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Spec building, tax rates and roads at Fiscal Court meeting By Mig Feuser, from the Adair Progress The Adair County Fiscal Court covered everything from a nearly $2 million economic development project to school taxes, hospital money, road equipment and Christmas decorations during its August 2026 regular meeting. One of the more positive reports of the evening came from Columbia-Adair County Economic Development Authority Chairman Larry Walker, who appeared before the court not to ask for money, as he quickly pointed out, but to say thank you. Walker said Adair County has been successful in receiving more than $2.5 million through Kentucky Product Development Initiative grants since the county began applying for the program in 2023. The latest award will help construct a speculative industrial building, a project estimated at $1.979 million. The state grant will provide $1,682,150. The project originally required a 50-50 local match, something Walker said would have been impossible for the local EDA. Changes at the state level eventually reduced the local requirement to 15 percent. That leaves a local match of $296,850. Walker said the match is possible largely because of TVA/Rural Development Assistance Board money allocated to the EDA by Fiscal Court. The EDA set aside $153,846 from the previous fiscal year and expects another allocation during the current year. "The Fiscal Court has made the local match possible for us on this project," Walker said, also thanking County Treasurer Melinda Quinn for handling the considerable paperwork associated with the grant. Adair County Schools Superintendent Jason Faulkner followed with another largely positive report. Faulkner told magistrates that the Board of Education decided to keep its property tax rates unchanged. The real property rate remains 57.3 cents per $100 of assessed value, while the personal property rate remains 57.4 cents. Faulkner said he does not anticipate recommending a tax increase during the next several years. "Financially, I feel like we're getting ourselves in pretty good shape," he said. Much of his report, however, centered on the opening of the new Adair County Middle School. Faulkner admitted that he had dreaded the first day of the new school year because of the major changes in traffic and bus routes on the campus. While the first day was hectic, he said, operations had already improved dramatically by the second morning. He particularly credited Transportation Director Anthony Darnell and the district's bus drivers for making the complicated new traffic pattern work. The approximately 95,000-square-foot middle school is now essentially complete. Bleachers were installed in the gym Sunday, and after initially operating under a temporary certificate of occupancy, the building passed its final inspection and received a full certificate. Faulkner said the difference the new building has made for students and staff is already noticeable. "The attitude of our teachers and our kids that are walking the halls right now, it's a noticeable difference," he said. The court also heard annual tax presentations from several local taxing districts. The Adair County Public Library Board voted to take the compensating rate of 4.3 cents per $100 for real property and 4.43 cents for personal property, both below last year's rates. The Adair County Extension District's compensating real-property rate was presented at 6.3 cents, compared with 6.4 cents last year, while its personal property and motor vehicle rates remain unchanged. Fiscal Court also discussed its own tax rate. With property assessments increasing, magistrates favored taking the 4 percent revenue increase while still lowering the county's tax rate from the current 14 cents. A lengthy discussion developed over a proposed skid steer for the County Road Department. Judge Executive Larry Russell Bryant advocated purchasing a tracked machine equipped with a hydraulic bush hog, saying it could be used for mowing, ditch work, moving gravel, snow removal and numerous other jobs. Bryant said a demonstration showed how effectively the machine could handle tall Johnson grass along county roads, including areas where vegetation can lean into the roadway and create a safety problem. He also argued that a tracked skid steer would be safer and easier to transport than some of the county's larger equipment. Not everyone was ready to make the purchase Tuesday night. After discussion about the approximately $70,000-plus cost and the need for additional input, magistrates voted to table the matter until they could speak further with Road Foreman Barry Hamlett. The court also took steps toward creating greater separation and transparency for money Adair County expects to receive connected to the former hospital. Officials said only several hundred dollars has been received so far, but approximately $400,000 is ultimately expected. Magistrates agreed the money should be kept separately so the public can easily see what comes in and how it is eventually spent. Rather than creating an entirely new account, the court discussed repurposing the existing ARPA account once federal officials formally close that program. The account currently has a zero balance. "Every penny you leave in there will be hospital only," Treasurer Quinn said during the discussion. In road business, the court voted to rebid certain sizes of rock purchased by the county. The issue arose following discussions with auditors concerning the county's annual purchases and the $40,000 procurement threshold. Officials also discussed problems with dense-grade rock being used in the county's pothole patching machine. Bryant said washed rock containing less lime appears to work better in the equipment and reduces problems with clogging. County Attorney Jennifer Hutchison Corbin advised that if the county wants a particular type of material, those specifications must be clearly included in the bid advertisement. The court consequently voted to rebid the rock and also held a first reading of a change to the county administrative code increasing the procurement threshold from $40,000 to $50,000. Magistrates also approved the updated FLEX road funding list. Officials noted that this year's funding is less than last year's allocation. The county is also preparing its next round of Local Assistance Road Program projects, with magistrates asked to submit their proposed roads soon. The court approved applying for the state's illegal open dump grant program and discussed the county's separate nuisance ordinance. Under that ordinance, property owners can be notified by certified letter and given time to clean up nuisance properties before a case is referred to the County Attorney's office. In financial business, Treasurer Quinn reported total cash balances of approximately $2.77 million among county funds. The court approved several transfers that may be needed before its September meeting, including up to $175,000 from the general fund to the jail, $50,000 to the animal shelter, $50,000 to 911 and $50,000 to Parks and Recreation. Magistrates also approved $10,000 payments to the Adair County Ambulance Service under Senate Bill 66 and to the Sheriff's Office as reimbursement for a school resource officer. A budget amendment increasing receipts by $628,480.46 received its second reading, with much of the amount consisting of prior-year carryover. Tourism Executive Director Paige Nickel also presented plans from a new community Christmas committee involving Tourism, the Chamber of Commerce, City of Columbia, Adair County and Courthouse Committee. Among the ideas being considered are expanded downtown decorations, horse-drawn carriage rides, Christmas caroling, hot chocolate stations and possibly an ice-skating rink. Nickel said the goal is not simply decoration, but creating activities that bring families downtown, attract visitors and help local businesses during the holiday season. The city has pledged $1,000 toward the effort, the Chamber of Commerce $500, and Tourism plans to cover additional expenses. Nickel requested $1,000 from Fiscal Court as the committee begins putting together what it hopes will become a growing annual Christmas celebration in Columbia. This story was posted on 2026-08-31 10:26:58
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City Council to meet Sept 1 Fiscal Court to meet Aug 31 Tourism special called meeting is Tuesday Tourism Commission gets custom financial program EDA: Spec Building takes another step forward at GRCP Agenda for Aug 25 Fiscal Court meeting Mitchum appointed to serve on CAUD board Agenda for Aug 20 School Board meeting Senator Rand Paul at Morgan Smith Industries Code Enforcement Board to hear appeal on Aug 20 View even more articles in topic Local Government |
 
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