By Allyson Dix
Glasgow News 1
Barren County Fiscal Court opened its July 21 meeting with a patriotic ceremony, a brief history of Glasgow and Barren County, and recognition of a youth baseball team before moving into its official business. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 20 presented the Barren County Judge/Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd and magistrates with a folded flag after a 13-fold ceremony, with DAV member Jerry Smith explaining the meaning of each fold. Local historian Sam Terry shared details about the county’s recent gathering to plant a tulip poplar tree on the courthouse lawn to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. The ceremonial tree planting, referred to as the Liberty Tree, was a partnership between the Kentucky State Daughters of the American Revolution, the Kentucky Historical Society, the Kentucky Division of Forestry, and each county in the state. Local community members and officials coordinated to decide that the courthouse lawn would serve as the location for the county’s Liberty Tree. “It’s our community gathering place, it’s home for everybody in Barren County,” Terry explained. “That’s a perfect spot because it’s got a lot of history, and some we don’t think about too often.” Terry also shared historical accounts of the county’s earliest establishments. Barren County’s 12U All-Star team was recognized for defeating Cumberland County, Franklin-Simpson, and 2025 state champion Russell County, and a final rematch against Cumberland County to claim the 2026 Cal Ripken 12U Baseball state championship.
Business Items
Several items of business were approved by the fiscal court on Tuesday morning. Barren County magistrates unanimously approved a motion made by Magistrate Marty Kinslow to direct the Joint City-County Planning Commission to begin the process of drafting language for zoning and land use regulations in the unincorporated parts of Barren County. Officials emphasize Tuesday’s vote does not represent an official passing of zoning in the county, but rather shifted the focus toward drafting details should the county consider land use and zoning later this year. Byrd nominated, and the court approved, magistrates Tim Coomer and Marty Kinslow to serve on a language-drafting committee alongside three other representatives from the local planning and zoning commission. Kentucky Steward LLC was selected by the planning commission at its July 20 meeting to help facilitate the process. The consulting firm will begin the language process for any land use regulations that may come to fruition, according to Kevin Myatt, director of the joint planning commission. Magistrate Tim Durham, chairman of the jail committee, made a motion to approve a $103,750 contract with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and increasing the daily housing rate for Metcalfe and Monroe inmates from $45 to $50. “The cost of jails are continuing to increase and the state income has dropped dramatically,” Byrd said, adding that she supported the change due to the all-around increasing costs.
Magistrates also approved setting the county’s public health tax rate at 2.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. For example, a home valued at $100,000 would pay $25 for the 2026 public health tax rate. The tax revenue is used to fund the health department. Property owners may have noticed this relatively new tax dating back to their 2024 tax bills. Officials said there was no change to this year’s rate compared to 2025. A resolution and contract were approved for a $250,000 grant the county received for outdoor recreation programs. The grant, Byrd said, went through reviews by the state and then through the Kentucky State Parks and the National Park Foundation before selecting Glasgow-Barren as a recipient. The funds will be used to improve parking and install backfield lighting for the Barren County Soccer Complex. Byrd said efforts for the grant funds were a partnership between local schools, Fiscal Court, and the City of Glasgow. She also said the goal is for the parking project to coincide with the road widening project on Highway 1297 beginning next year. The project will also relocate the soccer complex entrance to a point directly across from Donnelly Drive.
The court approved the following payment invoices:
City of Glasgow – $5,290.23 for permit fees
Carr Riggs & Ingram – $10,000 for a final bill for audit services
Norse Tactical – $10,040 for officer training
Thomas Oil and Fuel – $14,045.25 for fuel
Government Utilities Technology Service – $14,595 for tax bill printing
Kentucky League of Cities Insurance Services – $20,292.12 for the local drug task force liability
insurance
Aramark – $26,744.97 for jail food service
Comprehensive Correctional Care – $34,841.16 for inmate medical insurance
Three items on the agenda were either tabled or moved to the next meeting.
Department Reports
Barren County Coroner Tim Gibson reported 16 death investigations in June, with 13 being accidental, one hyperthermia-related death, one automobile accident fatality, and one fatality due to a farming accident. For July through Tuesday’s meeting, the coroner’s office had investigated four natural death investigations and one farming accident fatality. “Farmers, please be careful,” Gibson cautioned. Barren County Clerk Helena Birdwell said upcoming changes for the Austin Tracy area will be implemented ahead of the general election on November 3. Voters cast ballots at Austin Tracy Elementary School instead of the Austin Tracy Volunteer Fire Department location. Birdwell cited improved accessibility and more reliable Wi-Fi connection as reasons for the change. She also announced the deadline for write-in candidates for the November election is 4 p.m. on August 24.
Birdwell also said motor vehicle titles will begin transitioning from postal mail to electronic delivery in 2027, unless otherwise requested. More information is expected before the end of the year. Barren County Jailer Aaron Shirley reported the jail road crew covered 231.3 miles, collected 815 bags of trash, removed 52 tires and 45 animal carcasses, and logged 5,528 work hours in June. Since January, the inmate road crew has covered a total of 958 miles with 33,616 hours. At $15/hour, Shirley said the labor has saved the county an estimated $504,240. He later clarified that those statistics include only county roads and do not include work completed on state roads. Shirley also reported that 232 people were booked into the local jail and 218 were released in the month of June, with a daily average of 226. The jail currently houses 83 Barren County inmates, 75 state inmates, 30 Monroe County inmates, 15 Metcalfe County inmates, and seven others, including participants in drug court. Barren County Parks and Recreation Director Chris Jennings announced the second annual Special Olympics softball tournament has been moved to Sunday, August 23, beginning at 2 p.m. Barren County Road Department Supervisor Jamie DeGroft said mowing has been challenging because of recent rain; however, the mowing crews are two-thirds of the way for their the second mowing cycle.
Adam Bow presented the sheriff’s department, noting the department has responded to approximately 5,500 calls for service this year. Bow said the department is also preparing for the upcoming school year. The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for August 4, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
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