Daviess County fiscal court approves new solid‑waste agreement, budget transfers, medical cannabis rules and routine contracts

DAVIESS COUNTY, Ky. — The Daviess County Fiscal Court on June 19 approved a replacement interlocal cooperative agreement with the City of Henderson for solid‑waste disposal, authorized budget transfers ahead of the fiscal‑year close, completed the second reading of a local medical cannabis ordinance and approved several contracts, grants, personnel actions and subdivision road acceptances.

The changes to the solid‑waste interlocal agreement were presented as the court’s primary operational action. Charlie Casson, Daviess County judge‑executive, said the county and Henderson negotiated a new deal after the earlier 2015 agreement’s pricing formula would have taken many years to align with the county’s updated rate schedule. County staff said the City of Henderson’s legal team agreed to a mutual termination and a replacement agreement to take effect July 1, 2025.

The replacement agreement includes four main changes: (1) a simplified, defined pricing schedule for four years with future adjustments negotiated at renewal; (2) shorter renewal terms (three years instead of five); (3) equal termination rights for either party with 18 months’ notice; and (4) an automatic negotiation trigger if county operational costs rise 10% or more within any consecutive 12‑month period. County staff said Henderson’s volume is expected to help preserve the county’s rate schedule.

Why it matters: the agreement affects disposal rates and operations at the county’s transfer station and landfill, and the new pricing and negotiation mechanics change how future cost increases will be handled between the two governments.

Details and other actions

- Executive order naming emergency manager: The court recorded an executive order naming Public Safety Director Jeremy Smith as the county’s local emergency management director in accordance with KRS 39B.020. The order was presented as an administrative requirement following the resignation of Andy Ball.

- Budget transfers: Mr. Johnson (county treasurer/staff member) presented the second round of fiscal‑year transfers needed to avoid any account closing the year with expenses exceeding budgeted amounts. Transfers approved: $970,300 (general fund), $71,700 (road fund), $5,500 (jail fund), and $235,300 (solid‑waste operating fund), a total of $1,282,800. Mr. Johnson said transfers do not increase the overall budget but reallocate within it to reflect normal operations and known projects.

- County administrative code: The court adopted the Daviess County Administrative Code effective July 1, 2025. The code review committee updated procedures and clarified language for administration, personnel, purchasing and other county operations in accordance with KRS 68.005.

- Medical cannabis ordinance: The court completed a second reading of an ordinance (listed in the agenda as KLC 1031.0006‑2025) establishing local regulations and fees for medical cannabis businesses. County staff described the ordinance as implementing the state statutory framework that took effect Jan. 1, 2025, with county‑level definitions and fee provisions; court members confirmed the goal of consistency between city and county rules for enforcement clarity. The ordinance passed on second reading.

- Contracts, grants and purchases: • Health department contract: Approved an annual agreement with the Green River District Health Department for employee assessments and vaccinations (hepatitis B, rabies series, TB risk assessments) with a not‑to‑exceed total of $9,000 for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026. Presented by Mr. Johnson. • Kentucky Bridal Fund grant: Ratified a previously signed household hazardous waste grant agreement for $30,000 to support the county’s annual collection event (Toxaway Day). The judge executive had signed the agreement June 6, 2025, because the grant deadline did not align with court dates. • Vehicle award: The court awarded SMA #2420579 for one new full‑size 4WD SUV (2025 Chevrolet Tahoe) to Bachman Auto Group for $57,706 under the state master agreement; staff said the vehicle will replace an existing fleet unit and is not incremental to fleet size. • Roof replacement: The court awarded bid #2420588 to Paramount Roofing LLC for $117,500 to replace the roof at the Western Kentucky University Owensboro Campus building after hail damage; staff said insurance reimbursement will offset the cost.

- Solid‑waste contract termination and replacement: As noted above, the court terminated the prior interlocal agreement with the City of Henderson (effective June 30, 2025) and approved the replacement to begin July 1, 2025. Staff explained that negotiations extended beyond the auto‑renewal date and the mutual termination was required to install the new, defined pricing schedule.

- Subdivision roads and sureties: The court adopted multiple resolutions accepting completed roads in the Bridgewood subdivision (including Bridgewood section connecting to Settles Road, Creek Valley Court, Pine Valley Court) after engineering inspection, and approved release of public improvements sureties for Bridgewood Section 2 Units 3 and 4. County engineering staff recommended acceptance and release following inspection.

- Personnel and board appointments: • Promoted Eric Coleman to fire chief, effective June 9, 2025. The court congratulated Coleman on the promotion. • Hired Kane Logston as a service technician, effective June 16, 2025. • Accepted the resignation of Andy Ball, effective June 27, 2025; the court thanked him for his service. • Reappointed Tim Klein to the RWRA board for a term effective July 1, 2025–June 30, 2029. • Reappointed Andrew Howard to the Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau board (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2028) and appointed Alfredo Sierra (Hotel/Motel Association) and Claude Paken (to complete an unexpired term) to the CVB for specified terms. • Appointed David Moore and Todd Ray to the Daviess County Economic Development Advisory Committee for eastern and central seats, respectively, terms beginning July 1, 2025.

- Minutes, claims and routine approvals: The court approved the minutes of June 5, 2025, all departmental claims, and routine fiscal‑year budget transfers as presented.

Public comment and brief recognitions

Members of the Owensboro Amateur Radio Club received a proclamation recognizing field‑day activities June 28–29 and invited the court and public to attend demonstrations at Panther Creek Park. Commissioner comments included recognition of jailer Chris Isbell, who was noted for receiving a state deputy jailer of the year recognition for actions during a recent accident, and thanks to local community groups for participation in a cash‑for‑trash program. The court adjourned after these remarks.

Voting and procedure

Most items were moved, seconded and passed by voice vote with no recorded dissent; the meeting record shows affirmative “aye” responses for the motions reported. Where statutory references were cited in presentation, staff cited KRS 39B.020 for the emergency management designation and KRS 68.005 for the administrative code review.

The court meets regularly; staff noted that some items (for example the hazardous‑waste grant) were signed in advance of a meeting to meet application deadlines and later ratified by the court.