Meeting of September 23, 2025
Fiscal Court Meeting - September 23, 2025 · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
Hardin County Fiscal Court – September 23, 2025
The court opened with remarks from Judge Executive Keith Tall about a Frankfort legislative committee presentation on the financial strain jails place on Kentucky counties. Hardin County's jail, built for 646 beds, is now housing about 500 inmates, 183 of them pretrial state detainees the county must pay for. Jail expenses this budget year total about $11 million against only $5 million in revenue, leaving a roughly $6 million subsidy — about half of all property tax revenue. The judge said legislators reacted with concern and hopes this is a first step toward state relief.
The court also welcomed new Communications Officer Brian Walker and paused to honor the memory of Charlie Kirk. Routine business included approval of the September 9 minutes, a public hearing on an $882,000 (later stated as $881,739.46) seven-year lease with Flex Financial for EMS equipment (power load systems, powerpro stretchers, and stair chairs), and department reports from EMS and the 911 Center showing increased call volumes and collections compared to last year.
Several resolutions and ordinances passed unanimously: approval of E911 personnel (Resolution 186), a first reading of a $12.2 million budget amendment mostly for EMS ambulance equipment plus road and bridge funding (Ordinance 3442), a first reading of an amended flood damage prevention ordinance removing one clause, and approval of the Flex Financial lease agreement (Resolution 182). The court also passed a large consent agenda covering financial reports, claims, payroll, road system additions, software service renewals (iWorks, Rave, TimeClock Plus), and various personnel and committee items.
A closed session was held to discuss potential appointment, discipline, or dismissal of an employee, though no results were announced afterward. Magistrates closed with reminders of upcoming committee meetings and a town hall forum on October 27, along with tributes to a community prayer vigil held in memory of September 11 and Charlie Kirk, and reminders about safe driving. The meeting adjourned with the next fiscal court session set for October 14.
For residents, the key takeaways are the continuing high cost of the county jail system straining local tax dollars, new EMS equipment funded through leasing and budget amendments, and no major controversial votes — all agenda motions passed unanimously.
Agenda (15)
- 15:42
Legislative update on jail costs
Judge Executive Keith Tall reported on a Frankfort committee presentation highlighting the financial burden of jails on counties, noting Hardin County's jail costs $11 million against $5 million revenue, a $6 million subsidy from taxpayers.
- 20:13
Welcome new communications officer and remembrance of Charlie Kirk
The court welcomed new Communications Officer Brian Walker and paused to honor the memory of Charlie Kirk.
- 23:02
Approval of September 9, 2025 minutes
The court approved the minutes from the previous meeting.
- 23:43
Public hearing on Flex Financial EMS lease
County Attorney Jenny Oldham held a required public hearing on an $882,000 seven-year EMS equipment lease with Flex Financial; no public comment was made.
- 24:47
EMS department report
EMS Director Mark Peterson presented August 2025 activity data showing 1,331 dispatches and increased collections, and invited the public to the October 11 trunk-or-treat event.
- 26:56
911 Center department report
Mike Leo presented the August 2025 911 Center activity report, including call volumes and breakdowns by agency.
- 28:43
Citizens' comments
Brian Dennis of the Elizabethtown Lions Club thanked the county for its support as the club celebrates its 84th anniversary.
- 29:25
Closed session on personnel matter
The court entered closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) to discuss a personnel matter involving appointment, discipline, or dismissal.
- 40:20
Resolution 186 - E911 personnel approval
The court approved a resolution related to E911 personnel.
- 41:05
Ordinance 3442 first reading - budget amendment
First reading of a $12.2 million FY2025-2026 budget amendment primarily for EMS ambulance equipment along with road and bridge funding.
- 42:18
Ordinance 254 first reading - flood damage prevention amendment
First reading of an amended flood damage prevention ordinance removing one clause regarding substantial improvement definitions.
- 43:34
Resolution 182 - Flex Financial lease approval
The court approved a resolution for an $881,739.46 seven-year lease with Flex Financial for EMS equipment including power load systems and stair chairs.
- 44:35
Consent agenda
The court reviewed and approved a consent agenda including financial reports, claims, payroll, road system additions, software renewals, personnel items, and committee minutes.
- 47:52
Magistrate and staff comments
Magistrates gave closing comments including welcoming Brian Walker, remembering September 11 and Charlie Kirk, and announcing upcoming committee meetings and a town hall forum.
- 51:11
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned with the next fiscal court meeting scheduled for October 14, 2025.
Motions & votes (8)
- 23:08
passedApprove the September 9, 2025 fiscal court minutes
unanimous roll call
- 29:26
passedEnter closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) regarding personnel matter
unanimous roll call
- 40:24
passedApprove Resolution 186 related to E911 personnel
unanimous roll call
- 41:36
passedApprove first reading of Ordinance 3442 amending FY2025-2026 budget (Amendment 2, $12.2 million)
unanimous roll call
- 42:49
passedApprove first reading of amended Ordinance 254 (flood damage prevention ordinance change)
unanimous roll call
- 43:57
passedApprove Resolution 182 for Flex Financial lease agreement ($881,739.46, 7-year EMS equipment lease)
unanimous roll call
- 47:14
passedApprove consent agenda items including financial reports, claims, payroll, resolutions 179-181, 183-185, 187, 190, and committee minutes
unanimous roll call
- 51:11
passedAdjourn the meeting
no objections
Transcript (31 segments)
- 0:30
The cities of Ratcliffe, Elizabeth Town, and Vine Grove, as well as Harden County, are coming together to help manage pollutant runoff and its environmental impacts. As rain runs off of surfaces, it can come into contact with pollutants such as oils, trash, chemicals, and pet waste that will eventually end up in our recreational and drinking water sources. Harden County and its communities are fortunate to have an abundance of lakes, streams, and surrounding natural areas. Help us protect our waterways, pick up trash and pet waste, report unusual substances in drainageways, and pick up chemical and oil spills. For more information on how you can improve water quality in your community, contact us. Remember, if it's on the ground, it's in your water. The cities of Ratcliff, Elizabeth Town,
- 3:12
and Vine Grove, as well as Harden County are coming together to help manage pollutant runoff and its environmental impacts. As rain runs off of surfaces, it can come into contact with pollutants such as oils, trash, chemicals, and pet waste that will eventually end up in our recreational and drinking water sources. Harden County and its communities are fortunate to have an abundance of lakes, streams, and surrounding natural areas. Help us protect our waterways, pick up trash and pet waste, report unusual substances in drainage ways, and pick up chemical and oil spills. For more information on how you can improve water quality in your community, contact us. Remember, if it's on the ground, it's in your water. The cities of Ratcliffe, Elizabeth Town,
- 5:52
and Vine Grove, as well as Harden County, are coming together to help manage pollutant runoff and its environmental impacts. As rain runs off of surfaces, it can come into contact with pollutants such as oils, trash, chemicals, and pet waste that will eventually end up in our recreational and drinking water sources. Harden County and its communities are fortunate to have an abundance of lakes, streams, and surrounding natural areas. Help us protect our waterways, pick up trash and pet waste, report unusual substances in drainage ways, and pick up chemical and oil spills. For more information on how you can improve water quality in your community, contact us. Remember, if it's on the ground, it's in your water. The cities of Ratcliff, Elizabeth Town,
- 8:32
and Vine Grove, as well as Harden County, are coming together to help manage pollutant runoff and its environmental impacts. As rain runs off of surfaces, it can come into contact with pollutants such as oils, trash, chemicals, and pet waste that will eventually end up in our recreational and drinking water sources. Harden County and its communities are fortunate to have an abundance of lakes, streams, and surrounding natural areas. Help us protect our waterways, pick up trash and pet waste, report unusual substances in drainage ways, and pick up chemical and oil spills. For more information on how you can improve water quality in your community, contact us. Remember, if it's on the ground, it's in your water. The cities of Ratcliff, Elizabeth Town,
- 11:12
and Vine Grove, as well as Harden County, are coming together to help manage pollutant runoff and its environmental impacts. As rain runs off of surfaces, it can come into contact with pollutants such as oils, trash, chemicals, and pet waste that will eventually end up in our recreational and drinking water sources. Harden County and its communities are fortunate to have an abundance of lakes, streams, and surrounding natural areas. Help us protect our waterways, pick up trash and pet waste, report unusual substances in drainageways, and pick up chemical and oil spills. For more information on how you can improve water quality in your community, contact us. Remember, if it's on the ground, it's in your water. from the counties and uh uh regarding
- 15:57
jails and the um the the financial burden basically that that uh the counties are feeling and leaving every day for that matter. Um, so I was um able to go and make that presentation today. It was in front of about 30 senators and and House representatives. We had three judge executives that that presented and one magistrate. And the purpose really was just to educate uh those on this committee uh about the jails and the difficulties that the counties are are um having financially because of the high price of jails. And so we were able to do that. Um and I think the one of the points I I believe that we were able to get across is that this is not just a you know a minor little thing but this is a crisis. It's a financial crisis. So I I think they felt that at at the end of this presentation. Uh just a couple of
- 17:11
statistics and then I'll move on. Uh there's uh our our jail 646 bed jail uh 28 years old. Uh it's about 500 inmates right now and one big statistic is 183 of those are pre-trial state detainees and um so these are ones that the county is paying for um until they go to to trial. Uh because of that our jail expenses are at $11 million $11 million in this budget year. Uh the revenues are at $5 million. So you do the math, $6 million. $6 million that um that there's a deficit and a subsidy that this court and your tax money has to pay. That's $6 million. Subsidy is about 50% of all the money that comes in from the property taxes. So you can kind of see that this is unsustainable and that was one of the points and and some of the senators and representatives that were there made
- 18:24
that comment after after we finished u our our presentations that it was unsustainable. So I think um result I don't know yet but I hope that this is a first step that uh the state will provide some relief in some way to help the counties uh because the other counties were all different size budgets but the jail was about approximately 50% of their property taxes of all the different counties. So, um, anyway, I just wanted to kind of fill you in to let you know that that had happened and I I hope that we can continue to have the discussion and, uh, that there will be some out good outcome in this, uh this next — judge — legislative year. Yes, sir. — I just want I watched it online. I just want to say that you did a very good job laying out the case for the county and I certainly hope they pay attention to the facts and especially Representative Meredith's solution which yes I think gets to the bottom of the of the pile. Yeah, there was a solution that u uh representative Meredith uh proposed and I think he actually tried to put through the last last year or two years ago and