Pike County Fiscal Court approves appointments, grant application and budget transfers; several items set for future readings

Pike County Fiscal Court approved a series of motions on routine business and recovery spending at its Oct. 6 meeting, including two ethics commission appointments, an Appalachian Regional Commission grant application, authorization to buy emergency salt for winter, and multiple interfund transfers and personnel actions after an executive session.

Key votes at the meeting

- Ethics commission appointments: The court voted to reappoint Jim Pruitt and James Dwight Chaney to four-year terms on the Pike County Ethics Commission (term expiration for Chaney noted as Oct. 6, 2029). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Atkins and passed by roll call (Commissioners Scott, Atkins, Lewis and Judge Jones voting yes).

- ARC grant resolution: The court unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing the filing of an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant application for the Brushy Creek Waterline Extension Phase 2 and authorizing the judge executive to execute related documents. Motion by Commissioner Scott; second by Commissioner Lewis; roll-call approval recorded.

- Emergency winter salt agreement: The court authorized execution of a Transportation Cabinet Division of Maintenance agreement allowing the county to purchase up to 750 tons of road salt at $118.43 per ton, plus a $1.42 per-ton handling fee and a one-time administrative fee of $97.15. Motion by Commissioner Scott; second by Commissioner Lewis; roll-call approval recorded. The court noted the per-ton price rose from $112.63 the previous year.

- Road work orders: The court adopted completed and scheduled road work orders after the road report. Motion to adopt was moved by Commissioner Lewis, seconded by Commissioner Scott, and approved by roll call.

- Treasurer’s business: The court authorized interfund transfers of $400,000 from the road fund to the maintenance garage fund and $400,000 from the solid waste fund to the maintenance garage fund; it also authorized a $400,000 bank transfer from the solid waste account back to the consolidated account, acknowledged the treasurer’s monthly statement through Sept. 30, 2025, and authorized checks related to ambulance services and the Kentucky Ambulance Block Grant for fiscal 2026. Motion by Commissioner Atkins; second by Commissioner Lewis; roll-call approval recorded.

Executive-session outcomes and personnel/procurement actions

After entering executive session under the stated statutory paragraphs for litigation and personnel, the court returned and recorded several actions: hiring acknowledgment for Trisha Donna Coleman as a housekeeper at the county (effective Oct. 6, 2025); an amended termination date for Danny Woods; issuance of a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals for a privately constructed solid waste disposal site in the county; and a personnel pay adjustment moving Jeanie Robinson from a 5A to a 6A pay rate effective Oct. 7, 2025. Motions and seconders were recorded in each case and roll-call votes were recorded as yes by Commissioners Scott, Atkins, Lewis and Judge Jones.

First readings and items for future action

- The court held a first reading of an ordinance to add Hillbilly Hollow Road to the Pike County road system (to be advertised and considered at a second reading at the next meeting).

- The court also had first readings for adding Right Fork of Upper Camp (600-foot stretch) to the county road system and for an amendment to the county sick-leave policy; no votes were taken on those items at this meeting.

Ending: The fiscal court adjourned after prayer; no additional votes were taken.