Fiscal Court Meeting Search

Meeting of August 21, 2023

Breckinridge County Fiscal Court Meeting- 08/21/23 · Watch on YouTube ↗

Summary

The Breckinridge County Fiscal Court held its regular meeting on August 21, 2023, opening with a public hearing on the tax rate (no public comment offered) before moving into routine business. The court approved minutes, claims, and a redistricting plan that shifted boundaries between the 2nd and 6th magisterial districts.

The court set the 2023 property tax rate at 113 (up slightly from the compensating rate of 109, but the same as last year's real property rate structure with personal property, motor vehicle, and watercraft rates unchanged), which is expected to generate about $1.4 million in revenue. Separate tax rates were also approved for the health department and the public library, the latter accompanied by a report on library programming and visitation. The court also approved a detention center pay scale update, an increase in the sheriff's surety bond to $750,000, and participation in the 2024 litter abatement grant program.

Several routine reports were received without action, including animal shelter, 911, sheriff's activity, treasurer's, and an amended annual settlement. A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to public comment from Tolls Creek Loop and Lee Miller Road residents, who raised serious concerns about deteriorating gravel roads, dangerous drop-offs, missing road signs, overhanging trees, and a contractor's refusal to complete work on two roads due to safety concerns. Magistrates and the judge committed to following up with the contractor and county road crew to determine the reasons for the delay and to look at solutions including guardrails and widening.

The court also approved a motion to begin the process of removing Whitetail Lane from the county road system at the request of the remaining residents, a process expected to take about two months including a 30-day posting period and public hearing. Discussion continued on road department equipment (a struggling boom mower, a proposal to consider a new tractor-mounted mower), contract blacktop paving progress, and ongoing concerns about a park director position and road acceptance ordinance standards. The meeting closed with updates on ballfield lighting and field conditions before adjourning, with the next regular meeting scheduled for September 18, 2023.

Agenda (21)

  • 2:04

    Public hearing on tax rate

    A public hearing was opened for comment on the proposed tax rate; no one from the public spoke on the matter.

  • 3:21

    Approval of minutes

    The court approved the minutes from the July 17th meeting.

  • 4:06

    Claims

    The court reviewed and discussed claims, including a road department truck purchase and an opioid settlement fund payment for drug-related programs.

  • 8:16

    Redistricting

    The court reviewed redrawn magisterial district lines affecting the 2nd and 6th districts, prepared by Mike Robinson at Lincoln Trail ADD, which brought population numbers closer between districts.

  • 11:09

    2023 property tax rate setting

    The court reviewed compensating and proposed tax rates and set the real property rate at 113, keeping personal property, motor vehicle, and watercraft rates the same as last year.

  • 14:50

    Health board tax rate

    The court set the special ad valorem tax rate for the health board as it does annually.

  • 15:56

    Library tax rate and annual report

    The library board presented its tax rate request along with an annual report on visitation and programs; the court approved the rate.

  • 18:35

    Detention center pay scale

    A minor update to the detention center pay scale was reviewed, effective July 1st, with two positions adjusted by a few cents.

  • 20:06

    Sheriff's surety bond increase

    The court approved the annual increase of the sheriff's surety bond to $750,000 covering November through January.

  • 21:08

    2024 litter abatement grant funding

    The court approved participating in the annual litter abatement grant program, which funds roadside trash pickup.

  • 22:27

    Animal shelter report

    The animal shelter report was received with no discussion.

  • 22:36

    911 report

    The second quarter 911 report was received.

  • 22:43

    Sheriff's activity report

    The sheriff's activity report was received.

  • 23:08

    Treasurer's report

    The treasurer's report and monthly report were received.

  • 23:20

    Amended annual settlement

    An amended annual settlement with minor bookkeeping corrections amounting to less than $100 was received.

  • 24:10

    Guest comments on road conditions

    Residents from Tolls Creek Loop and Lee Miller Road raised concerns about dangerous, poorly repaired gravel roads, missing signs, overhanging trees, and a contractor's refusal to complete certain repairs; officials committed to investigating.

  • 35:13

    Road department update

    Discussion of blacktop paving progress, equipment issues including a malfunctioning boom mower, and a possible new mower purchase, plus a request for regular road department progress reports.

  • 42:38

    Whitetail Lane road removal request

    Squire Greenwell requested the road viewing committee look at removing Whitetail Lane from the county system due to only one family remaining on it.

  • 47:25

    Road acceptance ordinance discussion

    Magistrates discussed the county's road acceptance ordinance standards, including turnaround requirements and past problem roads, with no formal action taken.

  • 51:21

    Ballfield lights and conditions

    Discussion of getting ballfield lights reinstalled and updates on field conditions including added conditioner material.

  • 53:12

    Next meeting announcement and adjournment

    The next regular meeting was announced for September 18, 2023, and the meeting was adjourned.

Motions & votes (12)

  • 2:31

    passedOpen the public hearing on the tax rate

    Moved by Squire Greenwell

  • 3:33

    passedApprove minutes of the July 17th meeting

  • 3:45

    passedApprove claims

  • 9:48

    passedAccept the redrawn magisterial district lines

    Moved by Squire Armstrong

  • 14:01

    passedSet the 2023 property tax rate at 113, other rates unchanged

    Moved by Squire Armstrong · seconded by Squire Albright · unanimous, all magistrates voted yes

  • 15:34

    passedAccept the health board tax rate

    Moved by Squire Armstrong · seconded by Squire Albright · unanimous, all magistrates voted yes

  • 18:23

    passedAccept the library tax rate

    seconded by Squire Armstrong

  • 19:39

    passedApprove the detention center pay scale change

    unanimous, all magistrates voted yes

  • 20:53

    passedApprove the sheriff's surety bond increase to $750,000

    seconded by Squire Armstrong · unanimous, all magistrates voted yes

  • 21:11

    passedApprove participation in the 2024 litter abatement grant program

    unanimous, all magistrates voted yes

  • 43:08

    passedMove that the road view committee look at removing Whitetail Lane

    Moved by Squire Greenwell · unanimous, all magistrates voted yes

  • 53:23

    passedMotion to adjourn the meeting

Transcript (43 segments)

  • 0:00

    foreign [Music] foreign let's pray together gracious God we give you thanks for the privilege of assembling here we thank you that you have guided us and you have Providence over us and all of our lives and we live we pray for guidance for our judge these magistrates these public servants we pray for safety and Grace is they do their duties today and always we lift up our community teeth if you would guide us be glorified in what we do that you would strengthen us and

  • 1:13

    help us to work for the good of our citizens and for your Your Glory either we just pray lift up a world to you in need and heard State Community that you would just protect us heal us guide us and encourage us father we just thank you for the privilege of coming together I'm going to pray for the proceedings today that you would that you would be in this place that you would be with each person here that you would just bless this community in the name of Jesus our lord okay if this type of call to order we have a public hearing on our tax rate until the college that meeting to order at this moment so anyone here that would like to discuss the tax rate or us saying we're going to set that later on in here yes there is not during that public community a second

  • 2:28

    you make the oh okay Squire Greenville makes motion and seconded by expired meaning any discussion okay we're called the regular meaning to order the roll call please here [Music] uh Squire mower actually he'll probably be here any minute he had a high point with him E-Town and he uh at 7 30 so he's probably very close so he'll he'll be joining us very shortly hopefully so okay this time we'll continue on to the next time business approval of minutes to the July 17th meeting and I'll entertain motion to approve those minutes okay motion requirements all Riders are a second cycle of our ability any questions yes transfers there's a few I'll make it most okay

  • 3:45

    most inspired games for a second of our arms from any questions here you can none take a look yes as far Green Mile and your instructions oh yes it's the French word next time are the claims claims I have a couple questions so we haven't got that yet right no no um do we really need a three quarter ton truck to that yeah it's actually cheaper than the 1500 series that's why that's why the 2500 series 1500. I don't know it didn't ask me because he told me that he said available until the end of the year too so that's why I remember for 2500 series they're going to put a box on it so Behavior I think I think anyway we always before we're

  • 4:59

    like at the road Ross we always gotten used to it well we've been buying used ones and of course they hopefully will take care of this kernel I think we need to get away from buying three myself but well that's what we'd always done we always the only problem we can buy a new one in a year it looks like 20 years old you know that that's the problem with the nature of what they use it for it's not going to be killed maintain their clean perspective so hopefully that hopefully they will keep this between the hole so the this price doesn't include the talkers no no no no we've got to do I think 65 000 is what we've got everybody like usually buy them work for 15 reasons yeah there's nothing reasonable anymore you know if you check around and that's actually the state bid contract is the ones that all about them yes okay good to explain that claim on the opioid

  • 6:12

    settlement yes a little bit that's a silver leak and you remember Jillian she's not here this morning but anyway she actually uh presented to us about the return of what they do and the opioid settlement we have to use it for specific purposes we can't use it for just anything so we need to start dispensing that as well too if we know we're losing last year and then through the next how many years five six to eight years you'll get a certain amount so we've got to track it and it's gone it's just like a donation to them well it's a contribution yeah but it's using that opioid right yeah if we don't use it like I say we surely there are certain things that it can be used for so we have to find organizations that are going to use that money to accomplish those purposes most have been dealing with like drug addiction trying to reduce drug issues violence caused by drug

  • 7:25

    issues things like that so I would say that's why I still believe this is a good option they are they are a qualified thank you okay any other questions before I ask for the investor development did we get that Grant yeah that was one of the platform already has been approved for him okay any other discussion if not I'll entertainment yeah any other discussion hearings George Lucas Clark Albright yes yes they're going to be the first item new business proportionment this is our favorite thing to do every 10 years they're getting you on you want to mention Mike Robson at Lincoln Trail ad he redrew the second and sixth district is the only two involved that correct yes

  • 8:39

    that is correct um the sixth district in my opinion could have been condensed down some so that's what Mr Robinson done and it was pretty much only direct swap between the second and the sixth and it actually got um our numbers closer than they were originally between all six districts so um I propose that we accept those changes I don't have a problem like I said it's left up to you guys as far as the way your office I read it wrong in any change or any problems do you want to say you'll play with it yep like I say I don't have a problem at all are you are you gonna make a motion to that effect to accept these redrawn districts yeah I'll do that I make a motion to accept the new drawings [Music] so all other districts that stay the