Simpson County Fiscal Court approves $1.73M road-widening bid, grant match and multiple budget moves; considers fire-department changes

Simpson County Judge Executive Mason Bames opened the Nov. 7 Simpson County Fiscal Court meeting at the Historic Courthouse and led the court in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The court unanimously approved routine minutes and then moved through a series of appointments, budget actions and project approvals.

The court acknowledged the Franklin-Simpson County Ambulance Service District’s 2023 tax rates of 3.6 cents per $100 for both real and personal property and approved multiple board reappointments, including two-year reappointments of Scott Brown and Brandon Duffer to the Franklin-Simpson Ambulance Service District Board and four-year reappointments to planning and adjustment boards effective Jan. 1, 2024.

In a major procurement action, the court accepted the lone bid of $1,730,237.96 from Scotty’s Contracting for the KY 100 & Eddings Road Widening Project, following a recommendation from Amold Consulting Engineering Services, Inc.; the court authorized Judge Executive Mason Bames to sign related documents. The bid was noted in the meeting record as lower than anticipated and the project will require substantial utility relocation work. The court also approved an agreement with the Kentucky Department of Highways to install a traffic signal at the Highway 100 East intersection serving the Trader Joe’s Distribution Center, with the Industrial Authority agreeing to pay $62,081.82 toward the installation.

The court designated Judge Executive Mason Bames as the applicant’s agent for a Hazard Mitigation Grant for Kummer Road by approving Resolution No. 2023-11-07-AAG and committed to a 13% local match of $15,600. The court also approved the Kummer Road hazard-mitigation project and the county’s maintenance agreement for it.

On financial matters, the court approved a $150,000 County Clerk budget amendment to cover refunds on properties that could not be sold, authorized a cash transfer of $38,500 from ARPA to the General Fund, and approved a series of line-item budget transfers across departments to cover workers’ compensation and other expenses. The October 31, 2023 financial statement was approved subject to audit, with signatures authorized for Treasurer Nicole Law and Judge Executive Bames. The court reviewed and approved an extensive list of bills and claims presented by staff.

Emergency Management Director Robert Palmer told the court that the county’s AlertSense notification system will terminate and Everbridge will provide county notifications beginning Dec. 1; he urged residents to watch for transition details. Public Works Director Bobby Groves reported demolition work on the east half of Kenny Perry Bridge and said crews encountered an unexpected rock formation that will require approach adjustments but may yield cost savings and avoid some utility relocations; Groves said the bridge structure will not change.

Magistrate Marty Chandler asked to pursue discussions with the city about transitioning county responsibilities to county ownership for the fire department rather than continuing under the existing lease arrangement. Fire Rescue Chief Leslie Goodrum proposed requiring Knox Boxes on future commercial and industrial new builds and some multi-family structures to allow firefighters immediate access without forced entry; Goodrum also presented fire-station renovation plans and said the court would pull an additional $10,000 from capital reserve for the project. The court agreed to examine the Knox Box proposal further and to post renovation plans to the meeting portal.

The court authorized a complimentary one-week cyber risk assessment by Trinsio for county properties, excluding the County Clerk’s office because it is state-connected. The fiscal court went into executive session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) and (g) at 9:17 a.m. for personnel and confidential economic-development discussions, reconvened at 10:45 a.m., authorized Resolution No. 2023-11-07-IRB, and adjourned at 10:46 a.m.

Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows a series of motions made, seconded and recorded as "Yes—All" for routine approvals including minutes, board reappointments, acceptance of the Scotty’s Contracting bid, the Kummer Road grant designation and match commitment, the ARPA cash transfer and budget transfers, approval of bills and claims, authorization of the cyber assessment, approval of the financial statement, and adoption of Resolution No. 2023-11-07-IRB. Specific vote tallies were recorded in the minutes as "Yes—All"; mover and seconder names are in the meeting record.