Fiscal Court Recap: Polling Places Added, New Parks and Rec Director Hired

Sheriff and Clerk's Budgets Approved

Darren Doyle, story:
A new director for Edmonson County Parks and Rec was hired at last night's Edmonson County Fiscal Court meeting.

Magistrates voted unanimously on the hiring of Cody Stewart, a county resident, to be the new director. Parks and Rec formerly had two employees, a parks director, which was A.B. Webb, and a parks program director, which was John Kiernan. A committee made up of former Program Director Kiernan, Dist. 2 Mag. T.J. Massey, Dist. 4 Mag. Mickey Johnson, and Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey, interviewed applicants and recommended Stewart to the court for hiring.

The position will pay an annual salary of $55,000 and combines the two former positions. The director position focused mainly on the mowing and maintenance of all parks while the program position focused on youth sports and events facilitated by the Parks and Rec Department. Magistrates have discussed contracting all the mowing, which will allow the newly hired Stewart to combine responsibilities, Massey said in a previous meeting.

County Clerk Kevin Alexander reminded the court about the upcoming limitations his office will face at the end of December through early January with state system updates.  Alexander reported that beginning Friday, December 29, 2023, through roughly midweek of January 8-12, there will be no vehicle transfers in the entire state of Kentucky. This is due to the state providing a new and updated system for vehicle transfers; however, Alexander said that Edmonson County is scheduled to be included in the first group of system updates.

He also added that the Clerk's Office will be closed on December 25th-26th, the 29th-30th, and January 1st and 2nd. He also informed the court that a petition to include a wet/dry option on the next election ballot in 2024 was requested by a local resident and is currently available for signature at the Clerk's Office.

He informed the court that new polling places would be added to next year's elections, with more details coming later. They include one at the Community Center for all Brownsville residents (District 4) and another at Bee Spring Park for those in Magistrate Gary Bagshaw's District.

The court also heard from Roadway Management Technologies CEO Candler McCollum, who gave a presentation on his company that offers sensors on county vehicles that obtain road condition data. He gave a demonstration how the sensors work, and through vibration recording, said the system gives real-time data of the conditions of the roads. None of the magistrates had any questions or comments after the presentation.

The court also voted to approve the 2024 Edmonson County Sheriff's budget in the amount of $991,300, with $267,300 coming from Fiscal Court. That is up from last year's amount of $872,300 with a $232,800 Fiscal Court contribution, and a total of an 8.79% increase.

The County Clerk's annual budget was also approved in the amount of $3,848,605, which was up from $3,720,000, a 9.6% increase.

The court also voted to:

• Approve KBEMS Ambulance Grant application.
• Reappoint Jeff Stice to the Ambulance Board, effective 1/1/2024 to end 12/31/2025.
• Approve Treasurer’s November Monthly Settlement Report.
• Approve Sheriff’s November Monthly Fee Report, pending final audit.
• Approve Sheriff’s November Property Tax Reports, pending final audit.
• Acknowledge November BGWC Shelter Directors Report.
• Acknowledge Dog Control November CAD Report.
• Acknowledge County Clerk’s November Document Storage Fee Report, pending final audit.
• Approve County Clerk’s November MVAV Collection Report, pending final audit.
• Approve County Clerk’s November Deed Transfer Tax Report, pending final audit.
• Approve County Clerk’s November Excess Fee Report, pending final audit.
• Approve County Clerk’s November Delinquent Tax Collection Report, pending final audit.
• Approve all KACO, KCJEA, KMCA, KACTFO, DLG and ATVG Conferences for 2024.
• Approve all KACO, DLG and BRADD training events for 2024.
• Approve 2024 County Paid Holidays.
• Approve 2024 Fiscal Court Meeting Dates Schedule.
• Approve to re-schedule 12/25/2023 Fiscal Court Meeting to 12/27/23 at 9:00 a.m.
• Approve County Clerk Bond Renewal #2120723, effective 1/1/2024.
• Approve Sheriff’s Department Schedule Bond Renewal #3983443, effective 1/1/2024.
• Approve Fiscal Court Schedule Bond Renewal #3983444, effective 1/1/2024.
• Approve Jailer Bond Renewal #4636442, effective 1/1/2024.
• Approve Judge Executive Bond Renewal #4636443, effective 1/1/2024.
• Approve County Attorney Bond Renewal #4636444, effective 1/1/2024.
• Approve December Cash Transfers.
• Approve to hire Mitchell Avery, full time Road Department employee at $18.00 per hour. Date of hire 12/18/23, Class A CDL/Mechanic.
• Approve 2023 EMPG Grant Contract.
• Approve Sheriff’s 2024 Annual Order setting maximum amount for Deputies and Assistants.
• Approve Sheriff’s Revenue Bond #4636446 (Increase Rider).
• Acknowledge Petition for Renaming a Road.

The next fiscal court meeting date was scheduled for Wednesday, December 27th at 9AM.