Meeting of August 26, 2025

[Music] call this meeting of Ohio County Fiscal Court to order on this 26th day of August 2025 at 5:00. And u we have together with us today we have Philip Emmery, pastor at the Cedar Grove uh Baptist Church. We're going to ask him to lead us in a prayer and a pledge to the flag. — Let's pray. Lord, it's come for your mighty throne. Lord, thankful for Lord for this beautiful day given us and all your blessings in life. And we thank you, Lord, for this county given us, Lord, and those who have chosen to serve. We pray, Lord, for wisdom and guidance, direction as they make the decisions for this county. We know, Lord, that all the leaders, Lord, ultimately are appointed by you, fulfill your purpose. So I pray Lord you just lead and guide them, direct them. May Lord may you have your one way of this meeting for your glory. I pray it's in Jesus name. Amen. — Amen. — Say the pledge. — I 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. Thank you. Thank you so much, Phil. I got one. — Anybody know where B went? — Yeah. Tell him get get in here. We need him right now. — Thanks. — We got to lead us a prayer. [Laughter] There he is. — I'm glad you guys could join us. — Well, I heard the I'm happy. — Yeah, I was doing. It's good. It's good. I'm just teasing. — Kobe. — Before you have the minutes of the uh uh August 11th meeting, I need a motion. Second app to approve. — Make a motion. — Motion by Dale. — Second. — Second by Michael.

— Any discussion, corrections, or additions? Discussion, corrections, or additions on the minutes? Being none. All in favor say I. I. — Post like sign. Our minutes are approved. Next, you have the bills, claims, payments, and transfers. Need a motion for that. Second. — I'll make a motion. — Motion by Jason. Second. Second by Bo. Um discussion. Any discussion on the bills, claims, payments, or transfers? Being none on say I post like sign. Carries. Candy go. — This is her first — the treasur treasur July 25 uh financial report. We

need to acknowledge that we got it. motion. — Motion by Bo, second by Mike — for a second. — Thank you. I didn't know you were. — Okay. It says Candy first one by herself. — Yes. — Maybe we need to check it out. — She's been over it a dozen times. — All in favor say I. Like sign. Motion carries. — Yeah. — Well, she she stepped out for that, too. — Yeah. — Um the sheriff's 2024 property tax settlement and that's either approved pending audit or uh acknowledge either one. — Acknowledge or receive. — I'll second his acknowledgement. — Motion by Bo and second by Jason. Any discussion or corre questions by sheriff? He's here being none. All in favor say I. — Post like sign. Motion carries. Uh, still from the sheriff's office. You have his 2024 oil and uh, — what's LSG? What

— Oh, limestone. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. — Okay. Motion. — Motion. Second. — Motion by Bo. — Second. — Second by Michael. Any discussion or questions? Being none, all on favor say I. — I. — Those like sign. Motion carries. — Our our good library people are here. I can tell what they got. They got good news for you. So, come on up and tell us. — Now, this will make us decide whether we're going to raise the taxes on the library. Now, they got a copy of the David Johnson biography. — Well, first of all, I want to say good evening to all of the members of the fiscal court, and thank you for allowing us to present our tax rates to you all as far as for the next year. And I'm the president of the Ohio County Public Library Board of Trustees. So, I get that lovely duty today as far as for it. This year, we're pleased to announce that our tax rates have decreased 9.2 2 to 8.9 for real property. 9.2 was what it was and it's down to 8.9 for personal

property. Motor vehicle tax is going to remain at 4.2. We just want to let you know that it's always been our pleasure as far as to serve all ages of people as far as county residents in Ohio County with the services that we provide for them — at since you did that compensation rate. We don't technically have to approve it, but to give a a shout out how proud we are of it, I think we should. — Okay. — Thank you. — Who who made the motion? — Motion to acknowledge — tax library. — I'll second the acknowledgement. — Okay. — Thank you very much. We appreciate it. — I want to thank y'all for having the backbone to lower it. I seen where Orange OMU raised their water and stuff and the Thomas got a 18% raise and everybody's I don't know what to expect people to live off of. — Well, we want to thank you all again. — Well, we thank you and we really appreciate the library and all that's done there. — It's really a great asset for our county. Well, we really do appreciate you saying that, uh, Judge Johnston,

because we think so, and we try to strive as far as, you know, to — I got my monthly calendar in the mail yesterday. It looks nice. All the events, you guys do a good job. — I was going to say, Miss Melanie is going to keep you busy if you those different events. — Thank you. — All in favor say I. I. — Post likes. Motion carries. Thank you again. Uh the extension rates there's no one here to present them. But I am on the uh Can you hand that to me? Let me see what it is. It's compensated though. Uh there again, we don't — you think it's in here? — That's it. — Yeah. Compensating rate. — But anyway, they took compensating rate. I was going to tell you what that was. I don't have in front of me after all. Don't that mean it goes up just a little bit? — Huh? — Don't that mean it goes up just a little? — No. — No. Not taking compensating. It does. — Stays the same. I think — stay the same. — Uh, no. Actually, the rate goes down. So, you'll pay unless your evaluation went up, you'll pay less taxes. It went to the real property 0.06.

So, that's percent. So, that's actually 0.006 is what the rate is. So, uh, and that's compensating, but and there again, let's just acknowledge we got it because we don't have to prove it since they didn't go past compensation. — I'll make the acknowledgement that we got at the extension office 2026 2526 tax rates. — Was it was it Jason and — Jason? — Jason made the motion. Second by Bob and all in favor say I. I post like sign. It passes. Kind of a sad day. Sheriff, could you come up? — This a little bit of a sad business we need to take care of, but it'll be okay in the end. — Appreciate the call. We're going to uh we need to surplus our one of our canines, K9 Astro. He's he's been the agency prior to me coming in the sheriff. I believe he has purchased through a grant. He has more than paid