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Parks joint-participation agreement under review as city and county discuss shifting fixed payment to 50/50 operational split
Summary
County parks director and magistrates discussed proposed revisions to the 2020 joint participation agreement with the city that would replace a fixed $322,000 county contribution with a payment equal to half the net cost of specified joint facilities.
Boyle County parks leaders and county magistrates spent an extended portion of the Jan. 28 meeting discussing proposed changes to the 2020 joint participation agreement (JPA) with the City of Danville. The JPA governs operations and funding for jointly funded facilities including Millennium Park, the Bunty (Bonnie) Davis Center and the fitness center/pool.
Parks Director Tommy Barton reviewed the proposed language change: replacing a fixed annual county payment of $322,000 with a formula that sets the court’s contribution equal to 50 percent of the net cost of an annual itemized, city-prepared operations budget for Millennium Park, the Bunty Davis Center and the pool. Under the proposed language the city would deliver a draft budget and proposed payment amount to the county no later than Jan. 31 of each year, and the city would propose amended budgets if operational changes during the year produce significant cost changes.
Magistrates and the county’s parks committee members said they support preserving the county’s voice in oversight but want clearer language on ownership, equipment responsibility, and whether the county’s contribution is strictly operational (not capital). Several magistrates asked that references to “jointly owned” facilities be changed to “jointly funded” facilities to avoid implying county ownership of city assets. County representatives said the proposed change reflects inflation and the growing cost of personnel and services since 2020. County staff offered to return for a dedicated work session to refine language and run budget scenarios before any action.
Parks committee leaders marked the end of terms and leadership changes: Mark Morgan was thanked for long service and Sarah Albright Barry introduced as the parks committee’s new chair. County representatives also discussed benchmarking visits the parks staff have made to other recreation centers in Kentucky and Tennessee as part of facility planning.
No formal vote was taken; the court asked staff to schedule a work session to review the JPA language, including clarifying the 50/50 operational-share language, potential municipal obligations for capital costs and proposed timelines for city budgets and payments.
