Christian Fiscal Court approved a resolution supporting the proposed nickel tax increase for Christian County Public Schools Tuesday morning and voted on two measures relating to blue lights for constables and deputy constables.
Magistrates Darrell Gustafson and Rich Liebe spoke in favor of the nickel tax increase to build a new academic building for Hopkinsville High School. The measure will be on the November 5 General Election ballot for citizens to decide and both men urged the community to vote in favor.
The resolution urging the community to support the tax increase passed on a 5-1 vote, with Philip Peterson voting “no” and Terry Bowman and Jerry Gilliam abstaining. Peterson says he would need to talk to his constituents to get their view before voting in favor of such a resolution.
Squires Gustafson, Peterson and Gilliam voted against allowing District 1 Constable Clarence Clark to place blue lights on his 2000 Oldsmobile minivan, but the measure still passed on a 5-3 vote.
Magistrates tabled a request for blue lights by Deputy Constable Glen Rickard, even though he has met all of the requirements set out in policy. Members of fiscal court cited complaints of alleged prior blue light usage without approval and Sheriff Tyler DeArmond said he’d received at least three complaints that Rickard had activated blue lights in his rear window.
Squire Gilliam says the policies on blue lights need to change for constables and deputy constables.
He’d like to see constables undergo additional training before being allowed to use blue lights.
In other action, court approved spending about $925 for preventative maintenance on the county’s emergency radio system.