Tim Coomer, a magistrate for Barren County’s fourth district, speaks at an earlier meeting of the court. He made a motion at the court’s Tuesday meeting to sell nine horses in the county’s possession.
(WCLU NEWS FILE PHOTO)
GLASGOW — The Barren Fiscal Court moved Tuesday to begin the process of selling nine horses in the county’s possession due to liability concerns.
Magistrates discussed the matter before voting Tuesday. One argument in support of selling the horses came from Tim Coomer, Barren County’s fourth district magistrate. He told a story about a friend who was bitten by a horse some time ago and suffered a threatening gangrene infection.
Equine therapy sessions have been held with area special needs students, which is a major reason supporters wanted to retain the horses. But Coomer, and other magistrates, reasoned the horses pose a greater risk than benefit.
“If there’s one chance in a million of one of those kids getting bit, then I couldn’t live with myself,” Coomer said. “I know it’s one chance in a million, but [what] if it was your kid. I just don’t think the county needs this kind of liability.”
Magistrates were careful to note their support for the special needs community.
The horses are being kept at the Barren River Lake State Resort Park in the south end of the county. They have become a topic of divisiveness for county officials since reports alleged the county’s judge executive had not disclosed certain information about them.
Information about the horses’ whereabouts and court proceedings was shared in past meetings.
The horses were inherited about three years ago when a person discontinued care of the equines. The person was prosecuted, and the county has upkept care since then.
Micheal Hale, Barren County judge executive, said the horses have bolstered the county’s tourism prospects. But naysayers continued to cite concerns with the horses.
Jeff Jobe, a local newspaper publisher, was at the meeting and said he was involved in an accident with a horse. He said he was inside a horse drawn buggy with members of his family, and it overturned when a horse was spooked. He voiced his support of selling the horses.
Jody Hawks, another resident of the county, urged the court to sell them and suggested using the money to support “special needs programs.”
“Use the horses as a positive instead of making this negative. What’s wrong with it?” Hawks said. “I’m tired of listening to it. Everybody’s tired of listening to it.”
Hawks expressed his disapproval of relying on the state for certain upkeep of the horses. They pay for utilities and feed and hay, the judge executive said. Other costs accumulated by county government were paid off with federal funds.
The resident said he voiced concern for “a lot of people in the county.”
“If we sell and put them back in a special needs project – I think you mentioned the horses – we don’t have that here,” Hale said.
Hawks referenced camps and other programs in the area meant to service the those with mental or physical disabilities. He later said, “Sell the horses. The county doesn’t need a posse.”
Trent Riddle, a magistrate for the county’s second district, said the state park has always had horses alongside a riding stable. There is not an active riding stable, however.
“They are a tourist attraction in the right form,” Riddle said.
Magistrates voted unanimously to sell the horses by a closed bid process. Tags will be placed on individual horses’ halters and photos of them will be posted on the county government’s website for bidding. Anyone is allowed to bid.
It was not immediately known when the horses will be posted.
