Simpson County Fiscal Court approves reapportionment, speed‑limit reductions and multiple administrative measures
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Summary
On Aug. 1 the Simpson County Fiscal Court approved second‑reading ordinances that reapportion magistrate districts (moving 144 residents) and lower speed limits on multiple county roads, and it adopted ARPA procurement guidance, a road resurfacing agreement and several personnel and contract actions.
The Simpson County Fiscal Court on Aug. 1 approved a package of ordinances, contracts and personnel actions that included final passage of a magistrate‑district reapportionment and a countywide set of speed‑limit reductions.
County Judge‑Executive Mason Barnes opened the meeting at the Simpson County Historic Courthouse and the court took unanimous or recorded votes on several items. The court approved second reading and final passage of Ordinance No. 110.9, adopting the reapportionment commission report under KRS 67.045 and moving 144 citizens from the South Magisterial District to the West Magisterial District (motion by Magistrate Myron Thurman; second by Magistrate Marty Chandler; recorded votes in favor: Thurman, Chandler, Burr, Poston and Barnes). The action reestablishes magisterial boundaries and adopts an accompanying map.
The court also approved second reading and final passage of Ordinance No. 530.61, which sets reduced speed limits on a list of county roads (20, 25, 35 and 45 mph designations as specified in the ordinance). The motion to adopt was made by Magistrate Jeffrey Burr and seconded by Magistrate Scott Poston; the transcript records an affirmative vote by Burr, Poston, Chandler, Thurman and Barnes.
Other formal actions included adoption of a procurement policy for purchases made with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to align with recent Kentucky legislation that raised the local procurement threshold from $30,000 to $40,000; approval of a Rural Secondary Program Agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet providing $176,908 for resurfacing Elliott Road (CR‑1328) and Kenny Perry Drive (CR‑1150); and approval of budget transfers including a $32,750 transfer from the ARPA fund to the General Fund. The court authorized Judge‑Executive Barnes to sign required documents where noted.
The court approved personnel and hiring actions: appointment of Nicole Law to a four‑year term as Simpson County Treasurer through June 30, 2027 (approved pursuant to KRS 68.010(1)(a)); hiring Daniel Cowan as a full‑time Public Works equipment operator effective Aug. 14, 2023; and hiring Derrick Slaughter as a part‑time firefighter effective Aug. 1, 2023. The court approved an updated memorandum of understanding with Mid America Health, Inc. for on‑site portable dental services for jail inmates, increasing the per‑treatment‑day fee from $2,200 to $2,400, and authorized purchase of a $12,000 air‑conditioning unit for the jail.
On routine business the court approved a lengthy claims and payroll list for county operations. Judge‑Executive Barnes also shared a letter from Franklin‑Simpson Chamber Executive Director Steve Thurmond thanking Fiscal Court staff for repairs to the Goodnight House and announced upcoming chamber events and a hotel ribbon‑cutting.
Magistrates raised a mix of operational concerns during the meeting: Magistrate Myron Thurman pressed for review of trash collection lapses by contractor Scott Waste and Magistrate Marty Chandler said billing adjustments should reflect missed collections; County Attorney Sam Phillips was asked to review the joint city/county contract (current through June 30, 2026) and report back at the next meeting. Facilities and building projects — including continued planning discussions with Spum Architect for a new county clerk building — were also reported.
"I did turn in our pay the way we budgeted," Jailer Eric Vaughn told the court while presenting the jail service contract update, a point that preceded the court’s authorization of the updated dental services MOU.
The court set a public hearing for the Sept. 5 fiscal court meeting on Ordinance No. 220.252, the first reading establishing the 2023 tax rates (rates left unchanged from 2022). The court adjourned at 9:30 a.m.
Why this matters: The reapportionment ordinance changes magisterial district boundaries and constituents’ district representation; the speed‑limit ordinance alters traffic enforcement and safety expectations on many local roads; and the ARPA and resurfacing actions direct federal/state recovery and transportation funds that affect county infrastructure and budget planning.