josely.labarrere@bluegrassnewsmedia.com
Boyle County Fiscal Court had a packed agenda Tuesday, April 8, officially proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and advancing major infrastructure, public safety, preservation, and broadband projects while navigating storm recovery, agriculture concerns, and city-county partnership challenges.

Judge-Executive Pro Tem Tom Ellis presided over the session in place of Judge Trille Bottom.

CASA Proclamation and Gala

The court declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, supporting CASA of the Bluegrass and this year’s theme: “It Takes a Village.” County Attorney Chris Herron read the proclamation.

CASA representatives highlighted 148 new child abuse, neglect, or dependency cases filed in Boyle County last year alone. CASA volunteers—trained community members—advocate for children in family court. They are associated with better life outcomes and are a cost-effective alternative to long-term foster care.

The CASA Gala was scheduled for Friday 4-11-25, evening at Warrenwood Manor in Junction City. “It’s a celebration of the mission, not just a fundraiser,” CASA staff noted.

Codell Selected for Public Safety Complex

The court unanimously voted to hire Codell Construction for the county’s long-planned public safety facility.

While Codell’s construction experience was praised, some magistrates expressed concern about the firm’s architectural partner lacking prior EMS facility projects. Officials emphasized the design will be reevaluated at the 30% completion stage.

“We need to ensure they utilize the full site and don’t squeeze this project into a corner,” one magistrate said. “We have one shot to do this right.”

Officials agreed to review language in the RFP to see if alternate county-owned land could be considered, depending on site viability.

 

Mutual Aid, EMS Record Volume

Boyle EMS responded to a mutual aid call in flood-threatened Frankfort last weekend. A regional strike team was on standby to assist with downtown evacuation alongside Fairfax, Virginia’s urban rescue team. Fortunately, the flood wall held.

EMS Director Mike Rogers reported 695 calls in March—a record-setting month.

Concerns arose that Boyle is carrying a heavier mutual aid burden with Mercer County. Talks are planned to rebalance the agreement.

Infrastructure: Roof Bids, Road Damage, Broadband

The court approved preparing an RFP to replace the county building’s leaky roof, citing continued water damage despite previous repairs.

Additionally, severe erosion on Wolpert Road prompted plans to contract a geotechnical engineer. Floodwaters redirected the creek’s flow and damaged the road, sparking debate over whether to reroute the road or restore the watercourse.

The court approved networking upgrades across multiple buildings, including $6,794.96 for the solid waste facility, $5,540.39 for a secondary building, and $1,485 for T-Mobile equipment. Monthly service will cost $88.

EMS will test dual-SIM iPads to ensure connectivity during disasters. Outdated iPads will be repurposed as digital time clocks across departments.

Preservation and Legislative Updates

The court approved hiring consultant Jacob Panky to manage state and federal tax credit applications for the courthouse restoration project. If successful, credits could be sold for cash—offsetting project costs by up to $200,000.

The courthouse bell will be removed as part of the preservation effort.

The CAK legislative briefing will be held April 16. Officials also emphasized the importance of holding community organizations to grant submission deadlines, including the Brass Band Festival.

Agriculture and Wildlife Concerns

Magistrates discussed the spread of invasive black vultures, which pose a serious threat to livestock. Ellis noted they are not native to the U.S. and called for policy changes to allow their controlled removal.

“I’ve already contacted over 30 officials, including the Commissioner of Agriculture,” Ellis said. “This is a serious issue for our producers.”

 

Junction City Events and Community Spirit

Magistrates highlighted the success of Junction City’s recent “History Harvest,” where residents brought decades-old photos, ledgers, and memorabilia for digitization. Local legends like Mary Walker and Keith Richardson contributed rare artifacts.

Upcoming Junction City events include:

• Hot Air Balloon Festival: Aug. 24. The event is expanding in partnership with Junction City Matters.

• Community Easter Egg Hunt: April 11 at 6 p.m., featuring food, games, a train ride, and more.

• Junction City Fire Department Block Party: April 26 at 5 p.m.

“This is about building pride and keeping our small-town history alive,” one organizer said.

Ethics, Budget, and Appropriations

Concerns were raised about delays in appropriation requests from local groups. Officials reaffirmed that formal written requests are required to be considered.

The court debated a $10,000 request from Danville to help cover repairs to the city-owned pool, but deferred action. Several magistrates argued the county already contributes funds for recreation and should not pay for facilities it doesn’t own.

Lake Floodgate Clarification

Following public confusion over Dick’s Dam floodgate openings, officials clarified that the dam operated as designed. A 20-foot lake rise in two days required partial release.

“People need to understand the dam was protecting us,” one magistrate noted. “It’s holding back much more water than it’s releasing.”

Other Items

• The court voted to reimburse Mercer County $17,309, its share in the closure of a restricted jail account.

• Officials met with T-Mobile representatives about future broadband initiatives and potential grant partnerships.

• A new steel bench project is underway with more surplus materials than expected.

• Plans continue for America’s 250th Anniversary celebration in June 2026.

Adjournment in Memory

The meeting adjourned in memory of Steele Gregory, a lifelong community advocate and insurance agent known for his dignity, family devotion, and strength despite living with a disability.

Next Steps: The court will revisit the city pool request and continue infrastructure and public safety facility planning over the next two weeks.