Christian Fiscal Court tackled a lengthy agenda at Tuesday morning’s meeting, hearing updates from both the Christian County Animal Shelter and the Christian County Jail.
The Christian County Regional Animal Shelter has seen a large uptick in animals coming into their facilities, either strays or those released by their owners, and Director Melissa Goff informed the magistrates that a lot of the problem comes from irresponsible breeding practices and folks just not spaying or neutering their animals, resulting in overpopulation. She says if the shelter could increase what they can get spayed and neutered, or if a low cost spay and neuter clinic could be established, it would help.
She says a Trap Neuter Release, or TNR, program from feral and wild cat population in Christian County would also be a big benefit.
Goff says they fully intend to bring back the Spayghetti Dinner as a fundraiser, and they’ll be looking for donations in the coming weeks.
The Christian County Jail has had the opposite problem—they’ve had less state inmates since the pandemic, which means their own means of a revenue is down. Jailer Adam Smith says they’ve had to be smart and resourceful with their budget, but says if magistrates and community members advocated to their state legislators to approve a bill that would pay jails for housing county inmates, that would be a game-changer.
Magistrates approved the Christian County Road Program on first reading, along with the Christian County Strategic Goals moving forward, with Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam saying they include an emphasis on public safety, increasing housing, maximizing the county’s relationship with Fort Campbell, financial stability and more.
In other action, magistrates approved an agreement with the Kentucky Association of Counties to upgrade the county’s radio system, a resolution with Christian County Adult Drug Court, acceptance of the Jail Fee Schedule and acceptance of the Christian County Jail and RCC Policy and Procedure Manual and Inmate Rules and Regulations.