyehouse said.

Magistrates voted to approve paying the bill out of the jail’s fund, but agreed they want to talk to Jailer David Gooch about what happened and why he called a company from so far away.

Gooch had not responded to calls for comment as of Wednesday morning.

In other business, the fiscal court:

• committed to purchase up to $500 worth of food for a teacher appreciation day for all Lincoln County teachers scheduled for Sept. 24;

• approved state-funded resurfacing projects for Moores Lane, Greenbriar Road, Lamb Road and Tom Hackley Road estimated to cost $285,208;

declared approximately 30-35 old voting machines in the county clerk's basement surplus property; and

• approved paying $5,000 to Ephraim McDowell Health Care Foundation's Fort Logan Building Campaign as part of a pledge made in 2007 to contribute $50,000 over 10 years. Adams said the fiscal court had not paid any of its pledge the last two years because it had not received any invoices.