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Russell County fiscal court approves transfers, backs jail funding resolution and hears sheriff report; air‑ambulance to be based locally
Summary
At a meeting held at Russell County High School, the Russell County Court approved multiple budget transfers including $100,000 to the jail, agreed to a $30,000 sheriff drawdown for payroll, voted to discontinue Town Branch Road, and heard an EMS announcement that a new air‑ambulance aircraft will be based at the county airport.
The Russell County Court conducted routine fiscal business during a meeting at Russell County High School while showcasing a student NextGen civics club. County leaders approved several budget transfers, heard a monthly sheriff report, and voted to support a legislative request aimed at reducing county jail costs.
Judge Executive Randy Martin asked the court to approve packet motions and several voice votes passed. The court approved a transfer of $100,000 from the general fund to the jail and a $2,670 correction to the clerk’s document storage account, and approved funds earmarked in the packet for a rescue squad SARS grant. Court members also agreed to provide a $30,000 drawdown to help the sheriff’s office with payroll and tax‑season needs.
Sheriff Poston delivered the month’s public safety report, saying the sheriff’s office handled 468 calls for service in February and listed arrests, traffic stops and transport figures. “We had 468 calls for service,” Sheriff Poston reported, outlining arrests, traffic stops and prisoner transport activity.
County officials discussed grant and economic development activity. Russell County Industrial Development Authority chairman Clint said the authority has been granted funds under a product development/initiative program to buy and develop land in the industrial park and that the county will act as a pass‑through for those funds pending further approvals.
Emergency medical services leaders announced a new air‑ambulance presence at the local airport. An EMS director described long response distances in the county and said, “I believe in 2024 we had 135 helicopter flights out of Russell County.” Brian Harper, an air‑ambulance representative, said his company placed a new aircraft and expects it to be operating from the Russell County airport in the May–June timeframe.
Judge Martin also introduced and the court approved a resolution to send a letter supporting House Bill 5557, which the judge described as a legislative measure to return some state funding to counties that house state inmates. The court carried a second reading to discontinue Town Branch Road (District 1) and approved it by voice vote. The judge read a list of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet road projects that together represent roughly $1.2 million in loans for county road work expected later in the construction season.
The court adjourned after recognitions and announcements. Officials noted the meeting was recorded and available on the county’s YouTube channel.
Votes at a glance: • Transfer: $100,000 from general fund to jail — motion made and approved by voice vote (all in favor). • Transfer: $2,670 correction to clerk document storage — motion made and approved by voice vote. • Rescue squad SARS grant transfer (approx. $10,858) — motion made and approved by voice vote. • Sheriff drawdown: $30,000 request to assist payroll — court approved providing the drawdown by motion and voice vote. • Second reading: discontinue Town Branch Road (District 1) — motion made and approved by voice vote. • Resolution: support House Bill 5557 — motion to sign and forward the resolution approved by voice vote.
Public records and packet materials containing the precise figures for some transfers and receipts were read into the record during the meeting and will provide the official accounting in the clerk’s minutes.
