Daviess County Fiscal Court closes ARPA fund, approves housing and infrastructure grants and several easements and contracts

Daviess County Fiscal Court met Jan. 9, 2025, and approved a package of grants, easements, contracts and personnel actions while receiving a presentation of a local emergency declaration and the county’s Local Emergency Operations Plan.

The court voted to transfer the remaining ARPA fund balance — $628,221.26 in accumulated interest — to the general fund and retire the ARPA fund after confirming the county’s federally funded broadband milestone payments had cleared. Treasurer Johnson said, “The residual cash balance of the account is interest accumulated over the life of the fund in the amount of $628,221.26 as of December 31, 2024,” and later confirmed, “It is fully exhausted. That is correct.”

The meeting included a presentation (no vote) of Executive Order 01-2025, the county’s annual Local Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP), and Executive Order 02-2025, a declaration of a local state of emergency dated Jan. 5, 2025, related to a winter ice storm. Treasurer Johnson explained that KRS 39A.100 gives the judge executive authority to declare a local emergency to activate the LEOP, empower the county Emergency Management Agency and waive certain procedural formalities; the judge said the declaration was made after outage reports and consultation with the EMA director.

On grants and fiscal items the court:

- Adopted Resolution 01-2025 to act as fiscal agent and submit a CDBG public‑services application for the Owensboro Regional Recovery Center (ORRC), the annual request of up to $200,000 under the CDBG public services program; the county will pass funds through if awarded.

- Approved applying for the 2025–2026 Kentucky Ambulance Block Grant for $10,000 and, if awarded, to forward the funds to AMR, the county’s ambulance provider.

- Approved a grant agreement with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development to accept $100,000 awarded to Habitat for Humanity (the original local application sought $250,000); the county will flow these state matching dollars to Habitat under the terms described in court session 7/11/24.

On infrastructure, procurement and property the court:

- Approved two deeds of easement to place community tornado warning sirens on school property (West Louisville Elementary and Southern Oaks Elementary).

- Approved an easement reroute request from A and R Pipeline Company that moves a portion of a renewable gas transmission line away from the West Daviess County Landfill perimeter following an updated survey.

- Approved a 10‑year conditionally refundable contribution agreement with Kinnergy to extend a three‑phase electric line to the planned mechanic shop at the West Daviess County Landfill. The upfront contribution is $30,181.31; the county will receive annual refunds over 10 years provided certain annual kilowatt‑hour thresholds and continuity of service are met.

- Approved change order No. 2 on bid 24‑25‑11 to purchase seven additional fire hydrant extension kits for $7,217.79; the cost will be reimbursed by a Kentucky Infrastructure Authority grant assistance agreement previously approved by the court.

Other actions and personnel items:

- Approved the annual playground lease with the Daviess County Board of Education to continue county use of athletic fields for youth leagues.

- Appointed Dirk Duper as Daviess County engineer, effective Jan. 14, 2025, through Jan. 11, 2027.

- Hired Jonathan McBride as a service technician, effective Jan. 6, 2025.

- Took first reading of a budget amendment to accept and flow through the $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity; the amendment will return for final action at a later meeting.

Votes at a glance (voice votes unless noted):

- Transfer ARPA residual to general fund ($628,221.26): approved (voice vote). - Resolution 01-2025, ORRC CDBG application (up to $200,000 application): approved. - Kentucky Ambulance Block Grant application ($10,000): approved. - Grant agreement, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development — Habitat for Humanity ($100,000 award): approved. - Playground lease with Daviess County Board of Education: approved. - Deed of easement for West Louisville Elementary tornado siren: approved. - Deed of easement for Southern Oaks Elementary tornado siren: approved. - Easement reroute with A and R Pipeline Company: approved. - Contract/line‑extension contribution with Kinnergy ($30,181.31, refundable): approved. - Change order No. 2 for hydrant extension kits ($7,217.79): approved. - Second reading and adoption of ordinance (KLC 220.38/11204) to rebate 0.35% of occupational license fees for new Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline Inc. employees (Kentucky Business Investment Program participation): adopted on second reading. - Appointment of Dirk Duper, county engineer: approved. - Hire of Jonathan McBride, service technician: approved.

What was discussion vs. action

- Presentation items: The LEOP annual update and the Jan. 5, 2025, emergency declaration were presented to the court for the record; no legislative action was required for executive orders that do not change court‑approved policy.

- Direction/clarification: Treasurer Johnson and court members discussed the timing of the ice storm declaration and outage monitoring; the judge said the declaration followed outage spikes in neighboring counties and consultation with the EMA director.

- Formal actions: All items listed under “Votes at a glance” were approved by voice vote during the meeting unless otherwise recorded.

Context and next steps

Court members emphasized county staff and contractor efforts during the winter storm — road crews, utility workers and shelter volunteers — and encouraged residents to use official county email or phone lines for inquiries rather than social media posts. The budget amendment for Habitat funds will return to the court for a final vote. Any awarded federal or state grant funds that require county fiscal agent duties will be managed through the county’s customary draw and reporting processes.