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Daviess County fiscal court approves $2 million transfer to jail fund and signs off on grants, equipment purchases
Summary
The fiscal court authorized a $2 million transfer from the general fund to the jail fund, approved several Kentucky Pride Fund grant applications and awarded procurement contracts including two police SUVs; most actions passed by unanimous voice votes.
The Daviess County Fiscal Court on March 12 approved a series of fiscal actions including a $2,000,000 transfer from the general fund to the jail fund, multiple grant applications to the Kentucky Pride Fund, and several procurement awards.
Treasurer Johnson told the court the transfer would restore the jail fund reserve in preparation for the budget process and that the general fund had sufficient reserves. "I'm requesting authority to transfer $2,000,000 from the general fund to the jail fund to restore the reserve in preparation of the budget process," he said. Johnson said staff will adjust the detention center's budgeted revenues for fiscal year 2026–27 to reflect the trending activity.
The court also set base salaries for certain elected officials for the 2027–2030 term as required by statute, after Treasurer Johnson noted the salaries cannot be altered within that term except by COLA as calculated by the Department for Local Government. Commissioner Conner asked for—and received—clarification that approving the document did not constitute a raise for sitting officials.
On grants and procurement the court approved filing these applications and awards: a Kentucky Pride Fund composting grant request for $97,822.20 with a county match of $24,455.55; a household hazardous waste grant request for $31,000 with an in-kind match of $8,491.20; a recycling grant request for $13,735.12 with an in-kind match of $8,637.75; and a LEPP (Law Enforcement Protection Program) body-armor grant application requesting $6,300 to offset the purchase of nine vests for the detention center.
Procurement actions included awarding bid 2526-56 to Don Franklin Somerset Inc. for two police SUV pursuit vehicles at a total of $77,000 (to be mostly offset by insurance reimbursement) and awarding RFQ 2526-60 to Indian Creek Shooting Center for clay targets at $24,132.81 for the Mattingly range. The court approved a 10-year conditionally refundable contract with Kenergy for Stanley Park lighting that carries a refundable advance contribution of $645.30 tied to minimum annual kilowatt-hour use.
Votes at a glance (voice votes unless noted): - Transfer $2,000,000 to jail fund — approved (voice vote). - Set base salaries for certain elected officials (2027–2030) — approved (voice vote). - Apply for Kentucky Pride Fund composting grant $97,822.20 (match $24,455.55) — approved (voice vote). - Apply for household hazardous waste grant $31,000 (in-kind match $8,491.20) — approved (voice vote). - Apply for recycling grant $13,735.12 (in-kind match $8,637.75) — approved (voice vote). - Approve Kenergy contract for Stanley Park lighting (advance $645.30, refundable) — approved (voice vote). - Apply for LEPP body armor grant $6,300 — approved (voice vote). - Award bid 2526-56 for two police SUVs to Don Franklin Somerset Inc. $77,000 — approved (voice vote). - Award RFQ 2526-60 clay targets to Indian Creek Shooting Center $24,132.81 — approved (voice vote).
Most motions were made and seconded with no substantive public comment or recorded roll call tallies. Several items were presented by Miss Sturgeon (procurement/administrative staff) and Treasurer Johnson recommended approval on grant filings and contract awards. The court also approved routine personnel items, including hiring Montrez Mason (Solid Waste Laborer I) and Ian Cruz (firefighter) effective March 16, 2026, and accepted the resignation of Ashton Chapman effective March 20, 2026.
Why it matters: The transfer to the jail fund and the approved grants and procurement actions affect county operations and the next fiscal year's budget assumptions. Most approvals were unanimous voice votes with little debate.
