Franklin County approves buyout, sanitation and grant‑administration contracts; accepts Farm Dale audit

Franklin County Fiscal Court on Feb. 12 approved a slate of procurement and grant items tied to the county's home buyout program, the Farm Dale Sanitation interceptor sewer project and public‑safety equipment purchases, and accepted an audited financial statement for Farm Dale Sanitation that flagged repeated material weaknesses.

Buyout program procurement and conditions

Aaron, county staff overseeing the Franklin County buyout program, told the court title searches for 20 approved properties had cleared and recommended awarding the environmental review contract to Metrc Environmental LLC as the lowest bidder; the court approved the award and noted no additional county funds were required for the environmental review phase. Aaron also presented appraisal services for the program and said only one bid was received from Stuttler and/or Studler and Associates; because the firm had not yet provided proof of registration in SAM.gov, the court approved the award contingent on submission of SAM.gov good‑standing documentation within 15 days and granted the county judge authority to extend that deadline if necessary to avoid re‑bidding.

"We've worked with them in the past," Aaron said of the environmental reviewer, and he recommended moving forward with the lowest responsive bids so the buyout pipeline remains active.

Bluegrass Area Development District and Farm Dale Sanitation

Belinda, representing Farm Dale Sanitation, and Logan Hart, director of community and economic development for the Bluegrass Area Development District, presented two separate agreements with Bluegrass ADD: one to administer a $1,250,000 Community Development Block Grant for the Farm Dale Interceptor Sewer Project and a second to administer roughly $4,250,000 in EPA funds (the transcript references an EPA congressional direct/state/tribal assistance grant). Administrative fees are capped at $50,000 for each contract and will be drawn from grant proceeds as construction pay applications and corresponding administration invoices are submitted.

"This is all money that was already included in the budgets for both of these grants," Hart said, adding that the county will not have to pay invoices until grant funds are drawn down and are in the bank.

Farm Dale audit and governance concern

The court reviewed the Farm Dale Sanitation audited financial statements for the fiscal years ending 06/30/2025 and 2024. A commissioner highlighted repeated auditor findings and material weaknesses tied to the sanitation district's lack of staff: the district relies on the auditing firm to compile financial records and the auditor flagged that as an ongoing deficiency. The court accepted the audit and noted the finding for the administrative record.

Fire department gear washer/extractor/dryer purchase

Belinda also briefed the court on an Assistance to Firefighters grant awarded in 2024 totaling $167,636.36; after purchasing self‑contained breathing apparatuses and related gear in 2025, $12,168.18 remained. FEMA guidance precludes buying additional SCBA apparatus with the leftover funds, but allows using remaining grant funds for other high‑priority equipment. The court approved applying the remaining federal dollars and a county contribution of approximately $6,507.22 (final county match to be budget‑amended) to purchase a washer, extractor and dryer to decontaminate turnout gear (estimated cost $18,675.40) to meet National Fire Protection Association cleaning standards.

Other approvals

The court also authorized a memorandum of understanding between Thornhill Education Center and the Franklin County Regional Jail to provide adult education services, accepted the Farm Dale audit, approved the treasurer's report and budget transfers, authorized payment of claims, and directed the county judge to execute arbitrage rebate paperwork related to a July 2023 bond (Amtech calculated a rebate liability of $161,008.14.73; the county had previously set aside $183,000). All listed motions were approved by voice vote during the voting session.

The court recorded that some awards (appraisal services) were contingent on administrative compliance (SAM.gov registration) and that the county judge may extend deadlines to avoid project delays.