Hardin County Fiscal Court approves 911 fee increase, medical cannabis zoning

The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.

The first reading was held on an ordinance for enhanced 911 emergency telephone services within Hardin County. The ordinance would approve a $15 increase to the county 911 fee on next year’s tax bills, bringing it from $50.58 to $65.58. Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul said with a budget shortfall for 911 and a hardware refresh on the horizon, the funds are needed to keep up with increases in use.

“We have seen an increase in staffing since 2022 due to a 112 percent increase in administrative calls, 206 percent increase in NCIC transactions, 42 percent increase in CAD reports created, and 114 percent increase in self-initiated calls,” Taul said.

The court approved on second reading an ordinance that amends the zoning text for medical cannabis businesses in unincorporated Hardin County. The amendment limits the businesses to I-1 (light industrial) or I-2 (heavy industrial) zones. An amendment for the 2024-2025 county budget was also approved on its second reading.

Hardin County Coroner Pat Elmore reported that the coroner’s office responded to 202 cases in August and September, and the number of overdose deaths year-to-date is 19, which is down from 37 year-to-date last year although Elmore noted toxicology is pending on a few cases.

Elmore said the county’s quick response team has been working hard to get established.

“Our policies and procedures are complete,” Elmore said. “We have MOUs ready to complete with the police and EMS, and (the rapid response officers) have both completed their national training for that, so they’re actually certified. We’re going to be the only coroner’s office, I think, in the nation that has a QRT, so we’re really proud of that.”

A QR code that links to info on the QRT and to resources available for people who are struggling with, or know people who are struggling with, addiction can be found in several county publications that will be going out soon as well as on the Quick Response Team – Hardin County Facebook page.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet November 12. The next Hardin County Town Hall Forum will be held in the fiscal courtroom on November 7.