Russell County fiscal court adopts budget amendment, grants and equipment purchases; several appointments approved

Russell County Fiscal Court on Friday approved a fiscal-year amendment to add unbudgeted jail receipts, passed several grant resolutions, authorized equipment purchases and confirmed a slate of board appointments.

The court voted to amend the 2024–25 budget to record additional jail-related revenues and to appropriate that amount into the jail fund’s reserve-for-transfer account. The court also approved resolutions to pursue a COPS grant for three officers and to pursue state matching dollars for a volunteer fire department grant. The court authorized purchases from state surplus and used-vehicle sources to support the transfer station and other county operations and confirmed tourism and ethics board appointments.

The amendments to the jail fund reflect three revenue items the court read into the record: allotments/corrections assistance ($22,722.42), state-inmate reimbursements ($51,301.34) and other-county inmate reimbursements ($42,113.03). The court read a combined total for those receipts and moved the same amount to the jail fund’s reserve-for-transfer account.

Court members also approved a $13,375 payment to Pulaski County for regional shelter services and authorized a $50,000 transfer from the general fund to the jail fund.

On grants and program funding, the court approved a resolution to pursue a COPS grant to fund three officers to staff hospital coverage and approved submitting paperwork for a state match (House Bill 605) that could supplement a previously approved volunteer fire department federal grant. The court voted to apply for an ARC grant the court said would seed a civic-engagement apprenticeship for local youth and reviewed a $133,000 crumb-rubber road grant and a $5 million EPA grant application tied to the county transfer station; the crumb-rubber grant was reported as awarded to a four-county project and the EPA application had passed an initial phase.

The court authorized purchases for county operations: approval to buy a backhoe from state surplus (motion approved) and authority to acquire a used truck not to exceed $12,000. The purchases were described as needed to support transfer-station and road operations.

Tourism board reappointments and new appointments were approved: Caleb Weaver (to replace Jared Popowill), Whitney Markham (reappointment) and Randy Beard (reappointment if willing). Ross Haynes was appointed to the ethics board.

Several routine fiscal motions were approved as well: approval of minutes and payment of bills; acceptance of the jail and sheriff reports; acceptance of tax settlements; and acceptance of the treasurer’s monthly report and preapproved transfers. The court also adopted an administrative code for the 2025–26 year with no substantive changes noted.

The court went into an executive session under KRS 61.810 and later came out with no action taken. Several personnel and staffing adjustments at the county transfer station were approved during other business.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2025-05 (budget amendment): approved (motion recorded; court moved to amend jail fund receipts and appropriate $116,136.79 to reserve-for-transfer as read; vote: all in favor). - Payment to Pulaski County, regional shelter, $13,375: approved (all in favor). - Transfer $50,000 from general fund to jail fund: approved (all in favor). - Resolution 2504 (COPS grant for three officers): approved (all in favor). - Resolution 2505 (HB 605 state-match filing for volunteer fire department): motion to submit resolution approved (all in favor). - ARC grant application for civic apprenticeship (start-up funds ~ $7,000 reported): approved to pursue (all in favor). - Crumb-rubber road grant ($133,000) reported as awarded to a multi-county project; informational. - EPA grant application for transfer station (~$5 million) reported as advanced past phase 1; informational. - Purchase approval: backhoe (state surplus): approved (all in favor). - Purchase authorization: used truck not to exceed $12,000: approved (all in favor). - Tourism board appointments (Caleb Weaver, Whitney Markham, Randy Beard): approved (all in favor). - Ethics board appointment (Ross Haynes): approved (all in favor). - Discontinuance reading for a portion of Dillon Drive (0.036 miles, owner request of Brian/Bridal Cooper): reading completed and motion to proceed with process approved (all in favor). - Executive session (KRS 61.810): entered and closed; no action taken.

The court’s motions were typically moved and seconded by magistrates; where specific mover/second names were audible the minutes record them. The court recorded unanimous “aye” responses for the listed approvals. Several items on grant pursuit and equipment acquisition will require follow-up paperwork and signatures by county officials.

Ending: The court closed after routine announcements and an SBA presentation on disaster loans; no additional county-level votes were recorded after the business and grant items.