| | Application period opens for Local Assistance Road Program | |
Counties can apply for the Local Assistance Road Program (LARP), a funding program from the state to rehabilitate county and city roads.
LARP was established during the 2025 legislative session and replaces the County Priority Projects Program.
| | | | EFT vendor payments will soon be an option for fiscal courts | |
Thanks to the passage of House Bill 555 (Sections 7-8), county fiscal courts will have the option to use electronic funds transfers to pay expenses approved by the fiscal court.
This payment option will allow the use of electronic signatures to meet signature requirements.
| | | | KACo webinar recap: Spotlight on recovery community centers | |
The June 2025 edition of KACo’s opioid solutions webinar series focused on the crucial role a recovery community center (RCC) can play in supporting individuals with opioid use disorder.
Counties can use opioid settlement funds to support RCCs, which offer holistic recovery services.
| | | | Ninety counties are StormReady certified - is yours among them? | |
As of this month, 90+ counties across the commonwealth are StormReady, a national standard of weather preparedness certified by the National Weather Service.
KACo – a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador and Storm Ready Supporter – is working with NWS to help Kentucky become certified in all 120 counties.
| | | | Virtual training offered for jailers and staff | On Sept. 9, 2025, from 11 a.m. – noon ET, join Tate McCotter, Executive Director of the National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO), and Josh Arnold, NIJO’s Director of Operations, for a highly practical virtual training session focused on minimizing inmate deaths. This training is offered through County Reinsurance Limited (CRL) and is available for KACo-insured jail and detention center staff. Register here. | | | | Check out the latest headlines from across Kentucky | |
Logan County achieves 100% coverage of high-speed internet, Hopkins County votes to use opioid settlement funds, a new factory is planned in Martin County, the Laurel County Road Department continues work following the deadly EF-4 tornado, and ten names are added to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial.
This week's roundup of local news includes stories from Boyd, Boyle, Daviess, Hopkins, Laurel, Logan, Marshall, Martin, Russell and Trigg counties.
| | | | Are you getting the most out of planning and zoning in your community? Explore some best practices that will enhance planning in your community and create an open, transparent environment ready to promote sound development. This interactive session will also discuss current planning news and topics from around the state (and beyond), how your community may be affected and possible solutions on how to deal with some of today's most pressing land use matters. Eligible for 8 hours of training credit. | |
Date: June 18, 2025
Time: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT
Location: Murray State University, 4430 Sunset Avenue, Paducah
Cost: $80.00 member/$120 non-member
| | | | Keeping your community informed: crisis communication in a disaster | When disaster strikes, clear and timely information can save lives. This session gives county leaders a practical overview of how crisis communication works—and why it matters. You’ll learn the public information officer’s (PIO) role, how and when to deliver key messages and why preparation is essential. We’ll also discuss what happens when communication fails—and how having a well-trained PIO can make all the difference. | |
Date: June 26, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. - noon ET
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
| | | | Senate Bill 63: What counties need to know about street-legal special purpose vehicles | Senate Bill 63, passed during the 2025 Regular Session, gives counties and cities the authority to adopt an ordinance and allow street-legal special purpose vehicles on highways within their jurisdictional boundaries. The new law takes effect June 27. KACo’s webinar will cover the key provisions of SB 63, including the legislative intent, requirements for street-legal special purpose vehicles, registration process, local government authority, safety and inspection standards, and how the law interacts with farm exemptions. | |
Date: July 9, 2025
Time: 2-3 p.m. ET
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
| | | | Opioid Reporting Guidance for Local Governments | Join us for a virtual training on the new local government opioid settlement reporting portal that will launch on July 1, 2025. Representatives from the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission will cover portal navigation, reporting requirements and best practices to support a smooth transition. A Q&A will follow the presentation. This training is highly recommended for all local reporting officials. | |
Date: June 24, 2025
Time: 2 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
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Date: July 22, 2025
Time: 2 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
| | | | 2025 Wrap VR System – Train the Trainer (makeup class) | A new virtual reality training system called the WRAP system is now available for sheriffs and jailers. Any department requesting to utilize the WRAP system must send at least one trainer to a mandatory training class at KACo. This one-day training will include WRAP operation overview, safety, legal review, knowledge base and tactics, scenario review, scenario coaching and testing and documentation. | |
Date: July 23, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET
Location: KACo HQ, 400 Englewood Drive, Frankfort
Cost: Free
| | | | Advancing Local Solutions: Best Practices for Opioid Settlement Implementation | This one-day, in-person training is designed to support county leaders and stakeholders in maximizing the impact of opioid settlement funds through proven local strategies. The training includes an immersive visit and lunch at Recovery Café Frankfort to see community-based recovery in action. | |
Date: July 29, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. ET
Location: KACo HQ, 400 Englewood Drive, Frankfort
Cost: $25 member/$35 non-member
| | Lyon County Sheriff’s Office staff brought donations to the Boys and Girls Ranch as the ranch prepares for the summer season. | | Bell County Jailer Barb Venable announced the launch of a new program the detention center designed to reduce barriers and promote success for those transitioning back into the community. | | Carroll County Fiscal Court delivered a van to the KYSOC Hope Center. | | Harlan County Sheriff's Office staff participated in the Poke Sallet Festival, talking to children about the importance of not using drugs. | | Logan County Specialty Courts came together for a Recovery Walk, celebrating strength, unity and the journey to healing. | | Daviess County Detention Center Captain Shannon Coomes is congratulated by Jailer Art Maglinger after she graduated from Leadership Owensboro. | | Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson participated in Jefferson County Law Library's annual Law Day in the Park. | | Amber Conrad was formally recognized at the Campbell County Fiscal Court meeting for being selected as the Kentucky Association of School Resource Officers Region 4 Winner. She was honored by Judge/Executive Steve Pendery, commissioners Brian Painter, Tom Lampe and Geoff Besecker and Chief Craig Sorrell. | | Cumberland County youth were working hard to clean and prepare the courthouse ramp before a new handicap accessible rail is installed. | | Madison County Sheriff Mike Coyle and Judge/Executive Reagan Taylor swore in new officers Natalie Keazer and Jonathan Osborne. | | Franklin County officials break ground on a new softball complex that will expand Lakeview Park from four to seven softball fields. | | Trimble County's courthouse was the backdrop for Memorial Day services last week . | | Stronger Counties. Stronger Kentucky. | | | | |
