Simpson County Fiscal Court approves 2025 budgets, zoning change, speed-limit readings and design studies; directs attorney to notify City of Franklin

Simpson County Fiscal Court on an early-morning session approved multiple 2025 budget measures, adopted a planning-and-zoning text amendment and authorized studies and administrative steps related to road and zoning issues.

The court voted to approve the county clerk’s and sheriff’s 2025 calendar-year budgets and set maximum salary totals; adopted a text amendment to the planning and zoning regulations to add “daycare, centers, and nurseries” as a conditional use in agricultural zones; approved first reading of a speed-limit ordinance; and authorized two $6,000 design quotes for flood-mitigation studies needed for FEMA grant consideration. The court also voted to ask the county attorney to draft and send a notice regarding the interlocal planning-and-zoning agreement with the City of Franklin.

Why it matters: the budget votes set spending and salary ceilings for key county operations for 2025; the zoning amendment changes what uses may be conditionally allowed in agricultural areas; the speed-limit and design-study approvals move forward local road safety and flood mitigation work; and the letter to Franklin signals the fiscal court’s intent to press procedural issues with the jointly administered planning-and-zoning function.

The court opened with a prayer and approved the minutes of its Dec. 17 regular meeting before moving through several ordinance and budget votes. Magistrate Marty made several of the motions; Magistrate Jeffrey and Magistrate Myron (as recorded in the meeting) provided multiple seconds and votes.

Planning and zoning: The court took second reading and final passage of Planning and Zoning Ordinance No. 920.126, a text amendment that adds “daycare, centers, and nurseries” as a conditional use in agricultural zoning. The motion passed on a roll call after the second reading.

Speed limits: The fiscal court approved first reading of Speed Limit Ordinance No. 530.63, which would set a 25 mph limit on Purdue Road and 45 mph on…