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 Russell Gallatin Road. Magistrate Myron moved the first-reading approval, which passed by roll call.

FEMA design work: The court discussed a FEMA-related water-mitigation grant that requires design work before the agency will approve funding. The County Judge told the court, “If we do not submit the design work, we absolutely will not get the grant.” The court approved two separate design quotes of $6,000 each — one for Harris School Road and one for Cummer/Coomer Road — with separate motions for each approval. The votes carried.

Budgets and salaries: The county clerk presented the clerk’s calendar-year 2025 budget, which the court approved. The court then set the county clerk’s 2025 maximum salaries (total budgeted payroll-plus-benefits cap) at $444,252 as presented. The sheriff presented the sheriff’s calendar-year 2025 budget and said about 97–98% of his office’s costs are payroll; he included 3% in his budget presentation but asked the court to consider parity if the court approves larger countywide raises. The court approved the sheriff’s 2025 calendar-year budget and set the sheriff’s maximum salaries for 2025 at $2,739,426. In open remarks the sheriff noted roughly $1,603,000 in revenue for 2025 and asked that the court consider any countywide raise parity for sworn deputies if non-deputy county employees receive higher increases.

Other routine approvals: The court approved budget transfers and the December financial statement (subject to audit). It also approved bills and claims as presented after returning from executive session; one magistrate said they would withhold their vote if a particular claim for the planning/zoning administrator was not pulled, but the claims vote passed as presented.

Noise ordinance and subdivisions: A written complaint from a Sherwood Terrace subdivision resident prompted a discussion about whether a county noise-disturbance ordinance should apply in densely populated subdivisions outside the city limits. Some magistrates cautioned against a countywide ordinance that could inhibit normal agricultural activity in rural areas, and the county attorney raised an equal-protection concern about applying a noise ordinance only to subdivision areas. The court agreed to survey other counties and gather sample ordinances via the Judge Executives Association and to review whether a limited regulation could be lawfully crafted for county subdivisions.

Planning-and-zoning interlocal agreement: The court voted to authorize the county attorney to draft a letter to the City of Franklin requesting termination of the interlocal planning-and-zoning agreement pursuant to Article 4.1 of that document. The motion specifically asked that the letter also address issues raised in an auditor email concerning county employee time-card processing. Magistrate Marty moved the motion and Magistrate Myron seconded; the motion carried.

Executive session and personnel: The court entered executive session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) for discussions that could lead to appointment, discipline or dismissal of an individual employee. Upon returning, the court reported action taken in executive session and proceeded to approve the bills and claims and other remaining business.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes of Dec. 17, 2024 regular meeting — moved by Magistrate Marty; second by Magistrate Jeffrey; outcome: approved. - Planning & Zoning Ordinance No. 920.126 (add daycare centers/nurseries as conditional use in ag zone) — moved by Magistrate Jeffrey; second by Magistrate Myron; outcome: adopted (second and final passage). - Speed Limit Ordinance No. 530.63 (first reading: Purdue Road 25 mph; Russell Gallatin 45 mph) — moved by Magistrate Myron; second by Magistrate Jeffrey; outcome: first reading approved. - Approve $6,000 design quote for Harris School Road flood/design study — moved by Magistrate Jeffrey; second by Magistrate Marty; outcome: approved. - Approve $6,000 design quote for Cummer/Coomer Road flood/design study — moved by Magistrate Myron; second by Magistrate Marty; outcome: approved. - County Clerk 2025 calendar-year budget — moved by Magistrate Marty; second by Magistrate Myron; outcome: approved. - County Clerk 2025 maximum salaries cap $444,252 — moved by Magistrate Jeffrey; second by Magistrate Marty; outcome: approved. - Sheriff 2025 calendar-year budget — moved by Magistrate Marty; second by Magistrate Jeffrey; outcome: approved. - Sheriff 2025 maximum salaries cap $2,739,426 — moved by Magistrate Marty; second by Magistrate Myron; outcome: approved. - Budget transfers — moved by Magistrate Marty; second by Magistrate Jeffrey; outcome: approved. - December financial statement (subject to audit) — moved by Magistrate Marty; second by Magistrate Jeffrey; outcome: approved. - Enter executive session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) — moved by Magistrate Marty; second by Magistrate Jeffrey; outcome: approved. - Approve bills and claims as presented (after executive session) — moved by Magistrate Myra; second by Magistrate Jeffrey; outcome: approved. - Authorize county attorney to draft and send termination notice to City of Franklin re: interlocal planning-and-zoning agreement (Article 4.1) and to address auditor concerns about time cards — moved by Magistrate Marty; second by Magistrate Myron; outcome: approved.

What the court did not decide: The court discussed, but did not adopt, a countywide noise ordinance. Members asked the county attorney to gather sample ordinances and legal guidance before pursuing any local regulation limited to subdivisions. The court also did not act to change proposed fiscal-year raises at this meeting; several members said they would revisit raises when the fiscal-year budget process begins.

The court adjourned after routine closing business and scheduling notices about upcoming community events, including a Martin Luther King breakfast and the Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.