By Allyson Dix
For Glasgow News 1
The Barren County Fiscal Court met on Tuesday, Sept. 15 to approve a number of business items, including a total of $881,718 in payments and invoices.
The court approved the receipt for setting the tax rate for the Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library at 2.9 cents per $100 of assessed value on real property; 2.54 cents per $100 on personal property; and 2.39 cents per $100 on motor vehicles. Also approved was acknowledging the public library’s budget.
Magistrates also approved two agreements with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Department for Rural and Municipal Aid, totaling $128,720 for road and bridge work funds.
The 80/20 Bridge Program, a cost-sharing funding model with the state paying 80%, totaled $31,120 for drainage structure replacement in District 3 on Peden Cemetery Road. The county’s cost for this project is approximately $7,700.
Resurfacing reimbursement funds totaling $97,600 for 2.32 miles of work were also approved. The roads included for this project in District 3 are Caveland Road, Harry King Road, and Horton Rigdon Road.
Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Byrd said paving will also begin on Hollow Road in October, followed by Beckton Rocky Hill and Old Munfordville roads.
“We were cut $380,000 in the road fund, Barren County was, in addition to all the other state funding that was cut locally, so we’re not the only county that was cut in road funding, every county was cut, every city was cut,” Byrd said. “It is a very large amount of money in regards to road funding.”
Byrd said conversations continue with Frankfort on the matter.
Magistrates approved the Sheriff’s Public Officials Bond in the amount of $3 million, the same amount as the previous year. The bonding is for the millions of dollars collected in taxes by the Sheriff’s Office and will carry over for Sheriff-elect Adam Bow when he is sworn in. Bow won the May primary and is unopposed in the November general election.
Department Reports
Barren County Coroner Tim Gibson said death investigations were much lower than average for the month of August. Eight deaths were investigated, with three being natural and two being suicide fatalities. Five autopsies are currently pending. Gibson said the county typically averages between 12 and 15 deaths each month. Five natural deaths to date for the month of September were also reported.
The online portal for eligible individuals to request an absentee ballot by mail for the Nov. 3 General Election will open on Saturday, Sept. 19. Due to some new guidelines, Barren County Clerk Helena Birdwell said voters can contact her office at 270-651-3783 for assistance.
Birdwell said Oct. 5 is the last day for citizens to make changes to their voter registration.
She also reported the county clerk’s office has turned over $125,000 to the fiscal court.
Barren County Parks and Rec Director Chris Jennings reported fall league sports are now underway with 59 teams. He shared his appreciation for the fiscal court’s investment and support to continue offering youth sports in the community.
For the month of August, which Jennings said is a slower month for youth sports, $11,201 was generated from various concessions and a one-day tournament.
Road Supervisor Jamie Degroft reported that excessive moisture has caused Johnson grass to grow rapidly in many rights-of-way. Degroft said the department will be utilizing chemicals to help control the growth, especially in future mowing seasons. He also reported completion of a drainage issue that has posed issues for multiple years in District 5 using medium-grade material.
“I’m optimistic we fixed that problem,” he added.
Bow also spoke and commended detectives with the sheriff’s office for a recent arrest of an Ohio man engaged in illegal sexual activities with a juvenile.
Payments and Invoices
Byrd announced that annual pay raises were approved retroactively beginning Sept. 1 for employees.
Outstanding vendor claim payments were approved totaling $94,177.28.
South Central Bank — $1,217.78;
Caterpillar Financial Services — $2,494.35 monthly payment for hydraulic excavator;
Software Management — $6,004 for the county clerk’s office;
Thomas Oil and Fuel — $6,466.65 for 1,945 gallons of fuel for the Sheriff’s Office between Aug. 16 and Aug. 31;
City of Glasgow — $9,363.96 for August Building Permit Fee reimbursements;
Barrens Information Technology Systems — $14,117.75 for the county’s first contribution of the new fiscal year;
Bank of NY Mellon — $15,555 for a jail bond;
Lyon’s Mechanical — $22,400 for courthouse repairs, to be reimbursed by the Administrative Office of Courts;
Aramark — $25,632.59 for jail inmate food;
Glasgow/Barren Soccer Cooperative — $30,000;
Comprehensive Correctional Care — $35,641.88 for jail inmate medical services;
Enterprise — $38,543.24;
Clemmons Electric — $41,250 to move a generator for repair of the crosswalk behind the county government building, paid using LGEA funds.
Joint City-County Planning Commission — $44,295;
Economic Authority — $60,000;
Truist Bank CTES — $76,765 for a jail bond;
Scotty’s Contracting — $357,794.24 to be paid by the last fiscal year road funds check, which Byrd said was delayed.
The listed invoices total $787,541.44.
All magistrates were present for Tuesday morning’s meeting, with Magistrate Tim Coomer appearing via Zoom.
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