Lewis County Fiscal Court approves routine motions, adopts ARC port‑planning resolution

Lewis County Fiscal Court on Jan. 13 approved several motions and adopted Resolution No. 25‑01 authorizing submission of a grant application to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for up to $145,000 for a port planning project, and took routine administrative actions.

The court unanimously approved the minutes of the Dec. 9, 2024 meeting, authorized rehiring of county employees under the established position and pay schedule, approved rehiring road supervisor David Goodwin under the stated position and pay schedule, and accepted monthly and quarterly reports from the jailer and the county treasurer.

The court adopted standing order 25‑1, preapproving payment of recurring monthly payroll and utility expenses and allowing those preapproved payments to be made by electronic funds transfer without the county judge executive’s or county treasurer’s cosignature, citing KRS 68.275. The order was recorded as effective for fiscal year 2025‑26.

Resolution No. 25‑01, described in the resolution text as an application to the Cabinet for Economic Development and ARC for up to $145,000 to support Lewis County port planning, was moved and approved by roll call. The resolution also authorizes the county judge executive or authorized representative to execute related documents and requests for disbursement.

The court approved payment of claims and transfers for all county funds and approved a pass‑through payroll arrangement so the county treasurer will issue a paycheck and remit retirement for a newly hired assistant county attorney, Caitlin Stewart; the county attorney said the office will reimburse the fiscal court for the salary and retirement costs and that the arrangement imposes no net cost on the court.

All roll‑call votes recorded at the meeting were unanimous in favor of the motions as presented.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes of Dec. 9, 2024 — Motion to approve; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Rehire with position/pay schedule for county employees — Motion to approve (mover: Mark Horsley; second: Johnny Osborne); outcome: approved (unanimous). - Rehire road supervisor David Goodwin — Motion to approve (mover: Woody Underwood; second: Johnny Osborne); outcome: approved (unanimous). - Standing Order 25‑1: preapprove recurring payroll and utility payments and permit electronic funds transfers per KRS 68.275 for fiscal year 2025‑26 — Motion to approve (mover: Woody Underwood; second: Joey McCann); outcome: approved (unanimous). - Resolution No. 25‑01: ARC port planning project application up to $145,000 — Motion to adopt (mover: Judge Sparks; second: Mark Horsley); outcome: adopted (unanimous). - Quarterly jailer’s report — Motion to approve (mover: Woody Underwood; second: Johnny Osborne); outcome: approved (unanimous). - Monthly treasurer’s report — Motion to approve (mover: not specified; second: Woody Underwood); outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approval of claims for all county funds — Motion to approve (mover: Woody Underwood; second: Mark Horsley); outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approval of transfers for all county funds — Motion to approve (mover: Mark Horsley; second: Joey McCann); outcome: approved (unanimous). - Pass‑through payroll for assistant county attorney Caitlin Stewart (paycheck and retirement issued by fiscal court; reimbursed by county attorney’s office) — Motion to approve (mover: Ben, County Attorney; second: Woody Underwood/Mark Horsley); outcome: approved (unanimous).

The court completed other routine business and adjourned. No votes failed or were tabled at the Jan. 13 session.