Owsley County officials approve road-material bids, allocate $70,000 for Big Springs road work and authorize search for new garbage truck

Owsley County officials voted Wednesday to accept road-material bids, pass a resolution to use $70,000 left over from last year to blacktop Big Springs Road, and authorize staff to seek a replacement garbage truck.

The meeting opened with a finance report from a county finance officer, who summarized account balances, saying "For general, there's a $191,016.46. Road has $1,366,179.02. Jail, $13,818.40. LGEA, $1,770.99. Solid waste, $48,844.26." The officer also listed additional funds including "Opioid, $129,197.20" and an EKSAFE balance of "$178,263.57." No vote was required for the report.

Why it matters: the actions set immediate work priorities for county road crews and solid-waste operations and commit leftover local funds toward a specific road project, enabling the county to proceed with a state memorandum of agreement (MOA) needed before blacktopping can begin.

What the court approved and discussed

- Road-material bids: The court reviewed detailed unit prices for pipe and asphalt mixes and moved to accept the recommended bid (contractor name not specified in the transcript). The motion to accept the bid was made and carried with vocal "ayes." The county discussed specific unit prices for pipe and multiple asphalt classes and delivery terms (examples cited in the meeting included 4-inch and 6-inch pipe prices and asphalt class and per-ton prices). The transcript indicates bidders' unit prices and FOB versus in-place delivery options were discussed before the vote.

- Big Springs Road resolution and MOA: The court voted to pass a resolution to apply $70,000 that had been left over from the prior year toward blacktopping work at Big Springs Road and to move forward with the state MOA so paving can be scheduled. A motion to pass the resolution was made and carried with vocal assent.

- Garbage truck search: The court gave staff permission to begin the process of locating and evaluating a replacement/refurbished garbage truck after two packer trucks were reported out of service. The county discussed one available Freightliner with low miles requiring a box/packer to be added; the court approved pursuing options and authorized staff to start the procurement process.

- Speed bump request: The court accepted a request to place a single speed bump in a neighborhood referred to in the transcript as "global heights." A commissioner moved to accept the speed bump request and the motion passed.

Other business and discussion items

- Building appraisal: Commissioners reported receiving an appraisal for a 1930s-era law office that came in at $240,000 and discussed interest from an outside party; the transcript records discussion about possible uses (parts storage, rental, or renovation) and a remark that the seller's asking price appeared to be lower in later discussion. No formal purchase action or binding commitment was recorded in the meeting minutes.

- Flooding and reimbursement: Commissioners discussed recent flood damage on Upper Wolf Creek Trail and other low-lying roads and noted county staff have documented damage with the Kentucky Department of Water Systems. They said that if the state declares the event a disaster the county can apply for reimbursement; staff will continue to pursue declarations and documentation.

- Solid waste and courthouse/park maintenance: The finance report showed the solid-waste fund in positive balance. Commissioners also discussed courthouse landscaping and benches, flagpole installation, parking-lot resurfacing contact with district courthouse staff, and repairs at county park facilities and the ballfield scoreboard.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to accept recommended road-material bid: Passed (vocal "ayes" recorded; mover not specified). - Resolution to allocate $70,000 for Big Springs Road and proceed with state MOA: Passed (vocal "ayes" recorded; mover not specified). - Motion to authorize staff to seek/purchase a replacement garbage truck: Passed (vocal "ayes" recorded; mover not specified). - Motion to approve installation of one speed bump ("Global Heights"): Passed (vocal "ayes" recorded; mover not specified).

The meeting included additional operational updates and informal discussion about facilities and community maintenance projects. Where specific vote tallies, contractor names, or final purchase terms were not stated in the transcript, the record notes those items as not specified and staff were directed to follow up with formal procurement steps and agreements.