Fiscal Court Meeting Search

Meeting of September 24, 2024

9-24-24 Ohio County Fiscal Court Meeting · Watch on YouTube ↗

Summary

Ohio County Fiscal Court – September 24, 2024

The court approved routine business including the September minutes, bill payments (including a sheriff's medical kit grant and an AmeriCorps position at the senior center), a clerk's financial report, and a bid for a new Dodge Durango for the sheriff's department paid with House Bill funds.

The National Weather Service recognized Ohio County as an official "StormReady" community, presenting emergency management director Charlie Shields with a sign commemorating the achievement.

The Bull Run Beagle Club raised concerns about a fenced-in area at the county park controlled by the Ohio County/Owensboro Beagle Club, after a member of that club (a Davis County resident) ordered an Ohio County citizen off the property. The court tabled the issue for a future meeting so more information and other parties could be gathered.

A major item was a first-reading amendment to the county's solar energy ordinance, allowing variance requests (excluding decommissioning/bonding issues) and setting fencing requirements at 6-8 feet. This passed by roll call vote and a second reading was scheduled for the following Wednesday. Bids on a golf cart purchase and a road department truck were tabled/approved for advertising, respectively, pending further review of financing terms.

Personnel actions included hiring two part-time clerks at the park. Emergency management director Charlie Shields reported on FEMA reimbursement expected from county road department assistance to Muhlenberg County after tornado damage, and requested court approval to allocate an anticipated ~$5,500 reimbursement toward mounted search and rescue training and dive equipment. He also reported on a partnership between Republic Services and Tamerlane Lanes to clean up debris behind the nonprofit's property, with Republic donating nearly $89,000 in hauling/disposal services.

Sheriff Adam Wright presented statistics on rising call volumes and requested the court consider a pay scale review to help retain deputies who are leaving for higher-paying jobs elsewhere. His wife and a deputy also spoke in support, emphasizing staffing shortages and safety concerns. The court agreed to schedule a special pay-scale committee meeting in October.

Committee reports covered mowing progress by the road department, the annual suicide awareness walk (with about 300 registered attendees), and the Jerusalem Ridge festival, which was well-executed but under-attended, prompting discussion of improved event promotion.

Agenda (21)

  • 0:06

    Prayer and Pledge

    Helen Dever gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to open the meeting.

  • 1:12

    Approval of September minutes

    The court approved the minutes from the September meeting with no corrections.

  • 1:54

    Bills, claims, payments and transfers

    The court reviewed and approved bill payments including a sheriff's department medical kit grant and an AmeriCorps position cost at the senior center.

  • 4:17

    StormReady recognition from National Weather Service

    A National Weather Service representative presented Ohio County with a StormReady certification for meeting emergency preparedness requirements.

  • 6:49

    Bull Run Beagle Club park dispute

    Representatives of the Bull Run Beagle Club asked the court to review an agreement giving the Ohio County/Owensboro Beagle Club exclusive use of a fenced park area, after a member ran off an Ohio County citizen; the issue was tabled for a future meeting.

  • 13:50

    Clerk's 2024 financial report

    The court voted to receive the clerk's 2024 financial report.

  • 14:25

    Clerk's report on transferring 2024 tax bills

    The court voted to receive the clerk's report regarding transferring the 2024 tax bills.

  • 15:23

    Sheriff's vehicle bid approval

    A single bid from Don Franklin for a Dodge Durango (~$42,882), funded by House Bill money, was reviewed and approved for the sheriff's department.

  • 18:34

    Solar ordinance amendment (first reading)

    After a lengthy committee discussion, the court passed a first reading amending the solar energy ordinance to allow case-by-case variances and set fencing requirements at 6-8 feet; a second reading was set for the following Wednesday.

  • 23:36

    Golf cart bid discussion

    The court discussed a previously tabled golf cart bid, deciding to table it again due to questions about an interest charge.

  • 25:24

    Personnel hires at the park

    The court approved hiring two part-time clerk assistants at the park level, Nicole Sweeny and Betty Bowan.

  • 27:46

    Road department truck bid authorization

    The court discussed a plan to buy a new single-axle truck with a buyback arrangement and approved advertising for bids.

  • 29:20

    Closed session

    The court entered a brief closed session.

  • 29:39

    Road department committee report

    Magistrate Bennett praised the road department for completing extra mowing rounds despite tractor trouble and heavy rain.

  • 31:08

    Suicide awareness walk and Jerusalem Ridge festival reports

    Magistrate Johnston reported on the fifth annual suicide awareness walk with about 300 registered attendees, and discussion followed on the underattended but well-run Jerusalem Ridge festival, with calls to improve event promotion.

  • 33:52

    Landfill services committee setup

    The court agreed to schedule a landfill services committee meeting to report back at a future regular meeting.

  • 34:18

    Emergency management FEMA and search/rescue training funding

    Charlie Shields reported on anticipated FEMA reimbursement from Muhlenberg County tornado assistance and requested that ~$5,500 be earmarked for mounted search and rescue training and dive equipment when received.

  • 38:14

    Tamerlane Lanes cleanup partnership report

    Republic Services manager Todd Chamberlain reported on a partnership with the county and Tamerlane Lanes nonprofit to clean up debris, donating nearly $89,000 in hauling and disposal services.

  • 40:09

    Magistrate comments

    Magistrates gave district comments, including questions about senior center vehicle availability and transportation issues.

  • 47:43

    Sheriff's department staffing and pay concerns

    Sheriff Adam Wright presented call volume statistics and requested the court consider raising deputy pay to prevent further staff departures; his wife and a deputy also spoke in support. The court agreed to schedule a pay scale committee meeting.

  • 53:54

    Public comments for the good of the body

    Community members raised concerns about event promotion and coordination, and additional remarks were made supporting the sheriff's department staffing request.

Motions & votes (13)

  • 1:16

    passedApprove the September 24th minutes

    Moved by Michael McKinney

  • 2:16

    passedApprove bills, claims, payments and transfers

  • 14:07

    passedReceive clerk's 2024 financial report

    seconded by Michael

  • 14:36

    passedReceive clerk's report for transferring 2024 tax bills

  • 17:53

    passedAccept bid from Don Franklin Chrysler Dodge for a Durango for the sheriff's department

    Moved by Larry Morphy · seconded by Jason

  • 20:24

    passedAmend the solar energy ordinance to allow variances with 6-8 foot fencing requirement (first reading)

    seconded by Jason · roll call unanimous - Bennett, Johnston, Daniel, Morphew, McKinney, Buff all yes

  • 24:16

    unclearTable golf cart bid consideration to next Wednesday's meeting

  • 25:24

    passedHire Nicole Sweeny as part-time clerk assistant at the park, effective 9/22

    roll call unanimous - Bennett, Johnston, Daniel, Morphew, McKinney, all yes

  • 26:24

    passedHire Betty Bowan as part-time clerk at the park, effective 9/15

    roll call unanimous - Bennett, Johnston, Daniel, Morphe, McKinney all yes

  • 28:43

    passedAuthorize advertising for bid on new road department truck

  • 29:31

    passedMove into closed session

    seconded by Jon

  • 30:35

    unclearMotion regarding road department report (withdrawn as not official)

    seconded by Jason

  • 36:28

    passedObligate anticipated ~$5,500 FEMA/Muhlenberg reimbursement to search and rescue training and dive equipment

Transcript (49 segments)

  • 0:05

    [Music] so how can we get call this meeting I came Fiscal Court to order uh I'm going to ask uh Helen dver she will do the prayer and pled the flag your head please our heavenly father bless this meeting uh tonight make sure that they um have their hearts in the right place um reach your arms around the coast looks like we're going to be hit pretty bad down in around Florida area um put your arms around everybody that's here tonight and just uh give them an extra blessing or an extra hug in Jesus name I pray amen amen to the flag of the United States of America to the rep which stand one nation under God indivisible with liberty and [Music] have before you the uh September 24th minutes need a motion to approve Move Motion by Michael

  • 1:22

    mckenny second second is there any discussion Corrections or additions discussion Corrections or additions b n all say I post like sign amendments are approved before you have the bills claim payments and transfers including a light need a motion for that a [Music] motion motion V to approve the amendment no how many bills have a second [Music] okay I'll say it any

  • 2:36

    discussion and what's this uh medical kits North American Rescue uh Kentucky ASAP gives out grants and they awarded a grant to the Sheriff's Department for medical kids for them to have in the back of their vehicles for CZ they're they're typically first on the scene and what's the uh America corpse host feed 5700 what's that uh that's at the senior center they have an americore uh employee and that's what they have to pay if you want to explain it to get an employee for the years the americore employee at the senior center oh uh that's a program where you can get an employee for is it the full time mm for um 50 [Music] something 50 something, $100 and they essentially you're paying them hardly nothing and they work full- time any other discussion Bill CL fa for

  • 3:52

    transfers before we vote more questions all say I like sign bills are pay uh now we're going to go out of order just a little bit because we got some folks here from National Weather Service and Charlie Shields you go ahead and come up I'll let him do the present Mike hello everyone I'm with the National Weather Service and uh one of the things that we do besides doing forecasts watches and warnings for storms is we certify counties to become storm ready and storm ready is a program that looks over in conjunction with Emergency Management Charlie's been a great uh partner of ours but looking for multiple ways to receive warnings during active weather multiple ways to push out warnings for the county and other folks to know that hazardous weather's coming your way and other community preparation programs so Charlie's been able to meet all the U in Ohio County has been able to meet all of the uh requirements to

  • 5:05

    become storm ready so you're one of about 70 counties here in Kentucky to go through this process so it's a kind of a big deal um you guys are able to be recognized by the National Weather Service as uh having your stuff together and uh you're you're storm ready we can't make you storm proof unfortunately and make the tornadoes go away but when they do you're ready to go so Charlie congratulations Ohio County congratulations on uh becoming stor so you get yourself a sign right here and from the Weather Service the guys of the office this is commemorating your achievement here today and um it's a honor to work with you congratulations and I don't know if you want to picture anything to commemorate but you're more than welcome to if you would would like yeah you go stand there she's going get it from look good way you don't [Music] care go and look that way D yeah yeah a little close up there there we go move your there my hair is messed up yeah yes thanks sir appreciate it I I told y that Charlie actually did

  • 6:17

    do something see don't believe judge thank you sir we have some people here from the uh Beagle Club uh was going to try to get them on agenda and I didn't would they be able to go a little earlier can you work them in give them through about 3 minutes whoever want speak for come he didn't know I started preaching this three minutes three minutes all right start the clock Rand uh you guys all know uh who I am I wear a lot of hats today I'm here representing Bull Run Bagel Club and this group of your citizens back here behind us uh buun Bagel Club we've been in this County 25 years uh We've donated to local charities in the county we've kept our money here in the county uh through those 25 years it's been a little bit of a battle uh sometimes with the uh other Bagel Club located at the park the Ohio County hornsboro bigel Club we've tried to do things work with them and uh and I want to thank the park I thank the county for opening up the park allowing us to run our dogs out there but times coming it's hard to find land and we

  • 7:29

    appreciate that the problem the issue here is now and it's been brought to Mr morphe's attention that one of the citizens that's here tonight Mr Murphy was recently ran off uh by a member of the ensboro Ohio County Beagle Club in the fenced in area I know we've talked about that before at court meetings out there uh he was from a Davis County Citizen and randio County Citizens off uh from the Ohio County Park uh I have a little issue with that I think we can handle situations like that better uh cuz these folks here there's probably more In This Crowd tonight that's uh members of that club that's from Ohio County that run citizen off uh so that's concerning I know the park has an agreement with that Bagel Club and that F in area one time we Justin I know looked that up we' have to review that again to look at it again but I would seriously inquire the court to look at that agreement and see really uh is that necess necessary and the fenc in area that they have back on the back side of the par property is that necessary I know at one time that club was prominent brought in a lot of national events those days have since passed while our

  • 8:43

    club continues to bring in National events the hotels here in Ohio County will be full this weekend with an event we're having that's got pretty well probably 75% Ohio County Citizens as members where that club I could I'd say it's a whole lot lower percentage so as that being County property I would like to see the court either do away with that agreement or put some amendments in that agreement to where that property can be more shared and doesn't give one I'm we don't want all the rights to it we understand that's not what we're here asking we're here for equal rights uh to that property and not to be ran off by Davis County Citizens at our County uh Park and that's a oh I know Larry maybe had a few words on that as well that's I can answer and tell you why that is uh this organization came to us many years ago I was at the park and they were very productive for the county in event and they wanted that area they wanted to built it they're the ones that's keeps it the rabits healthy they're the ones that put the food flights out you know