Oldham County signs interlocal agreement to join regional drug‑enforcement task force; $40,000 seed funding pledged

The Oldham County Fiscal Court voted March 4 to sign an interlocal agreement joining Carroll, Gallatin, Henry, Owen and Trimble counties and the Kentucky State Police to form a regional drug‑enforcement task force for North‑Central Kentucky.

Judge Executive David Vogel and county staff said the agreement is intended to seed a multi‑county initiative to address illegal drug sales and related enforcement across the corridor. The proposed interlocal calls for a $40,000 initial contribution from this jurisdiction; Vogel and other officials said the final funding source — the county’s opioid‑settlement allocation or general‑fund dollars — will be decided later and that an attorney‑general review will follow.

Why it matters: the interlocal would create a coordinated, multi‑county enforcement mechanism backed by state and local prosecutors and law‑enforcement partners to address distribution and trafficking across county lines.

Review and oversight County Attorney Baxter told the court the signed agreement must be submitted to the Kentucky Attorney General for review and approval, and once the AG signs off it will be recorded with the Secretary of State. Vogel said counties will not immediately be required to pay the $40,000; the fiscal court will later determine the funding source and could choose opioid settlement dollars if permitted by the AG’s opinion. The agreement also contains a 90‑day escape clause, the judge noted, allowing counties to withdraw in the future.

Court discussion and vote Magistrates asked for clarifications about contract wording, use of funds and whether the county would use opioid allocations. Vogel and Baxter said clarifications had been made and the legal review process will continue; the court moved and seconded the interlocal and approved it by voice vote.

Next steps - Agreement will be forwarded to the Kentucky Attorney General’s office for formal review. - Once approved by the AG and recorded, participating counties will determine funding sources and operational details; the court indicated the $40,000 commitment will be considered for payment only after AG guidance on allowable uses for opioid funds and other options is received.

Ending Officials said they expect the task force to help focus enforcement resources across county lines and that additional counties could join. The court’s vote signals Oldham County’s participation in regional enforcement planning while reserving final funding decisions pending legal guidance.