Campbell County fiscal court adopts 2025 budgets, approves hires and several road and park bids; sets grant deadline

Campbell County Fiscal Court members voted to approve multiple budget resolutions, personnel appointments and procurement steps at a regular meeting this month, and set application and bidding deadlines for a range of county projects and grants.

The court adopted the county sheriff’s 2025 budget (Resolution RO325) and the county clerk’s 2025 budget (Resolution RO425) by voice vote. The meeting also included the swearing-in of Robert Sewell as a Campbell County police officer; Sewell recited the standard oath of office, beginning, “I, Robert Sewell ... I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this commonwealth ... and that I will faithfully execute ... the position of police officer for the Campbell County Police Department according to law.”

Why it matters: The budget adoptions authorize the sheriff’s and clerk’s operations for calendar-year 2025 and clear funding and staffing for routine county services. The hiring and procurement motions set the county up to move forward this spring with road resurfacing and park repairs while opening the door to outside contractors for specialized services.

The court appointed Donald Wright to a part‑time plans examiner position and authorized staff to advertise, interview and fill the resulting building‑inspector vacancy. “With the volume of commercial work that we have, it makes sense to move someone into that role,” Matt (staff member) said during the discussion.

The court also appointed Judith Stevens to a temporary part‑time senior‑center assistant position at the Campbell County Senior Center effective Jan. 21, 2025. The court said Stevens will be paid the same rate as the incumbent and the move was described as less costly and more efficient than using an external staffing agency.

On infrastructure, the court authorized staff to issue invitations to bid for repaving aprons and campsite drives and access roads at A.J. Jolly Park (work scheduled before the 2025 camping season; estimated cost about $45,000) and approved seeking bids to rebuild Deer Run Road as concrete. It approved soliciting bids for spring resurfacing of Lower Tug Fork Road, Upper Tug Fork Road, Tippenhauer Road and Heck Road, and agreed to use $200,311 in FY25 Kentucky Transportation rural secondary flex funds toward resurfacing Upper and Lower Tug Fork Road.

The court also voted to join regional procurement efforts: to participate in a Tri‑County request for proposals for household hazardous‑waste and electronic‑waste events (Boone County serving as fiscal agent) and to participate in a Northern Kentucky regional pavement‑management RFP to collect road condition data for future resurfacing planning.

On emergency services funding, the court authorized the county judge executive to apply to the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services for a $10,000 ambulance block grant that the county would pass through to local fire and ambulance districts to help pay for a new county ambulance.

Financial housekeeping motions approved included budget transfers dated Dec. 31, 2024; interfund transfers dated Dec. 31, 2024; and payment of claims and claims paid per standing order (including employee benefits claims dated Jan. 3, 2025). One official stated on the record that they would recuse themselves from claims related to employee benefits because of business relationships between their employer and those companies; that recusal was noted during the vote.

The court also approved a motion to meet in executive session under KRS 61.810(1)(b) to discuss the prospective acquisition or sale of specific real property.

Votes at a glance: - Approve minutes from Dec. 18, 2024 — adopted by voice vote. - Resolution RO325: Approve county sheriff’s 2025 budget — adopted by voice vote. - Resolution RO425: Approve county clerk’s 2025 budget — adopted by voice vote. - Resolution RO125: Authorize part‑time plans examiner position and appoint Donald Wright — adopted by voice vote; staff authorized to advertise and hire a building inspector to backfill. - Appoint Judith Stevens as temporary part‑time senior center assistant, effective 01/21/2025 — adopted by voice vote. - Motion to enter executive session pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(b) — adopted by voice vote. - Resolution RO225: Authorize application for Kentucky EMS ambulance block grant ($10,000) — adopted by voice vote. - Authorize participation in Tri‑County HHW/e‑waste RFP — adopted by voice vote. - Authorize participation in NKY regional pavement‑management RFP — adopted by voice vote. - Authorize invitation to bid repaving at A.J. Jolly Park (estimated $45,000) — adopted by voice vote. - Authorize permission to bid rebuild of Deer Run Road (concrete) — adopted by voice vote. - Authorize permission to bid resurfacing (Lower/Upper Tug Fork, Tippenhauer, Heck) — adopted by voice vote. - Approve use of $200,311 FY25 KY Transportation rural secondary flex funds toward Upper/Lower Tug Fork resurfacing — adopted by voice vote. - Approve budget transfers dated 12/31/2024 — adopted by voice vote. - Approve interfund transfers dated 12/31/2024 — adopted by voice vote. - Approve claims and claims paid per standing order (including employee benefits claims dated 01/03/2025) — adopted by voice vote; one recusal noted.

What’s next: The court announced that organizations seeking Campbell County payroll tax funds for mental‑health, intellectual‑disability or aging services must submit the county’s FY2026 application by 4 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2025; the application is available on the county website at www.campbellcountyky.gov under Opportunities and Bids, the court said. The court also signaled it will return from executive session before taking any public action on the property matter.

(Quotes are taken from meeting remarks recorded in the court transcript.)