After reading the testimonies of the public present at the last fiscal court meeting I can say it's left me with a sense of disappointment. It's a shame and a disgrace that our elected officials cannot openly discuss matters between themselves and also with the public without having bouts of anger and contempt.

They are the representatives of the entire county and the manner you in which you present yourself is reflection of the people who voted for you. The elected officials should be the role models the younger generations of kids look up to instead of examples of how not to act. Don't forget we are the citizens whose votes helped you win your positions and next election our votes can help someone else. You need to do better and be better. - Jamison Roberts

The "what if" you suggest is an interesting idea, but it's illegal. It would be a violation of open meetings laws. Private/executive session meetings can only take place under a handful of circumstances. Hiding to avoid embarrassment isn't one of them. Taxpayers should be privy to the business of the county or city and to the ways our leaders "lead". We have elected those officials to act on our behalf. It's important for us to see what we are getting from those we elected to represent us, even when we can't believe our eyes or ears at times. If we kept the ugly and embarrassing tucked away behind a closed door requiring a referee, we would be doing a great disservice to the voters of this county. Voters need to see the good, bad and horrible so they can make informed decisions next election cycle. - Shannon

My work experience over many years with non-profits and government entities lead me to believe a exec session to discuss taxes would be violation of open mtgs statute KRS 61.810 etal. - Thanks, Steve

I agree 100% that there needs to be another meeting held with a moderator keeping it civil. This tax is meant to help retain our county employees at a decent wage so they can properly take care of their families. Anyone working as hard as our county employees do deserve better than what they are being given. Some are trying to hold on hoping things get better soon but yet again the can gets kicked down the road another month at least. Their finances are stretched to the limits now.

I’ve sat through the last few court meetings in disbelief to say the least. Remember this if nothing else. This IS about our county's future and our employees. They take care of us EVERY DAY. This past weeks storms a prime example. Our road department is there to clear the roads and maintain. Our clerks office is there to license our vehicles. Our sheriff is there in emergencies such as wrecks, murders, disagreements, court transports, mental evaluation transports. Our PVA is there for property needs. Our 911 folks take our calls at some of the worst times in our lives. Our animal shelter folks take care of our abandoned fur babies. Our custodians keep our buildings clean. Our treasurer makes just about everything happen. Without her we we would be up the creek as we saw her job at its finest Tuesday night as she made her many reports.

And the list goes on. These are the people who are hurting. They are the actual people who make this county run. Yet we keep letting THINGS get in the way of helping them. That means paying for services we all have to have. Not talking it to death. We all know what has to happen here. The tax has to be put on. So get another meeting on the agenda as soon as possible and get this thing done. Whatever it takes. I’m more than willing to help in any way to see this happens for our county employees. It’s about them and that is being forgotten with all the hissing and spitting. Reminds me of my cats in a spat but they work it out. You all can too. So get at it for OUR EMPLOYEES before they all leave for better paying jobs elsewhere. Once gone they probably won’t come back. If you are one of the few that don’t want to pay for these services maybe it’s time you rethink where you live. I’ve lived here all my 63 yrs and am more than willing to pay my fair share. I’m invested in my community. I want to see it grow and prosper like communities around us have. Respectfully submitted, Vicky

Yes I agree that not much movement was made on import tax matters. I agree that name calling and curse words should not be tolerated in the fiscal court. I would like to think that when someone makes an infraction like that, they get a warning, then their mic is cut and they have yielded the floor back. What was most inappropriate was how the members of the fiscal court treated the public. They showed true contempt and disdain for the people from which any and all authority is derived. they showed frustration and annoyance being asked humble questions.

They scolded the public for being uninformed, even though they were at the very meeting to be informed. A full and specific apology is due not only to the individuals who spoke up at the meeting, but for the tax payers. they are about to charge even more taxes and cannot even conduct a meeting in aline with basic parliamentary procedures. We need better. We need change. perhaps these leaders can change and provide the leadership we need. But we will need proof to support new faith in our fiscal court, because what little faith people had in government was squashed during that meeting.

I believe that beautiful butterfly to be an Eastern tiger swallowtail. Beautiful. Great specimen!

Hardly ever scolds
but ridiculous answers
given to questions.