Penick sworn in after fiscal court meeting, HES to expand fiber internet in Elkton

Todd County Jailer-Elect Jeff Penick was sworn in following the final Todd Fiscal Court meeting of 2018, where magistrates learned of plans for Hopkinsville Electric System to expand fiber internet access in Elkton.

Judge-Executive Todd Mansfield said Jailer Greg Allen notified him he is resigning one week early at the end of the year. Judge Mansfield is appointing Penick to start his duties January 1st and Penick says he’ll spend his first few days learning as much as he can from the jail staff.

Penick doesn’t intend on making any immediate major changes.

Todd County Clerk Cindy O’Bryan thanked Judge Mansfield and fiscal court for supporting her the last several months as she completed the term of retired clerk Kim Chapman. Leslie Cunningham was elected in November and will take over January 7th, while O’Bryan will go back to her duties as a deputy clerk.

It was also the final meeting as county attorney for Mark Collins, who is completing the term of the retired Mac Johns. Mansfield thanked Collins and County Attorney-Elect Jeff Traughber for working together during the transition.

HES has been steadily increasing its broadband footprint in Todd County and Judge Mansfield says he’s been notified that they will work with Pennyrile Electric to expand fiber service to all of Elkton within about a year’s time.

In other action, Fiscal Court designated just under $20,000 to Cornerstone to install modernized phone and internet systems in all county buildings. That brings the total project cost to about $28,000—an amount that should be recouped in phone bill savings alone within about 14 months.

Sheriff Tracy White presented a signed contract between his office and the school system that continues an agreement to have a school resource officer next year—with the district paying 75 percent of Tracy Mayberry’s salary and the sheriff’s department paying the rest.