In February 2023, the Christian County Fiscal Court heartily approved for the Christian County Court Appointed Special Advocates program to find comfort in a new operating space inside the former judge-executive office on Weber Street.
The opportunity became available when Jerry Gilliam optioned to move his setup into the former sheriff’s office building, and Tuesday morning, magistrates unanimously approved for this lease to continue another year.
Kira Bailey, CASA’s executive director, said the move proved prudent.
Bailey, alongside Board Chair Bonnie Lynch, confirmed that more than 300 kids remain on the Christian County family docket for neglect, abuse and/or dependency concerns, and need the public advocacy.
Outside of an inaugural spring run in April, Bailey added that they will be starting a new program this year called “Fostering Futures,” that will focus on these children transitioning from the court system and back into the local community.
At present, Bailey is the only employee, but there’s hope and expectation for the budget to increase both through internal efforts and outside support. She has two interns from Hopkinsville Community College, and Lynch added that she’s recently been to Frankfort to speak with the region’s legislators about grants and other funding mechanisms.
Bailey and Lynch also told Magistrate J.E. Pryor that the current CASA budget was $42,000 — enough for Bailey’s salary, and little else — and that a budget bumping back to $125,000 would answer the program’s sincere needs.
In other business:
— Gilliam indicated that sometime between this fiscal court meeting and the next, he and magistrates will be in contact with the Hopkinsville City Council, in order to discuss a much-needed joint resolution for a repaired two-way radio network within emergency first responders.
A county budget amendment, approved last November, includes a $2.5 million bond preparing for the repair.
— For years, former Judge-Executive Steve Tribble with the county’s top marriage official, responsible for the arrangements in the “Chapel of Love.” That role has since been bequeathed to Magistrate Maggie Ferguson, who Tuesday reported she conducted more than 180 in the last fiscal year.
— Magistrate Russ Guffey informed the court that a recent visit to Washington, D.C., on behalf of Fort Campbell, led to a rare round of conversation with all eight of this region’s representation on The Hill, and that the contingency was able to bring forward many concerns for the Army installation.
— Jada Poindexter, executive assistant of the Human Rights Commission, said this Saturday morning’s 31st Annual Black History Trivia Bowl already has seven teams for the double-elimination tournament.
— Due to recent redistricting, magistrates opted to table approval of the yearly road plan until further notice, in order to allow for a complete review of all projects and their magisterial location.
— Magistrates approved a clarifying resolution, surrounding an incentive already in place for Casey Jones Distillery. Gilliam told the court that the home and business have been separated on the property, and thus receive different tax bills.
— Magistrates also approved incentives for the continued downtown improvements coming to 709 through 715 S. Main Street, courtesy of management from longtime developer Hal McCoy. This includes properties like the American Red Cross and The Kentucky New Era, and Gilliam confirmed this does not account for previous improvements to those properties, but simply improvements from the date of the last tax bill.
