Following a presentation from district secretary Sherry Walker, Trigg County Fiscal Court unanimously approved the upcoming 2026-27 budget for the Trigg County Conservation District Monday night — increasing it by 10% from $66,000 to $72,600.
The move, according to her and Barry Alexander, will help offset the increased costs in training, equipment and other needs, and it’s the first time since 2022 the budget was increased.
First, and foremost, Walker said the office has two “no-till” drills, which anyone can rent for $150 per day — a rare, unique service to the community.
This is but one of many offerings to local residents, who also turn to the office for grant support and pass-through funds like the coming $5,000 environmental tire recycling nod, school and adult education, Take Kids Fishing Day — and, most recently, two raised gardening beds for Shady Lawn Nursing Home.
Walker said another project is coming to Shady Lawn this year, while bluebird boxes are being built at Trigg County High School in order to pair with a coming free seedling giveaway through the U.S. Department of Forestry.
They also work with National Resource Conservation Services for various programs.
Walker said there was a “substantial” increase this past year in the number of applications submitted for requested programming.
In other fiscal court news:
+ Magistrate Barry Littlejohn said that efforts continue his district concerning the lines being replaced by the Lake Barkley Water District. He noted that he has received calls about the clean-up from the digging process, and that in some areas, mail routes have been disrupted. Completion of everything, he said, should be May.
+ Magistrate Mike Lane said that he would like to see “new roads without raising taxes,” noting that paving lists for this past year remain incomplete. Mike Wright, serving as judge-executive pro tem with Stan Humphries out on official federal business, said new roads “continues to be a goal,” but that creativity is needed with 460 lane miles in the county, and new pavement running about $100,000 per mile.
+ Magistrate Alana Dunn continued her reporting of the Kentucky Wellness Center on Kings Chapel Road. She and Humphries recently met in person with its owner, Ryan Winberry of Orange County, California, and while questions remain, Dunn said some have been answered.
The property, she said, was originally zoned “R1” but has since been rezoned as “R2-Group,” meaning this new facility can legally hold up to 16 occupants per night.
Furthermore, Dunn said Winberry confirmed a “strict, rigorous” vetting and admissions process, which first requires a phone interview. It does not allow patients in “crisis mode,” nor does it permit candidates with prior felonies or previous sexual offenses.
+ 4-H trash sculptures were also presented at the beginning of the meeting, with kindergartner Grayson Ingram, fifth grader Jason Knight, middle schooler Cameron Crawford and high schooler Jessara Crenhaw all snagging top honors in the district. Ingram had a long tractor, Knight had a pirate ship with fishermen, Crawford built a microscope out of laundry supplies and Crenshaw showed a small dress.
FULL MEETING:
