E-911 Charge to be Moved from Windstream Bill to Water Bill
L-R Magistrates Mickey Johnson, James Vincent along with Road Department Director Joe Joe Montgomery, County Treasurer Tammi Willhite and Deputy Jailer Ray Willhite. PHOTO | Rrene Duvall
Lynn Bledsoe
Gimlet Managing Editor
The Edmonson County Fiscal Court held its regular meeting on July 27, 2026. All magistrates were present except for Gary Bagshaw and Mark Meeks.
Ordinance EC26-23, E911 Surcharge Funding first reading was held. Checks from Windstream have gone from $8,000 per mo to $3,162 now. As more people move away from landlines the payments have decreased that helps to run 911 services. Edmonson Fiscal Court has followed other counties facing the same problem by moving the $3.00 per month flat fee, per household from a telephone company to a utility. The Fiscal Court is asking the Edmonson Water Company to collect this money on the regular water bill. The Edmonson Water Company has agreed. The Water District will charge a 3% fee for collection and administration fees. In the past Windstream collected the money and charged a fee also. In previous years Edmonson E-911 collected up to $90,000-$100,000 yr, that has now fallen to less than to $40,000. The shortfall has been made up out of the money market account that E-911 had but has been depleted in recent years. Lindsey said with budget cuts the county needs to figure out ways to make up the shortfalls for services, as the county cannot continue to pay out of the General Fund and still provide everything needed for the county.
For the Road Department Joe Joe Montgomery stated they have been busy with mowing, several road tiles have been installed and lots of ditch work has been completed.
Emergency Management Director Terry Massey said there had been 30 runs in the county in the last two weeks. He helped Grayson County during the tornados that happened on July 21, 2026.
The Sheriff’s report was given by Deputy Clay Deweese. The Sheriff’s department responded to 170 calls to service in the last two weeks.
The Jailer report was given by Ray Willhite. There are currently 12 inmates in the Hart County Jail.
Cody Stewart gave the Parks and Rec. update; Soccer registration is open until Aug. 22. Edmonson County has been selected for a rec trail grant to blacktop Chalybeate trails. This will make the trail ADA accessible and help to install tiles to correct the drainage.
A 2021 Dodge vehicle, for the Sheriff’s department, was tabled at last court meeting, the vehicle has since sold so no action was needed.
The Fiscal Court approve the following pending final audit; Sheriff’s 2025 Property Tax Settlement Report, Sheriff’s 2025 Franchise Tax Settlement Report, and Sheriff’s 2025 Fire Districts Dues Settlement Report.
The Fiscal Court approved Resolution EC 26-21, Homeland Security Grant. It is a grant that will be used to improve communications for the fire departments throughout the county.
EC 26-22 memorandum of Agreement with KSP Communications Branch. It will state that the county can use equipment and frequencies the KSP use. This will allow for better communication between agencies.
All Cash Transfers were approved.
Edmonson County Conservation District FY 26 annual report, and FY 26 financial report was approved.
Fiscal Court approved to purchase a 2026 Dodge Durango for the Sheriff’s Department for $42,898, and to have it outfitted is another $14,000 for a total of $56,898.
Approved to hire Ethan Stice as part-time temporary dispatch at $15.00 per hour.
Fiscal Court also approved to rebid the Community Center porch project.
The next Fiscal Court will be on August 10, 2026 at 4:00pm in the upstairs courtroom and is open to the public.
