Susan Walker, County Clerk, spent the first several minutes of the meeting bringing new District 3 Commissioner Mika Milburn and the other commissioners up to speed on the county’s quarterly financial report.
Last year, the county saw a major dip in sales tax from $1.6 to $1.2 million, which affected the county’s ability to deal with hard surface roads.
Commissioners approved the quarterly financial report for publication.
Pest Control Bid Opening, 3 year
Quality Pest Control Inc. Bid a $375 initial service charge and monthly service for $375.
Ashcraft Pest Control, bid a 3 year contract for $500.
PestX Solutions, the county’s current vendor, bid $310 per month.
Milburn expressed desire to be transparent with county business and give local business owners an opportunity to bid on county contracts.
Commissioner David Beerbower said he favored the Ashcraft bid because it was local. Milburn said that while she favored local, she wanted to be careful not to set an unwise precedent, because it’s not her money being spent.
The commissioner unanimously approved the Ashcraft Pest Control bid.
Trash Service Bid Opening, 3 year
Lynn Sanitation bid $470 per month, no additional fees, no yearly increase.
WCA out of Missouri bid $440.30 with a 7% annual increase possible.
Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt made motion to hire Lynn Sanitation and the commission approved it.
Executive session for employee performance
Resumed normal session with action
Milburn made motion to move $6,500 from the commission fund to the clerk to cover the funds needed for Resolution 1425, adopted by the commission earlier this year.
Milburn also moved to create a floater position to help around the courthouse through October and to post the job opening. Commission approved both motions.
Old Business
Policies and Procedures
Milburn moved to adopt the employee procedures for deviation and the deviation form that goes with it as an addendum to the employee handbook. Walker will prepare the resolution for the next commission meeting.
City of Fulton request for reduced landfill rates on condemned house debris
Fulton has 6-8 city-condemned houses, some falling in and some with unreachable owners.
Milburn recommended the commission adopt a resolution allowing Bourbon County cities with populations of less than 400 to bring construction and demolition waste to the landfill for $0 for the gratification of Bourbon County. This is for buildings or structures condemned by the city, not individuals.
Beerbower asked to table it for a week to have time to study the issue.
Work Comp Procedures and Benefits
Walker said that the county’s procedures for work comp are in the handbook. The first seven days is not covered, but it can be in severe instances. When an individual takes insurance that is voluntary, they are expected to pay it. With work comp, no taxes are taken out, so the person is made whole.
Sick leave can be used whether injury happens on or off the job. If a county employee feels that their situation is not covered by the employee handbook, they can file a deviation form and come speak to the commission in executive session about their situation.
Beerbower asked that they bring it back next week for further discussion.
Road Closure Application
Milburn moved to publish the road closure with GIS location to the official Bourbon County social media page, local news and certified mailings where appropriate so the commission can take into account any disputes before the meeting in two weeks. Commission approved.
Milburn also moved to create a resolution to require those who petition for road closures to cover the cost of the administrative functions of that road closure, including but not limited to newspaper publications and certified mailings because they are gaining a piece of property through that action.
Walker offered to check the state statutes about fees the county is allowed to charge and apply it to the resolution before bringing it to the next meeting. Commission approved.
Human Resources
Beerbower took Kruger’s position as commissioner liaison for human resources. His role was to be the disciplinary portion of a Human Resources position. The rest of the county’s HR needs are handled by the clerk’s office. Commissioners mentioned needing an actual HR person.
They decided to gather more information and discuss again next week.
Sheriff Vehicle request
Beerbower moved to fund the vehicle replacement costing $66,914 out of the general fund to be partially reimbursed by the insurance payment when it arrives.
Walker suggested paying for it from the jail sales tax fund, which is used to pay for other vehicles and which has a bit of a surplus right now. She said that the general fund doesn’t have a lot of money, and there’s no extra money setting there at this time.
Brian Murphy, deputy and advisor for the sheriff, said that the jail funding isn’t reliable. Murphy’s opinion says the money needs to be set aside in case of a problem at the jail.
Whisenhunt amended the motion to take the funds from the jail sales tax fund and the motion carried.
Budget
Walker gave the commissioners a list of those county officials and department heads who must come to speak to the commission regarding budget matters as the commission prepared the 2026 budget. She said they are running out of time to complete the work needed before June 15, when they get their tax numbers. They need to have the budget ready for those numbers by June 15 so that Walker can plug them in and the commission make any necessary changes to complete a budget by July 20, which is the legal deadline.
Walker said not to base the budget on the tax numbers, but on what the various department heads request in their budgets.
Milburn moved for a budget work session for Wednesday, April 30 at 4 p.m. to include Greg Motley as an advisor, as well as Susan Walker.
The commissioners set the date of June 1 to have department heads turn in their budgets to Susan Walker.
Whisenhunt made the motion to that affect and the commission approved it.