Members of Meade County Fiscal Court worked through a lengthy agenda during their regular meeting Tuesday (8/8) night.
At the beginning of the meeting Judge Executive Troy Kok discussed old business regarding a proposed street race that was being planned for this fall. He said the State Transportation Cabinet had reviewed the factors and questions related to the event and had denied the request.
The court approved the first reading of an ordinance related to the Animal Shelter and Control and the second reading of an ordinance regarding the reapportionment of magisterial district boundaries and commissioner pay. The court approved the appointments of Marc Adams and Eilen Shacklett to the Library Board of Trustees. The court approved Jennifer Henderson as the Animal Shelter Director.
Magistrates provided support for a Safe Haven Baby Box which will be privately funded at a estimated cost of $15,000. The box will allow a parent, who wants to surrender their infant, to a safe environment that is climate controlled and will alert emergency crews of the box opening. Representative Nancy Tate told Fiscal Court members that 34 babies had been saved with the use of the boxes. The court approved the next step in the process to bring the service to the community.
Magistrates received an update and approved support for grants to digitize the county’s code ordinances and records at a estimated cost of $15,000; along with law enforcement grants for weapons and tasers for the sheriff’s department and jail at a combined funding estimate of $35,000. They also approved support for a state cyber security grant for the courthouse computer network for an estimated $95,000.
Meade County Chamber and Tourism Director Annie Hamilton Edmond provided county leaders with an update on county tourism efforts in the county. She said all but $3,020 were used and $25,000 was raised to help offset the county’s contribution to offset costs for tourism. Edmond said Meade County Tourism generates $32.3 million in spending and $2.5 million in state and local taxes, $5.4 million in labor income that indirectly supports 227 jobs.
County leaders approved the Extension District Boards budget and the sheriff’s 2022 property and franchise tax settlement.
Fiscal court voted unanimously to set the 2024 Motor Vehicle and Watercraft tax rates at the same and the current year. They also voted to keep the 2023 Real, Personal and Merchant Inventory Tax rates the same as the current rate. Some discussion led to the idea of the court looking deeper into the tax rates next July to see if and adjustments need to made for more informed vote next year.
Magistrates approved a request to seek bids for installing Astor Turf on the softball field at Meade-Olin Park. The county would reimbursed half of the expense by the Meade County School District. They also approved to seek bids for replace recirculation pumps on the Courthouse HVAC system due to the current units are past the end of life and replacement parts are not available.
The court opened one bid for replacement garage doors and openers on the Jail Sally port at cost of $12,689. They also opened bids related to an exhaust ventilation system and replacement of the HVAC system at the county animal shelter. The court preapproved the lowest bid that meets the specifications with a local preference if available, based upon a full reviews of the 15 bids received.
Members of Fiscal Court went into an hour and a half closed session to discuss personnel and specific business proposal under KRS 61.810(1)(f)&(g). The court returned from the session voting to advertise for a Animal Control Officer.
You can watch the entire regular meeting of the Meade County Fiscal Court in our “On Demand” section.
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