HAS LAWRENCE JUDGE GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE? SPECIAL MEETINGS ON THE SLY SAY ‘YES’

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By Susan Salyer

On Tuesday July 18th, 2023, The Lawrence County Fiscal Court had a Regular Scheduled Meeting at the Lawrence County Courthouse, 122 S Main Cross Street, Louisa, Kentucky at 10AM. LC Judge/Executive Phil Carter was in attendance along with Magistrates David Pinson, Rick Blackburn, Mouse Halcomb and John Scaggs.

Minutes for the last meeting and two ‘illegal’ special meetings were  passed at one of the ‘illegal special meetings’, county clerk Chris Jobe said. No minutes are currently available for public view. He also agreed that notice of these special meetings should have been sent to all media requesting them, including thelevisalazer.com.

Also, no mention of rejecting library board appointment was ever discussed in a court meeting which is required by law and no mention of the dog shelter being run by the county without fiscal court approval.

Records revealed the LC Fiscal Court has had 2 Special Meetings, one on June 15th 2023 and one on July 6, 2023 but The Fiscal Court did not send notification of these 2 Special Meetings to the thelevisalazer.com for publication.  Lazer owner Mark Grayson filed a notice to receive all Special Meetings Notices from the LC Clerk’s Office over 10 years ago. When the Lazer notified the Fiscal Court about breaking the law Tuesday, Matt Blackburn responded, “I was instructed {by Phil Carter} to only send notification of Special Meetings to The Big Sandy News and post it publicly at the Lawrence County Courthouse bulletin board, Downtown, Louisa, Kentucky.

The court also:

* The LC Treasurer Sabrina Cantrell retired last month and Josh Puckett is the new LC Treasurer.  Puckett, formerly from the LC Attorney’s Office, stood at the lectern and said, “The Treasurer’s Monthly Report will be ready at the LC Special Meeting next Thursday, July 27, 2023.

The Fiscal Court made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Monthly Report at the Special Meeting on Thursday July 27, 2023.

*  ARC Rep. John Barker discussed to the LC Fiscal Court that there is a checklist where Lawrence County can be named “Recovery Ready Community” and receive a certificate and post signs at the County and City Limits stating Lawrence County is “Recovery Ready” from the “State of Kentucky”. Jason Merrick has volunteered to be the Coordinator on the project. The Louisa City Council Members voted YES at the last monthly meeting. Together the City and County have to approve this project. The LC Fiscal Court voted YES also. Motion by Rick Blackburn 2nd by John Scaggs.

*  LC Judge Phil Carter said, “The landfill charges $37 a ton for service to help Lawrence County with the waste. The County is going in the hole and is not even breaking even. The Fiscal Court has Dump Trailers for rent to help offset the landfill’s monthly charge” Carter said.  “The new rates will go into effect September 1, 2023. (The Lazer was not given a copy of the “New Rates”) Carter said the rates will be the same.

* The LC Fiscal Court gave out 2 donations at the Fiscal Court Meeting. $1,000 was donated to the 4th of July Event to Sandra Jobe. The other donation was $1,000 to the Lawrence County Senior Citizens.

* LC Magistrate Mouse Halcomb asked for help for residents with a road problem in his district on Cougar Lane in Zelda, Kentucky. The LC Fiscal Court Judge Phil Carter nominated Nelson Kelly and Neil Wilson to the committee to go inspect the road problem and report back to the LC Fiscal Court. Motion by Mouse Halcomb 2nd by Rick Blackburn.

Don’t Forget The Lawrence County Fair this Year 2023!

Agenda

1. Opening Prayer
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Call Meeting to Order
4. Approve Minutes from June 20th Regular Meeting – Motion by Rick Blackburn 2nd by David Pinson. Roll Call.
5. Approve June 15th Special Meeting – LC Clerk Chris Jobe said, “The June 15th Special Meeting was already approved at the July 6th Special Meeting. (The Lazer did not attend the LC Fiscal Court Special Meeting on July 6th because no notification was given to the Lazer. The court, per KENTUCKY LAW should send notice of ANY/ALL Special Meeting’s per Kentucky State Law 24 hours beforehand.)
6. Approve Minutes for June 29th Special Meeting – Motion by John Scaggs 2nd by Mouse Halcomb. Roll Call. Minutes were no available yet.
7. Approve Treasurers Report – Motion by Mouse Halcomb 2nd by John Scaggs to approve LC Treasurer’s Monthly Report at special meeting July 27.
8. Approve Resolution to be a “Recovery Ready Community” – Motion by Rick Blackburn 2nd by John Scaggs.
9. Bid Out New Software for Finance Department – Motion by John Scaggs 2nd by Mouse Halcomb. Roll Call.
10. Approve Rate Changes at Transfer Station – Motion by John Scaggs 2nd by Mouse Halcomb. New Rates start September 1, 2023.

Lawrence County, Kentucky Solid Waste Coordinator:
“Lawrence County Solid Waste is renting out this trailer, just in time for spring cleaning. It is $100 dollars every time we come pick it up and take it to the dump. A tarp is provided so when picked up the tarp needs to be covering the trailer.

We will notify you the following week on the day we will be picking it up. This does include drop off and pick up, for more information contact the Lawrence County Fiscal Court at 606-638-4102 opt 4.
Thank you,
Lawrence County Solid Waste

11. Approve Rate for Dump Trailer Rental – Motion by David Pinson 2nd by Rick Blackburn.
12. 4th of July Celebration Donation – The LC Court approved donation of $1,000 to Sandra Jobe for her committee. Motion by David Pinson 2nd by RIck Blackburn.
13. Donation for Senior Citizens – The LC Court approved donation of $1,000 to The LC Senior Citizens. Motion by Rick Blackburn 2nd by Mouse Halcomb.
14. Public Comments –  Magistrate Rick Blackburn talked about The Lawrence County Fair starting in July 22, and 27-29th. For more information on the Fair go to the website. (VISITLCKY.COM)

• Also Chris Jobe has a Lawrence County Ordinance prepared by LC Attorney Johnny Osborne concerning reapportionment. Jobe said earlier this month at all districts seemed to fit the law concerning an equal number of voters in each district. If there is a large discrepancy, the districts must be changed, Jobe said. He said the committee on apportionment has met and decided no changes need to be made. This is the 2nd reading and was approved. Motion by Rick Blackburn 2nd by David Pinson.
  15. Adjourn- Motion by Rick Blackburn 2nd by Mouse Halcomb.

No copies of last month’s minutes available.