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For several years Allan Curtis has served as Road Supervisor for Clark County, but there was some initial uncertainty to begin the month of January if he would remain in the position.

According to Curtis, after being summoned to the office of Clark County Judge-Executive Les Yates just after New Year’s, he was told that – although it was not due to personal differences – his re-appointment would not take place.

However, there were concerns about the legality of the matter.

“I told [Judge Yates] that I didn’t feel that the law was on his side because I was appointed in January of 2021 for a term of four years,” Curtis said. “He said that he felt that was an illegal appointment, and I didn’t agree. I had already conferred with the County Attorney, and he told me that my appointment was still good until 2025.”

A special meeting of the Clark County Fiscal Court was called for Jan. 5, with one agenda item: the appointment and setting of a salary for James Tipton, Curtis’ intended replacement.

However, that decision was tabled until the regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 11.

Some magistrates had concerns regarding the issue.

“The concerns that I had [were] it opened the county up to potential litigation,” said Magistrate Dan Konstantopoulos. “Also, to be [a] violation of Kentucky law.”

Magistrate Chris Davis also voiced concern.

“I took the position that Alan was still the road supervisor. He still has two years on his term,” Davis said. “I’m personally a big fan of the job that Alan has done as road supervisor.”

In the end, the court voted 5-1 to approve a motion to affirm that Curtis would stay in the position. Yates was the lone dissenting vote. Magistrate Robert Blanton abstained.

Curtis is glad to continue his work supervising the care of the county’s highways.

“I’ve built a relationship with my coworkers, and we’ve got a pretty good team [and] a pretty good public reputation among the community,” he said. “I wanted to continue that.”

One of his goals is to keep the department properly staffed because, at one point, the number of employees it had was as low as seven individuals. However, it has risen as high as 15 in recent years.

Curtis said he also wants to bring in more funding as he has done in the past.

“I brought in $1.8 million in paving funds,” he said.

Davis and Konstantoupoulous also have high hopes the fiscal court will accomplish much despite the somewhat contentious start to the new term.

“Things have started out a little rocky, but I’m optimistic,” Konstantopoulos said.

Davis reiterated the full slate the court has this year.

“We’ve got a lot to do,” Davis said. “We’ve still got to finish the sanitary sewer project. We’ve got the broadband internet expansion to get moving on, [and] a lot of other projects.”

Yates declined to comment for this story.