With all members present, including District 2 Magistrate Shawna Coldiron and District 3 Magistrate Roger Humphrey both attending via Zoom, Judge/Executive Chuck Dills called the Grant County Fiscal Court to order on March 3. Agenda items included appointments, ordinance readings and advertising bids along with Ethics Commission meeting information and Farmers’ Market Produce Stand request.
Re-appointments
Court unanimously approved the following re-appointments:
· Teddy Beckham, E911 Service Fee Appeals Board, retroactive to Feb. 2 and expiring Dec. 31, 2032
· Billy Points, E911 Service Fee Appeals Board, retroactive to Feb. 2 and expiring Dec. 31, 2032
· Lester “Lum” Edwards, E911 Service Fee Appeals Board, retroactive to Feb. 2 and expiring Dec. 31, 2032
· Candace Hammonds Faulkner, Tax Appeals Board, retroactive to Feb. 2 and expiring Dec. 31, 2032
· Fred Scheffler, 109 Board, retroactive to Feb. 2 and expiring Dec. 31, 2032
Ordinances
· Second Reading: Ordinances numbers 001-2026-0293 and 002-2026-0294 received their first readings. Both deal with putting “Solar Energy Systems” regulations in place.
Ordinance 0293 is an amendment to the ordinance intended to change “the zoning ordinance by adding … the inclusion of Solar Energy Systems to the list of Conditional Uses within and Industrial Two (I-2) Zone.
Ordinance 0294 is an amendment to the ordinance intended to “change the zoning ordinance by adding … the inclusion of Solar Energy System Regulations to Article 15 Performance Standards for Industrial Zones…” It adds “solar energy system to Industrial 2 zone” and adds “pertains to regulation for” those systems.
· First Reading: Ordinance numbers 003-2026-0295, Solar Energy Data Storage Center Amendment, and 0004-2026-0296, Data Storage Center Amendment, adding Industrial-2 Industrial Zone.
Dills previously explained both Solar Farms and Data Storage Center ordinances are “proactive” actions so the County will have standards in place should any entity want to site solar farms in the County.
· First Reading: Ordinance Number 0004-2026-0296, Troy and Tammy Pendleton Zone Change for a 5.9 acre site with existing house. The ordinance changes zoning from A-1 to R-1A (residential one agriculture), separating one acre with the house from remaining 4.9 acres to build another house.
Dills noted all ordinances are available in the Judge/Executive’s Office in the old courthouse.
Miscellaneous
· Court unanimously approved Dills to sign contract agreement approving Matthew Dunaway as an electrical inspector for Grant County, effective March 3. Dills said the Court maintains three electrical engineers approved to work in the County.
He said Larry Wright, one of the current approved electricians, has moved to semi-retirement and will not being available as a full-time inspector for the County. Dills said Dunaway is “highly recommended” and is class three certified electrician.
· A proposed interfund transfer from the General Fund to the Jail Fund for $30,000 was withdrawn by County Treasurer Peggy Updike as funds were received.
· Sheriff Dennis Switzer provided his monthly report: 953 calls for service were received. The Sherffi’s Office opened 26 investigations, made 43 arrests, investigated 23 collisions, issued 96 citations, served 222 civil/criminal summons, completed 233 auto inspections, traveled 5,187 miles on fugitive transports and worked 62.5 hours of court security.
Switzer said two court security officers are in the hiring process.
· Court approved advertising for bid for the Grant County Road Department materials and supplies for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. Dills said this is the “time of year we are beginning to prepare for budget” and this is part of the process.
· Dills had added an agenda item to allow him to sign a contract with “Civil Con Incorporated” for replacement of Ford’s Mill Road bridge. The company is a “licensed consulting engineering” firm that will provide plans for the bridge as well as assist the county in obtaining funding from the state to replace the bridge. Court approved this unanimously.
· Dills noted the County Ethics Board met Feb. 23 and “reviewed all the current elected officials, all the individuals that [are] running for public office.” No violations were found.
· Dills said Grant County Farmers’ Market has again asked to use property by the Whippy Dip. They submitted their request along with proof of insurance. He has approved that request.
The next meeting of the Grant County Fiscal Court is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 6 p.m. at the Courthouse, 101 North Main Street Williamstown. For more information on the meeting, call (859) 823-7561.
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