KACo County News: Beginning Oct. 3, 2025, this newsletter will come to your inbox from KACo County News - countynews@kaco.org. Nothing else is changing — same County Line Weekly newsletter, same schedule. To keep receiving it, please add countynews@kaco.org to your contacts or safe sender list. | | Former Trigg County Judge joins KACo staff | |
Team KACo keeps growing!
Please join us in welcoming Hollis Alexander as KACo's newest Relationship Officer in the member engagement team. With ten years of public service as judge/executive in Trigg County and more than two decades in law enforcement, Hollis' experience gives him valuable insights into the work of local leaders.
We're excited to have Hollis on board as we continue strengthening Kentucky counties through meaningful connections and collaboration.
| | | | Legislators hear county perspectives on rising jail costs | |
Citing examples of high medical costs, rising operational expenses and a continued struggle to recruit and retain quality staff, county officials from four parts of the Commonwealth painted a bleak picture for state legislators Tuesday about the impact of jail costs on county governments in Kentucky.
Judge/executives Steve Henry of Webster County, Mike Mitchell of Knox County, Keith Taul of Hardin County and Magistrate Jacqalynn Riley of Grant County each shared perspectives from their respective county.
| | KACo board sets top legislative priority for 2026 session | |
The costs and sources of funding for housing inmates, building jail facilities, inmate programming and other related needs are perennial issues in Kentucky, dating back more than 40 years.
The KACo Board of Directors reviewed the history of county jail financials at its strategic planning meeting this summer and had in-depth discussions about possible solutions that would benefit all 120 counties.
The issue was brought forward again by KACo President Dan Mosley during the board's quarterly meeting Thursday. With a motion from Hardin County Jailer Josh Lindblom and a second by Whitley County Judge/Executive Pat White, the KACo Board voted unanimously to endorse the issue of reshaping the shared responsibility of county jails as KACo’s primary legislative priority for the 2026 legislative session.
KACo will continue working with members and KACo's affiliate organizations to craft a multi-pronged jail proposal.
| | | | State releases county unemployment data for August 2025 | Unemployment rates fell in 119 counties and rose in Martin County between August 2024 and August 2025, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency within the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet. | | | | Deadline approaching for KACo Art Contest | |
The 2025 I Love My KY County KACo Art Contest is underway!
All students in kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to submit a drawing, painting or other form of art showing what makes their county special. Don't delay — the deadline for entries is Oct. 3.
Winners will be featured at the KACo Conference and in the 2026 KACo calendar.
| | | | 2025 KACo Conference keynote speakers announced | |
Join us at the 51st Annual KACo Conference & Exposition, Nov. 12-14, 2025 at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville.
Get ready to be inspired as we hear from leaders who know what it takes to guide communities forward, including:
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Steve Lerch, former Google executive and innovation evangelist
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Stephanie Ramos, ABC News correspondent and U.S. Army Reserve major
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Mark Weaver, Crisis communications expert and former Deputy Attorney General of Ohio
Take advantage of early bird rates by securing your spot at the KACo Conference today!
| | | | The latest headlines from across Kentucky |
- Judge/Executive talks costs, savings and new ICE agreement with the Christian County Jail
- Calloway County honors Kennedy, Hopkins for serving community
- Mental Health Court has three more graduates
- Appalachian Regional Commission awards $11 million to support 32 addiction recovery projects
- Ohio County approves first reading of biodigester ordinance
- ‘In over our heads.’ KY animal shelters face storm of overcrowding, underfunding
- Remember Jefferson County Sheriff John Aubrey
- Raffle winner helps Kentucky Sheriffs' Boys and Girls Ranch with big donation after win
- Ky. EMS team under fire for treating man with antivenom
| | | | Building flood resilience: tools and strategies for ready, responsive counties | |
Date: Oct. 1, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. ET
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Join KACo and the American Flood Coalition for a practical webinar designed to help county leaders strengthen their community’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from flood events. This session will highlight real-world tools and resources that can support your county in becoming more flood-resilient.
| | | | WRAP restraint devices in jails (Train the Trainer Course) | |
Date: Oct. 1, 2025
Time: 1 - 3 p.m. ET
Location: KACo Headquarters, 400 Englewood Dr, Frankfort
Cost: Free
If your agency utilizes the WRAP restraining device, take advantage of this train-the-trainer course. This training will focus on the proper use and application strategies meant to minimize injuries for both inmates and staff. The instructor will discuss how & when to properly use restraints, including the WRAP. Attendees will be provided with the generally accepted best practices and participate in practical exercises. This training is open to all officers working in a county jail. The class is limited to the first 30 registrants.
| | | | County finance, open records and open meetings for county officials | |
Date: Oct. 9, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET
Location: Cumberland Valley Area Development District
Cost: $30 Member / $45 Non-Member
Join KACo staff attorney Rich Ornstein and R.J. Palmer from Compass Municipal Advisors for a practical and informative half-day training. This session will cover the basics of county financing as well as compliance with Kentucky’s Open Records and Open Meetings Acts, and best practices for maintaining transparency and accountability in county government.
| | | | From community events to emergency response: How counties access National Guard support | |
Date: Oct. 14, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
This presentation will explain the laws that guide what the Guard can and cannot do when supporting communities in Kentucky. Presenters will walk through how county governments can request help from the Kentucky National Guard whether it’s for an emergency or a planned community event.
| | | | Law Enforcement Vehicle Operations and Risk Reduction | |
This four-hour course provides law enforcement emergency vehicle operators with both classroom instruction and hands-on driving practice to reduce risk and improve safety. Training will focus on essential skills such as backing up, managing distractions, handling aggressive driving and operating safely during emergencies and pursuit situations. This course, open to sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, will be offered four times over two days in Ashland.
Oct. 21, 2025
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET
6 p.m. – 10 p.m. ET
Oct. 22, 2025
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET
6 p.m. – 10 p.m. ET
| | Harlan County Judge/Executive Dan Mosley presided over his final KACo Board of Directors meeting as 2024-25 KACo President. | | PVA Jonathan Bruer (center) and Judge/Executive Greg Terry, both of Carlisle County, reviewed financial reports during the KACo quarterly board meeting Thursday. | | Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson spoke during the KACo quarterly board meeting about the legacies of Sheriff John Aubrey and County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw, who recently passed away. | | John DuPlessis, left, hands Jerry Wagner of the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association, right, a check for $10,000 after DuPlessis was announced Tuesday as the winner of the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Boys & Girls Ranch raffle with Hardin County Sheriff John Ward watching. Photo by Kodee Brinegar of The News-Enterprise | | KACo hosted a training for jailers and their staff members this week. | | Jailers learned best practices for use of a restraint chair during a training session at KACo HQ. | | Jailer Brian Wofford and Brice Gibson, harm reduction/homeless coordinator for the Boyle County Health Department, installed a Narcan box in the lobby of the Boyle County Detention Center. The Narcan is free to the public. | | Boyle County officials were ready to get to work at their monthly department head meeting this week. | | KACo Staff Attorney Rich Ornstein led a training at the Green River Area Development District Office on ethics, open records and open meetings. | | Stronger Counties. Stronger Kentucky. | | | | |
