Montgomery County Fiscal Court approves ordinances, advisory‑board appointments, funding awards and raises animal adoption fees

MOUNT STERLING, Ky. — Montgomery County Fiscal Court moved through a full agenda, approving several ordinances, appointing members to a newly established Animal Shelter Advisory Board, awarding opioid‑response grants and approving updates to county leases and budget amendments.

On old business the court adopted the second reading of an ordinance to regulate parking on 3rd Street in Oakfield Subdivision. The court also approved a second reading amendment to the county’s substance‑abuse policy that adds marijuana — with or without a prescription — to the list of prohibited substances for county employees, citing statutory authority referenced in the meeting.

The court opened the first reading of the annual budget and set proposed 2025 tax rates: a compensating rate of 6.3¢ per $100 for real property and 6.3¢ per $100 for personal property, a 1.5¢ per $100 rate for tangible personal property, and a proposed 12.6¢ per $100 rate for motor vehicles and watercraft for calendar year 2026. The first reading was placed on record.

The fiscal court approved several budget ordinance amendments to record unanticipated revenues and corresponding expenditure adjustments: an ARPA fund surplus of $904,864.75; a jail fund surplus of $555,502.43; an LGDA fund decrease of $28,230.22; a road fund surplus of $623,951.39; and a Health City Center revenue decrease of $32,628.51.

The court adopted a resolution establishing an unpaid Montgomery County Animal Shelter Advisory Board and appointed initial members with staggered terms to create continuity: Pat Henry and Rebecca Gilpatcher (one‑year terms expiring 08/19/2026); Daniel Carmichael and Chris Moore (two‑year terms expiring 08/19/2027); and Tyler Horton and Rusty Skinner (three‑year terms expiring 08/19/2028). Following the appointments, the court approved an increase to adoption fees at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter, effective Sept. 1: $150 for dogs and $75 for cats, citing higher costs for spay/neuter services, supplies and medicine.

The court approved a five‑year commercial lease with the Montgomery County Health Department for space at 7117 East Logan Street in Mount Sterling, retroactive to 12:01 a.m. on 07/01/2025 and ending 06/30/2030. The court also approved an updated lease for the Montgomery County Senior Center, changing the address to 109 East Logan Street with an initial term ending 06/30/2026.

The court reviewed applications for local opioid‑response funding and awarded Net Recovery $55,000, the Northeast Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition $41,575 and New South $10,000 to support substance‑use response work.

The court also voted to request that the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority consider issuance of revenue bonds of up to $72,500,000 to provide financing and refinancing for projects tied to CommonSpirit/St. Joseph seasonal projects in Montgomery County; the court adopted a resolution authorizing that request.

Financial oversight items included approval of the treasurer’s report, manual checks and transfers, and a motion to open a non‑interest bearing federal checking account for a CDBG grant. A county fiscal official presented a July 2025-versus-2024 financial summary, noting a $374,000 pass‑through for a senior‑center grant and a nearly $500,000 payout that affected year‑to‑year comparisons; the official also said the FY24 audit remained incomplete and that state auditors typically schedule FY25 audit work in the fall.

Votes at a glance • Approval of minutes — carried (voice vote). • Ordinance — 2nd reading, parking on 3rd Street (Oakfield Subdivision) — adopted (voice vote). • Ordinance — 2nd reading, substance‑abuse policy (adds marijuana) — adopted (voice vote). • Ordinance — 1st reading, annual budget and proposed tax rates — first reading recorded. • Budget ordinance amendments (ARPA, jail fund, LGDA, road fund, Health City Center) — first readings adopted. • Resolution — establish Animal Shelter Advisory Board and appointments — adopted. • Increase adoption fees (dogs $150, cats $75, effective Sept. 1) — adopted. • Lease — Montgomery County Health Department (7117 E. Logan St.) — approved. • Lease update — Montgomery County Senior Center (109 E. Logan St.) — approved. • Grant awards — Net Recovery $55,000; Northeast KY Substance Use Response Coalition $41,575; New South $10,000 — approved. • Resolution — request KEFIA issuance of revenue bonds up to $72,500,000 — adopted.

What the court did not do: The meeting record shows routine approvals and first readings but does not show final adoption of the annual budget (only a first reading) or detailed contract terms beyond the lease dates recorded in the meeting.

The court adjourned regular business after setting its next regular meeting for Monday, Sept. 15; the chair asked for any additional reports before closing.