Property, Roads, and Budgets

The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court held its meeting on Thursday, December 11th, with the following in attendance: Judge/Executive Larry Wilson, Magistrates Ronnie Miller, Daniel Bragg, Harvey Hawkins, and Kevin Crain, County Attorney Sharon Howard, and Treasurer/Fiscal Court Clerk Page Edwards.  

 Judge Wilson declared a quorum present, and the agenda was adopted. 

 In the last meeting, the magistrates agreed to sign a letter of intent to purchase property after a closed session, but no size or price was given. The minutes covering that special-called meeting on November 20th prompted questions from the Herald-News, “How many acres is that?”  

 Miller replied, “Yeah, that’s a good round figure between 146 and 147. I got plat out there in my truck.”  

 Then, after asking what the price was, Miller stated it was about $5000 per acre. After the meeting, Miller brought the plat inside, and it was actually 2 tracts totaling 147.08 acres for $739,000.  

The minutes from the meeting were approved, and Judge Wilson said, “Next would be discussion on Copus Road. Tesla Stovall, I talked to you yesterday.” He then asked Attorney Howard, “So, can she pick those (deeds) up today and go get them signed?” 

 Howard replied, “I need to have a little time to review and make sure we’ve got the right description with the right property of each of the landowners… So, I will try my best to have them ready by tomorrow.” 

 Stovall then expressed her concerns, “My biggest concern is that we started it in July… we did not expect to still be maintaining it come winter time.” 

 That motion and second to go ahead and start work on the Copus Road was approved. Judge Wilson stated, “That way you all are not out any extra expense at this time.” 

 

Animal Ordinance  

 Next was the second reading of an ordinance concerning the humane treatment of animals. Howard stated that she had made the updates to the statutes and wording discussed at the first reading and explained that any other changes can be made by amendment after approval, if need be. 

 After a bit of discussion, Judge Wilson related a recent situation that would have benefited from this ordinance, and that he was receiving calls about the dogs being dumped, and there was a witness. 

 The motion to approve the second reading was made by Bragg, seconded by Crain, and then approved.  

 

2026 Budgets 

 Metcalfe County Court Clerk Shannon Fields submitted her department budget for 2026, along with the order of salaries for approval. Motions were made for each, and both were approved. Fields was asked how many deputies she had, and she replied 4 and a little room for a part-time clerk, if needed. 

 Metcalfe County Sheriff’s Office manager Lynn Lunz submitted their department budget for 2026, noting it was pretty much the same as last year, except for a little more budgeted for vehicle maintenance. She also submitted the order of salaries. When asked, Lunz replied that there are 4 deputies, 5 security officers, and 2 office staff. The budget and salary order were approved. 

 Lunz also submitted the office’s request for $70,000 of the State Advancement Funds for approval. After motions by Bragg and Crain, the request was approved. 

 

Affiliations & Agreements 

 The chain of command or “order of affiliation” is a yearly agreement to set the chain of command for the local government and the three rescue squads in the county: Metcalfe, Summer Shade, and North Metcalfe. The orders were approved after motions by Bragg and Hawkins. 

 Emergency Management Director Adam Bennett addressed the court to explain, “North Metcalfe Rescue Squad applied for a grant, and we received from the state $35,373. That is what we got. We will have to match part of that. It’s going to the purchase of a new truck… It says it’s between the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the local fiscal court. So, the money runs through the fiscal court. It gets kicked straight out to the rescue squad, and because it’s doing this, it’s going to go through approval. We’re going to have Larry (Wilson) be the signature on it, and we just need y’all to approve that he can sign for this money. It’s the same thing we did last year. We got a grant last year.” 

 After motions were made by Bragg and Hawkins, the grant and signature were approved. 

 A Resolution and Agreement between the Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Rural and Municipal Aid, and the county for the use of Flex Funds was discussed. The amount for reimbursement to the county for the surfacing of designated county roads is $117,821. The vote was by roll call, and all magistrates approved and signed the agreement. 

Financials 

 The November financial statement had one column issue explained by Page, who had already contacted the techs to repair the software. The motions were made by Bragg and Crain to approve the remainder. The budget transfers were also approved after motions by Crain and Hawkins, and the claims were also approved. 

 

With no other items to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. 

 

The final meeting of 2025 is scheduled for Tuesday, December 23rd, at 9 a.m.