Stamping Ground sets police chief salary, approves contracts and insurance renewals

The Stamping Ground City Commission on July 10 approved a $70,000 annual salary for Police Chief John Giles and cleared several routine administrative items, including contracts, insurance renewals and a newspaper subscription.

Mayor Jennifer Jones moved — and Commissioner Cody Meadows seconded — to set Chief John Giles’s pay at $70,000 per year after Chief Giles reported 37 calls in June and the commission discussed salary versus hourly pay. The motion was recorded as approved in the meeting minutes.

The commission also authorized the mayor to sign a contract with GUTS, the vendor that prints property tax cards; approved payment of three KLC insurance invoices; and authorized the mayor to sign a Workers’ Compensation renewal document. Commissioners voted to retain a printed newspaper subscription at $95 per year, to be charged to the Economic Development budget. Each of those measures was approved by recorded motions during the meeting.

Mayor Jones noted the city must pay vacation and compensatory time owed to Don Whitlock; the minutes record the obligation but do not specify an amount.

Why it matters: the salary decision sets the city’s ongoing payroll commitment for the police chief and the other administrative approvals finalize several recurring operating costs.

The commission approved the April, May and June 2025 financial reports during the meeting. The minutes list several unanimous or near-unanimous votes as 4 - 0; one vote record shows Commissioner Megan Brown ‘‘abstained’’ while the numeric tally is listed as 4 - 0, an inconsistency noted in the minutes.