May 26—The Madison County Fiscal Court met for a busy session on Tuesday morning, in which the court heard first readings on various ordinances and confirmed several resolutions on items such as road department bids.

Roger Barger and John Tudor were the only magistrates present at the meeting.

For the first time a mission statement was also also read to the Fiscal Court and put into writing. According to Madison County Deputy Judge Executive Jill Williams, the mission statement was created based on feedback from county employees.

"A mission, vision and values are powerful tools for local government or any organization for that matter. I am super excited about what our team has worked with our employees to put together for the first time in our county's history. Our values represent who we are and how we do business — how our Administration has been doing business for the past 8 years — and how our employees serve the citizens of Madison County each day," Judge Executive Reagan Taylor said in a statement to the Register.

In short, the mission, vision, and values statement reads as follows.

—Mission — Do what is right, work as a team, and get results.

—Vision — Improve Madison County every day for everyone.

—Values — Service, educating citizens, responsible stewardship, efficiency, valuing transparency and integrity, and excellence.

Property Values Assessor Billy Ackerman gave a quick report, noting that this year's inspection period was pushed back to June 27 to July 12, with July 13 being the last day to file an appeal to the county clerk's office. Judge Executive Reagan Taylor asked Ackerman if he expected assessments to increase.

"I do," Ackerman replied. "Last year, when we closed the assessment year out. We were certified right at 5.6 almost $5.7 billion in assessments. This year, we will be over $6 billion by the time we're done. The state is who determines the base rate of increase that we have to meet each year. This year, just to reach these numbers, we're looking at going above $6 billion."

The first readings of Ordinances 2022-04-Administrative Code for 2022-2023, 2022-05-Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Policy for 2022-2023, and 2022-06-Code of Ethics for 2022-2023 were done by the Fiscal Court. They will all go into effect upon their second readings.

While those ordinances are fairly procedural in nature, there are some updates this time around. Including the first ever Mission, Vision, and Values statement put on writing for the county employees.

Ordnance 2022-07-Fiscal Court Budget for 2022-2023 was also presented to the Fiscal Court, where a number of increases in various funding were made.

—General IT expenses were increased by $8,607.

—General IT revenues were increased by $5,785.

—County Road Aid Agreement increased by $132,994 (this decreased the amount the general fund gave to the road fund).

—Jail IT increased by $11,370.

—911 dispatcher salaries increased by $39,405 (this is the cost of paying for a 5% salary increase for 911 dispatchers in the county).

Recent legislature passed mandates that the Fiscal Court create a new fund called the Clerk Fund — which covers storage fees that have anything to do with recording. These were normally collected by the county clerk, but the legislature has mandated that the Fiscal Court has a fund to collect those storage fees. The fund can only be used by what the clerk deems necessary for storage fees.

A first reading of the budget was approved. The second reading of this budget will be on June 27.

Resolution 2022-65-Madison County Fiscal Court Intervention Program Memorandum of Agreement — Hope's Wings was next up for the court. Where a subcontract with the Hope's Wings women's shelter was was approved. Through pass through funds from the state (where the Fiscal Court is the applicant agent), Hope's Wings will receive $100,000 a year for two years.

Bids were awarded for the road department in Resolution 2022-66-Road Department Annual Bid Awards. It was noted that some companies opted out of placing bids due to the supply chain issues that are gripping the world. Because of those issues, there was also a 20%-25% increase in bid prices across the board. The bids are contracted for a year, with the prices being locked in regardless of the effects of the supply chain or other issues. The bids themselves follow.

—Asphalt — Allen Construction

—Bulk Engine Oil — Apollo Oil

—Culverts — Interstate Construction Projects

—Petroleum — Kentucky Petroleum Supply

—Rock — Allen Construction

No bids were accepted on concrete, which will instead by bought on an as needed basis. Road Supervisor Scott Shepherd said that this should not be an issue, as the county works with a $20,000 budget for concrete and usually comes in under budget spending around $8,000 or $9,000.

"I try to explain it to people, when you go to the grocery store week to week — brand, eggs, gas, everything goes up. They don't stay the same for us, it goes up to for us. We have to adjust just like everyone else does," Magistrate Roger Barger said regarding the bids.

Two positions were solidified for some of the county's boards.

Danny Turner's term on the Madison County Utilities District Board was extended by the Fiscal Court.

The departure of Melinda Jones on the Valley View Ferry Board was countered with the appointment of James Street. Street was one of the original members of the board and also a former captain of the ferry itself.

Resolution 2022-69-Waste Management Waste Tire Grant Funds Application was passed. It will see the county apply for funds from the state to help destroy damaged tires for residents of the county. It is seperate from the tire amnesty program, as it oversees help with tire management in off years. If approved (and it usually is) the grant from the state will total to $4,000. The board estimated that the cost to destroy any tires turned in will be around $7,000 this year.

Towards the end of the meeting, County Clerk Kenny Barger spoke about last week's primary election and plans for the general election in November.

"We're not done. It wasn't perfect. We're gonna do more," Barger said. "We're gonna do mailers to every home in the county. We're building more signs on election day about where we're not voting... We'll keep at it."

An update on broadband expansions was also given in the county. Last week a drive through of the county was completed that revealed over 600 residents of the county were still without broadband. The second phase of that initiative is now beginning, with the county asking citizens to visit fiber.allpointsbroadband.com — where they can use the Madison Connect Tool. By putting their address into the tool to find out if they have broadband access. From there, residents who are not covered (or residents who are incorrectly listed as covered) can contact the county about getting covered.

Other business:

—The passing of Resolution 2022-70-AOC Lease Agreement, which saw the annual renewal of the lease agreement with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) for the Courthouse. The AOC reimburses the Fiscal Court for the space they use to conduct courts in the Courthouse. This happens annually. It is essentially AOC paying the County rent for the use of the space.

—The passing of Resolution 2022-71-COPS Grant Application FY2022, which saw the Fiscal Court agree to apply for the Office of Community and Oriented Policy Services (COPS) grant. The grant would cover up to 75% of the entry level of salaries and allowable fringe benefits for a number of hires for the sheriff's office. Judge Executive Taylor noted that the Fiscal Court has applied for the grant several times in the past.

—The passing of Resolution 2022-72-Madison County Temporary Circuit Courthouse Lease Agreement, which saw the lease agreement for the Temporary Circuit Courthouse (Chase Bank Building). This temporary space is being used while the Courthouse is being renovated. AOC is leasing the space (paying rent) while they are using it for a temporary court space. This is a two-year lease agreement. In addition, there is an addendum where they are reimbursing the Fiscal Court for 100% of the renovations being done to make it a temporary circuit courthouse.

—Paving between the Duncannon and Barnes Mill exits on I75 began on Sunday and will go forward until June 5. It will take place between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.