LOUISA, KY. — Less than two months before a new fiscal court takes over in Lawrence County, the outgoing court accepted the resignations of nearly a dozen employees and board members of committees at Tuesday’s regular November fiscal court meeting. The new court, which will be all Republican when they take over on Jan. 3, 2019 figures to make several changes in personnel and policy.
Much needed repairs were approved by the “lame duck” court including new signage and other repairs to the Fred M. Vinson Center, upgrading the county beach area on motion of Rick Blackburn and second by Morris Howard, and roof repairs and blacktop for Lawrence County Park on motion of Earl Boggs and second by Rick Blackburn. The projects are paid for with state monies, County judge/executive John Osborne said.
Additional projects include:
Blacktop for LC Industrial Park (Motion Blackburn, second Boggs)
Equipment and/or repairs at Lomansville VFD (Motion Blackburn, second Boggs)
Equipment and/or repairs for Lawrence Co. Emergency Management (Motion Blackburn, second Howard)
Equipment and/or repairs to Lawrence Co. Search & Rescue. (Motion Blackburn, second Boggs)
In what looks like a political move to keep current road foreman Mikel Compton on the payroll, his resignation as road foreman was accepted by the court and he was reassigned as a county equipment operator. Compton, the son of former Democrat Judge/Exec. Dave Compton could have been replaced by the incoming court as road foreman but not as a regular worker. There was no mention of the difference in pay but Clyde Burchett will serve as temporary road foreman until a new permanent one is named by incoming judge/exec Phillip Carter in January. Burchett would then be returned to the road crew as well. The road foreman serves at the pleasure of the fiscal court and judge. (Motion Howard, second Boggs)
The chairman of the Tourism Board, Keith Chaffin and member Cathi Wells resigned and were replaced by Judge/Exec. John Osborne with Wes Kingsmore and Debbie Hill. Fair Board members Julie Taylor and Jennifer Wilson resigned and James Barker, Lillie Vinson, Judy Damron, Dennis Moore, and Jennifer Moore were chosen by Osborne to fill out the board.
On motion of Boggs and second by Blackburn the court adopted the County Clerk’s $3.4 million budget for the coming year and set the salary cap for the clerks in that office. No amount was given.
The court set aside a vote requested by Legend Outfitters on a request to remodel the concession stand with state and Corps of Engineers approval.
I think we need to wait until the new administration takes over for this action to be looked at,” Rick Blackburn, the only member of the court that will be returning, told court members and Morris Howard made the second to Blackburn’s motion.
The new court will be comprised of all Republicans with Judge Carter, and magistrates Blackburn, David Pinson, John “Mouse” Halcomb, and John Scaggs. Halcomb is the first ever Republican to be elected in District 1 according to long time politicks watchers and Pinson the first to be from the Richardson area represent District 3 which includes Blaine and part of Fallsburg.
Please let me clarify this article about my resignation. I did NOT resign in anticipation of the new administration. In fact, I had notified Judge Osborne and the Tourism Commission weeks before the election that I would be resigning to concentrate on the Trail Town Committee. I will in fact be working hand in hand with the Tourism Commission and the Fiscal Court and will continue to be very involved with Tourism. I am not sure why this article stated that I resigned because of the new administration because no one from the Lazer contacted me to ask why I was resigning….
NOWHERE IN THE ARTICLE DOES IT SAY YOU RESIGNED BECAUSE OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION CHANGE. IF YOU ARE READING THAT INTO IT, IT’S SURELY NOT MEANT THAT WAY.
Reread the paragraph that begins with “In anticipation of the new administration taking over…..” Let’s see if you post this comment.
“In anticipation of the new administration taking over, the chairman of the Tourism Board, Keith Chaffin and member Cathi Wells resigned and were replaced by…” is that not what the article clearly states?
No surprise, the lazer is notorious for less than stellar reporting.
No, that is not what the article says.
I have to agree with her on this. You said “In anticipation of the new administration taking over they resigned. Sure sounds like that is what you meant. Uhhuh. Yep. That’s what I get from it. Besides carter will put his whole family in there like he did before and leave our county broke just like before. Lots to look forward to.
I am from Paintsville so I have no bias either way on this matter, but I didn’t get that the Lazer was saying that Mrs Wells was resigning bc of the new administration. That’s NOT what the article says at all.
“In anticipation of the new administration taking over, the chairman of the Tourism Board, Keith Chaffin and member Cathi Wells resigned ” First line of the whole article. Clear and undeniable. Why do the admins of this site try to deny this? Webster’s Dictionary defines this phrase as “expecting that (something will happen or that someone will arrive”. Cathi Wells has a perfectly good reason for resigning and it has nothing whatsoever to do with the new administration coming in.
Typical Lazer
OK. Terry Wellman, if you want to trash our product for an unfounded and erroneous reason, I’m going to share the name on the email you sent.
I CHANGED THE SENTENCE BUT THE STORY IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME, NO IDEA WHY IT CAME OUT THE WAY IT DID, SORRY ABOUT THAT. WASN’T INTENTIONAL.