Spencer County Fiscal Court approves ABC contract, accepts donated radios, and directs opioid funds to EMS

The Spencer County Fiscal Court on Feb. 2 approved or acknowledged multiple operational and intergovernmental items, including an ABC administrator contract with the City of Taylorsville, acceptance of a donated radio grant for the sheriff's office, and opioid-fund spending for EMS.

ABC contract: The court approved a contract authorizing the county's ABC administrator designee to also serve as the City of Taylorsville's ABC administrator designee. The draft contract—approved by motion and recorded "pending City Attorney approval"—would have the city pay the county $3,600 per year (paid monthly at $300) for two years. The contract language in the meeting packet cites KRS 79.110–79.180 authority for interlocal agreements and states the county employee would remain a county employee with county-funded salary and benefits while performing city duties.

Radio grant for sheriff's office: Chief Deputy Herbstreith told the court that the sheriff's office had been approved to receive 15 Kenwood NX-5200 portable radio packages (Kenwood NX‑5200K2‑L2M) with batteries, chargers and a three‑year warranty. The equipment value in the vendor estimate is $16,297.65; the packet notes the radios were provided via the Gary Sinise Foundation and shipped from J&N Electronics, and the county would only be responsible for shipping cost. The court did not need to take further fiscal action on the donation.

CDBG parks grant and other operational approvals: The court voted to apply for a Community Development Block Grant for parks expansion up to the maximum amount allowed, and it approved the sheriff's budget as presented. The court also approved routine operational items: surplus of an Animal Control truck bed, authorization for the judge to obtain up to 500 tons of road salt, and up to $10,000 to repair the courthouse elevator.

Opioid funds redirected to EMS: On a motion by Esq. Cotton the court approved $30,000 in opioid funds to allow EMS to carry nitrous oxide. The meeting minutes also record a separate motion to increase the EMS medical director's salary by $2,352 annually (to $19,152), which passed by voice vote.

Invoices, transfers and other approvals: The acting treasurer presented detailed quarterly financial statements and revenue-condition reports across the general, road, jail and other funds; the court approved invoices, claims and listed transfers, including a $10,000 transfer from building/grounds maintenance to elevator maintenance. The invoices register includes a purchases list (including a $3,142 fireworks payment) and multiple vendor invoices and interfund transfers.

Executive session: The court entered executive session under KRS 61.810(c) and (f) at 10:16 a.m. and returned to open session with a motion stating no decisions were made; the meeting adjourned at about 1:03 p.m.

What this means: The ABC contract would centralize ABC administration for city and county and generate a modest annual fee to the county from the city; the donated radios will expand sheriff communications capacity at no equipment cost to the county; and the opioid fund allocation sends $30,000 to EMS equipment/supplies for nitrous oxide. The court recorded multiple administrative approvals and routine spending decisions during the Feb. 2 meeting.