Simpson County Fiscal Court approves budget amendment, accepts culvert bid and authorizes equipment purchases

The Simpson County Fiscal Court on Oct. 21 approved the first reading of Ordinance 220.265 (FY25-26 Budget Amendment #1), accepted a $171,495 bid from Scott & Murphy, Inc. for a culvert on Hack Brown Road, and authorized the purchase of a public works excavator at the state contract price of $152,500.

Judge/Executive Mason Barnes called the meeting to order. Magistrate Marty Chandler moved to approve the ordinance on first reading; Magistrate Jeffrey Burr seconded and the court approved the measure. The court also accepted Scott & Murphy, Inc.'s bid for the Hack Brown Road culvert and authorized the excavator purchase following motions and seconds from magistrates; those motions passed with votes recorded as "yes-all." On the approval of the Sept. 30 special-called meeting minutes, the record shows Magistrates Thurman, Poston, Burr and Chandler voted yes and Judge/Executive Barnes abstained.

The court approved a string of road-disturbance permits for AT&T Fiber covering Peden Mill Road, Salem Road, Burnley Road (two permits) and Perdue Farm Road (two permits); those permits were moved and seconded by magistrates and approved. The court also approved a Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement enabling Simpson County to participate in mutual-aid responses with surrounding areas and the state of Kentucky for emergencies and disasters.

On personnel matters, the court approved naming Stacie King as Assistant Fiscal Court Clerk and adopted Employee Resolution No. 2025-10-21EMP-ADMIN, which records King’s first year of employment and additional responsibilities; the motion passed unanimously.

Financial actions included approval of the September financial statement subject to audit and authorization for the County Judge and County Treasurer to sign. The court approved a cash transfer of $195,407 from the General Fund to the Jail Fund. A package of budget transfers reallocating funds across departments (examples included transfers for mapping software, coroner vehicle maintenance, DTF utilities, fire department workers compensation and ARPA-related payments) was also approved.

The court reviewed and approved bills and claims as presented, including payroll and vendor payments recorded in the meeting packet. The vendor list and claims were accepted by motion of Magistrate Scott Poston, seconded by Magistrate Jeffrey Burr, and approved by the court.

What happens next: Ordinance 220.265 was approved on first reading and will appear for further consideration according to the court's ordinance-reading schedule; budget and transfer items will be reflected in accounting records and the September financial statement will be finalized after the audit.

Votes at a glance: Sept. 30 minutes approved (Thurman, Poston, Burr, Chandler yes; Barnes abstained); Ordinance 220.265 (1st reading) approved (motion Chandler; second Burr; yes-all); Scott & Murphy bid accepted for Hack Brown Road culvert $171,495 (motion Chandler; second Thurman; yes-all); Excavator purchase at $152,500 approved (motion Thurman; second Poston; yes-all); Multiple AT&T Fiber road-disturbance permits approved (motions by Burr/Poston/Chandler/Thurman as recorded; yes-all); Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement approved (motion Burr; second Chandler; yes-all); Appointment of Stacie King as Assistant Fiscal Court Clerk and Employee Resolution 2025-10-21EMP-ADMIN approved (motion Thurman; second Chandler; yes-all); September financial statement approved subject to audit and $195,407 cash transfer to Jail Fund approved (motions Poston/Burr; yes-all); Budget transfers approved (motion Poston; second Burr; yes-all); Bills and claims approved (motion Poston; second Burr; yes-all).

Reporting and records: The clerk’s record contains the full vendor list and the signed motions; the financial statement was approved subject to audit, and the court authorized county signatures for finalization.