Magistrates bid farewell, interim EMA Director appointed in final Fiscal Court meeting of 2022

Dec. 15—Blake Vickers

The Dec. 13 meeting of the Madison County Fiscal Court consisted of several farewells as Magistrates Ben Robinson, John Tudor, and Roger Barger will not be serving in their offices in the new year.

James Brian Combs, Billy Ray Hughes, and Steven Lochmueller were elected last month and will assume the roles as first, third, and second district magistrates, respectively. Lochmueller will also be filling Rogers' spot on the Valley View Ferry Board.

"This is the last meeting that we will have with this (current) court. As elected officials — if you've never been one — you probably don't understand or feel it, but it's tough being an elected official," Judge Executive Reagan Taylor said in praise of the departing magistrates. "When you're elected with members and men like this, it makes your job a lot easier... I love each and every one of you. I'm glad that we had the opportunity to serve this community together."

Roger Barger joked Taylor was stuck with Magistrate Tom Botkin, who won reelection in November."Thank you to all of you all, thank you to the citizens of Madison County. It's been a pleasure to serve these last eight years," Tudor said.

Roger Barger, who did not seek reelection to the fiscal court this year, also noted public service is a group effort.

"You don't do this by yourself. Usually, your family is going to help you. You got a lot of friends plug for you, too... My late wife Jane... she's the one that started this," Barger said. "It's been a good 20 years. I'm going to go out without being put out... I want to thank everybody, it's been a good ride, but I think it's the right thing to do for District 2."

Barger, who is the longest served member of this fiscal court, said that Robinson and Tudor should not have been voted out. He also said it was an honor to serve with his nephew, Madison County Clerk Kenny Barger.

"My time on the fiscal court has been roughly a year from the appointment of Governor Andy Beshear's office... The first meeting I had with Judge Taylor, he asked me what I wanted to do. I told him that I wanted to be a voice and advocate for southern Madison County and District 1, as well as a voice for the county to make sure we move forward. It's been a pleasure to serve here," Robinson said.

Dustin Heiser is also leaving his position and will be taking another job with the Kentucky EMA. As a result, Madison County Fire Chief Tim Gray was appointed by the fiscal court to take his place as interim EMA director. He will be paid an additional $200 per week for serving in the interim position. The resolution retroactively went into effect starting Dec. 6.

Heiser's departure also necessitated the appointment of a new county search and rescue coordinator. The fiscal court picked Chief Gray to serve in that position as well.

Madison County Treasurer Glenna Smith gave her monthly financial update.

The county's fund balance as of Nov. 30, 2022 is $34,653,889.20

General fund revenues are at 54.8%, with expenditures at 18.9%.

Road fund revenues are at 54.8% and expenditures are at 42.6%.

Jail fund revenues are at 56.6% and expenditures are at 41.9%.

LGEA fund revenues are at 53.2% and expenditures are at 1.9%.

CSEPP fund revenues are at 16.4% and expenditures are at 15.7%.

Health fund revenues are at 29.6% and expenditures are at 41.8%.

911 fund revenues are at 40.1%% and expenditures are at 33.3%.

The second reading of ordinance 2022-11 was passed during the meeting and it sets the business licensing fee in the county. It is a one time payment of $50 for new businesses in the county. The fee excludes agricultural businesses as farms under the definitions of the IRS, businesses that fall on Schedule F for the purpose of income taxes, and 501c non-profits."The goal of this ordinance is really to make the process easier for business owners to change a business license. It will approve our efficiency. There will now be a one-time application process for businesses that improve processes and efficiencies for all stakeholders including business owners. It cuts down on the postage and labor for renewing thousands of business licenses each year," Deputy Judge Executive Jill Williams said of the ordinance in a November fiscal court meeting.

The ordinance has not been updated since 2015. All businesses in good standing will be grandfathered in.

In Resolution 2022-136, Charles Hay was appointed to the Madison County Public Library Board. It is a four year term starting in Jan. 2023.

Resolution 2022-137 appointed another member of the Madison County Public Library Board. Diane Smith will serve on the board for a four year term starting in Jan. 2023.

Resolution 2022-138 resulted in the appointment of Madison County Treasurer Glenna Smith as applicant agent for FEMA grants. EMA Director Dustin Heiser was previously the application agent for the grants.

In resolution 2022-139, Kimberly S. Campbell was appointed to the Valley View Ferry Board. According to Taylor, Campbell is a nurse who frequently uses the ferry for travel.

The fiscal court applied for the Fiscal Year 2022 Penny Fix Spay and Neuter Grant. The grant funds are awarded on a competitive basis. If the application is successful, $2,000 will be awarded to the county from the Penny Fix Charity to help spay and neuter animals in the county. The county is not required to match the funds if it is awarded the grant.

The county also applied for the Fiscal Year 2022 Bow Wow Buddies Second Chance Grant, a competitive grant that pays for medical assistance for injured dogs. If the county is successful in its application, Bow Wow Buddies will award up to $2,500 to help with surgery for one dog per year.

Animal Shelter Director Katie Hall explained the parameters of the Bow Wow Buddies Grant to the fiscal court.

"This one is a little different from other grants, in that you initially pay the expenses out of pocket... but then you're reimbursed after that," she explained.

The court also applied for the fiscal year 2023 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Grant. This grant would award the county up to $300,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services to combat the opioid crisis. A local match is not required.

"With this grant, there will be particular programs it can go towards. We're wanting to get out name in the application," Taylor said. "We haven't determined exactly what we might do or who we might partner with (if the county is awarded the grant). There's a lot of good community entities that are leading the charge combating this drug epidemic."

The County Road Department hired Berry Bryant in the position of CDL Truck Driver/General Laborer full time at $16 an hour. Five full time positions are still open in the road department.

Three recruits with the fire department, who were hired in July, were honored in a pinning ceremony.

William Jordan, Justin Harvey, Shane Thorton were promoted from firefighter I to firefighter II at a salary of $31,138.80 per year.

The Madison County Courthouse and its associated offices will be closed from Friday, Dec. 23, to Monday, Dec. 26, for Christmas. They will open again the following morning at 8 a.m. and close for New Year's from Friday, Dec. 30, to Monday Jan. 2.

Taylor noted this meeting is the last that will be held in the county courthouse, as it is soon to be under construction to be turned over to a circuit court house. The Madison County Circuit Court has moved to its temporary location in the old Chase Bank Building.

As per the new schedule, the first meeting of the fiscal court in January will be held at Berea City Hall and the second will be held at the Richmond City Commission Chambers. Regarding the move, Taylor said "It's a little bittersweet because the fiscal court has met in this room for many, many, many years.