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The Kentucky Association of Counties held a Board of Directors' meeting at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, March 30, 2023. This meeting was held at the KACo offices located at 400 Englewood Drive in Frankfort, Ky. and via video teleconference, in accordance with KRS 61.826 and KRS 65.312(3).
The following Directors participated in person: President Amy Milliken, Warren Co. Attorney; Jodi Albright, Laurel Co. Attorney; Elbert Bennett, Caldwell Co. Magistrate; Joe Pat Covington, Scott Co. Judge/Executive; Jim Daley, Campbell Co. Jailer; Randy Dial, Casey Co. Judge/Executive; Chuck Dills, Grant Co. Judge/Executive; David Fields, Pendleton Co. Judge/ Executive; Stevie Givens, Butler Co. Magistrate; Orbrey Gritton, Anderson Co. Judge/Executive; Doug Hall, Floyd Co. Circuit Court Clerk; Steve Henry, Webster Co. Judge/Executive; John Hunt, Floyd Co. Sheriff; Dan Ison, Shelby Co. Judge/Executive; Michael Logsdon, Oldham Co. Magistrate; Gary Moore, Boone Co. Judge/Executive; Dan Mosley, Harlan Co. Judge/Executive; David Nicholson, Jefferson Co. Circuit Court Clerk; Jenny Oldham, Hardin Co. Attorney; Adam O'Nan, Union Co. Judge/Executive; Berl Perdue, Clark Co. Sheriff; Rick Stiltner, Menifee Co. Judge/Executive; Reagan Taylor, Madison Co. Judge/Executive; and Greg Terry Carlisle Co. Judge/Executive.
The following Directors participated via video teleconference: Scott Alexander, Perry Co. Judge/Executive; Darrin Benton, Muhlenberg Co. Magistrate; Bobby Hall, Greenup Co. Judge/Executive; David Livingston, Scott Co. Magistrate; Craig Miller, Bracken Co. Magistrate; David O'Neill, Fayette Co. PVA; Stephanie Schumacher, Mason Co. Clerk; and John Ward, Hardin Co. Sheriff.
Others participating included: Jim Henderson, Executive Director/CEO; Tim Sturgill, General Counsel; Temple Juett, Director of Insurance and Business; Shellie Hampton, Director of Government Affairs; Karen Basham, Chief Financial Officer; Rich Ornstein, Attorney; Grant Satterly, Director of Financing Services; Kris Dunn, Associate Director of Insurance (via video teleconference); Jennifer Burnett, Director of Strategic Operations; Kelly Harding, HUB/Peel and Holland; Susan Riddell, Communications Manager; Jon Kovach, Emergency Management Liaison; Jon Sharp, IT Manager; Brenna Angel, Associate Director of Communications; Rebecca Jackson, Graphic Designer; Alyssa Rogers, Staff Accountant; Marie Skinner, Accounting Manager; Barry Stilz and Lynn Zellen, Kinkead and Stilz, PLLC; Tabatha Clemons, Grant Co. Clerk; Jerry Wagner, Executive Director, Kentucky Sheriffs Association; Sue Porter, KACo Marketing Agent/Roeding Insurance; Jesse Penn, Computer Support Specialist; Beth Pleasant, Administrative Assistant; and Sonya Chesser, Executive Assistant to the CEO/Director of Administrative Services.
President Milliken called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
Judge Taylor gave the invocation.
Judge Covington led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flags of the United States of America and Commonwealth of Kentucky.
President Milliken recognized Champions of KACo's County Partner Program, Barry Stilz and Lynn Zellen of Kinkead & Stilz in attending today's board meeting.
Motion made by Orbrey Gritton, seconded by Jodi Albright, to approve the minutes of the December 15, 2022, February 3, 2023, March 6, 2023 and March 13, 2023 meetings. Motion carried.
President Milliken requested approval of the following appointments:
Appoint Pendleton Co. Judge/Executive David Fields to the KACo Board representing Northern Kentucky ADD to fill the unexpired term of Owen Co. Judge/Executive Casey Ellis who resigned from office and accepted the position as executive director for the Kentucky Council of ADDs. Judge Field's term is effective immediately and will expire upon the conclusion of KACo conference in 2024.
Motion made by Greg Terry, seconded by Adam O'Nan, to appoint Judge David Fields to the KACo Board representing Northern Kentucky ADD for a term effective immediately and expiring upon conclusion of the 2024 KACo Conference. Motion carried.
Appoint Scott Co. Judge/Executive Joe Pat Covington to the KACo Insurance Agency, Inc. Board to fill the unexpired term of former Harrison Co. Judge/Executive Alex Barnett. This term is effective immediately and will expire at the annual shareholders meeting in December of 2023.
Motion made by David Livingston, seconded by David Nicholson, to appoint Judge Joe Pat Covington the KACo Insurance Agency, Inc. Board for a term effective immediately and to expire at the annual shareholders meeting in December of 2023. Motion carried.
Appoint Jefferson Co. Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson to the KACo Workers Compensation Fund Board to fill the unexpired term of former Owen Co. Judge/Executive Casey Ellis who resigned from office. This term is effective January 1, 2023 and will expire June 30, 2025.
Motion made by Stevie Givens, seconded by Dan Mosley, to appoint David Nicholson to the KACo Workers Compensation Fund Board for a term effective immediately and to expire June 30, 2025. Motion carried.
Appoint Casey Co. Judge/Executive Randy Dial to the KACo Unemployment Insurance Fund Board to fill the unexpired term of Jefferson Co. Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson who resigned from the KACo. Unemployment Insurance Fund Board. This term is effective immediately and will expire December 31, 2023.
Motion made by Rick Stiltner, seconded by Orbrey Gritton, to appoint Judge Randy Dial to the KACo Unemployment Insurance Fund Board for a term effective immediately and to expire December 31, 2023. Motion carried.
Mr. Henderson, giving the executive director's report, presented a written report to the board. From the report, he highlighted staff's legislative activity, including a big win for counties with the passing of SB 141 that places a temporary pause on annexations until July 1, 2024, with some exceptions. He said the County Officials Legislative Reception was a huge success with roughly 500 in attendance including 54 legislators. He thanked the ten affiliate associations for co-sponsoring the event with KACo on Feb. 8th. Mr. Henderson said the annual board work session will be held June 21-23 in Bowling Green and the NACo Annual Conference & Exposition will be held July 21-24 in Travis County, TX. He asked the Board to let he or Ms. Chesser know if they planned to attend the NACo Conference. He said staff held a board orientation for all new KACo Board members earlier this month and a copy of the 2023 KACo Board Orientation manual will be emailed to all board members.
Ms. Hampton, providing a legislative update, said the medical cannabis bill is being discussed in session today and is expected to pass the House, the last day of the legislative session. She presented a handout summarizing SB 141, which puts a temporary pause on annexation. She thanked the board for their efforts in helping to get this piece of legislation passed. She also discussed HB 4, which would give local control as it relates to merchant electric generating facilities (solar farms), both HB 164 relating to jail standards and HB 380 relating to certification of peace officers would lower the age limits to be hired to work in a jail or in law enforcement among other things, and HB 302 as it relates to elections. She said HB 5, a bourbon barrel tax bill, which would gradually phase out the tax distilleries pay on aging bourbon barrels is currently being negotiated. KACo opposes the bill.
Ms. Burnett, providing an update on the opioid settlement, said counties must submit certification forms to the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission on a quarterly basis to affirm that funds are being used appropriately. Deadline to submit the quarterly certification form is tomorrow. Non-compliance will result in having funds withheld. Also, notices went out earlier this this year regarding the newest settlements from the settlement administrator, Rubris Inc. She said the deadline for counties to return the required documentation is April 18. She said KACo will be partnering with a Vital Strategies to provide an individual (employed by Vital Strategies) in assisting counties with best practices and allowable uses from the opioid settlement funds. A list of upcoming training opportunities was provided to the board.
Ms. Basham presented and discussed the financial statement as of February 28, 2023. She also recognized new employee Alyssa Rogers. Ms. Rogers replaced Bruce Lawson who worked in KACo's accounting department and retired in the latter part of 2022.
Motion made by Orbrey Gritton, seconded by Michael Logsdon to acknowledge receipt of the financial report as presented. Motion carried.
Mr. Juett, providing an update on insurance and business, recognized Jon Kovach, KACo's new emergency management liaison. Mr. Kovach provided a brief introduction. Mr. Juett discussed the factors affecting insurance rates for FY 2023-24. He said the expected average of increase for the upcoming year will be 15%. The insurance boards voted to cap premium increases on individual accounts unless the premium increases are due to increases exposures and/or high losses. Judge Henry encouraged the board to be the ambassadors in informing the newly elected county judges and members of the fiscal court the reasons for the increase in premiums.
Mr. Henderson presented the FY 2023-24 membership dues for approval. He said the Executive Committee recommends that the membership dues structure remain the same as FY 2022/23.
Motion made by Orbrey Gritton, seconded by Adam O'Nan, to approve the recommendation by the Executive Committee for the FY 2023/24 dues to remain the same. Motion carried.
President Milliken asked for four volunteers and one alternate to serve on the Presidential Scholarship Committee for 2023 in addition to KACo 2nd vice president Adam O'Nan who serves as an ex officio member of the committee. She said applications are currently being accepted by high school seniors living in Warren County. Two students will each be awarded $2,000 renewable up to four years to attend an in-state college or university or a two-year technical college in the fall following graduation. In April, KACo staff will email scholarship committee members the students' applications and essays. The committee members will individually rank their first, second and third choices and will send their rankings back to KACo. There will be no personal interview of applicants. The President and any person from the president's county are excluded from serving on this committee.
The following agreed to serve on the Presidential Scholarship Committee: Rick Stiltner, David Nicholson, Jodi Albright and Orbrey Gritton with Reagan Taylor as the alternate.
Ms. Milliken requested approval to ratify memorial resolutions for former Shelby Co. Sheriff Stanley Greenwell and former Hart Co. Attorney George Lang.
Motion made by Dan Ison, seconded by Randy Dial to ratify the resolutions as presented. Motion carried.
Ms. Milliken requested approval to adopt memorial resolutions for former Butler Co. Judge/Executive Hugh Evans, former Carroll Co. Judge/Executive Bobby Westrick, former Carter Co. Attorney Henry Wilhoit, former McLean Co. Attorney Bill Quisenberry, former Warren Co. Magistrate Terry Kevin Stahl, former Warren Co. PVA Harold Jackson Stahl and former Webster Co. Attorney Joel "Jody" Rich.
Motion made by Rick Stiltner, seconded by Stevie Givens to adopt the memorial resolutions as presented. Motion carried.
President Milliken asked for a moment of silence in memory of those individuals.
President Milliken said Warren Co. Deputy Judge Marie Smith would be retiring tomorrow after 50 years of service and her mother, Brenda Hale, would be retiring after 42 years of service as Warren Co. Fiscal Court Clerk.
Motion made by David Nicholson, seconded by Adam O'Nan, to adjourn the meeting at 2:13 p.m. in honor of Ms. Smith and Ms. Hale. Motion carried.
