Meeting of May 13, 2025
5-13-25 Ohio County Fiscal Court Meeting · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
The Ohio County Fiscal Court met on May 13, 2025, handling routine business including approval of minutes, bills and claims, and financial statements, plus a resolution accepting increased county road aid funding (roughly $1.9 million with an emergency fund of about $2 million) for road maintenance. The court also approved closing an old savings account and opening a new money-market account at First United Bank and Trust for better interest.
A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to a presentation from the North Park Improvement Committee, which asked to become a subcommittee of Fiscal Court so its volunteers could get insurance coverage for community fundraising events at Ohio County's North Park in Fordsville. The judge indicated he would research options such as an advisory committee designation and report back.
The court held a closed session to discuss personnel and pending litigation; no action was taken on the litigation. After returning to open session, a motion to pass the first reading of a bio-digester ordinance with a 600-foot setback failed on a 3-3 tie vote, with several magistrates wanting to see a similar operating facility in Booker Noe before proceeding. The court will hold a special committee meeting on May 27 to discuss the issue further.
Two personnel hires were approved unanimously: a seasonal road department worker (Charles Wayne Crow) and a part-time courthouse custodian (Rachel Williams). Michael Newman was also approved as a new water board member.
The Ohio County Honor Guard requested roughly $13,000 in county help for roof repairs, new lighting fixtures, and ceiling tile replacement at their building; the court asked the group to return in two weeks once funding could be identified. The Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center recognized 14 Ohio County High School students as 'High School Heroes' for donating blood, awarding a $1,000 scholarship to graduating senior Maddox Mason. The Ohio County Airport board also updated the court on a new 10-bay hangar, upcoming ribbon-cutting and runway resurfacing projects funded by state and federal grants at no cost to the county.
Magistrates also discussed concerns that a possible federal executive order affecting the Digital Equity Act could threaten funding for ongoing rural broadband expansion in the county's southern electric cooperative areas. The meeting closed with public comments praising the road department's flood response and the airport's community programs before adjournment.
Agenda (20)
- 0:02
Call to order, prayer, and pledge
Judge called the meeting to order and Brother Hines led a prayer and pledge of allegiance.
- 1:18
Approval of April 22 minutes
The court reviewed and approved the April 22, 2025 meeting minutes.
- 2:01
Approval of May 5 special call meeting minutes
The court approved the minutes from the May 5, 2025 special call meeting.
- 3:42
Bills, claims, payments and transfers
The court approved paying bills and claims and noted multiple year-end transfers.
- 5:02
Treasurer's April financial statement
The court acknowledged/approved the treasurer's April financial statement pending year-end audit.
- 5:35
Clerk's April financial report
The court acknowledged the clerk's April financial report.
- 6:00
Bank account change
The court approved closing an existing savings account and opening a new prime business money market account at First United Bank and Trust for higher interest.
- 7:11
Clerk's motor vehicle and boat bills 2025
The court approved the clerk's motor vehicle and boat bills for 2025, pending audit.
- 7:42
Resolution 2025-13: County Road Aid Agreement
The court approved the annual county road aid resolution, noting increased gas tax revenue of about $1.9 million plus an emergency fund of about $2 million for road projects.
- 11:34
North Park Improvement Committee presentation
Shelley Castile requested that the North Park Improvement Committee be recognized as a subcommittee of Fiscal Court to obtain insurance coverage for volunteers running park fundraising events in Fordsville.
- 22:05
Closed session for personnel and litigation
The court entered closed session under KRS 61.810 to discuss personnel issues and a pending litigation matter; no action was taken on the litigation.
- 25:23
Bio-digester ordinance first reading discussion
The court debated setback requirements (600 feet vs half mile) for a proposed bio-digester ordinance; some magistrates wanted to tour a similar facility in Booker Noe before voting.
- 29:50
Personnel hires: road department and custodian
The court voted on two personnel hires: a seasonal road department mower and a part-time courthouse custodian.
- 31:13
Committee reports: broadband and weight scale
Magistrates reported on the broadband expansion committee's concerns about a potential federal action affecting funding, and noted the weight scale committee had not reached a conclusion.
- 34:22
West Kentucky Regional Blood Center recognition
Vicky Ellis recognized 14 Ohio County High School students as 'High School Heroes' for donating blood four times and awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Maddox Mason.
- 42:24
Ohio County Honor Guard funding request
Gary Hines requested roughly $13,000 in county assistance to fix a leaking roof, replace old lighting fixtures, and repair ceiling tiles at the honor guard's building.
- 47:29
Water board member appointment
The court voted to appoint Michael Newman as the new water board member.
- 47:58
Magistrate comments
Magistrates shared updates including broadband progress in North Hartford and appreciation for the honor guard.
- 50:18
Public comments and airport update
Public speakers praised the road department's flood response, and the airport board updated the court on new hangar construction, upcoming runway resurfacing, and community flight events.
- 57:21
Adjournment
The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.
Motions & votes (15)
- 1:38
passedApprove the April 22, 2025 meeting minutes
unanimous voice vote
- 2:49
passedApprove the May 5, 2025 special call meeting minutes
seconded by Mike · unanimous voice vote
- 4:14
passedApprove bills, claims, payments and transfers
Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Michael McKenna · unanimous voice vote
- 5:15
passedAcknowledge/approve treasurer's April financial statement pending audit
Moved by Larry Morphew · seconded by Bo Bennett · unanimous voice vote
- 5:43
passedAcknowledge clerk's April financial report
Moved by Larry Morphew · seconded by Bo Bennett · unanimous voice vote
- 6:54
passedClose an existing savings account and open a new prime business money market account at First United Bank and Trust
seconded by Dale · unanimous voice vote
- 7:28
passedApprove clerk's motor vehicle and boat bills for 2025 pending audit
Moved by Larry Morphew · seconded by Bennett · unanimous voice vote
- 9:03
passedApprove Resolution 2025-13, the county road aid agreement
unanimous roll call: Morphew yes, McKenna yes, Bullock yes, Bennett yes, Johnson yes
- 21:46
passedMotion to enter closed session to discuss personnel issues and litigation
- 23:52
passedMotion to return to open session
majority
- 25:23
failedPass the first reading of the bio-digester ordinance with a 600-foot setback
3-3 tie: Jason yes, Morphew yes, McKenna no, Bullock no, Bennett yes, Johnson no
- 29:58
passedHire Charles Wayne Crow as a seasonal road department mower at Level One rate $17.46/hour
unanimous roll call: Kevin yes, Morphew yes, McKenna yes, Bullock yes, Bennett yes, Johnson yes
- 30:38
passedHire Rachel Williams as part-time courthouse custodian at $13.99/hour
unanimous roll call: Vivien yes, Morphew yes, McKenna yes, Bullock yes, Bennett yes, Johnston yes
- 47:35
passedAppoint Michael Newman as water board member
unanimous roll call: Morphew yes, McKenna yes, Bullock yes, Bennett yes, Johnson yes
- 57:21
unclearMotion to adjourn the meeting
Transcript (46 segments)
- 0:01
[Music] Call this meeting of the Ohio camp fiscal court to order on this 13th day of May 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Going to ask brother Hind if you will to lead us in a prayer and pledge the flag. Sweet heavenly father, thank you so much for loving us and being patient with us. Thank you dear Lord for the multitude of blessings that we have and I do pray you'll be with us tonight as business is conducted and I pray it in Jesus lovely name. Amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag. Attention salute. Pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [Applause] uh before you you have the uh April
- 1:16
22nd, 2025 minutes uh as well as the April 5th I mean May 5th special call minutes uh separately have to do them separately. Okay. Thank you. Separately then I need to uh make a motion to approve the April 22nd meeting minutes. Have a second. Second. Any discussion, corrections or addition? Any discussion? Corrections, additions being none. All in favor say I. Oppose like sign. Motion carries. Before you now you have the May the 5th, 2025 spectral call amendments. Need a motion stuck in there as well. Where is they? Where are they at? The hanging. There's just two items of business. We did that [Applause] night right here. Right after all the attachments from Keep going. Keep going. All the
- 2:33
attachments. [Applause] coffee. Okay, that was a short one. So, you have the discretion, the dumpster. Yeah. Okay. I'll make a motion to accept the special call meeting minutes of the meeting. Do I have a second? It's up in the middle. Do I have a second? Second. You get second from Mike. [Applause] Any questions? Any discussion? Uh corrections or additions? Questions. descriptions or additions being none. All f say I post like sign. [Applause] No. It pass before you have the bills claims payments and
- 3:47
transfers and being the end of the f near the end of the fiscal year you always have multiple transfers. I need a motion for that. Second. We do have a late list. No, that was the original. I don't see this other motion to accept the bills and claims. Motion by Jason Bullet. Second. Second by Michael McKenna. Is there any discussion on the bills, claims, payments, and transfers? And yes, there's several thousand here to the father's side. How much more do they like having all the that was allotted to them? They're done. That 9,000 on there, that's done. Yeah. Um any discussion? Being none, all in favor say I. I. Cold like sign. The bills are
- 5:00
[Applause] paid. U. You have the treasures April financial statement. We need to acknowledge we got it or approve pending audit. So move. Motion by Larry Morphe. Second. Second by Bo Bennett. Is there any discussion? Being none, all say I audit at the end of fiscal year. Yes. [Applause] Same thing with the clerk's uh April uh uh financial report. I'll make a motion. Motion by Larry. Second by Bo. Uh any discussion being none first say I I post like sign. Motion carries. Okay. We need to close one bank account and open a new one at First United Bank and Trust. And this is going
- 6:14
to give us more interest on what's in there. That's correct. And that's correct. Yes. And uh we done the paperwork on it. We need uh to have make this happen. But uh is this a surplus money? No, this is our uh savings account. It's in a regular savings account and they recommended putting it in a prime business money market account and that earns a little more interest. [Applause] You need a motion? Yes. So move. Motion by second. Second by Dale. Any discussion or questions? Being none, all in favor say I. I. Post like sign. That motion carries. The clerk's claim motor vehicle and boat bills for 2025. Uh, we need to, I guess, approve that one. Acknowledge or approve it. I think we approve that one. And it goes without
- 7:26
say pending audit, but yeah, I think motion by Larry Morphw. Have a second. Second. Second Benon. Any discussion being none on first say I oppose like sign motion carried. Uh we have resolution uh 2015-13 the county road aid agreement. It goes um um it it's we do this every year and reason I'm stuttering it's a little bit more this year than it has been. That's our money we get from our part of the gas tax has gone up a couple hundred thousand. So that's a good thing. We use that for black top used for anything. It's it's materials you can use it for anything you want to. It's I mean it goes into our general road budget. that that's the account we we uh operate everything out of. That's our road account. That's what everything's paid
- 8:38
for with uh um I think and so $1.9 million. I'm sorry. Yes. And it was what? It puts it over about Yeah. And then there's an emergency fund on top of that that we can make through about 2 million. [Applause] And you need a motion second to approve the motion that both make a motion. Okay, I'll second it. And that's resolution 2025-13. Yes. Yes. And uh we'll need a roll call on that and also pass the down for you sign. Yes. Morphew. Yes. McKenna, yes. Bulock, yes. Bennett, yes. Johnson, yes. Okay, we got it ready to pass. And has there been a year we had used the emergency fund on the county road aid? Yeah, we we get