The last Woodford Fiscal Court meeting of 2022 featured appointments, a lengthy list of accomplishments and a warning of the coming winter storm. At the Thursday, Dec. 22 meeting, Emergency Management Drew Chandler briefed the court on the rain, snow and heavy temperature drop forecast for overnight. Chandler said the wind chill warning was the first he could recall. Rich Pictor, the executive director of the Versailles-Woodford Parks and Recreation Department, said the Falling Springs Arts and Recreation Center multipurpose room would serve as a warming center the following day. Judge-Executive James Kay said communication between city, county and state agencies was seamless. (Later in the meeting, Kay announced that Gov. Andy Beshear was closing state agencies at 2 p.m. and, on the suggestion of Kay, the court followed suit for county employees.) Appointments Kay’s nominations of Debbie Pierce for a three-year term on the Woodford County Extension District Board and Carl Rollins for a three-year reappointment to the board passed 7 to 0. Magistrate Larry Blackford (Dist. 6) was absent. Pierce will take the place of Elizabeth Pitchford, whom Kay praised for her service. County Clerk The court voted 7 to 0 to accept the $1,024,589.16 budget for calendar year 2023 for the County Clerk’s Office and a standing order setting maximum pay and benefits for employees at $925,000. Magistrate Liles Taylor (Dist. 2) thanked County Clerk Sandy Jones for taking the time to discuss the budget with him and Magistrate Kelly Carl (Dist. 4) said, “Sandy’s always there to explain things to us.” Kay also praised Jones. Banking The court unanimously approved switching county banking business from Stock Yards Bank to Community Trust Bank. Kay said Community Trust offered a better rate. Purchase orders The court voted unanimously for an ordinance amending county rules for purchase orders. The ordinance states purchase orders will not be necessary for items costing less than $1,000, items from $1,000 to $2,000 will require sign-offs by department heads, and those ranging from $2,000 to $30,000 must be approved by the judge-executive. Holiday List The court unanimously approved the 2023 holiday list for county employees, which includes days off for Juneteenth and birthdays. Kay explained that he considered adding Election Day to the list, which echoes the state list save for Juneteenth, which the court approved last year, but chose to keep birthdays instead. He noted that the “great John Coyle,” his predecessor, added birthdays to the list. County Attorney Alan George got a big laugh when he added, “The great John Coyle who followed my lead.” Parting shots George said the county received a $123,500 “first draw” on a national opioid settlement – a fifth of what it will receive over the next 15 years. Kay praised teamwork by the court and partnerships with the city councils and other boards and agencies for a lengthy list of achievements since January 2019. “If you would have told me four years ago when we took office – when we said it was a new day in Woodford County – that we would be able to achieve and accomplish this many things, I don’t think that I could have imagined it or believed it,” he said. For next year, Kay promised the largest broadband Internet expansion in county history.
Fiscal Court gets winter weather warning
