Woodford County fiscal court approves multiple contracts, road bids and schedules zoning and budget second readings

The Woodford County Fiscal Court on Tuesday approved a series of administrative and contracting actions related to flood recovery, roads, solid waste and county budgeting, and held first readings of a zoning map amendment and a budget amendment.

Key votes at a glance (motions passed unanimously unless noted): - Authorize advertisement and start of an RFQ process for a proposed Emergency Management warehouse at Woodford County Park (motion by Squire Gentry; second Squire Taylor). The court recorded that the RFQ would give administrators a cost estimate and does not bind the county to construct the building.

- Approve the latest statewide emergency management mutual aid assistance agreement, contingent on final approval by the county attorney and judge executive (motion by Squire Gill; second Squire Downey). The agreement sets framework expectations for county‑to‑county and city‑to‑city mutual aid and reimbursement practices.

- Accept the county clerk’s quarterly report for the quarter ending June 30 (motion by Squire Taylor; second Squire Gill).

- Approve a two‑year contract renewal with Rumpke for open‑top and closed‑top containers and compactors at the Solid Waste and Recycling Center, contingent on county attorney and judge executive final approval (motion by Squire Varner; second Squire Brown).

- Begin the advertisement and bid process for LED lights, a scoreboard and a sound system at Community Save Stadium (motion by Squire Gentry; second Squire Taylor), and authorize the maintenance supervisor to solicit quotes for a courthouse sound system (motion by Squire Downey; second Squire Gentry).

- Accept a single bid for Old Clifton Road paving (FD 39 funds) in the amount of $23,964 (motion by Squire Gentry; second Squire Brown) and begin bid advertising for resurfacing and paving projects including a 4 Acre Road (flex funds) and improvements on Hefner, Oregon, Buck Run, Germany and Watts Ferry roads (motion by Squire Gentry; second Squire Downey for multiple‑road ad). Court discussion identified flood damage as a driver of these priorities.

- Approve the county bills to be paid, approve a personnel order and approve transfers as presented (motions recorded and adopted by unanimous voice vote).

- Conducted a summary first reading of Ordinance 2025‑09, a zoning map amendment and general development plan request from Sea Island Soil Company, LLC (197 Browns Mill Road) to rezone approximately 1.19 acres from R‑1B (single‑family residential) to A‑1 (agricultural); the commission recommended approval and the court scheduled the second reading (first reading moved by Squire Taylor; second Squire Varner).

- Conducted a summary first reading of Budget Amendment Ordinance 2025‑08 to recognize $3,497,522.47 in unbudgeted receipts (carryover from fiscal year 2024) and amend appropriations across general road, state and federal grants, opioid abatement, sheriff asset forfeiture and other funds; the court scheduled a second reading (motion by Scribe Brown; second Squire Gill).

- Entered executive session under KRS 61.810(1)(b) for potential property acquisition related to flood properties and later returned to open session with no action reported from the executive session (motion to enter by Squire Gentry; second Squire Brown; motion to return without action renewed by Squire Varner; second Squire Brown).

Why it matters: the package of motions advances several capital and recovery projects already in the county’s budget planning and positions the county to pursue flood repairs and mitigation quickly. The zoning and budget ordinances require a second reading before becoming effective.

Details and context: Solid Waste Director Cherry McDaniel recommended the Rumpke renewal. Maintenance Director Rick Wade reported work on the courthouse sound system and on Community Save Stadium items; he also reported termite treatment and repairs to the county theater and said the in‑house work is keeping the project under the county’s $70,000 budget line for that project. Road department work was described as behind schedule because of flood recovery and staffing shortages; the court noted one recent road department retirement and one serious ATV injury.

The court’s first readings: County Attorney summarized the rezoning request and the budget amendment in summary form; both were accepted for first reading and scheduled for legal advertisement and a second reading at a later meeting date. No final votes on either ordinance were taken at the meeting.

Ending: Court members said staff will circulate documents and keep the public informed; the meeting ended after returning from executive session.