Scott County Fiscal Court approves law-enforcement grant, park grant pledge and several contracts and hires

The Scott County Fiscal Court on Feb. 14 approved a package of grants, contracts, personnel actions and project agreements ranging from a sheriff’s office grant request to a preliminary Land and Water Conservation Fund award for tennis-court renovations at Brookie Park.

The court voted unanimously to authorize submission of a Law Enforcement Protection Program application to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security (KOHS) seeking $13,240.20 to purchase 10 short-barrel rifles and 65 Glock 43X backup pistols for the sheriff’s office. Besson, a sheriff’s office representative who presented the request, said Sergeant Talbot was assisting so he “can learn a little bit about it,” and described the equipment and reimbursement process. Judge Joe Covington read the resolution before the court approved it.

The court also approved a project change order for drainage work from Hinkle Construction Services — 395 feet of 8-inch HDPE pipe with gravel backfill and Class 2 channel lining — at a cost of $14,440, after members said water pooling at the entrance will become a swamp if not addressed.

On personnel, the court approved hiring Brandon Puckett as a road equipment operator effective Feb. 24 at $19.82 per hour; the hire was presented by Jeff from the road department and approved by motion and second.

The court approved an agreement with HMB (engineering services) so the county can apply for a bridge program grant and included a pledge in the application of up to $55,000 toward HMB fees and geotechnical costs. The judge and magistrates discussed the application timeline and the likely scale of the underlying project, which was described in the meeting as roughly a $500,000 project.

The court approved an EMS service agreement to host a Safe Haven Baby Box at the Broadway location and discussed camera and monitoring requirements. Officials said exterior cameras exist and that the box’s alarm and monitoring requirements include daily checks and logged weekly tests; the fire department will perform daily checks once the station moves.

Other actions approved included: signing an amendment with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) for the Legacy Trail Extension (Resolution 25-02), renewing an SRO (School Resource Officer) agreement (with estimated county cost about $134,005.56 for next year), and accepting preliminary federal-state Land and Water Conservation Fund approval of $250,000 toward renovation and new lighting at Brookie ("Brookie") Park tennis courts, with the county planning to include its matching funds in next year’s budget. The court also approved surplusing an old coroner’s stretcher in exchange for donated supplies from Fayette County and took routine financial motions (minutes, bills/hand checks, transfers).

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 25-01 (LEP grant to KOHS): motion by Rob Jones; second by Rick Hostetler; outcome: approved. Request: $13,240.20 to purchase 10 short-barrel rifles and 65 Glock 43X pistols; funding: grant will reimburse purchases (no local match specified).

- Project change order — drainage (Hinkle Construction Services): motion and second (movers not all named on the record); outcome: approved. Work: 395 ft of 8-inch HDPE pipe with gravel backfill and Class 2 channel lining; cost: $14,440.

- Road Department hire — equipment operator (Brandon Puckett): motion by Kelly Corman; second by Rick Hostetler; outcome: approved. Effective Feb. 24; pay $19.82/hr; applicant has over eight years’ experience.

- Coroner’s office surplus/donation (Coroner Sutton): motion by Rob Jones; second by Kelly Corman; outcome: approved. Item: surplus of an older stretcher; Fayette County to donate body bags and tables.

- HMB agreement and application pledge (bridge program): motion and second recorded; outcome: approved. Court authorized filing the application and included a pledge of up to $55,000 toward HMB engineering/geotechnical fees as county “skin in the game.”

- EMS service agreement — Safe Haven Baby Box at Broadway: motion by Rick Hostetler; second by Chad Wallace; outcome: approved. Court discussed camera placement, interior-exterior monitoring, daily checks and required logs for compliance.

- Resolution 25-02 (Legacy Trail agreement amendment with KYTC): motion by Rob Jones; second by Kelly Foreman; outcome: approved. Purpose: authorize judge executive to sign an amendment to the KYTC agreement for Legacy Trail Extension Section 1 Phase 1; exhibit A details budget and scope changes.

- SRO agreement renewal (school resource officers): motion by Rick Hostetler; second by Rob Jones; outcome: approved. Estimated county cost next year: $134,005.56 (county share after state allocations); court noted state reimbursement rules limit one reimbursement per campus.

- Land and Water Conservation Fund preliminary award (Brookie Park tennis courts): motion by Dwayne Ellison; second by Ryan Pratt; outcome: approved to proceed. Preliminary federal/state approval: $250,000; estimated renovation cost noted at about $390,000; county will include matching funds in next year’s budget and expects a federal approval/contract timeline in late spring/early summer.

What happens next

Most approved items require follow-up steps: the LEP grant application will be submitted to KOHS and, if awarded, the county will purchase equipment and be reimbursed; the HMB application will be filed before the bridge-program deadline with the county’s pledged fee contribution noted; the Safe Haven Baby Box lease and monitoring procedures will be finalized with the organization; and the county will enter into an agreement once federal approval is finalized for the Land and Water Conservation Fund award. The court repeatedly approved motions by voice vote with no roll-call tallies recorded on the transcript.

Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from the meeting record and identified at first reference by full name and role.

The court’s next steps include formalizing agreements, incorporating expected costs into the fiscal year budget where required, and proceeding with advertised procurements and inspections as described in meeting discussion.