Meeting of June 9, 2026
Fiscal Court Meeting - June 9, 2026 · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
Hardin County Fiscal Court – June 9, 2026
The court opened with a prayer remembering local first responders and honoring the recent death of longtime Sonora-Upton volunteer firefighter Ryan Druan. Animal Control and Emergency Management gave presentations: the shelter reported a 90% live-release rate (no-kill status), rising adoptions, and new volunteer/foster programs, while Emergency Management highlighted training activities and urged drivers to obey the move-over law after a fire truck was struck on I-65.
The major action item was the second reading and adoption of the FY2026-2027 budget (Ordinance 347), a $608 million budget. Judge Executive expressed strong disagreement with changes made to his original proposal, including denial of a pay grade increase for EMS staff, a reduced COLA, and cuts to a new fire service deputy director position, a co-op intern position, and engineering fees for a new Glendale fire/EMS building. He argued these cuts would hurt service quality and employee retention, while magistrates defended the budget as fiscally responsible. The ordinance passed 7-1, with the Judge Executive casting the lone opposing vote.
The court also approved a large consent agenda covering routine claims, several job description and pay grade resolutions for Emergency Management, Animal Care and Control, and Public Works, a resolution rescinding earlier fee-increase resolutions for animal care nonprofits, and a resolution authorizing an EMS training equipment grant application due June 12.
Several magistrates and officials also paid tribute to former State Senator Dennis Perry, who passed away, praising his decades of bipartisan service to Hardin County and Kentucky. The meeting closed with committee meeting reminders and a moment of silence for Senator Perry before adjournment.
Agenda (12)
- 3:10
Call to order and roll call
The June 9, 2026 regular voting meeting was called to order and roll call taken; Magistrate Hicks was absent due to a foot injury.
- 3:44
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
Magistrate Muse led the invocation, praying for first responders, the road department, and citizens dealing with flooding, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
- 5:19
Agenda review and recognitions
The judge reviewed the day's agenda and recognized EMS staff who delivered a baby while on a call, and honored the memory of fallen firefighter Ryan Druan.
- 9:06
Approval of May 26, 2026 meeting minutes
The court voted to approve the minutes from the previous meeting.
- 10:23
Animal Control presentation
Mike McNutt presented May statistics showing rising adoptions, a 90% live release rate, new volunteer programs, and a new day-out program for shelter dogs.
- 17:54
Emergency Management presentation
Joey Scott reported on May emergency responses, training activities, and urged public awareness about the move-over law after a fire truck accident on I-65.
- 21:07
Citizens concerns and comments
No citizens came forward with comments or concerns.
- 21:28
Second reading and adoption of FY2026-2027 budget ordinance
The court adopted Ordinance 347, a $608 million budget, over the Judge Executive's objections to cuts in EMS raises, COLA, and new fire service positions.
- 25:07
Consent agenda approval
The court approved a consent agenda including claims, job description resolutions, a fee resolution rescission, and an EMS grant application resolution.
- 28:03
Closing comments and tributes
Magistrates and officials offered condolences for the passing of former Senator Dennis Perry and gave committee meeting reminders.
- 36:19
Moment of silence for Senator Dennis Perry
The judge led a moment of silence and prayer in memory of Senator Dennis Perry after magistrates raised his passing.
- 37:29
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned after a motion and second with no objections.
Motions & votes (4)
- 9:06
passedApprove the May 26, 2026 Fiscal Court meeting minutes
Moved by Whitehead · seconded by Thompson · unanimous
- 21:30
passedAdopt Ordinance 347, the FY2026-2027 county budget ($608 million)
7-1, Judge (Yates) opposed
- 27:38
passedApprove the consent agenda (claims, job description resolutions, fee resolution rescission, and EMS grant application resolution)
unanimous
- 37:34
passedAdjourn the meeting
no objections
Transcript (31 segments)
- 0:00
The Harden County Fiscal Court live stream will begin momentarily. The Harden County Fiscal Court live stream will begin momentarily. The Harden County Fiscal Court live stream will begin momentarily. The Harden County Fiscal Court live
- 1:33
stream will begin momentarily. The Harden County Fiscal Court live stream will begin momentarily. The Harden County Fiscal Court live stream will begin momentarily. The Harden County Fiscal Court live
- 3:07
stream will begin momentarily. This is the June 9th, 2026 Harden County Fiscal Court regular voting meeting. Let's begin and call this meeting to order. — Roll call, please. — Squire Clem here. Squire Hicks. Squire Muse — here. — Squire Pennington — here. — Saltzman — here. Thompson — here. — Squire Whitehead — here. — Yates — here. Tall — here. Next we'll have our invocation by Magistrate Salsman and Pledge of Allegiance. Magistrate Muse. — Please join me in prayer. Father God, we thank you for this day that you've given us. Uh we pray that you would uh be with us today as we do the business for the county. We pray that you would guide us and direct us. Pray for all of our first
- 4:21
responders that are out in the uh weather today. Pray for our road department that's had some flooded over roads. Uh just pray for all of our citizens uh throughout the county today with this rain that we've gotten and more storms to come in. Just pray that you would watch over us. Guide us and direct us. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. To the flag of the stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. — All right. Again, thanks uh for joining today. It's great to see all of you here and those that are watching on TV. I'm going to go ahead and take just a moment review the agenda. Next on the agenda, we'll have um approval of our last meeting minutes. Uh we have a couple of presentations today. We'll have a time of citizens concerns, comments, have an ordinance or second reading
- 5:32
adoption of um our next fiscal year budget. And then we have the consent agenda that I'll tell when we come to that wrap up with any comments. So that's basic uh just a few comments. uh one uh I don't know if some of you may be following uh some posts but uh it was very interesting and kind of exciting that we had a few of our EMS folks that were able to deliver a life into the world doesn't uh you think some some people might think that happens frequently but it doesn't. So, it's pretty exciting that uh three of our staff uh they joined what we're call what we call the STOR club. And on May 24th, EMT Ray Dy, paramedic Kimberly Halcom Hulcom, and paramedic Logan Savage successfully delivered a baby while on call for service.
- 6:45
and they um it was discovered that the while they were doing this that the umbilical cord uh was wrapped around the child's neck. The crew quickly addressed uh this and delivered the child without any further complications. So the mother and child are healthy. They're doing well. And so this is just an example of one of the many things that our EMS folks never know what they're going to see given day. So, u our director Peterson, he uh acknowledged them and so it was uh just wanted to publicly say thanks to all of our providers. Fantastic job. the other side of that. I wanted to take just a moment and recognize that we uh tragically lost uh first responder Ryan Druan and he has 25 years Fire Department, part of Sonora and Upton Volunteer Fire Department. So, um
- 7:58
a big big loss there. And I would like just to take a moment member, his family and friends, just the impact that he's had on so many lives in Garden County. Father, we do pray that you help this family through this difficult, hard time. Watch over them. Be with all those that Ryan worked with. Help them through this difficulty. Thank you for his life. Pray Lord that you continually watch over us as as we serve. Pray father that it's just comforting to know that it's with you Jesus name. All right. So we'll move on to the next item of business and approve the Harden County Physical Court 20 May 26 2026 minutes. I need a
- 9:13
motion to approve. — Second. It's been moved and seconded. I got the motion from Whitehead and I heard it from this direction. Fire Thompson. Thank you. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call, please. — Fire CLM, — yes. — Fire Muse, — yes. — Fire Pennington, — yes. — Fire Saltzman, — yes. — Thompson, — yes. — Whitehead, — yes. — Fire Yates, — yes. Tall, — yes. Motion passes. All right. Um, oh, by the way, you may notice that Magistrate Hicks is not here today. He's got a very bad injury to one of his feet and doctor told him that he had to stay off of it or there would be some bad circumstances around that. There would be some consequences. So, um, I told him, "Please stay home." So, this is the first time he's missed. He didn't want to, but uh it's much better that he stay home and take care of himself. All right, so next up is um some presentations that we have today.