Daviess County Fiscal Court approves budget transfers, creates opioid-abatement fund and signs multiple construction change orders

Daviess County Fiscal Court on July 10 approved a series of budget moves and project actions intended to align the county’s books for the new fiscal year and address capital needs.

Treasurer Mr. Johnson told the court this was the first round of FY25–26 budgeted transfers, asking the court to move operating and debt-service dollars between funds. He outlined transfers including $1,752,254 from the general fund to the “rogue” fund for operations, $3,858,924 from the general fund to the jail fund, $117,700 from the general fund to the bond fund for complex debt service, $375,000 from the jail fund to the bond fund for detention center debt service and $593,000 from the general fund to the bond fund for public-safety radio system debt service. The court approved the transfers by voice vote.

The court also approved creation of a new opioid-abatement settlement fund (Fund 74) to comply with a state reporting requirement. Treasurer Mr. Johnson said the county would transfer the current balance of the Oakwood settlement (listed in the staff packet as $1,464,951.45) into Fund 74 and adjust the FY25–26 budget by decreasing the general fund and increasing Fund 74 by $1,500,000; he said state oversight offices had reviewed the proposal. Commissioner Conner asked whether the funds were tightly restricted to opioid-related programs and whether the county could coordinate spending with the City of Owensboro. "The opioid settlement funds are monies that were basically awarded to the state of Kentucky by big pharma," Conner said, and asked whether the county should pursue broader uses or legislative changes as drug problems evolve. Treasurer Mr. Johnson replied that "KRS 15 2 91 details various approved uses of the money," and that expenditures outside statutory uses require county-attorney review.

The court approved an annual incentive payment for the county jailer (required after completion of 40 hours of training under KRS 64.5275) following a staff recommendation.

On capital projects, the court granted a series of change orders and contract awards: Change Order 7 ($560.32) and Change Order 8 ($9,521.54) for purchase and installation of additional fire-hydrant components were approved; staff said those costs will be fully reimbursed by a Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA) grant. Additional change orders for the Morton J. Holbrook Judicial Center HVAC replacement were approved: a $2,090 change to relocate two sprinkler pendants and recertify the system; a $36,462 change for electrical repairs and additional hookups; and a $179,925 change to provide two temporary 80-ton packaged air-conditioning units after the contractor moved the schedule forward. Miss Sturgeon, who presented the items, said the AOC (Administrative Office of the Courts) had approved the adjustments and will reimburse the county.

Miss Sturgeon told the court that unanticipated buried utilities and a removed hydrant required a $23,020 change order for the hydrants installation project; she said the project is more than 90% complete. The court awarded Bid 2425-91 for a West Daviess County landfill maintenance building to Hart's Contracting of Owensboro for $991,246 and awarded Bid 2425-92 for a transfer-station office building at the Grimes Avenue site to Kilometers Construction Services LLC for $484,000; both awards were described as the lowest and best evaluated bids and were approved.

The court approved a deed of easement allowing Owensboro Municipal Utilities to abandon and cap an existing well on jail property and drill a new well roughly 15 feet away; staff said there are no costs to the fiscal court. The court also approved a personnel promotion — Brian Cecil to assistant chief effective July 6, 2025 — and accepted the retirement resignation of Tracing Campbell effective July 31, 2025.

There were no public commenters. Commissioners used their remarks time to thank first responders and community volunteers and to report on ongoing work around drainage, animal control and opioid-settlement planning. Presiding official announced a county highway-safety campaign through July 31, referenced recent changes tied to Senate Bill 107 that affect work-zone penalties and noted the next fiscal-court meeting is scheduled for July 25 at noon.

Votes at a glance - Approval of June 30, 2025 minutes — approved (voice vote) - Approval of departmental claims/payables — approved (voice vote) - FY25–26 budgeted fund transfers (multiple amounts) — approved (voice vote) - Creation of Fund 74 (opioid-abatement settlement fund) and transfer of ~$1.46M — approved (voice vote) - Incentive payment for jailer (KRS 64.5275) — approved (voice vote) - Change Order 7 (fire hydrant valve boxes), $560.32 — approved (voice vote); KIA reimbursement noted - Change Order 8 (fire hydrant extension kits), $9,521.54 — approved (voice vote); KIA reimbursement noted - Change Orders for Morton J. Holbrook HVAC: $2,090; $36,462; $179,925 — all approved (voice vote); AOC reimbursement noted - Change Order (hydrants installation), $23,020 — approved (voice vote); KIA reimbursement noted - Award Bid 2425-91 (landfill maintenance building) to Hart's Contracting — approved (voice vote) - Award Bid 2425-92 (transfer station office) to Kilometers Construction Services LLC — approved (voice vote) - Deed of easement to Owensboro Municipal Utilities — approved (voice vote) - Promotion of Brian Cecil to assistant chief — approved (voice vote) - Acceptance of retirement resignation of Tracing Campbell — approved (voice vote)

What happens next: Staff will implement the approved fund transfers and file the new Fund 74 accounting entries; county staff noted required county-attorney review for any opioid-settlement expenditures not expressly authorized by statute. The next fiscal-court meeting is set for July 25 at noon.