Magistrates Table Fire Department Merger

Members of Meade County Fiscal Court met during their regular meeting Tuesday (9/12) night.

Judge Executive Troy Kok was absent, resulting in the magistrates appointing Fourth District Magistrates Gary Chapman as chairman of the meeting. The court approved the appointments of Robert House to the Battletown Fire Protection District and Richard Hydo to the Ekron Fire Department Board of trustees during the consent agenda.

Teddy Smith of the Wolf Creek Fire Department asked the court to not approve a proposed merger between the Wolf Creek and Battletown Fire Departments. He said conversations and plans were good until the board of trustees got involved in the negotiations. He said several questions remain regarding how the Wolf Creek Equipment and property would be disbursed or sold. He also added that some of the property would possibly have to be sold with the proceeds returning to charity or funding source depending upon the item. Meade County Attorney Sydney Durham read the first reading of the ordinance with Fiscal Court approving the accuracy. The court voted to table further action until more information could be obtained surrounding the situation and questions.

The court heard and approved the first reading of the updated Animal Shelter and Control ordinance. The second reading of the ordinance will be held at the next regular meeting of the court. Magistrates approved the hiring of Jerome Morgan as Director of Meade County EMS and Allen Childs as the Animal Control Assistant Director. The court approved a request from Meade County Clerk Susan Masterson for upcoming election fees of $16,500 for the November 7th General Election for precinct workers. They also approved $1,000 to the City of Muldraugh for their upcoming Street Dance event.

Magistrates approved the the 2022 Sheriff’s audit and the Detention Center’s policy and procedure manual. The Court approved Judge Executive to sign the agreements needed to install a Safe Haven Baby Box at Meade County EMS Station 1. The County will be the provider but funding for the box will come from private donations and fundraising efforts to provide the approximate $11,000 for the box.

The court approved updated recycling interlocal agreements with Hardin County with the updated proceeds from sold materials being split between Meade (90%) and Hardin County (10%). They also approved recycling interlocal agreements with Breckinridge and Hancock Counties with the sold material proceeds being split 70% for Breckinridge and Hancock Counties and 30% for Meade County. The court also approved Roll Off Dumpster rate change for the Solid Waste & Recycling Center. They approved a resolution for Homeland Security Cyber security grant funding.

Magistrates approved private road petitions for Ferncliff Road and Nelson Road. The roads are the first to begin the process under the new county road ordinance. The next step in the process is for the County Road Supervisor and district magistrates to view the roads and determine what is needed to done. County Road Supervisor Jeff Padgett asked the court to consider for a computer software update for the road department. He said that currently his staff is using spreadsheets to keep track of the road issues and maintenance tasks. He asked for consideration to purchase a web based iWorq software, which would streamline data and provide a modernization of efficiency to the current work flow. The estimate cost is $7,000 and the Country treasure was able to negotiate a reduce price of $6,500 annually. The software is the similar to what the County Planning & Zoning office uses which allows magistrates to access and input needed requests remotely. After some discussion, the court approved the request.

The court opened two bids for Astroturf for softball field at Meade-Olin Park. After reviewing the bids of $200 to nearly $300,000 the court moved to table any action until the bids could be reviewed and funding found to move forward on the project that is be funded fifty fifty between the county and school district. Magistrates voted to seek additional bids for new recirculation pumps for the courthouse HVAC system after only one bid was submitted on the project.

During the meeting, County Attorney Sydney Durham explained the need and requested a civil complaint investigator be considered to be hired in the Sheriff’s Department to ease the work load on deputies and her staff. She said the her budget would not allow addition and requested Fiscal Court to possibly provide the funding on the new position. The court took no action on the request.

The court met during a 40 minute closed session to discuss personnel resulting in a vote to retain an employee with a six month probation period.

The next regular meeting of Meade County Fiscal Court will be held on October 10th at the Meade-Breck Center in Rhodelia. You can watch the entire meeting in our “On Demand” section.