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McCreary County Fiscal Court approves routine budget transfers, personnel moves, vehicle and pay changes
Summary
At its Feb. 13 meeting the McCreary County Fiscal Court approved a series of routine motions including minutes, budget transfers and personnel and vehicle actions; magistrates also received departmental updates and acknowledged receipts of excess fees from the clerk and sheriff.
McCreary County — The McCreary County Fiscal Court approved routine administrative and personnel actions during its Feb. 13 meeting, including budget transfers, ambulance refurbishment bidding, dispatcher hires and a cost‑of‑living adjustment for the jailer.
The court unanimously approved the minutes from the January 2025 regular session (motion by Mister Hale; second by Mister Taylor). Treasurer Geraldine Laxton’s requested budget transfer and anticipated interfund transfers were approved after motions from Mister Maxwell and Mister Taylor, respectively. The court gave second reading and final passage to budget amendment 002 for fiscal year 2024‑25 (motion by Mister Hale; second by Mister Maxwell).
The court approved starting the process to replace its oldest ambulance by refurbishing the existing patient box and requesting bids (motion by Mister Taylor; second by Mister Maxwell). The EMS director estimated the refurbish work would be "around a hundred and 48,000" and said existing funds were available.
Dispatch and EMS personnel actions passed unanimously. The court agreed to move full‑time dispatcher JC Bell to PRN status at her request and to hire Malachi Walker as a full‑time dispatcher at $11.12 per hour (motions by Mister Maxwell and Mister Taylor). The court also approved moving Lindsay Pauley from PRN dispatcher to full‑time EMT at $16 per hour to fill a vacant EMT position (motion by Mister Hale).
The court approved surplus and trade‑in of a 2022 Dodge Durango to Don Franklin Dodge in Somerset for a Dodge Ram pickup for the emergency management department; the director said the purchase would be funded with LGA and EMPG (federal emergency management) funds and would not use the general fund.
A 2.9 percent cost‑of‑living increase for jailer and chief transport officer Jesse Hatfield — $1,087.28, raising his salary from $37,492.26 to $38,579.54, prorated to January 2025 — was approved; the magistrates noted the increase is mandated by the Department for Local Government.
The court reappointed Debbie Gilreath as the county's applicant agent for FEMA disaster funds (annual designation), accepted the county clerk’s turnover of 90 percent of excess fees for FY24 totaling $19,465.89, and accepted the sheriff’s turnover of 90 percent of excess 2024 fees totaling $7,000 to help offset 2025 expenses (motions and roll calls recorded for each item).
The court also authorized payment of the bills and closed its meeting by unanimous vote.
Why it matters: These votes complete routine fiscal and personnel administration for McCreary County and authorize procurement and staffing actions that affect emergency services, jail operations and county administration.
Votes at a glance: (all recorded votes were unanimous unless noted) - Approve minutes of the regular session (Jan. 2025): mover Mister Hale; second Mister Taylor; outcome: approved. - Approve treasurer’s budget transfer (Geraldine Laxton): mover Mister Maxwell; second Mister Hale; outcome: approved. - Approve anticipated interfund transfers: mover Mister Taylor; second Mister Maxwell; outcome: approved. - Second reading and final passage, Budget Amendment 002 FY24‑25: mover Mister Hale; second Mister Maxwell; outcome: adopted. - Start process to replace oldest ambulance (refurbish box, request bids): mover Mister Taylor; second Mister Maxwell; outcome: approved. Estimated refurbish cost reported ~ $148,000; funds on hand. - Move full‑time dispatcher JC Bell to PRN at $11.98/hour (at employee request): mover Mister Maxwell; second Mister Hale; outcome: approved. - Hire Malachi Walker, full‑time dispatcher, $11.12/hour: mover Mister Taylor; second Mister Maxwell; outcome: approved. - Move Lindsay Pauley from PRN dispatcher to full‑time EMT, $16/hour (fills vacancy): mover Mister Hale; second Mister Maxwell; outcome: approved. - Surplus/trade 2022 Dodge Durango to Don Franklin Dodge (Somerset) for EMA pickup truck: requester Steven McKinney (EMA director); outcome: approved; funding from LGA and EMPG funds, not general fund. - Cost‑of‑living increase for Jailer Jesse Hatfield (2.9% = $1,087.28; new annual salary $38,579.54, prorated to Jan. 2025): outcome: approved; noted as mandated by DLG. - Reappointment of Debbie Gilreath as FEMA applicant agent: outcome: approved. - County Clerk Eric Haines turnover of 90% of excess fees for FY24 ($19,465.89): outcome: approved. - McCreary County Sheriff turnover of 90% of excess 2024 fees ($7,000) to be returned for 2025 expenses: outcome: approved. - Payment of bills and adjournment: outcome: approved.
Department updates given to the court included EMS run and revenue totals, library and park programming, tourism event planning (including the MacCreary Gravel Rally), tax collections, litter‑abatement enforcement plans from the county attorney, road department maintenance and multi‑year state road projects.
The court took no votes that evening to adopt new policy on smoking or vaping in county public buildings; magistrates said they would "take a look" at materials presented by the Clearing the Air coalition.
