Members of the Trigg County Fiscal court gave preliminary approval to a budget that will include the hiring of a new deputy for the sheriff’s department. The new position will be the first for the department in years.

Judge/Executive Stan Humphries said that the budget included a provision to hire and equip a new deputy for the Trigg County Sheriff’s office. “We’re looking to add the new deputy sometime this summer. Hopefully, he will be equipped and be on the road.”

Humphries added that all hired county employees would receive a three percent pay increase in the new fiscal year, but that elected officials would not receive a pay hike.

The budget includes $94,270 as a reserve. Humphries said that the amount could be used for unexpected events or as funding to secure matching grants.

Magistrate Doug Taylor moved to approve the first reading of the budget so it could be submitted to the state government for approval. Lacy Bush seconded the motion, which approved without opposition.

The court tabled discussions on plans to suspend giving drainage tiles to residents seeking to build driveways onto county roads. Magistrate Larry Lawrence said that several other counties did not give the tiles to residents, and only provided instillation and one load of rocks to build the driveway over a drainage gully. He said that residents could purchase an approved tile, which the county would properly install, thus saving the county between $25,000 and $50,000.

For full coverage of the Trigg County Fiscal Court, read the new Cadiz Record.