Meeting of February 25, 2025
Fiscal Court Meeting - February 25, 2025 · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
Hardin County Fiscal Court – February 25, 2025
The court opened with routine business, approving the minutes from the February 11th meeting without discussion. The Coroner's office presented its annual report, showing 1,178 cases handled last year, with natural deaths leading the total, followed by accidents (many overdose-related), suicides (firearms the leading method), and undetermined cases. Drug-related deaths rose to 42, with new 'designer' opioids like xylazine now being detected.
Sheriff Ward reported a steady rise in law enforcement activity, from about 3,100 contacts in 2015 to over 24,500 in 2024. He highlighted two dangerous standoffs (one involving a suspected grenade, resolved with less-lethal force) and noted Hardin County had the third-highest number of traffic fatalities in the state, largely tied to I-65. He discussed the strain of limited law enforcement resources statewide and ongoing efforts to lobby for more funding.
The Treasurer's report showed January revenues of roughly $8,933 (available after transfers) against expenditures of about $455,500, leaving the county roughly $256,400 in the negative for the month, which is typical for this point in the fiscal year.
The court passed the second reading of Ordinance 342, amending the FY2024-2025 budget to include a $1 million federal community development block grant tied to the Family Scholar House project. A contentious moment arose when Magistrate Clem attempted to move forward a resolution, previously advanced by the Finance Committee, to form a steering committee studying land use at the county's landfill properties. Judge Executive Tabor ruled the resolution out of order, stating only he has authority to establish committees, leading to a sharp exchange with Clem before the court moved on.
The consent agenda passed on a 5-3 vote, with Magistrates Clem, Saltzman, and Thompson voting no. The meeting closed with committee meeting reminders, a plea to avoid drunk or distracted driving, and a personal invitation to the court's upcoming banquet on March 3rd. The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for March 11th at 3:30 PM.
Agenda (10)
- 12:11
Approval of February 11, 2025 minutes
The court approved the minutes from the previous meeting with a unanimous roll call vote.
- 13:17
Coroner's annual report
Coroner Pat Elmore presented 2024 statistics on cases handled, including accidents, suicides, drug-related deaths, and emerging synthetic drug threats like xylazine.
- 17:38
Sheriff's department report
Sheriff Ward reviewed law enforcement activity for December and January, noted rising call volumes over the past decade, described two standoff incidents, and discussed traffic fatality rankings and resource constraints.
- 26:36
Treasurer's financial report
The treasurer presented January revenue and expenditure figures, noting the county was about $256,400 in the negative for the month, which is typical for this time of year.
- 28:33
Written department reports (EMS, E911, Planning)
Written reports from EMS, E911, and Planning were noted as available but not presented orally.
- 28:44
Citizens concerns or comments
No citizens came forward with concerns or comments.
- 29:00
Second reading of Ordinance 342 - FY2024-2025 budget amendment #2
The ordinance, which includes a $1 million federal community development block grant tied to the Family Scholar House, passed its second reading unanimously.
- 30:07
Proposed steering committee resolution on landfill land use
Magistrate Clem attempted to bring forward a Finance Committee resolution to form a steering committee studying land use at current and old landfill properties; Judge Executive Tabor ruled it out of order, leading to a dispute over authority to establish committees.
- 32:53
Consent agenda
The consent agenda was reviewed with no items removed and passed on a divided vote.
- 33:44
Magistrate and staff closing comments
Magistrates gave committee meeting reminders and safe-driving reminders; the judge noted an upcoming banquet on March 3rd.
Motions & votes (5)
- 12:11
passedApprove the February 11, 2025 fiscal court minutes
unanimous
- 29:32
passedApprove second reading of Ordinance 342, FY2024-2025 budget amendment #2 (includes $1 million federal block grant for Family Scholar House)
unanimous
- 30:41
failedPlace resolution 2025 forming a steering committee to study land use at current and old landfill properties on the agenda for consideration
Moved by Magistrate Clem
- 33:04
passedApprove the consent agenda
5-3, Magistrates Clem, Saltzman, and Thompson opposed
- 35:07
passedAdjourn the meeting
unanimous, no objections
Transcript (27 segments)
- 0:28
e e e e
- 2:28
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- 4:28
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- 6:28
e e e e
- 8:28
e e to day good afternoon uh again just a quick check of our cell phones make sure that we have those uh turned off all right so we'll go ahead and begin this is is the uh February 25th 2025 Harden County Fiscal Court regular voting meeting let's begin and call this meeting to
- 9:41
order we'll begin with a roll call please Square clam here Squire Hicks here Squire Muse here Squire Pennington Squire Saltzman here Squire Thompson here Squire Whitehead here Squire Yates here judge executive Keith tall here uh next we have our invocation of magistrate Yates in Pledge of Allegiance magistrate Clint let us pray Heavenly Father we come together for this physical Court meeting we seek your guidance and wisdom in our deliberations we pause for the flood victims and their families ask for your comfort and strength for them during this challenging time May they find Hope and support in the days ahead we also lift up lift up our First Responders and military service members who work tirelessly to protect our communities and our freedoms both at home and abroad grant them courage safety and resilience to carry out their vital missions help us to make decisions that reflect compassion understanding and commitment
- 10:55
to serve those in need in your name we pray amen amen I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible liberty and justice for all all right um again thanks again for joining today it's great to see all of you here um review the agenda um a pretty typical agenda today we have approval of the minutes from the last meeting uh some presentations and uh a time for any citizens concerns or comments uh we have one uh second reading of an ordinance that we'll address and then we have the consent agenda and then uh typical comments at the end so that's our agenda and we'll just just move on to the next item which is approving the Harden County Fiscal Court February 11th 2025 minutes is there a motion to
- 12:09
approve so move second everybody Muse and Yates that sounds good okay um any discussion roll call please Squire Clen yes Squire Hicks yes Squire m yes Squire Saltzman yes Squire Thompson yes Squire Whitehead yes Squire Yates yes judge executive Keith tall yes motion passes all right next we'll move to the department and office reports and presentations uh we have first up our coroner Pat Elmore evening judge members of the court and the audience U good evening I have for this evening our yearly report so I thought maybe we could review maybe 20 or 30 cases just kind of go over it real quick there yeah right Corner's office handled 1178 cases last year you'll see 78 accidents five