Franklin County Fiscal Court approves contracts, grants, equipment purchases and personnel actions

The Franklin County Fiscal Court on July 10, 2024, approved a slate of contracts, grant applications, equipment purchases and personnel actions, recording unanimous support for most items.

By unanimous vote the court approved renewal of a preventive-maintenance contract with Atom Chemical for water treatment; authorized declaring a sheriff’s vehicle surplus for trade-in; approved an agreement with AT&T for telecommunications; and authorized purchase of a one-ton and a half-ton truck for the Fire Department from Bachman Chevrolet under the State Master Agreement. The court also approved an amended solid-waste and recycling contract shifting services from Central Kentucky Hauling to Republic Services.

The court adopted several resolutions authorizing grant applications: Resolution #25-2024 to purchase a grapple truck through a Sourcewell agreement for the Solid Waste Department; Resolution #26-2024 to file an FY2025 Physical Security application under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) with the Kentucky State Board of Elections for up to $8,300; Resolution #27-2024 to apply to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Animal Control Advisory Board for a Spay/Neuter Grant on behalf of the Franklin County Humane Society; and Resolutions #28-2024 and #29-2024 to apply to the Leary Firefighters Foundation and the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for the Franklin County Fire Department. The minutes do not list award amounts for the latter grants.

The court authorized a Memorandum of Understanding with Blue Grass Community Action Partnership, Inc. (dba BGCAP Transit) to provide transportation services for clients of the Franklin County Opioid Abatement Program (FCOAP). The court then voted to enter a closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) to discuss matters that might lead to the appointment of an individual employee and returned to open session by unanimous vote.

Following the closed session the court unanimously authorized hiring Jacob Ritchey as a light equipment operator/driver and approved pay increases for Bobby Caudill (Assistant Maintenance Director), Connie Noblitt (Part-Time Assistant/Occupational Tax), and wage adjustments for park and golf employees (including Charlie Lewis, Todd Mulder, Chris Cardwell, Delbert Carmon and Josh Earnest).

Votes at a glance (selected items):
- Renewal of Atom Chemical preventive-maintenance contract: passed, 7-0.
- Surplus sheriff vehicle for trade-in: passed, 7-0.
- AT&T telecommunications agreement: passed, 7-0.
- Fire Department truck purchases (Bachman Chevrolet): passed, 7-0.
- Amendment to Solid Waste and Recycling contract (Republic Services): passed, 7-0.
- Resolution #25-2024 (Grapple truck/Sourcewell): passed, 7-0.
- Resolution #26-2024 (HAVA security application, up to $8,300): passed, 7-0.
- MOU with BGCAP Transit (FCOAP transportation): passed, 7-0.
- Hire of Jacob Ritchey: passed, 7-0.

The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m. per a unanimous motion; the official minutes were signed by County Judge/Executive Michael Mueller and Fiscal Court Clerk Kim Cox.