Meeting of December 19, 2024
Fiscal Court Meeting - December 19, 2024 · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
Hardin County Fiscal Court – December 19, 2024 Regular Meeting
The court opened with a moment of silence and prayer for families affected by drug overdose deaths, noting roughly 38 overdose deaths in Hardin County in 2024. The coroner's office and the new Quick Response Team (QRT) presented data on overdoses, autopsies, and community outreach efforts, and the QRT sought approval to apply for a $1 million Kentucky Opioid Abatement grant to fund care bags, harm reduction supplies, community outreach equipment, and future recovery center initiatives.
The Sheriff and County Clerk presented their 2024 year-end reports and proposed 2025 budgets. The Sheriff's budget held the county supplement flat compared to last year despite rising revenue from fees, and the court approved amendments to close out the 2024 sheriff's budget. The Clerk highlighted record voter turnout, new online records grants, an award from the Chamber of Commerce, and a modest 2025 budget request that came in under prior years after accounting for a retiring staff member.
Three resolutions were approved: the Clerk's 2025 budget, the Sheriff's 2025 budget, and an amendment to the Sheriff's 2024 budget — all passing unanimously.
A lengthy consent agenda was approved covering financial items, the 2025 meeting calendar, personnel and EMS matters, a farm animal disposal grant, replacement resolutions for road department truck purchases after a vendor issue, ARPA fund reallocations for water/sewer projects in Hardin County Water Districts 1 and 2 (after a broadband expansion contract fell through), EMS medical director renewal, an ambulance block grant application, the opioid abatement grant application, and committee meeting minutes. This passed with one amendment to correct grant naming and add last names in committee minutes.
Magistrates closed with committee meeting announcements, condolences related to a recent tragedy affecting Elizabethtown Independent Schools, reminders about available support resources, and holiday greetings before the meeting was adjourned.
Agenda (11)
- 10:33
Opening, roll call, invocation, and pledge
The meeting was called to order, roll call taken, invocation given by Magistrate Pennington, and the pledge of allegiance recited.
- 14:41
Moment of silence for overdose victims
Judge Tall led a moment of silence and prayer for families affected by drug overdose deaths, citing about 38 overdose deaths in Hardin County in 2024.
- 16:40
Approval of December 10, 2024 minutes
The court approved the minutes from the December 10, 2024 meeting.
- 17:34
Coroner's report
Coroner Pat Elmore presented October/November case statistics, discussed fentanyl misconceptions, rising autopsy numbers, and community overdose training initiatives.
- 22:24
QRT grant presentation
Justin Blair described the Quick Response Team's plan to apply for a Kentucky Opioid Abatement grant of up to $1 million for supplies, equipment, and future recovery center initiatives.
- 26:49
Sheriff's law enforcement report
Sheriff presented October/November arrest, citation, and activity statistics, and recounted a deputy reunion with a man they saved from a burning vehicle.
- 29:15
Sheriff's fees and budget report
Sheriff presented fee collection reports and discussed the 2025 budget request, which held the county supplement flat while revenue from fees increased.
- 40:08
County Clerk's 2024 year-end report and 2025 budget
Clerk Brian Smith reviewed 2024 achievements including grants, record voter turnout, an award from the Chamber of Commerce, and presented a 2025 budget request slightly under prior years' cuts.
- 50:51
Citizens concerns or comments
No citizens came forward with concerns or comments.
- 52:45
Consent agenda review
Judge Tall walked through the consent agenda items including financial transfers, 2025 meeting calendar, personnel/EMS items, farm animal disposal grant, road department truck purchase resolutions, ARPA-funded water/sewer projects, EMS medical director renewal, ambulance block grant, and opioid abatement grant application.
- 1:00:10
Magistrate and staff closing comments
Magistrates announced upcoming committee meetings, offered condolences related to a recent tragedy, reminded residents of available resources, and wished everyone a merry Christmas and happy new year.
Motions & votes (6)
- 16:48
passedApprove December 10, 2024 fiscal court minutes
unanimous
- 51:06
passedApprove Hardin County Clerk's calendar year 2025 budget
unanimous
- 51:40
passedApprove Hardin County Sheriff's calendar year 2025 budget
unanimous
- 52:13
passedApprove resolution 2024-270 related to amendments to Sheriff's calendar year 2024 budget
unanimous
- 57:48
passedApprove consent agenda (financial items, 2025 meeting calendar, personnel/EMS, farm animal disposal grant, road truck purchase resolutions, ARPA water/sewer projects, EMS medical director renewal, ambulance block grant, opioid abatement grant application, committee minutes) with amendment to emergency service committee minutes naming
Moved by Squire Thompson · seconded by Squire Pennington · unanimous
- 1:04:02
passedMotion to adjourn the meeting
Transcript (49 segments)
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- 10:28
e e start uh good afternoon again if you wouldn't mind to check your cell phones and make sure they're turned off or whatever and we'll go ahead and get started this is the December 19th 2024 Harden County Fiscal Court regular voting meeting Let's uh begin and call this meeting to order roll call please Square Clen here
- 11:41
Square Hicks here Square Muse here Square Pennington here Squire Saltzman here Squire Thompson here Squire Whitehead here Squire Yates here judge tall here next is our invocation uh magistrate clam and Pledge of Allegiance magistrate Pennington please pray with me our most gracious and loving Heavenly Father we indeed thank you for this beautiful day that you've given us and father we come praising your holy name and thanking you for all the many many blessings that you have bestowed upon us and father we just ask forgiveness for all those times that we have failed you both by commission and Omission father and father we just uh lift up those at this time of the year that Our Miss and loved ones always ask that you give them a special measure of your grace and love and mercy father we thank you for this nation and for our state and our community father we just ask for protection on that each one of those bodies and father all those that are standing guard day and night and those that are home waiting for those that are standing guard father go with us through the fur exercises of this
- 12:55
meeting you lead and guide and direct all the things we say and do in your son Jesus name I pray amen amen please follow me the pledge I pledge the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible liy and justice for all all right so thanks again for joining us today it's good to see all of you um just a quick review of the agenda it's pretty basic agenda today uh we have the minutes we have some department and office reports uh kind of a a theme of budgets calendar year budgets that we'll be talking about uh citizens concerns or comments time we have uh three resolutions to vote on and then we have um fairly lengthy uh sent agenda and go through fairly quickly though and and then our typical comments after that okay so that's our agenda today um move on and