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The first Clark County Fiscal Court meeting of 2024 took place early on Wednesday morning.

As was the case in 2023, it highlighted several agenda items.

A first reading of an ordinance to change the times of upcoming Clark County Fiscal Court meetings passed.

Through 2023, the Clark County Fiscal Court meeting hours – with few exceptions – were the first Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. and the fourth Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

By a 5-1 vote, it was agreed upon first reading to move each time up by one hour.

Thus, Wednesday meetings will occur at 8:30 a.m., and Thursday meetings will occur at 5:30 p.m.

Magistrate Chris Davis was one of several who favored the change.

“I think it’s important for us to have a daytime meeting and an evening time meeting. There are people, believe it or not, who do occasionally want to come to court, and it’s easier for them to come in the evening than in the daytime [and vice versa] because they work,” Davis said. “I think this is, in my opinion, a fair compromise.”

Magistrate Robert Blanton, the lone “no” vote, stated that some constituents he spoke to had opposed the change.

“Those people that I’ve talked to would prefer that the meetings be the same day, whether the second and fourth Wednesday or the second and fourth Thursday….[or] whatever day it is,” Blanton said. “As this is written, I can’t vote for it based on the people that I’ve talked to.”

The topic also garnered discussion from Magistrate Steve Craycraft, Dan Konstantopoulos and Mark Miller.

The decision now heads to a second reading, where it must get approved before going into full effect.

Additionally, during what – ironically – was a week of inclement weather – Clark County was certified as StormReady by the National Weather Service.

Clark County was recognized for being StormReady.

National Weather Service Louisville Weather Forecast office meteorologist Ronald Steve presented the honor to Clark County Fire Chief Steve Asbury and the court.

“As good as our forecasts and warnings can get, they don’t do anybody any good unless the information gets to the people that need it,” Steve said. “We have a longstanding partnership with Clark County Emergency Management and with the citizens of Clark County.”

According to the organization’s website at https://www.weather.gov/stormready/, a community or county must meet several criteria to be considered StormReady.

Among them are establishing a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center, having multiple ways to receive severe weather alerts and inform the public, developing a formal hazardous weather plan, and more.

With its inclusion, Clark County joins over 60 Kentucky counties, multiple universities, commercial sites and more.

Opioid settlement monies for various projects were approved appropriated for various agencies.

For the Clark County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy, or ASAP, the Court approved the appropriation and disbursement of $3,000 for the third quarter of FY 2024.

For Recovery Ready Communities, which is dedicated to community services recovery, the Court approved the appropriation and disbursement of $20,000 for the third quarter of FY 2024 as requested by ASAP.

For the Law Enforcement Assisted Programming, or LEAP, Project, the Court approved the appropriation and disbursement of $25,000 as requested by the Clark County Health Department for the third quarter of FY 2024.

Each order stated that, upon acceptance of the monies, the organization would submit a quarterly report to the Judge/Executive office for review of expenditures.

Many magistrates spoke in favor of the latter measure to ensure accountability.