Allyson Dix
Glasgow News 1
The Barren County Fiscal Court opened its special-called meeting on Friday morning with a moment of silence to honor Kentucky State Trooper Hayden Phillips, the troopers who served alongside him, local law enforcement, and his family before considering any business items following Phillips’ death in the line of duty.
Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd also commended Wednesday’s community event mourning the loss and honoring the life of Phillips, noting county employees Chris Jennings and Marcus Thurman’s involvement in helping to organize a gathering at Jackie Browning Park.
“Trooper Phillips was an excellent volunteer in our parks,” Byrd said. “He was an assistant coach on his kids’ teams and was very involved.”
Byrd said the evening was a somber one for the community and the many officers present.
“[It] was just a very sombering event,” Byrd said. “Seeing a lot of the troopers and their families because it hits home to them, and we are very sorry for everything that’s happened. This is not right…There’s no words honestly.”
JAG funding agreement
The fiscal court unanimously agreed to ratify a memorandum of agreement on behalf of the Barren River Drug Task Force with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center.
The agreement establishes $114,545 in grant funds from the state to support the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program activities. According to the Bureau of Justice, JAG serves as the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions.
It was named after Edward “Eddie” R. Byrne, an officer in the New York Police Department who was murdered while protecting a witness in a drug case.
The funds help support program areas in law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education, among other areas. They also support initiatives for crime victims and witnesseses, mental health programs, and crisis intervention teams, among other things.
Tate State Tax Incentives
Magistrates voted 6-1 to approve an agreement as a party in a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) tax incentive for Tate Access Floors, Inc.
Maureen Carpenter, President and CEO of Barren, Inc., told the court the agreement being considered did not change anything aside from adding KEDFA to the agreement.
The original agreement did not include the state, Carpenter said.
The state-level tax incentive is allowed under KRS 103.210 and provides a reduction in state property taxes for industrial buildings financed by industrial building revenue bonds (IRB).
Magistrate Marty Kinslow was the sole dissenter in the final vote to approve the agreement with all magistrates present.
Corps of Engineers Lease
Magistrates unanimously approved the renewal of a 25-year lease for the Austin Boat Ramp at Barren River Lake. The agreement between the Secretary of the Army and the Barren County Fiscal Court allows the county to conduct operations and maintenance for the boat ramp.
The lease contract states the county will use a development plan to meet current and potential public needs, including a certification the county must submit each year for water and sanitary systems on site to comply with federal, state, and local standards.
“This is a lease that we do every year,” Byrd explained. “We’re just responsible to maintain the ramp there and keep it clean and just continue to watch over it.”
Payments and Invoices
The fiscal court approved a $5,000 contribution to Community Medical Care, a nonprofit organization that works to support health and well-being in the community.
Byrd said the contribution assists citizens in the community with medical care bills.
A payment to Barren-Metcalfe 911 in the amount of $5,229.21 was approved from South Central Rural Telephone Company landline fees.
A payment to Thomas Oil & Fuel was approved, totaling $7,062.55 for fuel to operate the Barren County Sheriff’s Office between Sept. 1 and Sept. 15.
Three Aramark invoices were approved for jail inmate meals totaling $24,924.58.
As required by state law, a payment to the Office of Property Valuation totaling $102,027 was approved. Each county fiscal court must pay such funds to cover the county’s use of property assessments. According to an Aug. 31 letter from the Kentucky Department of Revenue to the county, the amount due is based on the certified assessment of property that is subject to taxation.
A payment to Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects was approved by magistrates for the planned Sports Complex design. The county originally approved a total of $400,000 for both the schematic design and design development, with monies appropriated from the state legislature approved for multi-county projects in 2025. Friday’s payment, which was $346,125, leaves a remaining balance of $53,875 to be paid once the design development is complete.
The court also approved a total of $67,145.96 in claims for various payments for the last half of September.
Friday’s special-called meeting will replace next week’s regular meeting. The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for Oct. 20.
