Fleming County Fiscal Court approves financial reports, backs Industrial Park IV grant application

Fleming County Fiscal Court voted unanimously on April 11 to approve routine meeting minutes, monthly and quarterly financial reports and a resolution supporting a grant application for an industrial park project.

County Judge/Executive John Sims Jr. opened the meeting at the Fleming County Courthouse, and Fiscal Court Clerk Tammy L. Gray called the roll. The court approved the March 14, March 21 and March 31 minutes and accepted the FY2023–2024 Fiscal Soft agreement and Resolution 23-1383 concerning county road aid by unanimous votes.

The court approved quarterly and monthly financial reports showing totals by fund: General Fund $1,332,035.95; Road Fund $237,535.68; Jail Fund $5,515.54; LGEA Fund $178,999.21; Forest Fire Fund $1,213.96; CDBG Fund $10,001.50; Dispatch Fund $265,854.11; Capital Improvement Fund $252,929.72; ARPA Fund $2,223,659.10; County Clerk Storage Fund $2,625.59; Opioid Settlement Funds $84,273.85; total all funds $4,594,644.21.

The court approved Resolution 23-1385 to support a grant application for "Industrial Park IV" and gave the County Judge/Executive authority to sign related documents. The motion passed unanimously.

Magistrates also reappointed Don McDaniels to another term on the Fox Creek Watershed Conservancy (term listed in the record as 02/19/2023–02/19/2027) and accepted the Fleming County Conservation District’s annual report and questions from members.

Administrative and intergovernmental items included naming Adam Ray as the county’s IT director for grant purposes only (no pay, no benefits), approval of March 2023 County Road Maintenance Reports totaling $53,751.78, and acceptance of FY2023–2024 road commission bid results (final written bids were not yet in the record; new rates were noted to take effect April 15). The court also approved daily inmate housing rates for neighboring counties: $40 per day for Montgomery County, $42 per day for Rowan County and $45 per day for Mason County.

The Buffalo Trace Area Development District’s intent to research grant funding through Connect Humanity for Digital Equity Acceleration was approved. The court tabled a $750 invoice from Licking Valley Adventures pending more information (the current budget line is $500). A FY2023–2024 budget draft was distributed to members.

Discussion items included second notices sent by the County Attorney about local wrecker-service compliance with Kentucky Revised Statutes and a report from Sheriff Smith that he is awaiting a quote from RCS to upgrade radio/repeater/tower communications for emergency services. Fleming County Ambulance Service Director Smith reported the new Zello service is working well and said he will submit an itemized invoice for reimbursement.

Magistrates discussed countywide planning and zoning and the possibility of franchised countywide trash removal. The court appointed a three-magistrate committee—Kerri Moran, Taylor Hunt and Joe Dunaway Jr.—to research planning-and-zoning options and report back to the Fiscal Court.

Constable District 4 Nathan Perry presented his monthly report and County Attorney Monica Hill directed him to obtain the bond required by Kentucky Revised Statutes. The court entered executive session at 10:03 a.m. under KRS 61.810(1)(b) to discuss real property and returned to open session at 10:14 a.m. The meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m.

Votes recorded in the minutes were unanimous unless otherwise noted; specific roll-call tallies were not provided in the transcript.