Motion Passed:  Approved December 16, 2025 Minutes passed with a motion by Jason Bullock and a second by Michael McKenney.

• Bills and Claims
• Budget Transfers Journal
• December 2025 Standing Orders
• Fund Transfer

Motion Passed:  Bills, Claims, Payments and Transfers stand approved as presented passed with a motion by Jason Bullock and a second by Bo Bennett.

• Financial Statement
• Appropriation Condition
• Revenue Condition

Motion Passed:  Acknowledge December 2025 Financial Statement passed with a motion by Jason Bullock and a second by Bo Bennett.

• Sheriff's Bond Renewal.pdf

Motion Passed:   passed with a motion by Michael McKenney and a second by Dale Beavin.

Motion Passed:  Motion to approve Sheriff's Revenue Bond Renewal passed with a motion by Michael McKenney and a second by Dale Beavin.

Motion Passed:  Acknowledged having received the Clerk's December 2025 Financial Report passed with a motion by Bo Bennett and a second by Jason Bullock.

Motion Passed:  Acknowledged having received the Clerk's 4th Quarter Report passed with a motion by Bo Bennett and a second by Michael McKenney.

The surplus equipment list was not ready for this meeting, it will happen in a future meeting.

Justin Keown called to order a dual meeting of the Ohio County Public Services Corporation and the Ohio County Fiscal Court in regard to certain rural American bonds involving the Ohio County Hospital.

As it relates to the Public Services Corporation the Judge Executive will serve as the Chairman and Sonja Davis as Secretary.

The first order of business would be the Ohio County Fiscal Court's motion to approve Ordinance No. 2026-1 as it relates to the Ohio County Public Services Corporation and the issuance of bonds as provided there in. Jason Bullock motion to approve, with a second by Bo Bennett, motion passed with a unanimous roll call.

Mr. Keown then asked the court as the Ohio County Public Services Corporation to approve Resolution 2026-1 as tendered to them. Motion was made by Jason Bullock and second by Bo Bennett, to approve said resolution, motion passed.

Motion Passed:  Motion to hire Drake Burden for operator, multiple equipment at the Road Department at the rate of $20.57 per hour passed with a motion by David Johnston.

Mr. Roger Carter spoke first.  He stated that he is a resident of Tom's Branch Road and wanted to make everyone aware that the chicken houses going up have nothing to do with Perdue Farms, it is Vital Farms.  He is representing residents on that road. He stated they had no forewarning that it was happening and he asked the question "how long has the court known?". The judge answered that he did not know until he received a call from Shawn Steele.  Mr. Carter then spoke of their concerns with property values, the creek that floods, air pollution and the narrow road.

Mr. Shaun Steele then spoke to the court saying he wanted to follow up on what Mr. Carter had said and reiterate the concerns that the citizens of that road have, property values, the creek that floods, run off into the creek, and the narrow road.

Prior to the committee reports, the Judge shared that the court had received a thank you letter from the Appalachians Citizens' Law Center, thanking the court for approving the recent black lung resolution.

After the appointment of the America 250th Committee, Judge Johnston stated that a committee, made up of the magistrates needed to meet soon to set salaries for elected officials, which has to be done before the primary election.  The meeting will be held on January 27th at 4:00 p.m. prior to the regularly scheduled fiscal court meeting at 5:00 p.m. Said meeting will be advertised as a special call meeting.

Motion Passed:  Motion to pass the first reading of Ordinance 2026-2, Administrative Code Amendment passed with a motion by David Johnston and a second by Jason Bullock.

The Judge told everyone that if they didn't know, that 2026 is America's 250th Anniversary.  He appointed a committee to do a celebration in the county of America's birthday.  Committee to be made up of Dale Beavin, Jerry Bailey, Sonja Davis and citizen at large, Ryan Childers.

Stated he just wanted to make everyone aware, that we as a court, did not know about the chicken houses prior to the call from Shaun Steele.

Stated he has, and will continue to make sure they're putting permits and requirements and make things as safe as possible.

Stated he had no prior knowledge of the chicken house, he found out when Larry Morphew called him.

Stated that when something like the chicken house comes up, the whole court needs to know.

Jackie Brown, founder of Broken Pieces Recovery Center, co-owner of The Mission Center and first lady of Last Days motorcycle ministry talked about their mission to help families affected by addiction. She gave some highlights of their goals and announced they are trying to raise funds and she had handouts with information if anyone wanted one.