With Christian County officials bound for a Fort Campbell VOLAR Barracks ribbon cutting Tuesday morning, fiscal court met in rapid session — delivering key housekeeping items for the end of August.
Among these, a short report from Christian County Regional Animal Shelter Executive Director Melissa Goff.
For the month of July, she said more than $3,900 was made available for the spay/neuter program, and in all, more than $5,000 came way of public and anonymous designated donations — one of the biggest in organization history “without some kind of big event” or fundraiser planned.
Of the 513 incoming animals in the last month, she noted that 340 came from the shelter, 63 came from Hopkinsville Animal Control, 32 came from Oak Grove Animal Control, 16 came from Trigg County Animal Control, and 23 came from Todd County Animal Control. More than 30 were returned from adoption.
However, there were more than 220 outgoing animals, including more than 150 adoptions. This comprised of 115 dogs, 43 puppies, 17 cats and 54 kittens.
Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam said, anecdotally, incoming and outgoing animals seem to be on the rise from last year to this one, and by more than 25%. The average per month intake and outtake for fiscal year ’23, he said, was around 300, and now it’s closer to 400.
Gilliam also brought some humor to the issue.
In other court news:
— Prior to the meeting, a brief public hearing was administered for the court’s intent to enter into a bond with the Kentucky Association of Counties.
No comments were made, but fiscal court will finance a portion of the costs associated with the acquisition, construction, installation, and equipping of an undisclosed industrial building. A prospective employer is planning to locate a large manufacturing facility within the county, and the announcement could come before the fall.
The amount of the lease will not exceed $1.2 million, nor 30 years in length. Magistrates unanimously approved the second reading of this lease in regular session.
— Magistrate Phillip Peterson said a pair of fire departments, Pembroke and Square Deal, have landed a set of well-earned and well-researched FEMA grants for specific equipment. Pembroke will receive $180,000 for 17 breathing apparatuses, and another $320,000 for a regional light rescue truck, which Peterson said could be used to refill air tanks and called out by other surrounding agencies, including Trenton. Square Deal will receive $525,000 for another fire truck.
