Excess Fees Returned to the County

By PJ Martin

Editor

The Herald-News

 

The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court held its regular meeting on Thursday, March 12^th, with the following in attendance: Judge/Executive Larry Wilson, Magistrates Ronnie Miller, Daniel Bragg, Harvey Hawkins, and Kevin Crain, and Treasurer/Fiscal Court Clerk Page Edwards.

County Attorney Sharon Howard was absent due to illness, and Attorney Holly Coleman was present in her place.

Also in attendance were Financial Officer Connie Taylor, Occupational Tax/ABC Admin. Lorrie Gilpin, Sheriff Lonnie Hodges, Solid Waste Coordinator Kim Jandt, Emergency Director Adam Bennett, from Congressman Comer’s office, District Director Sandy Simpson, and Herald-News editor PJ Martin.

Judge Wilson declared a quorum present, and the agenda was adopted after motions by Miller and Bragg.

The minutes from the February 26^th special-called meeting were approved after motions were made by Bragg and Hawkins.

Office Manager Lynn Lunz from the Metcalfe County Sheriff’s office addressed the court to present a check for the excess fees of $36,254.09. Every time the sheriff’s office serves papers, $10 of that fee goes to the county. That check totaled $5,050.

 Metcalfe County Clerk Shannon Fields also addressed the court to present a check for that office’s excess fees of $115,759.83. Fields explained that since 2021, the economy has been a challenge, and she has been finding other sources of revenue. For example, neighboring vehicle dealerships now send the county residents’ transfers directly to the clerk’s office for processing. They have also added salvage transfers.

Next was a discussion concerning absences during the next two fiscal court dates. The March 26^th date was left the same, and while the Treasurer and Finance Office are attending a conference, Gilpin will fill in for Edwards.

The April 9^th date is during the school system’s spring break week, and to avoid any issues, it was agreed upon to move the meeting to Tuesday, April 14^th, at 9:00 am.

Next on the agenda was the approval to renew the Ambulance CD, which is up for renewal on March 23^rd. Edwards stated, “I called and talked to Roberta yesterday, the six-month rate is 3.659%, nine is 3.50%. This one (CD) has a little over $147,000… Just needed to know what you all wanted to do. Right now, the ambulance fund is in decent shape. We don’t need to take any out.”

After a brief discussion, Crain made a motion to let it auto-renew for six months. Bragg seconded the motion, which was approved.

Copas Ridge Road Update

Judge Wilson explained that he received a text from Attorney Howard stating that she had spoken with three of the four property owners remaining, and the three were going to sign deeds for the right of way.

KRS 178.405 states that the county can take over maintenance of a road if at least 55% of the residents sign that they are willing, the county has 66% plus the three owners; therefore, the county has begun work on the Copas Ridge Road repairs.

 

Ordinance

The 1^st reading of Amended Ordinance # 83-17-0199 Establishing a Permit Process for the Licensing of Solid Waste Collectors / Haulers was tabled at the last meeting. The discussion had been about penalties for collectors who did not pay for their licenses.

Judge Wilson explained, “There is nothing that says we can penalize, so we cannot put that in there.” Adding that Howard had said, “…if we wanted to pass something, a penalty for picking up garbage, and their license hasn’t been renewed, we can do that…”

Section III, E., added to the draft did not relay that information plainly, so a motion was made by Bragg to table it again until Howard could be present. Miller seconded the motion, which was approved.

The court entered into a Closed Session Pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(c) – Litigation and approximately 10 minutes later reentered open session. Judge Wilson stated that litigation between a party on the Mosby Ridge Road and the county is in the process of being settled. Bragg and Miller made motions to allow Judge Wilson to sign the settlement papers for the county. The motion was approved.

The February 2026 financial statement was approved after motions by Bragg and Miller.

The budget transfers included a $142,000 for the ambulance fund, and Edwards explained that it should be enough in the account to finish the fiscal year (June 30).

Bragg then stated, “We’re spending almost as much as we do on roads!” adding, “We need to come up with a way to fund this.”

Edwards noted that the ambulance billing has risen $8 – $10,000 a month this year.

The motion to accept the budget transfers was approved after motions by Bragg and Miller.

There were no inter-fund transfers. The claims were approved after motions by Bragg and Crain.

Another short Closed Session Pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(b) – Property Acquisition /Sale was entered into. After a short time, the court reentered open session, and Judge Wilson stated, “The county is looking at purchasing some new equipment for the road department. We’ve been looking, shopping for two trucks and a sidearm.”

Bragg made a motion to give Wilson permission to do a loan and purchase the equipment with the two annual payments. The motion was seconded by Hawkins and approved.

Bragg then asked if bids would need to be taken. Judge Wilson stated that he had bids for the trucks, and Edwards explained that she needed specs on the items before they could be bid.

 

Other Business

Solid Waste Coordinator Kim Jandt was asked when the county clean-up would be this year, and she replied that she was looking at the spring break week.

District Director Sandy Simpson from Congressman Comer’s office announced that anyone planning to visit DC this year can get help from the Congressman’s office. “We can help schedule tours, etc. Also, anyone having any trouble with the federal government, please reach out to the Congressman’s office.”

The meeting was then adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 26^th, at 9:00 a.m.