Nelson County Fiscal Court on Dec. 2 approved a 2025 budget amendment, hired two full-time employees for landfill and driving positions, and accepted a private firm to perform the county's 2025 audit after the state declined the work.

At a regular session, the court approved a budget amendment described by county staff as an increase in excess fees of $37,159.42 (presented as an estimate). Court discussion noted the figure could change slightly before the year end; the clerk provided a total amount the court was reviewing of roughly $495,888.88. After a motion and second, the court voted to approve the amendment.

The court also approved hiring landfill employee Ethan Covey and driver Travis Tennell to full-time status after a motion to accept the hirings was made and seconded. No salary or effective-date details were specified in the meeting record.

Rhonda (County staff) told the court that the state will not perform the audit this year and recommended contracting Roy Hunter, CPA, to complete the 2025 audit. Rhonda said the firm "quoted 16,800," and argued the private firm would complete work more quickly; the court voted to accept Roy Hunter, CPA, to perform the audit.

The court took these actions as part of routine business for the fiscal year. The court also approved routine bills and minutes earlier in the meeting.

Next steps: staff will proceed with the audit contract and complete onboarding for the new hires; the record did not include full contract dollar amounts or hiring start dates beyond the figures cited at the meeting.