Franklin County Fiscal Court approves package of bids, grant applications and tax-rate resolutions; holds zoning first reading

Franklin County Fiscal Court on Aug. 28 approved a bundle of procurement awards, grant applications and tax-rate resolutions and authorized multiple requests for proposals for county property and park construction.

The meeting, called to order by County Judge/Executive Michael Mueller, included unanimous approvals for most items on the agenda and routine administrative business. Squires Sherry Sebastian, J.W. Blackburn, Kelly Dycus, Mike Harrod, Richard Tanner and Eric Whisman participated; County Attorney Max Comley was present.

Why it matters: The court’s motions fund capital and operating priorities — from jail facility work and firefighting grants to tax rates and park construction — and move several property-sale and development steps into the procurement phase.

Key actions and votes at the meeting included awards of contracts for jail improvements, approval of interagency agreements, and multiple grant-application authorizations for the Franklin County Fire Department and waste-reduction programs. Notable approvals included a sole-bid award to Epiphany Foam Insulation for spray foam insulation at the jail dorm (motion passed 6–1, Squire Whisman opposed) and two awards to Precision Industrial Flooring for concrete work and epoxy flooring (both approved unanimously).

The court approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Franklin County Board of Education to provide School Resource Officer services, and received the sheriff’s 2023 tax settlement.

Several resolutions authorizing grant applications were approved unanimously: Resolution #33-2024 supporting Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 5 recommendations for rural secondary road projects; Resolution #34-2024 to apply for a USDA Composting and Food Waste Reduction Pilot Program; Resolution #35-2024 for 2025 Litter Abatement Grant funding; Resolution #36-2024 to apply to Kentucky American Water’s Firefighting Support Grant; and Resolutions #37-2024 and #38-2024 to apply for Norfolk Southern and CSX fire-department grant programs. The court also awarded extrication equipment to Wynn Rescue Equipment (sole bidder).

The court adopted Resolution #39-2024 to spend Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funds on siren boxes for sheriff vehicles and adopted Resolution #40-2024 setting 2024 tax rates for real and personal property and 2025 motor-vehicle/watercraft rates; Resolution #41-2024 relating to the 2024 tax rate on insurance capital and bank deposits for general government also passed.

The court authorized an amendment to resend and revise a prior authorization concerning 67 Buena Vista Drive, dividing the parcel into five distinct areas, and separately approved Requests for Proposals for the sale and development of Areas #1–#5. The court also authorized an RFP for Phase 1 construction at Lakeview Park to build seven softball fields, concessions, batting cages and seating areas, following recommendations from Compass Municipal Advisors, LLC and Stites & Harbison, PLLC; Squire Whisman abstained from that vote.

A first reading was given for an ordinance proposing to rezone a 0.759-acre tract at 110 and 112 Hawkeegan Drive from Rural Residential (RR) to Rural Residential B (RB). The property is recorded in Deed Book 493, Pages 771–774, and identified as PVA Map #049-20-03-002.00 and #049-20-03-002.01.

The court authorized a closed session under KRS 61.810 to discuss prospective property acquisition/sale, pending or prospective litigation and personnel matters; the court later returned to open session. The meeting concluded with approval of a promotion (Faith Dutton to sergeant) and adjournment at 10:03 p.m.

Votes at a glance
• Epiphany Foam Insulation — award for spray-foam insulation at jail dorm; mover: Squire Mike Harrod; second: Squire Sherry Sebastian; vote: 6 yes, 1 no (Whisman); outcome: approved.
• Precision Industrial Flooring — concrete and epoxy contracts for jail; outcome: approved unanimously.
• School Resource Officer MOU — outcome: approved unanimously.
• Resolutions #33–#38 — various grant applications and project approvals (transportation, composting pilot, litter abatement, firefighting grants); outcomes: approved unanimously.
• Resolution #39 (LATCF siren boxes), Resolution #40 (2024 tax rates), Resolution #41 (insurance capital/bank deposits tax) — all approved unanimously.
• RFPs for 5 areas at 67 Buena Vista Drive and RFP for Lakeview Park Phase 1 — approved; Whisman abstained on the Lakeview Park RFP.
• Promotion of Faith Dutton to sergeant — approved unanimously.

What’s next: The zoning ordinance was given a first reading and will require subsequent readings and formal votes to change the county code. RFPs authorized for Buena Vista Drive and Lakeview Park move the county into the procurement phase for potential sales and construction; specific contract awards and development plans will return to the court for approval.

Speakers quoted or referenced in the meeting record included County Judge/Executive Michael Mueller; Squires Sherry Sebastian, J.W. Blackburn, Kelly Dycus, Mike Harrod, Richard Tanner and Eric Whisman; County Attorney Max Comley; and Fiscal Court Clerk Kim Cox.