[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6183743,"mediaKeyId","5093762-00956e8a5febe5008c5860dafb8e0dda","parentId",5093762,"title","Tourism director tells Clark County tourism supports thousands of jobs statewide; local impact highlighted","audioSeconds",146,"startMs",2373000,"endMs",2519000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5093762-00956e8a5febe5008c5860dafb8e0dda&start=2373&end=2519","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5093762-00956e8a5febe5008c5860dafb8e0dda/thumbnail_2373000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6183743/Clark-County/Kentucky/Tourism-director-tells-Clark-County-tourism-supports-thousands-of-jobs-statewide-local-impact-highlighted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183743-9d29ce7b94c4552834d6252b45c0bd56/orig.mp4?Expires=1770996092&Signature=Cq1yMk6z--sV2rLPHqn4hVIvPTfMOco7~nxVYcXbYia2HFQUv1jfjr-Qj46gyWZHT-wB8WJuzW5P4IfsTNthbOQZ-7cuTb8-GAKnRIlRZ3zRp9~bmQFgpMVQhCLujRXHRjjRB1CqEEL8tBHKXaIK8e9mWNxSTxYmnfDDzNoqI7mTpergwi3netrPn9HMaiqG6hxFSCAv~welv-V~vOv9M3BY12vi5-wdsKdGWYewet-Q7ApMkx6KqMl-XScUdhLGHDvX-0V45GjBNN6Xyf2Fgd83V8Hkt3wqwDcbfxKds5yiTCia6n0Kbixg-~yyHkacHceshjo~bJ4n3ZjmMWu46w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Clark County, KY ","date","2025-06-27T00:02:54Z","article","Jill Hamlin, executive director of Winchester Clark County Tourism, told the fiscal court that tourism is a significant local economic driver and presented 2024 county and state figures from the Kentucky Department of Tourism.

Hamlin cited the 2024 state report: statewide tourism supported 97,394 jobs and produced about $14.3 billion in total economic impact; at the county level, Winchester-Clark County reported 424 tourism-supported jobs, roughly $12.9 million in labor income and about $4.8 million in state and local tax revenue, producing a total economic impact figure Hamlin cited as approximately $63.6 million for Clark County.

Hamlin described local programs supported by the county’s 3% transient lodging tax, saying the tax funds promotion that drives overnight stays and direct spending in lodging, restaurants and attractions. She highlighted the Beer Cheese Trail, a joint product/brand strategy with local businesses, and a “brews and views” campaign in partnership with a local roastery. Hamlin urged continued collaboration between the tourism commission, chamber and IDA.

Magistrates asked about compliance and collection from short-term rentals such as Airbnb; Hamlin said the tourism office and city are sending letters to hosts to encourage voluntary compliance and collection of the transient tax.

The court received the presentation and thanked the director; no formal action or funding changes were proposed at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 26, 2025 Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Winchester-Clark County Tourism presented state and county-level economic impact figures, and outlined local promotional programs funded by the 3% transient tax.","taxTitle","Clark County, Kentucky","taxId",59468,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6183748,"Farmer says underground cable work repeatedly broke his water main; court asked to investigate",58,1066000,1124000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5093762-00956e8a5febe5008c5860dafb8e0dda&start=1066&end=1124","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5093762-00956e8a5febe5008c5860dafb8e0dda/thumbnail_1066000.jpg","/articles/6183748/Clark-County/Kentucky/Farmer-says-underground-cable-work-repeatedly-broke-his-water-main-court-asked-to-investigate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183748-c29a8c53b6ed06a0dc8737dd0468a8fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770996092&Signature=AySi3qGI5k5B0ElFQkP7~5rQ80MUrsFijQTga66cVFFq14d8PUG967qw0O40Jy0HhXp8eENavRlG9u~ym8mhcJXrRCsy3dWKSulKlkp9PKVk7np2Q4UJ4Aka7JgtryUycXMNrI6~8Lg1No59f0x4onYPWC1a938VUsAoO4yJ-kWGiZrXw2-4ubmTJAFFPPS9wFsk95NwdkqiZcSSsPRUYJc9TCEr0T82b-~o8g575CIwm4blhD6sDIWrSL2iNALawJnuXimUucW~WCbVa0Bvrf6NDjGa1NyMP4zNULieJMtpCKkPfJtfHhXRY4CQegIPjvO-K3Qpw388OrKrUz~dyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Winchester-area resident, Will Snow, told the Clark County Fiscal Court during public comment that an underground cable crew contracted by Spectrum struck and broke a water main eight times over the previous seven days while working near Ben Beard Road.

Snow said the farm served by the water main requires 15,000 to 20,000 gallons of water daily for cattle and that contractors did not notify the property owner for the first three incidents. \"They've broken the water main 8 times. The first 3 times, nobody was notified,\" Snow said. He asked the court who is accountable for contractor performance and damage.

Court members asked staff to follow up with county utilities and the contractor. Magistrates also noted responsibility can involve the contractor, the utility company that owns the line and any permitting or engineering oversight. Staff agreed to attempt to contact the contractor and the relevant utilities and report back to the court.

Snow asked the court for clarity on who would hold the contractor accountable and to provide a path for compensation and repair assurances. Officials did not announce a formal enforcement action at the meeting but said they would seek more information and return to the court with findings.","A resident told the fiscal court that a Spectrum contractor repeatedly broke a water main near his Ben Beard Road farm over seven days, leaving livestock without water and prompting calls for accountability.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6183754,"Clark County officials form committee to review opioid abatement requests; recovery groups seek support",161,3195000,3356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5093762-00956e8a5febe5008c5860dafb8e0dda&start=3195&end=3356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5093762-00956e8a5febe5008c5860dafb8e0dda/thumbnail_3195000.jpg","/articles/6183754/Clark-County/Kentucky/Clark-County-officials-form-committee-to-review-opioid-abatement-requests-recovery-groups-seek-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183754-8670add70060bbea8513cecdf2fb4903/orig.mp4?Expires=1770996092&Signature=jWDwd8lHt1sw9SSMPFyFZVdkjikIF78qGK8JUKpI9GB9E~Pqd4qG85lNavXBf26VF75CtBeonz2N0dzwjErBlH3YWHsZxzdlnVHWaC~fHWEKKM~1DS0t0-WPN9LX8YS4kcKiaZ1VQmEbkz7BM7U9BOkYET~eXl8ykXcwh6ePvf1mcDpc~AIg6QGEh4u9NqYsjjzioLK4H5eNPSRMcp3hxQE9H8558WkZX42oFucMxU5UQ9AiCq2CJfzIWHKr52ZSemTCMDOkbUQ~j-balwNCJvCM8OkFeT5FjC3zpFaNq2M6dS0lRzkEz2kJf1DHKO4jSb4AKU1FXsLpJ~27RpaKjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Magistrates agreed to form a review committee for opioid abatement disbursements and discussed using experienced community-fund members to vet applications before the fiscal court acts.

Court members said they would assign three magistrates rotating off a separate community fund to the opioid-abatement review group so the panel could examine applications and make recommendations to the fiscal court for final approval. A magistrate asked county staff to formalize appointment procedures for the committee and confirm meeting timelines.

Separately, county recovery partners gave updates. Cody Angel, vice chair of the Clark County ASAP board (Agency for Substance Abuse Policy), said Winchester will receive an on-site Recovery Ready certification visit on July 23 and invited county officials to attend. Angel said the local coalition has organized stigma training and other steps to strengthen support services.

A recovery organization presented a formal proposal — using the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACO) template — for a peer-support staff position at a recovery community center. The proposal included a detailed budget narrative and addressed insurance and credentialing questions raised by magistrates. The presenters asked the court to appoint a small committee to review the proposal and recommend whether to fund the position from opioid-abatement proceeds.

A magistrate noted the county’s opioid-abatement fund balance exceeds $700,000 and suggested the review committee consider longer-term investment or interest-bearing options to preserve principal while evaluating grant requests. The court asked the county finance director to return with options on fund management and disbursement rules at a future meeting.","The court discussed forming an opioid-abatement review committee, heard updates on Recovery Ready certification and a proposed peer-support position for a recovery community center, and reviewed the county’s opioid fund balance.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6183759,"Court moves to make EOC duties part of county emergency management post as CSEP closeout nears",127,1903000,2030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5093762-00956e8a5febe5008c5860dafb8e0dda&start=1903&end=2030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5093762-00956e8a5febe5008c5860dafb8e0dda/thumbnail_1903000.jpg","/articles/6183759/Clark-County/Kentucky/Court-moves-to-make-EOC-duties-part-of-county-emergency-management-post-as-CSEP-closeout-nears","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183759-69fd1a9a03c0771358ca922417b8273b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770996092&Signature=d9p8pUcDgoVBKFC~vs-RGXsjpaXYKT1XhXRNo9eoQh5QxLGOLPyxI8ld1iQf4k34Lo1BJovXff7D7AL2guZVCApnTN0Ds~IpmoTnCOlQLxSjhmLopbA5rxxzDxGZoFhql~TF8~QtEUBxC7WxJ46D0ksz0cPRx01i1Xjt01LqHNE8ZgURA2mCSk5pBT8xHRH--An0mgOn3Bv-hnPuQa80KYIOeeaiDugG9JoqIWO2vrQeF2UflPH1At0YyY7B6FOeb2v36FCq7dxcjRn-Bwxaf6yeRhKjfjbvifqRon0R6IgPzxknfLYf-3gbd3w9P6zO5xphmOhLji8LU4ZUMrvQPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff reported progress on the Community Services and Emergency Program (CSEP) closeout and asked the Fiscal Court to authorize appraisals for several real-property and tower sites tied to the program.

Harry Wilson, reporting on the county’s emergency programs, said FEMA, Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) and FEMA Region 4 told county officials Clark County had supplied required documentation “with one exception” — appraisals for two tower sites and the emergency operations center (EOC) premises. Wilson said an appraisal quote he received was $1,500 to appraise the two towers and $2,900 for the EOC property; the county was later asked to add the road department pole barn to the appraisal list.

Wilson asked the court for permission to proceed with a local appraisal firm without multiple quotes because the work is fully reimbursable under closeout rules. He told the court the county has written confirmation that the appraisals are reimbursable through KYEM and FEMA closeout funds.

The court also debated and ultimately approved making the emergency management director (EM director) position the county’s designated full-time EM role and to keep the incumbent’s salary at her current level so a larger portion of the pay could be classified as emergency-management salary eligible for reimbursement. The decision was contentious: some magistrates said they prefer an EM director with first-responder experience and others raised procedural questions about prior appointments. During debate, county officials noted KRS requirements that the judge executive appoint an EM director and discussed the need to align the appointment with reimbursement rules to ensure federal/state EMG reimbursements.

Wilson and other staff stressed EOC maintenance, tower and microwave communications upgrades, and ongoing equipment upkeep will require continuing attention and budgetary support even after closeout. Wilson also invited magistrates to tour the EOC to review systems and facilities in person.

The court authorized moving forward with appraisals and directed staff to ensure the EM director role and salary classification are structured to permit available reimbursements at closeout.","Clark County officials discussed CSEP closeout needs, appraisals for EOC and tower sites, and a contested appointment and salary decision for the county emergency management director.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6183764,"Clark County Fiscal Court approves second reading of 2026 budget after tense debate over spending",1134,3626000,4760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5093762-00956e8a5febe5008c5860dafb8e0dda&start=3626&end=4760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5093762-00956e8a5febe5008c5860dafb8e0dda/thumbnail_3626000.jpg","/articles/6183764/Clark-County/Kentucky/Clark-County-Fiscal-Court-approves-second-reading-of-2026-budget-after-tense-debate-over-spending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183764-66f1be5d9df0aba49a0f335ec594a3dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770996092&Signature=jMVCO~ht-nJV53CyE5yxdpm5y18kKUzlgApN4NhSVCqha57QDAn3~Nd47MeO4uBVDTeEbRgp8XJRgQphweHd0dq9Kuj1RE1Jpq28geb~fN7RthX4CWInArRpPMp9Z1sgVBCX9QEAXafybxRdqkM3NkVXw3oz66CXiYKuSLsPfJ5b6Q-fjO3wuI7kkjfffyNv8NqJ8bwI-J4ojsd8G6njFk1~mZBYWEXmqjYBJLTyU2gDYdEEaOr5mYxryWMJI8H0KJikWzYek0Y8MY5MR8iFRei0~h6uqng2uwoNvQZeftRJCR7uGSe~vLOZ5vdBrth8inMZIhcKlg2sYpgdB~z4Qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clark County Fiscal Court approved the second reading of the fiscal year 2026 budget Tuesday after several magistrates expressed concern about rising expenditures and uncertain carryover estimates.

The court’s vote followed more than an hour of debate in which multiple members warned that spending has outpaced revenues and urged stricter fiscal controls. One magistrate told colleagues, “we gotta quit spending,” describing the county’s monthly expenditures as “out of control.”

The budget does not change the county’s total projected receipts and expenditures but moves money between line items; officials said several previously planned capital items were removed to balance the plan on paper. Judge executive and several magistrates said balancing the budget now avoids a deadlock that could have left the county without an approved plan required by state law.

Magistrates raised specific concerns about recurring operating costs, the size of departmental carryovers and the impact on capital projects. Road funding and equipment costs were prominent in the discussion; magistrates noted a roughly $521,000 road fund carryover and debated whether to use those dollars for road projects or to pay down existing equipment debt.

No new revenue measures were adopted during the meeting. Several magistrates proposed looking at longer-term options — including reexamining tax rates, centralized purchasing and targeted financing for large capital needs — and asked county staff to return with concrete proposals. The judge suggested holding a follow-up discussion before the fall to set priorities for road projects and other capital outlays.

The court approved the budget on the second reading; several members recorded reservations on accuracy of estimates and urged tighter procurement and spending oversight going forward.

Looking ahead, magistrates said they will revisit capital priorities, potential financing for large assets and department-level procurement practices as part of the FY27 planning cycle.","Clark County Fiscal Court approved the second reading of its fiscal year 2026 budget following a heated discussion about rising expenses, carryover estimates and the need for tighter spending controls.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tourism director tells Clark County tourism supports thousands of jobs statewide; local impact highlighted

Farmer says underground cable work repeatedly broke his water main; court asked to investigate

Clark County officials form committee to review opioid abatement requests; recovery groups seek support

Court moves to make EOC duties part of county emergency management post as CSEP closeout nears

Clark County Fiscal Court approves second reading of 2026 budget after tense debate over spending