Micheal Hale, judge-executive of Barren County, sits among members of the Barren Fiscal Court meeting during a meeting Feb. 15, 2022.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
GLASGOW — Details were recently finalized regarding the allotment of American Rescue Plan Act funding to certain fire departments in Barren County.
Micheal Hale, the judge executive, said he helped explain the details of the agreements to each department during a fire chiefs’ meeting earlier this month. There are eight departments in the county, including volunteer services in Austin Tracy, Cave City, East Barren, Haywood, Hiseville, Park City, South Barren and Temple Hill.
All eight departments were represented by their executives at that meeting.
“It was a great meeting. I think they totally understand because they need equipment,” Hale said. “They need to replace equipment.”
The judge-executive said demands in the fire service change each day, and improvements are needed often to maintain equipment and services. Some departments have spent some of their allotment.
“This $20,000, it’s really not enough,” Hale said. “But I feel that it’s a way for the fiscal court to say thank you.”
Each department received $20,000 for equipment, supply and repair expenses. Regular quarterly financial and progress reports must be reported to the fiscal court, according to the agreements with each department.
One department repaired a truck. Others plan to match a grant to purchase a truck, Hale said. Others plan to replace “every day, basic hand tools.”
