Annexation bill filed + upcoming training opportunities + this week in pictures

This week in county news

KACo Board of Directors votes to support HB 596

Members of the KACo Board of Directors voted today to express unanimous support for HB 596, an annexation bill filed this week by Rep. Jonathan Dixon.

“This compromise legislation is fair. It’s a good first step,” said KACo Government Affairs Director Shellie Hampton.

Learn more here

House releases transportation budget

HB 265, sponsored by Rep. Jason Petrie, provides funding for the Transportation Cabinet for the FY 2025-26 biennium. Counties rely on funding from this budget for the maintenance of county roads and bridges. The bill includes $146.9 million in FY 2025 and $157.3 million in FY 2026 for county road aid based on the revenue sharing formula.

Learn more here

Upcoming Training Opportunties

Defensive Driving

Date: Feb. 28, 2024

Time: 9 a.m.- noon. EST

Location: KACo HQ, Frankfort

Cost: FREE for members

This defensive driving course from the National Safety Council is designed to provide the knowledge and safe driving techniques necessary to prevent collisions and traffic violations. Topics to be covered include: Speeding, distracted driving, braking distance, safe following distance and improper turns. A National Safety Council certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the class.

2024 Cybersecurity Symposium

Date: March 5, 2024

Time: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. EST

Location: KACo HQ, Frankfort

Cost: FREE for members

The Kentucky Department of Homeland Security, in collaboration with the Kentucky Association of Counties, presents a full day of training focused on cybersecurity for county officials.

WRAP VR System - Train the Trainer courses in March

A new virtual reality training system called the WRAP VR system is now available for sheriffs and jailers from the Kentucky Association of Counties. Any department requesting to utilize the WRAP system must send at least one trainer to a mandatory training class at KACo.

Dates and Locations

Law Enforcement

March 12 - Frankfort
March 19 - Madisonville

Jails

March 13 - Frankfort
March 20 - Madisonville

KACo Leadership Institute: Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

Date: March 7, 2024

Time: 2-3 p.m. EST

Location: Virtual

Cost: FREE

This class will cover the laws and regulations that define sexual harassment, the reporting duties and consequences for failing to do so and offer suggestions to best implement anti-harassment policies in the workplace. Participants will learn ways to prevent and discourage sexual harassment and how to promote a safe and respectful workplace.

KACo Leadership Institute: Opioid Settlement Funds

Date: March 14, 2024

Time: 2-3:30 p.m. EST

Location: Virtual

Cost: FREE

Join us for an overview of the opioid settlement funds and learn more about their regulation, disbursement schedule, reporting, compliance and approved uses.

Speaker: Lauren Carr, Opioid Settlement Advisor

KACo Leadership Institute: Occupational License Taxes

Date: March 19, 2024

Time: 2-3 p.m. EST

Location: Virtual

Cost: FREE

Join us to learn more about county occupational license taxes, including rate limitations and ordinances as well as tax collection software.

See all training opportunities here

This week in pictures

Members of the Butler County Fiscal Court with Rep. Rebecca Raymer at the Capitol Annex

The Montgomery County Fiscal Court met with Sen. Greg Elkins at the Capitol this week.

Christian County Fiscal Court members with Rocky Adkins

Casey County Fiscal Court members with Sen. Brandon Storm

Magistrates and commissioners visited the Capitol Wednesday and posed for a group photo with Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman.

Magoffin County Sheriff Bill Meade, Judge/Executive Matt Wireman, Rep. John Blanton and Magoffin County PVA Becky Allen at the KACo Legislative Reception

Rep. Jonathan Dixon and KACo 1st Vice President/Union County Judge/Executive Adam O'Nan at the KACo Legislative Reception

County Attorneys at the KACo Legislative Reception

Circuit Court Clerks at the KACo Legislative Reception

Kentucky Sheriffs at the KACo Legislative Reception

Rep. Daniel Grossberg with Jefferson County Judge/Executive Queenie Averette at the KACo Legislative Reception

Rowan Circuit Court Clerk Kim Barker-Tabor, Sen. Robin Webb, Bath County Circuit Court Clerk Claudette Faudere at the KACo Legislative Reception

Commonwealth’s Attorneys Association President Blake Chambers, center, poses with the legal team for the case of State of Wisconsin v. Darrell Brooks that spoke at the conference Tuesday.

Commonwealth's Attorneys Gerina D. Whethers (30th District) and Mike Van Meter (Sixth District) listen to Director of Victim/Witness Assistance Program Jennifer Dunn talk about how she and her team helped numerous victims and witnesses during the aftermath of the Waukesha, Wisconsin, Christmas parade attack that resulted in six deaths and 62 injured people.

Commonwealth's Attorney Herb McKee, who represents the 51st District, listens to Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper answering a question about the Darrell Brooks case Tuesday.

Stronger Counties. Stronger Kentucky.