Property and Park Updates

By PJ Martin

Editor

The Herald-News

 

The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court held a meeting on Thursday, January 22^nd, with the following in attendance: Judge/Executive Larry Wilson, Magistrates Ronnie Miller, Daniel Bragg, Harvey Hawkins, and Kevin Crain, County Attorney Sharon Howard, and Treasurer/Fiscal Court Clerk Page Edwards.

Also in attendance were Financial Officer Connie Taylor, Occupational Tax/ABC Admin. Lorrie Gilpin, Sheriff Lonnie Hodges, Emergency Mgmt. Director Adam Bennett, Solid Waste Coordinator Kim Jandt, Road Supervisor Chris Compton, and Herald-News editor PJ Martin.

Judge Wilson declared a quorum present, and the agenda was adopted after motions by Miller and Bragg.

The minutes from the January 8^th meeting were approved as written after motions by Bragg and Hawkins.

Bowling Park’s Executive Director Lisa Boswell addressed the court about the 4^th of July celebration, “So, this year is the semi-quincentennial of the United States, and I think we should do something big. Bowling Park usually has a fireworks show, but I wanted to expand it. And of course, I’m seeking funds to expand it. I’m going to ask the fiscal court to split the cost of the fireworks this year, it’ll be about $26,000, so half of that is $13,000 to put on a not necessarily longer, but certainly bigger and more impressive show.”

Miller asked Boswell what date this would be and she replied on Friday night, July 3^rd.

“Well, we have the school involved, too. We’re going to do parking at the school and shuttle people up, because we don’t have parking for that kind of people,” added Boswell.

A motion to approve the $13,000 funds was made by Miller, seconded by Crain, and then approved.

 

Property Update

“Okay, next on the agenda is the Metcalfe County Lake property update,” said Judge Wilson, adding, “I had someone to approach me the other day and wanted to talk about it, and I think a lot of people are just concerned about what’s going on there.”

Wilson relayed that in the beginning, the fiscal court signed an intent to buy the property at the County Lake. “At our last meeting, we discussed that maybe we need to wait. So, what we’re going to do is try to purchase a few acres down closer to the buildings.”

Wilson explained that if they didn’t purchase sections near the park building, the loggers would cut right up to the back of the building, and it would look pretty bad.

He explained, “We had some ideas for the property if we had purchased the whole amount of land. We were going to turn around and resell it, and we were hoping to find somebody to develop it for starter homes. There is a major shortage in Metcalfe County owned housing, especially affordable homes for the young people. We all have to admit they’re our future, and it’s sad when they have to leave, because they can’t find a place to live.”

“But right now, we’re not looking at that. If we purchase the land closer to the buildings down there, we’re hoping to, talking about it’s nothing in stone, maybe putting a campground down there. There’s a big demand for that now. It would generate some income for the county, and it will just enhance the county to offer something at this point.”

“I understand some people have been upset about buying it, but I want you to see our point and where we’re coming from. And I think all the imaginaries are in agreement. We’ve worked well on this project. We are going to do what we think is best for the county.”

Financials

The next order of business was the approval of the December 2026 financial statement.

Wilson stated, “We are beginning to get some FEMA money now… Hopefully, now that we’re back in good standing with FEMA, we can transfer that money back to the Road Fund.”

A motion to approve the was made by Bragg, seconded by Miller, and approved.

The quarterly financial statement (10/1-12/31/25) was also approved after motions by Crain and Hawkins.

Two interfund transfers for funds transferred into the jail fund from the general fund of $25,000 and from the State Grants fund of $473.88. Edwards explained, “What’s where the state sent us some jail money, and it went into the state grant fund, but it needs to be transferred to the jail fund.”

The motion to accept was made by Bragg, seconded by Crain, and approved.

Finally, the claims were reviewed.

One claim mentioned was to the Barren River District Health of $56,356.34. Edwards explained, “That includes our quarterly payment plus our third and final additional payment. Payment took us three years, but we kind of got things straight. I know that I looked back in the first month of the 23 year. We paid a quarterly, plus what we were lagging that year, and then the next year. We started our yearly extra payment.”

Miller noted that, “The two biggest ones, the ambulance claim is $37,000, the jail claim is $23.”

The claims were approved after motions by Bragg and Hawkins.

 

Other Business

Wilson pointed out that the road department was working really hard getting ready for the snowstorm predicted, and that the recycling center is not operating in the red, and that a part-time employee had been added to keep up. He also noted that Adam had been working on a couple of grants for emergency services.

With no other items, the meeting was adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 12^th, at 9 a.m.