Pulaski County Fiscal Court approves bids, hires and fiscal 2027 budget on second reading

At a regular session of the Pulaski County Fiscal Court, magistrates approved a series of routine procurement, personnel and budget measures, including awards for county bids, the hiring of a part-time safety manager, purchases of emergency vehicles and the adoption of the fiscal 2027 budget on second reading.

Accepting bids and vendor awards: The court voted to accept county bids generally and to award the Judicial Center cleaning contract to Barnes Cleaning Services after noting Barnes submitted the lowest bid for that line item. The motion to accept the omnibus bid package passed by voice vote.

Safety manager hire and personnel moves: The court approved hiring Stanley Oliver as a part-time safety manager (three days per week, about 24 hours) to assist with insurance claims, worker-safety reviews and corrective actions. The court also approved personnel title adjustments in the road department, moving Corey Robinson into a road-supervisor role and reclassifying Wayne into fleet maintenance supervisor/assistant road supervisor following an internal vacancy.

Public-safety purchases: The court approved several vehicle purchases recommended by the equipment committee: a tandem-axle cab-and-chassis truck for Woodstock Fire Department (bid listed at $185,547.87), a 2,000-gallon commercial tanker for the Braunston Fire Department (bid $299,500) and a new Ford F-550 ambulance for the rescue squad (bid $465,542). Officials noted delivery timelines: the ambulance is expected in 12–18 months while the tanker can be received in about a week.

Parks, events and a trail MOU: Magistrates discussed a Memorandum of Understanding with the county park/trail foundation that originally would have required for-profit event applicants using county park trails to donate 5% of proceeds to the foundation. Members expressed concerns about lack of oversight and asked to add reporting language; the court approved the MOU with the additional requirement that the foundation provide accounting/notification of proceeds.

Security and summer events: With large July events approaching, the court authorized negotiating and contracting with a private security vendor (named in the record as Woodstrong) to provide park security, with limits on hours and total cost to be included in a signed contract. Court members indicated they expect the contract to be in place before July 4 weekend.

Road and traffic actions: The court added Mercado Drive (a new subdivision road of about 1,500 feet) to the county road system to enable services (trash/mail), approved removal of Doyle Lane, Whitson Road and Whitson Spur from the county system because of quarry expansion, and set speed limits on Bighorn Drive (50 mph) and Holly Hill Drive (25 mph). The compiled road list was approved as presented.

Finance and budget: The finance representative presented the bill list and budget transfers (fiscal 2026); both were approved. The court also held and approved the second reading of the fiscal year 2027 budget as presented, and subsequently voted to approve the FY2027 salary schedule. All budget votes were recorded as passed by voice vote.

Executive session and adjournment: The court entered a brief executive session citing potential mitigation and personnel matters under the statute cited in the record ('r s 61 8 1 0 subsection 1 c'); upon returning the court announced that no action was taken during executive session and then adjourned the meeting.

Votes at a glance (selected motions and outcomes): - Approve minutes: passed (voice vote). - Accept county bids (omnibus): passed (voice vote). - Award Judicial Center cleaning contract to Barnes Cleaning Services: passed (voice vote). - Hire Stanley Oliver as part-time safety manager (~24 hours/week): passed (voice vote). - Adopt administrative-code second reading: passed (voice vote). - Pass Park/Trail Foundation MOU with requirement for reporting of proceeds: passed (voice vote). - Add Mercado Drive to county road system: passed (voice vote). - Remove Doyle Lane, Whitson Road, Whitson Spur from county road system: passed (voice vote). - Purchase Woodstock tandem truck ($185,547.87), Braunston tanker ($299,500), rescue ambulance ($465,542): all passed (voice votes). - Approve two certified full-time 911 dispatch hires (one named Natalie Jones): passed (voice votes). - Approve FY2027 budget (second reading) and FY2027 salaries: both passed (voice votes).

What to watch next: staff will draft specific administrative-code language for any nonconforming-road intake proposal, the park security contract will be negotiated and returned for final contract approval, and vehicle delivery timelines (ambulance, tanks) will dictate follow-up procurement and surplus decisions.