The County Officials Legislative Reception is next week

This week in county news

County officials and legislators are invited to join us as we honor the members of the 2024 General Assembly at KACo headquarters in Frankfort on Feb. 21, 2024, from 4:30-7 p.m. EST.

Learn more and register here

Attorney General Coleman sues Kroger regarding opioid crisis

Attorney General Russell Coleman announced this week the filing of a lawsuit against the Kroger Company for its role in the devastating drug crisis in Kentucky, according to a press release from the Attorney General’s office.

Learn more here

Don’t slip up this winter

Each year there are roughly 40,000 workplace injuries and illnesses involving ice, sleet or snow that required at least one day away from work to recuperate, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Learn more here

Upcoming Training Opportunties

Defensive Driving

Date: Feb. 28, 2024

Time: 9 a.m.- noon. EST

Location: KACo HQ, Frankfort

Cost: FREE for members

The Kentucky Department of Homeland Security in collaboration with the Kentucky Association of Counties presents a full day of training focused on cybersecurity for county officials.

2024 Cybersecurity Symposium

Date: March 5, 2024

Time: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. EST

Location: KACo HQ, Frankfort

Cost: FREE for members

The Kentucky Department of Homeland Security in collaboration with the Kentucky Association of Counties presents a full day of training focused on cybersecurity for county officials.

WRAP VR System - Train the Trainer courses in March

A new virtual reality training system called the WRAP VR system is now available for sheriffs and jailers from the Kentucky Association of Counties. Any department requesting to utilize the WRAP system must send at least one trainer to a mandatory training class at KACo.

Dates and Locations

Law Enforcement

March 12 - Frankfort
March 19 - Madisonville

Jails

March 13 - Frankfort
March 20 - Madisonville

KACo Leadership Institute: Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

Date: March 7, 2024

Time: 2-3 p.m. EST

Location: Virtual

Cost: FREE

This class will cover the laws and regulations that define sexual harassment, the reporting duties and consequences for failing to do so and offer suggestions to best implement anti-harassment policies in the workplace. Participants will learn ways to prevent and discourage sexual harassment and how to promote a safe and respectful workplace.

KACo Leadership Institute: Opioid Settlement Funds

Date: March 14, 2024

Time: 2-3:30 p.m. EST

Location: Virtual

Cost: FREE

Join us for an overview of the opioid settlement funds and learn more about their regulation, disbursement schedule, reporting, compliance and approved uses.

Speaker: Lauren Carr, Opioid Settlement Advisor

KACo Leadership Institute: Occupational License Taxes

Date: March 19, 2024

Time: 2-3 p.m. EST

Location: Virtual

Cost: FREE

Join us to learn more about county occupational license taxes including rate limitations and ordinances as well as tax collection software.

See all training opportunities here

This week in pictures

KACo’s Opioid Settlement Advisor, Lauren Carr, was recently honored with the Lovey Raburn Award, which is given to community members in the Purchase Region who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and service in the areas of mental health, developmental/intellectual disabilities, or substance abuse. This award is given by Four Rivers Behavioral Health in memory of Lovey Raburn of Carlisle County who served as a member of Board of Directors.

Lauren Carr pictured with Terry Hudspeth, President/CEO at Four Rivers Behavioral Health

Fayette County Attorney Angela Evans was interviewed following her office's release of its 2023 annual report.

Bracken County Judge/Executive Tina Teegarden was among the officials who were in Frankfort Thursday supporting the Buffalo Trace Area Development District.

Kentucky county officials were in our nation's Capital for the 2024 NACo Legislative Conference, learning about federal policy priorities and innovative solutions and engaging with their colleagues from across the country.

Pictured: NACo Board member and Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson speaks with a fellow member of the NACo Justice and Public Safety Policy Steering Committee.

Kentucky officials wait to listen to President Biden address conference attendees.

Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore and Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson listen to a presentation by Amanda Karras, Executive Director of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, during the NACo Board of Directors Forum.

Greenup County Commissioner Earnie Duty at the 2024 NACo Legislative Conference.

Special Assistant to the Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Rick Hart, KACo Director of Government Affairs Shellie Hampton and NACo Director of Government Affairs & Federal Fellowship Initiative Eryn Hurley

Kentucky delegates attending the NACo Legislative Forum took a moment for a nighttime photo opportunity in front of the White House. KACo Executive Director Jim Henderson, Jefferson County Circuit Clerk David Nicholson, Kentucky PVA Association Executive Director Dustin Billings, Marion County PVA Terry “Catfish” Rakes, Metcalfe County PVA Mike Welsh, Green County PVA Sean Curry

Stronger Counties. Stronger Kentucky.