Scott County Fiscal Court on June 13 approved using a local psychologist to perform court-required evaluations for guardianship and conservatorship proceedings handled by the county attorney's office.

The county attorney explained that guardianship proceedings require evaluations by a psychologist, a physician and a social worker for respondents who may lack capacity, and that finding a psychologist willing to perform the evaluations on a county-pay basis had been difficult since the prior evaluator indicated she would not continue after the end of the fiscal year. County staff identified a psychologist in Woodford County who agreed to perform evaluations and presented the individual's fee schedule to the court. The county attorney noted roughly $25,000 has been budgeted for these services.

The court approved the request by voice vote and instructed staff to proceed with the contracting and invoicing under the existing budget line for guardianship evaluations.