Fiscal Court adopts zoning change, approves purchases and benefits renewals, and hires road mechanic

County Judge/Executive Michael Mueller presided over the Franklin County Fiscal Court meeting on Oct. 16, 2024, where the court approved a series of routine and substantive administrative actions.

In its most consequential vote, the court adopted Ordinance #10-2024, a second-reading zoning change moving a 0.34-acre tract at 1501–1507 Twilight Trail from Industrial Commercial (IC) to Rural Limited Commercial (CL). The motion to adopt, moved by Squire Mike Harrod and seconded by Squire Kelly Dycus, passed with Squires Blackburn, Dycus, Harrod, Tanner, Whisman and Judge Mueller voting in favor; Squire Sherry Sebastian abstained.

The court authorized multiple procurement actions including advertising for sealed bids for a dump bed and snow equipment for a 2024 Ford chassis cab and approved purchases for the New Road Garage Project up to $225,000. Squire Mike Harrod moved the garage-purchase authorization and Squire J.W. Blackburn seconded; the motion passed unanimously among those voting.

On personnel benefits, the court renewed county health insurance coverage with UnitedHealthcare for Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025. The court also authorized renewal of an employee-only medical waiver plan through a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) and added an employee-only Health Savings Account (HSA) option for the same 2025 plan year. Those motions were moved and seconded by Squire Kelly Dycus and others and passed.

The court accepted Independent Auditor’s Reports for the Elkhorn Water District and the Peaks Mill Water District for years ended Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, and approved Resolution #46-2024 accepting an unspecified grant and authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Court’s annual budget and execution of related documents.

The court also authorized an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund expenditure; the transcript does not specify the purpose or dollar amount of that expenditure. The Treasurer’s Quarterly Report for the three months ending Sept. 30, 2024, and the regular Treasurer’s Report were received, and bills were ordered to be paid; no motion was offered to deny any claim.

The meeting included a routine approval allowing the sheriff’s office to surplus vehicle trade-ins and/or sell assets via GovDeals. The court concluded by approving an amendment to the agenda to hire a Road mechanic and then hiring Matthew Pridmore for that position.

All motions and votes recorded in the transcript were either unanimous among those voting or explicitly list the members who voted in favor; one abstention was recorded on the zoning ordinance. The transcript records one member (Squire Eric Whisman) voting “present” on the minutes approval; the transcript does not clarify whether that is recorded as an abstention or other procedural status.

The court adjourned at 8:41 p.m.