Franklin County Fiscal Court approves budget, contracts and appointments in brief June meeting

Franklin County Fiscal Court voted on a slate of routine but consequential items at its June 22 meeting, approving the county budget for fiscal year 2023–24, renewing several vendor agreements, authorizing procurement and confirming personnel appointments.

The court, presided over by County Judge/Executive Michael Mueller, approved Ordinance #7-2023 relating to the FY2023–24 budget and adopted Amendment #2 to Ordinance #5-2022 for FY2022–23. Squire Sherry Sebastian sponsored the budget motions; the measures carried, with Squire Eric Whisman recorded as voting against Ordinance #7-2023.

Beyond the budget, the court renewed the inmate health services agreement with West Kentucky Correctional Healthcare, LLC for July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024, and approved a preventive-maintenance agreement for the Franklin County Regional Jail with Atom Chemical. The court also approved an agreement with Kentucky Interactive LLC to continue credit/debit card and ACH transaction processing.

The court authorized the Fire Department to secure purchase of a fire apparatus and awarded the deicing salt bid to Morton Salt Inc. It also approved a contract with the Franklin County Health Department to provide preventive services for county employees, including firefighter physicals, effective July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024.

Personnel actions included authorization to hire Matthew Wilburn as Light Equipment Operator and appointment of Carolyn Lynch to the Paul Sawyier Public Library Voting Board through June 30, 2027. The court entered a closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) for personnel matters before returning to open session and taking those actions.

Several routine financial items were approved: acceptance of the County Attorney’s cold-check/excess fees for fiscal years ending June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2022; receipt of the treasurer’s report; and approval of budget and cash transfers for FY2022–23. Squire Whisman was recorded as opposing the budget transfers but voted in favor of cash transfers.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance #7-2023 (FY2023–24 budget) — passed (S. Sebastian, J.W. Blackburn, K. Dycus, S. Tracy, R. Tanner, M. Mueller in favor; E. Whisman opposed); Renewal of inmate health services — passed (unanimous); MOU for School Resource Officer services — passed (unanimous); Appointment of Carolyn Lynch — passed (unanimous).

The court opened the meeting at 7:29 p.m. and adjourned at 7:37 p.m. The minutes record unanimous support for most items and isolated opposition by Squire Eric Whisman on certain budget matters.