County Sets $100,000 Coal Fund Cap for 127 N. Main Repairs

Montgomery County Board Meeting | May 12, 2026

Article Summary: The Montgomery County Board on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, unanimously approved a Coal Fund 375 budget not to exceed $100,000 for repairs and improvements to the newly acquired county property at 127 N. Main Street in Hillsboro, along with roughly $40,261 in other Coal Fund voucher payments.

Coal Fund 375 Key Points:

• The $100,000 cap passed on a 13-0 roll-call vote after a recommendation from the Buildings & Grounds Committee.
• Quotes totaling $27,743.73 have already been gathered, primarily for electric, lighting, sewer and HVAC work.
• The board separately approved 11 Coal Fund 375 vouchers, the largest being $21,312.05 to GTSI.
• A March royalty payment of $177,964.86 brought the Coal Fund balance to $10.989 million.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY — The Montgomery County Board on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, approved a Coal Fund 375 budget not to exceed $100,000 for repairs and improvements to 127 N. Main Street, the building the county acquired earlier this year.

Finance & Budget Committee Chairwoman Connie Beck reported the committee reviewed monthly requests from Coal Fund 375 and considered a recommendation by the Buildings & Grounds Committee to set the spending cap. Beck moved approval with a second from Rob Corso. On a roll-call vote, all 13 members present voted yes.

Buildings & Grounds Committee Chairman Mark Hughes said Maintenance Director Phil Ernst reported contacting an engineer who said the building meets ADA compliance as-is due to its grandfather status. Hughes also described completed work at the building and quotes totaling $27,743.73 primarily for electric, lighting, sewer and HVAC work.

The property has moved quickly from purchase to renovation. Donaldson anticipated a closing date in early April, according to the March 26, 2026, Coordinating Committee minutes. By the April 7 Buildings & Grounds meeting, the committee was discussing boring a fiber optic cable from the basement of the Courthouse Complex, under North Main Street, and into the basement of the 127 North Main property. IS Director Curt Watkins has been involved in planning for use of the building, Donaldson said Tuesday.

Vouchers Approved

In a separate action, Beck moved, with a second from Hughes, to approve Coal Fund 375 expenditures of $6,300 to Reid Baugher Century 21 Realty; $450 to Lipe Architecture; $273.47 to Ace Hardware; $2,060 to Dan Heise Plumbing; $11.97 to Ace Hardware; $93.75 to Mac’s Fire & Safety; $91.92 to Johnston Fire & Safety; $21,312.05 to GTSI; $1,672.92 to Motorola; $594.97 to Paragon Micro; and $7,400 to replace the transmission in the Sheriff’s vehicle. All voted in favor. The vouchers total approximately $40,261.05.

Royalty Payments Continue

Beck also reported on the Capital Improvement and Coal Fund reports, noting a March royalty payment of $177,964.86 that brought the Coal Fund balance to $10.989 million. The Treasurer’s summary report of 2% royalty payments to Montgomery County lists total funds available of $10,989,746, split among a Reserve account balance of $5,337,519, an Operating and Maintenance balance of $4,219,089 and a Capital Improvement balance of $1,433,139.

Under the county’s disposition rules, the board intends to retain a $3,500,000 balance on hand in the Reserve Account, and at no time is that balance to be less. Once the $3,500,000 threshold is met, payments are deposited with a $100,000 minimum going to Operating and Maintenance and the remainder divided equally between Reserve and Capital Improvement. Payments of less than $100,000 go entirely to Operating and Maintenance.

The county’s royalty receipts have varied widely month to month this fiscal year, from $52,273.98 in February to March’s $177,964.86. Interest earned through the period totals $135,613.