Whitley County Fiscal Court approves dispatch upgrade, jail equipment contract and multiple infrastructure resolutions

Whitley County’s fiscal court met and approved a slate of routine and time‑sensitive measures, including a new computer‑aided dispatch (CAD) system supported largely by state grant funds, authorization for jail fire‑suppression equipment, and several infrastructure resolutions.

Judge White opened the meeting, added two late agenda items (the detention center policy and coal‑severance projects) and the court moved through consent items including appropriation transfers, the claims list (with one sanitation claim for Kristen Buck omitted due to a duplicate payment), and prepaid claims.

Dispatch upgrade and funding: County staff presented a contract with Computer Information Systems to replace the county’s aging CAD used by dispatch. The court was told the total contract cost is $110,471.42; state grant funding will cover about $90,000, leaving a county match of roughly $20,000. Officials said the new system will integrate caller location data and add texting capability for dispatchers. The court approved the contract and grant by roll call.

Jail equipment contract: The court reviewed a contract with Centos for fire‑suppression equipment at the Whitley County jail. County Attorney Bob Hammons negotiated the agreement; commissioners required a written cap on expenditures. The court authorized the judge to enter a contract up to $40,000, contingent on the county attorney’s final review and approval.

Infrastructure resolutions and other measures: The court approved two Kentucky Infrastructure Authority resolutions (2023‑13 and 2023‑14) to fund waterline projects serving the eastern corner of the county (Trace Branch, Limestone Branch and adjacent areas served by Knox Utilities Commission). The court also approved Resolution 2023‑15 to pursue a set of local coal‑severance projects and to request legislative concurrence letters from the county’s senator and representative.

Road petitions and name changes: The court accepted petitions and approved first/second readings or petitions to close small portions of county roads (Justin Court, Richard Mack Road, Carson Payne Road) and approved name changes including Bennett Branch Park Loop Spur Road → Stardust Lane and Stevens Road → Reverend Keith Decker Loop Road. The court clarified that closing a county road removes it from county maintenance schedules but may not affect private easements.

Budget and tax items: The court heard first reading of Ordinance 2023‑07, a budget amendment covering rural secondary reimbursements and federal FEMA and ARPA funds; a second reading will be required before funds are moved into the budget. The court approved 2023 tax rates for county taxing districts (excluding schools), with the county real‑property rate noted to move from roughly 7.4 to 7.2 per $100 of assessed value.

Detention center policy and jail report: Jailer Jason Wilson reported the jail population and summarized minor updates to the detention center’s policy and procedure manual (including training‑hour adjustments and visitation changes). After that report, the court approved the detention center policy and procedure manual.

Adjournment: With all business concluded the court adjourned.

Votes at a glance (by roll call unless noted):
- Adopt agenda (with additions): approved
- Approve minutes (September special meeting): approved
- Approve appropriation transfers, claims list (with amendment), prepaid claims: approved
- Ordinance 2023‑06 (reapportionment) — second reading: approved
- Ordinance 2023‑07 (budget amendment) — first reading: accepted for first reading (second reading required)
- Resolutions 2023‑13 and 2023‑14 (KIA waterline grants): approved
- Ratify FAA airport grant agreement (retroactive signature): approved
- CAD contract and related grant (Computer Information Systems): approved
- Approve 2023 tax rates (excl. schools): approved
- Table sheriff’s policy & procedure manual (until October): motion passed
- Authorize Centos contract for jail fire suppression up to $40,000 subject to county‑attorney approval: approved
- Approve detention center policy & procedure manual: approved
- Resolution 2023‑15 (coal‑severance projects): approved
- Road closures/name changes (Justin Court, Richard Mack Road, Carson Payne Road; Stardust Lane; Reverend Keith Decker Loop Road): approved

Next steps: Items needing follow up include the second reading of the budget amendment, final contract language on the Centos agreement and the sheriff’s manual revisions requested for October.