(A) Establishment of Department.
(1) There is hereby created and established a County Road Department consisting of a County Road Supervisor and such other employees of said department as may from time to time be provided for by the County Judge and the Fiscal Court.
(2) The County Road Supervisor shall be appointed by the County Judge with the approval of Fiscal Court or as provided by KRS 179.020.
(3) All appointments of the Road Department, and removal therefrom, shall be made by the County Judge Executive with approval of Fiscal Court in accordance with the provisions of the state law and this chapter. The Fiscal Court shall establish the number of Road Department employees and the amount of compensation of all employees of the Road Department.
(4) Note: the position can be for two or four years. The terms are set so that a new administration can choose its Engineer/Supervisor.
(B) Duties of Road Supervisor.
(1) The County Road Engineer/Supervisor shall be the head of the Road Department subject to the order and direction of the County Judge.
(2) The County Road Engineer/Supervisor shall be responsible for the performance of the Road Department and its functions, and all persons who are employees of the Road Department shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the County Road Supervisor.
(3) The Road Supervisor shall keep such records and make such reports concerning the activities of his or her department as may be required by KRS Ch. 179, this code or by the County Judge Executive.
(C) Road Department property.
(1) Employees of the Department shall be responsible for the proper care of Department equipment and property and shall promptly report to their supervisor the loss or damage to such property or the unserviceable condition of such property.
(2) No Departmental property or equipment shall be used for private purposes or on private property. School bus turnarounds and public cemetery work must be approved, in advance, by the County Judge and only where the turnaround or cemetery road has been placed in the county road system.
(3) Equipment and materials for the road department shall be acquired in accordance with the provisions of this code.
(4) No departmental property or equipment shall be used on private property without the prior written authorization of the County Judge.
(5) Uniforms are furnished to employees of the Road Department by the county. Road Department employees shall wear said uniforms at all times during regular working hours.
(6) Each employee shall be responsible for the proper use of road department equipment. Any equipment problems or deficiencies should be reported immediately to the County Road Engineer/ Supervisor. Trucks and equipment shall be cleaned at least once a week or more often as such need arises.
(7) The County Road Department garage shall be used solely for the repair, maintenance and storage of official vehicles “official” is defined as a vehicle owned exclusively by the County Fiscal Court or an agency thereof having an official registration receipt and license plate issued in accordance with KRS 186.240. All equipment, vehicles and property owned and or operated by the Fiscal Court shall be for the sole purpose of official business. No official, employee or volunteer shall use or permit the use of any publicly owned or publicly supported property, vehicle, equipment, material or service for the personal convenience or the private advantage of himself or herself or any other person unless such use has been formerly authorized by a resolution of the County Fiscal Court.
(D) County road inventory/condition.
(1) The County Judge shall maintain a map(s) that clearly identifies all county roads.
(2) The County Judge and County Road Supervisor shall inventory and review all county roads for identification and condition at least annually.
(3) The inventory shall identify all roads by name and/or number; list the number and location of all bridges; and any other information that may identify county roads and the condition thereof.
(4) The County Road Supervisor shall contact all area utilities relative to their planned activities prior to surfacing or resurfacing any county road.
(E) Procedures for county road repairs and maintenance.
(1) Each magistrate shall inspect roads in his or her district periodically to determine needs.
(2) Each magistrate shall file a road report with the County Judge, including, but not limited to, the following information:
(a) Road name and number;
(b) Description of work to be performed; and
(c) Any additional information, which shall be deemed necessary.
(3) The County Judge shall compile all reports from magistrates and present a final report to the Fiscal Court for its action.
(4) When the Fiscal Court approves county road work, the County Judge shall direct the Road Supervisor to perform these activities subject to budgetary constraints.
(F) Miscellaneous requirements.
(1) Any Road Department employee who notices any deficiencies in county roads shall report them to the County Road Supervisor as soon as possible and no later than the end of the same workday.
(2) Any problems noticed during off duty hours shall be reported to the County Road Supervisor the following workday.
(Ord. 21.230-1, passed 7-8-2021)