Meade County Fiscal Court approved extension of moratorium on data centers during their regular meeting Tuesday (11/10) night.
County leaders made a unanimous vote to allow additional time to review new information related to federal and state regulations that had not been considered in the original drafts of the planning and zoning ordinance. The moratorium prohibits any development or consideration of any large scale data center in the county until January 13, 2028.
In other business, fiscal court heard concerns from residents along Lee Lane off of Kentucky 1882. They said with new development and additional traffic it is hard for long time residents to travel the roadway. County officials said they would look at the road and see what possible solutions could be done in order to attempt to ease the issues.
Magistrates approved the audit for the year ending on June 30, 2025 which was a clean opinion by auditors. They also approved the appointments of Tia Whelan to represent Family and Consumer Sciences and David Smith to represent Agriculture and Natural Resources on the Meade County Extension District Board. Each will serve a three year term.
Sara Jo Best, Public Health Director of the Lincoln Trail District Health Department provided county leaders with a service report for the past fiscal year. She reported over 1,140 total environmental inspections; 104 site evaluations; 151 onsite construction permits sold; and 264 pounds of adulterated food removed. She also noted 2,401 WIC nutrition education visits; 515 WIC package issuances; 587 current WIC participants and 14 WIC offsite educational events. 521 total HANDS program visits were made with 17 families. Best also noted 298 harm reduction program supplies were distributed, 477 Narcan boxes distributed and 57 community outreach encounters and events were held. She also reported on various other items that the health department handles. Currently the Meade County Health Department has 8 employees.
Magistrates were reminded about the upcoming trash collection contract renewal with Republic is schedule to end in June. Solid Waste and Recycling Center Director Jacob Butler asked the court to consider what they was wanting to do and to gain public input. HE also reminded the leaders that if the contract was needed to be rebid, the county had to let Republic know 180 days before the end of the current contract. No action was taken on the issue.
Fiscal Court approved the second reading of the amendment to the Animal Control ordinance and the administrative code ordinance. They also approved the job description of the IGSA Program Coordinator and amendment to the pay scale to include the position.
The court met in a nearly one hour closed session for the purpose to discuss pending litigation on behave of the county. Magistrates returned to vote in favor of two resolutions related to a settlement between the county and Jeffery Dewayne Clark. Details of the settlement were not disclosed. More information related to the settlement is expected in the near future once all of the legal process is complete.
You can watch the regular meeting of Meade County Fiscal Court in our “On Demand” section.