Franklin County Fiscal Court unanimously approves budget items, election equipment grant application and $50,000 bond authorization tied to Monoplast

The Franklin County Fiscal Court, presided over by Judge/Executive Michael Mueller, met April 12, 2023, and voted unanimously on a series of routine financial and project-related measures.

The court received the Franklin County Extension District’s Fiscal Year 2023–2024 budget and accepted the Treasurer’s quarterly report for the nine months ending March 31, 2023. Squire Eric Whisman moved to approve the minutes from the March 30 regular meeting; Squire J.W. Blackburn seconded the motion, which passed with all members voting in favor.

County business included financial housekeeping and one grant-related authorization: the court approved a resolution authorizing the filing of a Kentucky House Bill 1 Fiscal Year 2022–2024 County Clerk Election Equipment Grant application for up to $189,197.39 to purchase election equipment. Squire J.W. Blackburn made the motion to approve the resolution; Squire Scotty Tracy seconded it, and the court voted unanimously to authorize submission of the application.

After briefly entering a closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) and (g) for personnel matters, the court returned to open session and approved the rehiring of Bill Hale as a part‑time, seasonal golf employee. The closed-session motion to convene and the motion to return to open session were both adopted unanimously.

In other business added to the agenda, the court approved Resolution #9‑2023, authorizing the issuance of Franklin County taxable industrial building revenue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000. The resolution authorizes related lease and payment-in-lieu-of-tax agreements to finance expansion, acquisition, and equipping of an “industrial building,” as defined in KRS 103.200(1), to be leased to Monoplast North America, Inc., subject to final approval of an incentive package from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Squire J.W. Blackburn moved the bond resolution; Squire Sherry Sebastian seconded it, and the motion passed unanimously.

The court also authorized the Franklin County Judge/Executive to sign a pilot agreement related to an item approved earlier in the meeting (agenda item #13). That authorization was approved by motion of Squire Sherry Sebastian, seconded by Squire Eric Whisman.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions in the minutes were adopted on unanimous votes with Squires Sherry Sebastian, J.W. Blackburn, Kelly Dycus, Scotty Tracy, Richard Tanner, Eric Whisman, and Judge Michael Mueller voting in favor.

The meeting was called to order at 10:56 a.m. and adjourned at 3:01 p.m.

Authorities and references cited in the meeting record included KRS 61.810 (closed-session statute) and KRS 103.200(1) (definition of "industrial building" used in the bond resolution). Specific dollar figures recorded in the minutes include the election equipment grant ceiling of $189,197.39 and the bond authorization cap of $50,000. Where the minutes list items without further detail (for example, the pilot agreement terms or the incentive package from the Commonwealth), the record describes those items as approved or subject to final approval but does not specify terms in the minutes.

Next steps: the documents referenced (grant application, bond documents, and pilot agreement) will proceed per the authorizations recorded; the minutes do not specify deadlines or implementation dates beyond the approvals listed.