THE WOODFORD COUNTY FISCAL COURT recognized first responders, including the Versailles and Woodford County fire departments, during its meeting on Tuesday night. (Photo by Scott White)
By Scott White
Woodford Sun Staff and
Report for America corp member
At its meeting on Tuesday night, the Woodford County Fiscal Court adopted the property tax rate of 3.90 cents per $100 of assessed value, and heard the first reading of an ordinance putting that into effect. The rate in 2025 was 5.90 cents/$100, which itself was a reduction from the prior year.
This will generate revenue of $1,489,077.19. Given the rate is lowered and the amount of revenue it is projected to raise, the court’s action is not subject to a recall petition.
“The Fiscal Court has been fiscally responsible with tax dollars. (The Fiscal Court) works hard to be very accountable and responsible and conservative, and we’ve done this in a way that allows us to lower the property tax rate,” County Judge-Executive James Kay said prior to the vote. “(This) coincides with the increased assessment of values on homes that are squeezing homeowners and families in many different ways . . . Members of this court have heard from our constituents (and so) we move forward with a budget that operates on less by returning dollars to homeowners with this (lower) tax rate.”
Kay said he also believes the court supports his request that other taxing districts, such as fire, school, library, public health and Ag Extension, not seek additional revenue by raising tax rates. In making this point, Kay excluded the school board from this due to its nearly $3 million loss in 2026 revenue from its funding sources.
No other magistrate commented on the proposed rate or Kay’s comments before voting unanimously to adopt the rate.
Lynching historical marker
Since 2020, two Woodford Countians, Milan Bush and Micah Lynn, have been focused on telling the stories of four known lynchings of Woodford Countians through their founding of the Woodford County Remembrance Coalition (WCRC), which includes working toward the erection of an historic marker remembering each of the four racially motivated terrorism killings. The lynchings occurred here between 1870 and 1921.
The Fiscal Court approved WCRC’s request for the placement of the marker in the front of the Courthouse Annex in the grassy area abutting the Wesley Covenant Fellowship Church.
The next step, according to Lynn, is for the WCRC’s partner, the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in Montgomery, Alabama, to begin the joint process of researching, writing, designing and producing the marker. EJI, which is where the national Lynching Memorial resides, partners with communities on the placement of these markers around the country, including five that are already in Kentucky.
“Our goal is to complete the marker installation so on March 13, 2027, the 106th anniversary of Mr. James’ lynching, we can install it.” said Lynn.
The lynching of Richard James, a Midway resident, occurred when a mob removed James him from the Woodford County jail, which is now the site of the Woodford County Courthouse Annex, and took him to a field at the corner of Midway and Frankfort roads and hanged him from a tree. He had been accused of murder, and his trial ended in a mistrial when the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. James was in the jail awaiting further proceedings when he was forcibly taken. James’ lynching occurred at the same intersection as an earlier lynching.
Prior to seeking the Fiscal Court’s approval, Lynn told the court that WCRC had obtained both the permission of the Administrative Office of the Courts, which leases the Annex from the county, and Woodford County Chief Circuit Judge Jeremy Mattox, who is responsible for all activities of the district and circuit courts at the Annex.
Following the meeting, Lynn told the Sun, “It was heartening that our county is willing to recognize this difficult history, knowing that this is the first step to take in order to heal wounds.” Bush added, “I am really grateful and proud to be in a community that is willing to acknowledge and sit with unpleasant events from our past. Woodford County’s commitment to reconciliation demonstrates how we can hold space for what justice and healing could look like.”
Dumpsters in flood zone
Magistrate Mary Ann Gill raised the issue of the ongoing cost to the county of dumpsters in the flood zones of Clifton and Shore Acres. She pointed out that since FEMA had stopped paying the dumpsters’ cost at the end of December 2025, the county had spent $10,720 in dumpster rentals to Rumpke just since April.
Kay noted that there continued to be an ongoing need for the dumpsters due to homeowners still engaging in remodeling and construction in the area, and so their presence in the area was part of the commitment to the flood victims to stay there until it has been finally resolved. “This is part of our commitment to the flood survivors,” he said.
Kay requested Woodford County Emergency Management Agency Director Drew Chandler to address the issue since his department, along with the Solid Waste Management Department, has been overseeing the process.
Chandler told the court that the county requested a FEMA extension to fund the dumpsters, but was turned down, and the county has appealed that decision. He also said he was aware of owners who were waiting on a buy-out, but couldn’t wait any longer to undertake work on their property given that process is still ongoing.
Chandler also said, “I don’t think it’s a secret people have been abusing the dumpsters. He did outline some potential alternatives to keeping the dumpsters on-site in Clifton and Shore Acres.
Given FEMA was no longer footing the bill, and it was the county paying for it, Gill said, “If there is a more economical way to give residents (other alternatives), then I would prefer to do that . . . whatever is the most cost-effective.”
Kay asked Chandler to investigate alternatives and provide a report at the next regular meeting for the court’s consideration. In a phone call following the meeting, Chandler told the Sun he would provide a concrete plan to the court to consider.
Sherri McDaniel retires
Longtime director of the Woodford County Solid Waste and Recycling Department Sherri McDaniel announced her retirement, and received a standing ovation from the Fiscal Court members and all those present. The court approved advertising for her successor. McDaniel’s retirement is effective Aug. 31.
Treasurer’s report
County Treasurer Melody Traugott reported that the current money market account balance is $10,478,327.15.
Thank you
first responders
The Woodford County Fiscal Court extended gratitude and issued Certificates of Appreciation to not just the Woodford County Fire Department and Versailles Fire Department, but to several first responder agencies that joined in the battle to douse and contain the Wilson’s Pool Room fire on July 9. Judge-Executive James Kay noted that their efforts were professional, skilled, cooperative and undertaken in the context of a very dangerous fire that threatened to spread to the entire historic block of Lexington Street. Several members of the other agencies said they traveled to the Fiscal Court meeting not for recognition, but to support their colleagues in the Versailles and Woodford County departments. Though Kay praised the Woodford County Fire Department members by name who fought the fire, no representative from the department or district was present at the meeting. Kay said he had spoken with County Fire Chief Melvin Montgomery, who extended his gratitude for the recognition of the efforts of the County Fire Department. Asked to say a few words, Versailles Fire Chief T.A. Rankin said, “I had to drag these guys here tonight; they don’t want thanks because they are servants at heart.” The agencies who attended, in addition to several members of the Versailles Department including Rankin and Deputy Chief Brandon Brown, were fire departments from Wilmore, Frankfort, Anderson County, Franklin County, Scott County and Lexington, in addition to the Jessamine County Emergency Management Agency, which provided critical drone support. Pictured is the entire retinue of firefighters who received certificates along with Kay and Magistrates Mary Ann Gill, Kelly Carl, Darrell Varner, Liles Taylor, John Gentry and Larry Blackford. Magistrates Jackie Brown and William Downey attended virtually via Zoom.