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Russell County Fiscal Court approves budget items, tax-rate presentations and contracts; votes at a glance
Summary
At its Sept. 8 meeting the Russell County Fiscal Court approved routine business including minutes, bills, a budget amendment and Resolution 25-11; the court also awarded a janitorial contract, authorized a Greasy Creek agreement and heard tax-rate presentations from multiple special districts.
The Russell County Fiscal Court, meeting Sept. 8, 2025, moved through routine and statutory business and approved several measures, including a budget amendment and a county resolution tied to an insurance grant. Magistrates also heard tax-rate presentations from multiple special districts, accepted monthly reports and awarded a courthouse janitorial contract.
Key procedural actions and votes at the meeting included unanimous approval of the Aug. 11 minutes and payment of presented bills; acceptance of the detention center and sheriff's monthly reports; adoption of Budget Amendment Ordinance 25-06 on second reading; and adoption of Resolution 25-11 authorizing a KACo insurance grant for road department training.
The court voted 4–1 to adopt Ordinance 25-07, which would allow street-legal special purpose vehicles; Magistrate Steve Richardson recorded the sole Nay vote. Ordinance 25-09 (a budget ordinance) was read on first reading and scheduled for a second reading at the October meeting, and Ordinance 25-08 (a proposed fee-pooling system for the sheriff's office) was read on first reading and drew opposition with no vote taken.
Officials opened three bids for courthouse janitorial services and accepted the low bid from Linda Barnes Cleaning at $29,280 per year. The court authorized Judge Marcum to sign an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers related to rehabilitation of the Greasy Creek area, and approved a correction to county mileage records to include the back portion of Kean Road.
The detention center report, read by Chief Deputy Jailer McGowan, showed total income of $220,636.14 and expenses of $157,533.16 for the month; the average daily inmate count was 109 and the current population was recorded as 106 (46 state inmates, 10 from Clinton County and 50 from Russell County). Sheriff Polston's monthly activity totals included 518 911 calls, 126 traffic stops and 115 prisoner transports.
Deputy Judge Melson and Tourism Director Danielle Wilsom provided bicentennial event updates — including a recent beauty pageant in which Miss Irene Loy won the 65-and-over category — and Judge Marcum reported the county-supported spay/neuter clinic operated by the Russell County Animal Welfare League is seeking donations to remain open through winter. With no further business the court adjourned at 11:23 a.m.
Votes at a glance
- Minutes (Aug. 11, 2025): motion by Magistrate Larry Skaggs, second Zach Wilson — Approved unanimously.
- Pay bills: motion by Magistrate Steve Richardson, second by Magistrate Mickey Garner — Approved unanimously.
- Budget Amendment (Ordinance 25-06): second reading — Adopted unanimously.
- Ordinance 25-07 (street-legal special purpose vehicles): second reading — Passed 4–1 (Waddell, Garner, Wilson, Skaggs — yea; Richardson — nay).
- Ordinance 25-08 (fee pooling & purchase-order system for sheriff's office): first reading — Discussion only; no vote recorded.
- Ordinance 25-09 (budget ordinance): first reading — Second reading scheduled for October meeting.
- Resolution 25-11 (KACo insurance grant for road department training): Adopted unanimously.
- Courthouse janitorial contract: Awarded to Linda Barnes Cleaning at $29,280 per year — Approved unanimously.
What happens next: Ordinances presented on first reading (25-08, 25-09) will require further readings or placement on future agendas for final action. Routine monitoring items (detention center and sheriff's reports) were accepted and placed on record.
