Franklin County Fiscal Court approves LiDAR match application, multiple contracts and personnel promotions

Franklin County Fiscal Court, presided over by County Judge/Executive Michael Mueller, met Sept. 25, 2024, and approved a slate of routine and programmatic actions affecting county finance, public-safety equipment, land-use ordinances and personnel.

The court unanimously approved Resolution #43-2024 from the Franklin County Board of Health establishing the 2024 public health tax rate for the county’s Public Health Taxing District. The court also authorized Treasurer actions to open certificates of deposit (a $6.9 million 30-day CD and a $1.5 million six-month CD) and approved cash transfers for fiscal year 2024–2025.

In a contested vote, the court approved an agreement with the Franklin County Humane Society. The motion, moved by Squire Eric Whisman and seconded by Squire Mike Harrod, passed with Squires J.W. Blackburn, Kelly Dycus, Richard Tanner, Eric Whisman and Judge Michael Mueller voting in favor and Squires Sherry Sebastian and Mike Harrod recorded in opposition; the motion carried.

The court approved a lease with Pitney Bowes for jail postage equipment, declared amended Sheriff’s Office equipment surplus for auction, accepted the Sheriff’s 2023 excess fees, and approved amendments to the Sheriff’s 2024 lump-sum fee budget and the annual order setting maximum amounts for deputies and assistants. It also authorized Amendment #3 to a Stantec professional services agreement for Phase II MS4 stormwater permit implementation and executed an easement with Columbia Gas of Kentucky, Inc.

The court approved a Local Match Participation Program application resolution (Resolution #44-2024) authorizing a $250,000 local match to support LiDAR-derived digital elevation data collection. The motion to empower the County Judge/Executive to file the application passed unanimously.

Separately, the court approved Resolution #45-2024 authorizing Franklin County to apply as an AmeriCorps host site for the Environmental Education Leadership Corps and approved sublease agreements with the Administrative Office of the Courts for the Commonwealth Attorney’s and County Attorney’s offices in the courthouse.

On land use, the court gave first reading to a zoning map change for a 0.34-acre tract at 1501–1507 Twilight Trail (Industrial Commercial to Rural Limited Commercial) and approved Second Reading and adoption of Ordinance #9-2024, which rezones two parcels on Hawkeegan Drive from Rural Residential to Rural Residential B.

Personnel actions followed a closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) concerning matters that might lead to the appointment of an individual. After returning to open session, the court approved promotions for Courtney Crase to sergeant; Steven Palmer to staff sergeant; Jeffrey Waldridge to captain; and Dustin Smither to Heavy Equipment Operator I. The court also reappointed Ray Smith to the Farmdale Sanitation District Board through June 30, 2028.

The court awarded a bid to Varitech Inc. (the sole bidder) for a fire department generator and authorized surplus of the Evergreen Road Fire Station generator, and it approved the Treasurer’s report. The meeting recessed for a road trip and adjourned at 2:34 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution #43-2024 (public health tax rate): approved, unanimous.
- Agreement with Franklin County Humane Society: approved; yes — Blackburn, Dycus, Tanner, Whisman, Mueller; no — Sebastian, Harrod.
- Pitney Bowes lease (jail): approved, unanimous.
- Sheriff’s Office surplus, excess fees acceptance, budget amendments and deputy maximum amounts: approved, unanimous.
- Resolution #44-2024 (LMPP LiDAR $250,000 local match): approved, unanimous.
- Resolution #45-2024 (AmeriCorps host site application): approved, unanimous.
- Subleases for Commonwealth and County Attorney offices: approved, unanimous.
- Award to Varitech Inc. for fire generator: approved, unanimous.
- Amendment #3 to Stantec (MS4 stormwater services) and Columbia Gas easement: approved, unanimous.
- Ordinance #9-2024 (Hawkeegan Drive rezoning): approved on second reading, unanimous.
- Treasurer CD authorizations and cash transfers: approved, unanimous.
- Promotions (Crase, Palmer, Waldridge, Smither) and reappointment (Ray Smith): approved, unanimous.

What happens next: Several items (the LiDAR local-match application and the AmeriCorps host-site application) require further filings or external approvals; the county will proceed with applications and contract administration as authorized. The court recessed for a road trip and adjourned at 2:34 p.m.