Interim Judge Report

Dear Citizens,

I am pleased to share several important updates regarding our county:

Funding Announcements

This week, we received funding that has been delayed for several months:

- $2 Million: Designated for Phase II of the Fairgrounds/Sportsplex project on McCammon Ridge.

- $100,000: Allocated for HVAC repairs, basement mold remediation, cleaning of archived County Clerk files, and additional repairs to the old courthouse.

- $100,000: Designated for county park renovations and maintenance.

These funds have been placed in interest bearing individual accounts to be utilized for the completion of those projects.

Old Jail Renovation Project

On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, we held an open house regarding the old jail renovation. Public feedback was shared with the architect, who will incorporate these ideas into the design for the incubator project. We hope to complete this project by early spring 2027.

Annville Community Kitchen Open House

We are hosting an open house for the Annville Community Kitchen property on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Anyone interested in purchasing the property is encouraged to attend. An independent appraisal was completed prior to advertising the sale. This facility was built to federal grant standards, is suitable for a variety of commercial uses, and offers great potential for local job creation.

Road Department Updates

Our road department is currently repairing and replacing road tiles and drains, as well as clearing ditches along Wolf Pen Branch Road in preparation for repaving. Weather permitting, this work should be completed before Thanksgiving.

County Office Operations & Audits

Our office staff is actively organizing and filing county records to increase efficiency and support the auditors currently reviewing previous years' records (prior to my administration). Streamlining this process will help speed up the audit timeline and reduce costs for the county. Audits for 2024–2025 are expected to begin shortly after the current review concludes. I deeply appreciate our staff's hard work.

Personnel Update

Regarding our staff member who was critically injured last week, I am happy to report that Derek is recovering well and should be returning home soon. We send him our best wishes for a full recovery.

I remain fully dedicated to addressing our county's challenges and serving our community to the best of my ability. Thank you for your continued support, thoughts, and prayers.

Best wishes,

Judge Paul Hays