Fiscal Court authorizes EMPG certifications and contract changes to cover emergency manager salary

The Barren County Fiscal Court on May 5 approved administrative steps to secure federal and state emergency‑management grant funding that county leaders said will keep an emergency‑management director position funded.

Judge B moved and the court approved the EMPG non‑supplanting certification and authorized the fiscal‑year EMPG contract for 2025. Darling, who explained the program to the court, said the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) historically funds up to 50% of the emergency‑management director’s federal‑fiscal salary and that the governor agreed to temporarily cover the 2025 cycle with state funds so the county would not lose the award pending federal funding. Darling said the FY2025 allocation identified at the meeting is $22,715 and that amount is intended to contribute to the emergency‑management director’s salary.

The court also approved a modification to a 2023 EMPG contract to accept redistributed, unspent funds from other counties; the modification was presented as $7,433 in leftover funds to be apportioned to Barren County.

Judge B framed the approvals as routine budgetary steps required to accept and administer the grants; no votes against were recorded. County members noted the approvals preserve grant eligibility should federal funding timelines shift.

The court did not adopt additional policy actions on emergency management beyond the contract certifications; follow‑up for implementation and any budget adjustments will be handled through staff as grants are received and reconciled.