Winchester/Clark County CSEPP/EOC, with the first acronym standing for Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparation Program, was created following the United States Congress passing a law in 1985 that directed the Army to dispose of its aging chemical weapons inventory in a way that maximized protection of the environment and local citizens. 

With operations near completion, a closeout letter has been requested for approval. 

However, the matter was one of discussion at the most recent Clark County Fiscal Court meeting on Thursday, March 27. 

“In regards to the letter, we all – several months ago – starting back in December had this closeout [letter] to be reviewed by the county attorney. The county attorney has been trying to get the documents so he can give us an opinion,” said Magistrate Dan Konstantopoulos. “The letter may be the right way to go [or] it may not be the right way to go, but until we get clarification from the county attorney and he can get the documents – which he needs to review before he can give us a legal opinion – I don’t think we should act on that.” 

Magistrate Konstantopoulos motioned for action to be tabled until county attorney William Elkins was given documents needed to make an informed decision regarding follow-up steps. 

Magistrate Robert Blanton expressed thoughts that he wanted others associated with the closeout letter be recognized. 

“I’d like to have some thoughts from them about [whether] they’ve seen this letter and what’s their [thoughts] about it,” he said. 

Clark County Judge-Executive Les Yates, acknowledging they had received it, spoke. 

“My understanding is all the letter does is say to the Kentucky Emergency Management [that] we are going to disposition the EOC building and [more],” said Yates. “Once that happens, that…just starts the process. I believe, at the end of the day today by 3:00, I think that every document that could be found was found and is in the hands of the county attorney…that’s why I included a template…there will be ample time to discuss what we’re going to do with it…all this does is start the process.” 

Magistrate Dan Konstanopoulos, emphasizing that his motion was dependent on the county attorney receiving documentation for review and expressing frustration that such action had not yet been taken, clarified further.

“For some reason, the county attorney can’t get the documents that he needs,” said Konstantopoulos. “I don’t know what our intent is. We don’t know what our intent is until we get legal advice on it.” 

Ultimately, Konstantopoulos’ motion – which was seconded by Magistrate Mark Miller – passed 5-1 with Magistrate Blanton serving as a ‘no’ vote and Magistrate Steve Craycraft absent from the meeting.