Fiscal Court Meeting Search

Meeting of August 22, 2023

8-22-23 Ohio County Fiscal Court Meeting · Watch on YouTube ↗

Summary

Ohio County Fiscal Court – August 22, 2023

The court opened with a public hearing on the county's property tax rates, which remain unchanged from last year (76 cents real, 74 cents personal) and were described as among the lowest in the state. The Ohio County Public Library also presented its tax rates, which actually decreased slightly for both real and personal property.

Routine business included approval of minutes (with a small wording correction requested by auditors), payment of bills/claims/transfers including a late list, and acknowledgment of the Sheriff's quarterly fee account report.

Several ordinances and resolutions were passed, including the first reading of an ordinance formalizing a prior agreement, a resolution moving ARPA funds (with a related motion authorizing checks up to $5,000), a House Bill coal severance money resolution, a CDBG resolution passing through $2 million in grant funds to the Ohio County Water District for a new raw water intake project, and a resolution to apply for an 80/20 matching cybersecurity grant (about $123,000) to upgrade county computer systems.

A significant item involved storm sirens: representatives from GRADD explained that the county's original bid process for two new warning sirens violated federal procurement rules (failing to give minority/women/small-business bidders a fair opportunity), so the court voted to reject all previous bids and rebid the project to remain eligible for FEMA reimbursement. The court also went into a brief closed session to discuss senior center personnel, after which it approved hiring a part-time substitute meal driver.

Other approvals included a $500 county match for a $1,000 scholarship with the Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center's Hometown Heroes program, and the annual purchase of a new road department dump truck (a 2024 Mack, with the old truck to be sold in Alabama, historically at a profit). The county coroner requested consideration for bids on a newer, safer vehicle to replace an aging prisoner-transport van, with judge and magistrates agreeing to look into pricing and possible opioid settlement funding before deciding. Magistrates closed with committee and district updates, including a request to begin blacktop road work once budgeted funds are available.

Agenda (22)

  • 0:03

    Public hearing on county tax rates

    The court held the required public hearing on real and personal property tax rates, which were unchanged from the prior year and described as among the lowest in the state.

  • 1:32

    Call to order, prayer, and pledge

    Judge called the meeting to order and Kenneth led the prayer and pledge of allegiance.

  • 2:25

    Approval of August 8, 2023 minutes

    Minutes from the prior meeting were approved.

  • 2:52

    Correction to January 24, 2023 minutes

    A wording correction requested by the auditors regarding sheriff capital outlay funding was reviewed and approved.

  • 3:56

    Bills, claims, payments and transfers

    The court reviewed and approved bills, claims, payments and transfers, including a late list.

  • 5:03

    Sheriff's quarterly fee account report

    The court acknowledged the sheriff's quarterly fee account report.

  • 6:01

    Ohio County Public Library tax rate presentation

    Library board president Debbie Phillips presented the library's decreased tax rates for real and personal property.

  • 8:23

    Ordinance 2024-2 first reading

    First reading of an ordinance formalizing a prior agreement reached by committee.

  • 9:19

    Resolution 2024-3 ARPA funds reallocation

    A resolution to move around ARPA funds previously discussed, with checks to be written directly to vendors.

  • 10:42

    Motion authorizing ARPA check disbursement

    A motion allowing the transferred ARPA money to be used to write checks directly to vendors up to $5,000.

  • 11:12

    Resolution 2024-4 House Bill coal severance funds

    A resolution regarding coal severance money distributed by formula.

  • 12:30

    Resolution 2024-5 CDBG grant for water intake project

    A resolution to pass through $2 million in CDBG funds to the Ohio County Water District for a new raw water intake project.

  • 14:55

    Resolution 2024-6 cybersecurity grant application

    A resolution to apply for an 80/20 matching grant (~$123,000) to upgrade county computer systems, servers, and cybersecurity training.

  • 17:13

    Storm siren procurement issue and rebidding

    GRADD representatives explained the original siren bid process violated federal procurement rules; the court voted to reject prior bids and start a new closed procurement round.

  • 21:45

    Closed session on senior center personnel

    The court went into a brief closed session under KRS 61.810 to discuss senior center personnel matters; no business was conducted in closed session.

  • 22:43

    Senior center substitute meal driver hire

    The court approved hiring a part-time substitute meal driver for the senior center at $13.53/hour effective August 20.

  • 23:51

    Committee reports

    Various magistrates gave updates, including a request for $500 to match a scholarship donation for the Hometown Heroes blood drive scholarship.

  • 25:46

    Motion to contribute scholarship match funds

    The court agreed to contribute $500 from discretionary funds to match a $500 donation for a $1,000 scholarship.

  • 26:06

    Annual dump truck purchase

    The road department presented pricing for a new 2024 Mack dump truck to replace an older one, which would be sold in Alabama as in past years, typically at a profit.

  • 29:58

    Suicide prevention committee update

    Update on an upcoming suicide prevention walk on September 9th combined with the Ohio County Health Coalition.

  • 31:09

    Coroner's office vehicle request

    The coroner requested court consideration to advertise for bids on a newer, safer vehicle to replace an aging, unsafe transport van.

  • 37:26

    Magistrates comments and requests

    Magistrates gave district updates, including a request to begin blacktop road work once funds are budgeted and purchase orders issued.

Motions & votes (18)

  • 2:32

    passedApprove the minutes of the August 8, 2023 meeting

    seconded by Michael McKinney

  • 3:41

    passedApprove correction to January 24, 2023 minutes regarding audit wording

  • 4:16

    passedApprove bills, claims, payments and transfers including late list

  • 5:24

    passedAcknowledge sheriff's quarterly fee account report

    Moved by Jason Bullock

  • 7:24

    passedAcknowledge library's tax rates (94 cents real, 94 cents personal)

    Moved by Jason Bullock · seconded by Ken Callaway · aye

  • 8:31

    passedAccept ordinance 2024-2 first reading

    unanimous roll call: Bennett yes, Johnson yes, Callaway yes, Morgan yes, McKinney yes

  • 9:48

    passedAccept resolution 2024-3 regarding ARPA funds

    seconded by Michael McKinney · unanimous roll call: Bennett yes, Johnson yes, Callaway yes, Morgan yes, McKinney yes

  • 10:46

    passedAuthorize writing checks to vendors up to $5,000 from transferred ARPA money

    Moved by David · seconded by Kim Callaway · aye

  • 11:50

    passedAccept resolution 2024-4 House Bill coal severance funds

    seconded by Kent Calloway

  • 13:47

    passedAccept resolution 2024-5 CDBG grant pass-through for water intake project

    Moved by Jason Bullock (or someone, seconded by) · seconded by Michael McKinney

  • 15:36

    passedAccept resolution 2024-6 to apply for cybersecurity grant

    Moved by Kenneth Calloway · seconded by Jason Bullock · aye

  • 19:41

    passedReject all prior siren bids and authorize new closed procurement round

    aye

  • 21:38

    passedMotion to go into closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) for personnel discussion

    seconded by Callaway · all in favor

  • 22:12

    passedMotion to return to open session

  • 22:58

    passedApprove hiring part-time substitute meal driver for senior center at $13.53/hour effective 8/20

    Moved by Amy · unanimous roll call: Bennett yes, Johnston yes, Callaway yes, Morgan yes, McKinney yes

  • 25:53

    passedContribute $500 to match Hometown Heroes scholarship donation

  • 28:08

    passedPurchase new 2024 Mack dump truck for $203,766

  • 29:21

    passedMotion regarding truck purchase/discussion (mechanical/second)

Transcript (32 segments)

  • 0:01

    [Music] thank you basically it's saying we what our tax rates are uh they're uh uh 7.6 percent on the reel and uh 7.4 uh 7.4 ounce personal and uh anyway it was the same as last year wasn't it same as last year they're all the same as last year so things like any comments or anything about it just everybody signed in it's here for the public hearing so we just hold this forum for anyone to express their opinion or voice on it if they hadn't I'm going to say it's very fair rates uh we're one of the lowest in the state and so we're proud that we've been able to do that

  • 1:13

    but watercraft is uh same as well every bit of our pack rates okay well appreciate everybody pinning that and uh I'm now call the public hearing closed now I want to call the order uh the beating of Ojai Camp Fiscal Court on the 22nd day of August 2023 at 502 uh and uh Kenneth would you lead us in a perfect replacement flag dear God we thank for this opportunity to be here tonight after you help us give us the wisdom in our decision making and help us as we guide things for the county please keep us safe through this evening in your name of prayer 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 with liberty and justice around [Music]

  • 2:25

    uh before you have the minutes of the August 8th 2023 uh baby I'll leave a motion to approve second second uh Michael McKinney is there any discussion any corrections or additions on the minutes discussion or Corrections or additions post like sign the miniature approved and we have amen to the January 24th 2023 minutes Miranda would you uh so I can pass the minutes around right here but it's pretty much the check that was given from the sheriff for the capital outlay um it was all explained in the minutes properly worded but the Auditors specifically want a special wording that says in satisfied who satisfies the previous years audit funding for their accounts so I just want to attend that small work if you all want to take a look at it I like the motion [Music] any discussion

  • 3:41

    I will say just to uh it's just to clean up some word it doesn't there's no substitute changes most of you [Music] uh before you have the bills claims payments and transfers including the late list that we wasn't planning to have one of these days we'll actually have one of them like this so I made a motion to prove that a lot of like you know that's just my pay there's a late late list too if you must have last week you were absolutely okay [Music] that's why I was confused second second hey you have two agendas too okay so I know so hang on I'm gonna make sure I'm good tomorrow August 22nd okay is there any discussion on the bills

  • 4:55

    paying credits and transfers day discussion Blackstone of carries and you have the sheriff's quarterly fee account uh we need to uh uh recognize we've got it or approve subject audit however you want to just acknowledge no motion by Jason Bullock to acknowledge the report of the sheriff's quarterly report fee account second second but learn more for you is there any discussion or questions for the sheriff he's here uh on Facebook like that next we have some gas from the public library uh they've they've gifts their tax rates and they can tell us about it

  • 6:09

    and they're in impacted by the way I'm Debbie Phillips I'm the president of the Ohio County Public Library Board of Trustees and I'm here on behalf of the Ohio County Public Library I'd like to thank you for allowing us opportunity to present our tax rates to Fiscal Court members as far as for this upcoming year this year we're pleased to announce that our tax rates have decreased from 9.6 to 9.4 for real property and from 9.77 to 9.4 for personal property it's always been and will continue to be our honor and our pleasure to provide a large variety of services and programs to all kinds of of all kinds for all ages to our fellow Ohio County Citizens thank you again as far as for your time and for all you do for the citizens of Ohio County thank you for all your loved let's go ahead and make uh uh yeah yes I think so because since it was not more than compensate race we don't technically approve it I acknowledge the uh

  • 7:21

    24 tax rates with the library at 9.4 9.4 for real property and also number 144 for personal property a motion by Jason Bullock protecting with Ken Callaway any questions or discussion uh I just want to again say how much you appreciate what you'll do it means a bunch after it's it's a wonderful thing to have a lot of folks say aye all right thank you [Music] okay you guys remember was it the last meeting or two minutes ago you guys remember that we uh voted on a reinforcement that was would have given to us by the committee that handled it but now we've got to make it official into an ordinance we uh agreed to it then in its ordinance number uh 2024-2 this will be the first reading I want to make a a motion to accept

  • 8:33

    ordinance 2024-2 first reading I should leave it the same as in judgment yes that's why I want to go ahead and make democracy that's why we did the public hearing so I don't get all that experience okay second layer the only dish it would need that we just need to put the report in there yeah we do have that okay this guy is doing the same because obviously get a lot of things so we gotta do a roll call but okay Bennett yes Johnson yes Callaway yes more view yes yes and uh the next one's just a resolution it's 20 24-3 arpa funds that we had to move around a little bit uh did you guys vote on this last meeting is that the one thing that you just something of what now the real portion or they came and they came and addressed you guys last week yes okay yeah so we want to go ahead and