Tax, Tax, Everywhere A Tax
Chart by PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor, The Herald-News
The Metcalfe County fiscal court met in regular session on Thursday, August 27th, with all magistrates present. Others in attendance were Judge/Executive Larry Wilson, Clerk/Treasurer Page Edwards, County Attorney Sharon Howard, Road Supervisor Chris Compton, Solid Waste Coordinator Kim Jandt, Jailer Randall Shive, and Adam Bennett, Emergency Management Director.
Others in attendance were Lorrie Gilpin, Occupational Tax Administrator; Megan England, Finance Officer; Connie Taylor, Finance Officer; and PJ Martin for The Herald-News.
Judge Wilson declared a quorum present, and the minutes from the August 13th meeting were approved with motions by Miller and Bragg.
The first item on the agenda was acknowledgement of the Metcalfe County Library tax rates of Real Property 12.2 (up .2); Personal Property 17.47 (down .19); and 2027 Motor Vehicle/Watercraft 3.31 (same).
Acknowledgement of the Metcalfe County Extension Board tax rates for Real Property 10.60 (up .20); Personal Property 15.18 (down .12); and 2027 Motor Vehicle/Watercraft 3.00 (same).
The Metcalfe County Soil Conservation tax rate for Real Property 1.60 (same) was also acknowledged.
Finally, the discussion and approval of the Metcalfe County Fiscal Court 2026 tax rates for Real Property 8.4 (down .4); Personal Property 10.0 (same); and the 2027 Motor Vehicle/Watercraft 8.2 (same).
Also acknowledged were the Metcalfe County Ambulance District Property tax rates for Real Property 5.2 (down .3); Personal Property 5.2 (down .3); and 2027 Motor Vehicle/Watercraft 3.0 (same).
Next was discussion of tree removal at the Metcalfe County Fairgrounds. Judge Wilson explained, “Rondall Phelps called me the other day. There are some Walnut trees; I think one or two are down, and some others in the back of the fairgrounds. One of the trees that’s getting in bad shape. He was interested in cutting those. And he talked to Johnny London, and Johnny said, call me, I’ll ask you all. My idea was to maybe go ahead and let him cut them and just give the money to the fair board to help them.”
“I’ll make the motion to allow the fair board to have those trees cut and they can keep whatever profit is made on those,” said Bragg. The motion was seconded by Hawkins, and was approved.
“Next is acknowledgement of the intent to sell. Intent to the stave (Pennington Stave Company) is going to sell the property out there, at the Industrial Park. And there’ll be a meeting next week on Monday to come up with a term or an amount,” advised Judge Wilson, adding, “They’re going to keep the stave mill there, but also, they’re going to have pallets. Because once they have that building, that guy has to set them up to start manufacturing.”
Financials
There were three interfund transfers, which Edwards stated were to pay bills and make payroll. Those were approved with motions by Crain and Miller.
The claims showed nothing unusual and were approved after motions by Bragg and Crain.
The DES, recycling, and road department reports were received, and with no other business, the meeting was adjourned.
