Franklin County Fiscal Court approves courthouse architect, personnel moves, surplus sales and budget transfers

Franklin County Fiscal Court convened Nov. 19 and approved a slate of routine administrative and procurement actions, including awarding architectural services for courthouse work, authorizing surplus property sales, approving budget transfers for fiscal year 2025–2026, and carrying out personnel actions.

Squire Sherry Sebastian moved and the court unanimously approved awarding a bid to JRA Architects (the sole bidder) for architectural services related to the Franklin County Courthouse. The court also authorized multiple surplus equipment and vehicle dispositions to be offered on GovDeals and approved the Sheriff's surplus vehicles and select firearms as surplus for trade‑in toward replacements.

On personnel matters, the court approved the hiring of Alexanda (AC) Smither as a part‑time seasonal light equipment operator/driver; Squire Mike Harrod abstained from that vote. The court approved promotion of John Bondurant to Assistant Road Supervisor. The court also approved budget transfers for FY2025–2026 and received the Treasurer's Report. The court briefly entered a closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) for personnel matters and returned to open session by motion.

The court voted to table authorization for a ground lease option of county property at 501 Holmes Street to Winterwood Development LLC until the Dec. 18, 2025 meeting; that motion passed with Squire Eric Whisman recorded in opposition. The meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in minutes):
- Approval of minutes: unanimous (Sebastian/Harrod)
- Sheriff's surplus vehicles (GovDeals/trade-in): unanimous (Harrod/Blackburn)
- Sheriff firearms surplus for trade-in: unanimous (Tanner/Harrod)
- Table lease option for 501 Holmes Street to Dec. 18: passed (Sebastian/Harrod) with Whisman opposed
- Resolution #44-2025 (grant application): unanimous (Sebastian/Blackburn)
- Award to JRA Architects (sole bidder): unanimous (Sebastian/Tanner)
- Surplus equipment on GovDeals: unanimous (Harrod/Sebastian)
- Budget transfers FY2025-2026: unanimous (Sebastian/Harrod)
- Receive Treasurer's Report: unanimous (Sebastian/Harrod)
- Closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(f): unanimous (Harrod/Sebastian)
- Hire Alexanda (AC) Smither (part-time seasonal operator/driver): passed, Harrod abstained (Blackburn/Sebastian)
- Promotion of John Bondurant to Assistant Road Supervisor: unanimous (Blackburn/Harrod)
- Adjournment: unanimous (Harrod/Blackburn)

The recorded minutes do not include detailed discussion, project allocations for the grant authorization, or the amounts involved in budget transfers.