LC FISCAL COURT DISCUSSES BLAINE FIRE DEPARTMENT;SCHOOL STARTS AUGUST 12…
By Susan Salyer
The Lawrence County Fiscal Court had a Regular Meeting on Tuesday July 21, 2026 at 10AM at the Lawrence County Courthouse, 122 S. Main Cross Street, Louisa, Kentucky 41230. LC Judge Executive Phillip Carter was in attendance along with the LC Magistrates including David Pinson, Rick Blackburn and Johnny Scaggs. Michael Mouse Halcomb was absent.
APPROVE MINUTES
The LC Magistrates unanimously approved the June 16, 2026 Minutes was a Motion by David Pinson and seconded by Rick Blackburn. The Special Minutes for June 29, 2026 were unanimously approved with a Motion by Rick Blackburn and seconded by David Pinson.
APPROVE TREASURER REPORT
LC Treasurer Josh Puckett said, “We are 3 days short of a couple of deposits, payments should be coming by end of the week.” The Motion was unanimously approved by Rick Blackburn and seconded by John Scaggs.
APPROVE TREASURERS REQUEST
Puckett said, “To do the closure, we had 4 line items that needed to be closed out for final request last year.” The Motion was unanimously approved with a Motion by David Pinson and seconded by John Scaggs.
APPROVE BILLS
Puckett said, “We have 3 major debts and 2 of the debts are from the Ice Storm.
We have a 4 million debt that we owe $254,000. We have a $250,000 from last year, we will get this back and put it back, and FEMA Ice Storm we owe $450,000.
Motion by David Pinson and seconded by John Scaggs.
FY 25/26 CLOSEOUT
Puckett said, The 2025 and 2026 Fiscal Year is officially closed out.
APPROVE FIVCO PAYMENT
Tim from FIVCO said, “This is for CDBG Fire House, last payment on this part of funding is closed out.” Motion to approve by David Pinson and seconded by Rick Blackburn.
APPROVE RESOLUTION FOR BOB WILLIAMS VETERAN SIGN
The court approved a veteran sign for Bob Williams. Motion by David Pinson and seconded by Rick Blackburn.
APPROVE LARP RESOLUTION
LC Deputy Judge Vince Doty said, “These are what used to be called discretionary funds.” Motion by Rick Blackburn and seconded by Johnny Scaggs.
BID FOR JONES OIL
The bid for Jones Oil for fuel, was not seen during last month’s meeting. It was brought to the attention of the court and was unanimously approved. Motion by Rick Blackburn and seconded by David Pinson.
DES DIRECTOR TRAVIS HUGHES
DES Director Travis Hughes said, “We are keeping an eye on the Line of storms coming our way. Watch our posts on social media to get updates.”
LC SUPERINTENDENT KATIE WEBB
LC Superintendent of Schools Katie Webb said, “We had 5 weeks of Summer Feed which had 58,000 meals served. Thank you to the LC Food Service Staff. Then August 12, 2026 will be the first day of school. Thank you to the Maintenance and Custodial Staff for their work. We have about $60,000 worth of Grants to apply for, the band received a Grant for $28,000 for Louisa Middle School Band Equipment. The Special Education received $12,000 in grants for trips. We are in the Design Faze with the (old Community Center) Since closing we have an Architect and it will take 4-5 months to complete the design. And Lastly, We have been asked to partner with 3 counties to complete a Commerce Neighborhood Grant for Staff Members. I will know more after our meeting today on the Neighborhood Grant.
LC CLERK CHRIS JOBE
LC Clerk Chris Jobe said, “We set the tax rates in August and we are working on collecting the delinquent taxes.
LC MAGISTRATE RICK BLACKBURN
LC Magistrate Rick Blackburn said, “The Lawrence County Fair had the biggest turnout at the Beauty Contest. We have Rodeo which has 20 bull riders, 15 barrel riders and 6-7 bronco riders, Outhouse race, horse show, tug of war and more. There’s a lot going on, Come out and Support the kids.”
ROBERTA CANTRELL
Roberta Cantrell said, “There will be a “Pray in the School Year” on Sunday August 9, 2026 at 3PM at the LCHS Football Field, Chuck Price will be attending for prayer and Michelle Scaggs will be singing and Katie Webb will speak. This is for All schools in Lawrence County, Kentucky.
LC JUDGE EXECUTIVE PHIL CARTER, BLAINE FIRE DEPARTMENT, COUNTY ATTORNEY JOHNNY OSBORNE, BLAINE FIRE DEPT CHIEF JEFF MCCARTY AND ALLEN CONSTRUCTION CONVERSATION
Phil Carter said, “I need a Motion to adjourn.”
But Blaine Fire Chief Jeff McCarthy said, “Before you adjourn I would like to address the Fiscal Court. I have questions that need to be answered. This is a public speaking session correct? “
Phil Carter said, “You came up to the podium, I didn’t speak….We can speak about litigation…”
Jeff McCarthy said, “We have other things we can discuss. My name is Jeff McCarthy, I am the Chief at Blaine Volunteer Fire Department and I came here today to ask a few questions. First question Mr. Carter why did you lock the Blaine Fire Department and take away the keys?”
Phil Carter said, “That is all untrue.”
Jeff said, “No sir, I was there on the phone call you said you would take our equipment.”
Phil said, “I’m not going to put up with that stuff, these are rumors. The Fire Department has been released since January, and you didn’t say anything about it. So we take it upon ourselves to get the state to release it. So when he did, we couldn’t get the locks to work, so I called the guy in Chesapeake and took Travis with me.”
Jeff said, “You went there to intentionally change the locks.”
Phil said, “I did not, everyone can’t make a key for that, so the guy said bring me the tumblers and I will make a key for you. Because it’s some kind of lock not everyone can fix. Well I did that. I took them to him and Vince went and got, I paid $40 out of my pocket Vince went and got the tumblers and keys. Well my mother in law died so I had Travis go….”
Jeff said, “I’m sorry your mother in law died.”
Phil said, “He said I don’t need the key, it’s is question whether we can use that part or not.
Jeff said, “That’s a very interesting question. Because you have called me and told me……”
Phil said, “Right now we don’t know, I believe the equipment should be left in there and should be used. The keys are not….there are 2 keys she had passed and I hadn’t gotten them out to him and we hadn’t had everything finalized. My personal opinion everything needs to be to be in there. There are a lot of problems the Fire dept owes $49,000 to us. The Fire dept owes $47,000 to the contractors they….”
Someone approaches from the audience.
Phil Carter said, “Who’s this?”
Jeff McCarthy said, “This is Allen Construction.”
Phil said, “No we are not going to discuss nothing on the construction, nothing, I have a Motion to adjourn, we’re not going to discuss nothing. Everything is in litigation….The Fiscal Court knows about this.
Jeff McCarthy said, “The fire department doesn’t know, we cannot get a clear number or figure of what we owe. Since it started said borrow $100,000 let it sit there.”
Phil Carter said, “Vince has told you….”
Jeff said, “You said to borrow 100, or 110,000, and put it in the bank and let it sit there.”
Vince Doty said, “I said check with Westek….That’s before we had all this discussion about you saying they didn’t fulfill their obligation and all that.”
Jeff McCarthy said, “No one wants to sit down and talk about this.”
Phil Carter said, “It’s in litigation….they have everything in litigation and we are not going to discuss it.”
LC Attorney Johnny Osborne said, “We can discuss things…”
Jeff McCarthy said, “I need to know what the Fire dept owes.
Lady said, “Have you filed suit?”
Johnny Osborne said, “Anything proposed to litigation we……..”
Lady said, “We can go into closed session and talk about it.
Johnny Osborne said, “I’m not here to be hostile…”
Lady said, “We aren’t either, so we wanted to talk to fiscal court to make sure everyone is on the same page. This is the easiest way to get everyone together.”
Phil Carter said, “It’s all been discussed you know you owe $49,000, that there’s some discrepancy because the building is not done yet and you have raised equity out if it, we talked, how come the contractors hasn’t finished it yet, so they can get paid? It looks like a bunch of 10 yr old boys been working on it, how come they don’t finish?
Allen Construction said, “We did have a proactive meeting in November, at that meeting not one time on this project was payment made on time, we operated in good faith. On August 1 we met and out of $840,000 you owe $380,000 and $40,000 in interest. We sent a letter to but we didn’t get any response a you address that?”
Johnny Osborne said, “It’s in litigation so they can’t discuss that.”
Phil Carter said, “You have to talk to the guy at FIVCO.”
Lady said, “The contract is with you.”
Phil Carter said, “We will let out attorney advise….”
Jeff McCarthy said, “The next thing I want to address is the audit you requested?”
Phil Carter said, “You knew that for years this money we give you is taxpayers money and it has to be from the beginning when that was started out and there has to be an audit,”
Jeff McCarthy said, “Every year a state audit is done.”
Phil Carter said, “We have to have an audit for the taxpayers and I asked you and received a bank statement and no receipts for anything spent.
Jeff said, “You will see”
Phil said, “You have to have a ledger…”
Jeff said, “I gave you the ledger…”
Phil said, “There are no receipts, nothing….”
Jeff said, “What do you think we wasted it on? I heard many tales….”
Phil said, “I never said you charged your Fire dept members, your members have said you asked them to pay on the electric bills for keeping stuff in it.”
Jeff said, “I did back in February to help with the electric bills but not one dime was ever paid to me. For 2 years I paid the electric and water bills….”
Phil Carter said, “I didn’t know, thats what your Fire members said.”
Jeff said, Just like you didn’t call Bessie Ferguson and ask how many members I have certified.”
Phil Carter said, “Yes”
Jeff said, “Why did you not call me? You didn’t ask me?
Phil said, “I did”
Jeff said, “You did not”
Phil said, “I’m not going to stand here and argue all that stuff.”
Jeff said, “Where just addressing this is public where there are no lies and no tales.”
Phil said, “Do you want me to bring out everything in public?”
Jeff said, “This is fire department stuff and you don’t want to go there. We have a receipt we don’t want to go the legal route we want to resolve this today. You accused me of stealing 2 trucks…”
Phil Carter said, “You have to bid the trucks? Where did they go did you bid them off?….”
LC Sheriff Chuck Jackson stood and said, “This has gone beyond.”
Phil Carter said, “I need a Motion to adjourn.”
Jeff McCarthy said, “Can we have the keys?”
Phil said, “When it’s time to turn over talk to Johnny…”
Jeff McCarthy said, “We would like to have the keys to the Fire dept and you Phil Carter have been trespassed for the Fire dept.”
Phil walked back to his office. The meeting ended.
On Tuesday afternoon around 3PM Deputy Judge Vince Doty called {The Lazer} and said the following, “We sat down after Fiscal Court meeting and worked everything out about the Blaine Fire Department with the County Attorney, Phil Carter, Jeff McCarthy and Allen Construction and everyone is satisfied now.”
ADJOURN – Motion by Rick Blackburn and seconded by David Pinson.
AGENDA
- OPENING PRAYER
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- CALL MEETING TO ORDER
- APPROVE JUNE 16th REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – Motion by David Pinson and 2nd by Rick Blackburn. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- APPROVE JUNE 29th SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES – Motion by Rick Blackburn and 2nd by David Pinson. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- APPROVE TREASURER’S REPORT – Motion by Rick Blackburn and 2nd by John Scaggs. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- APPROVE TREASURER’S REQUEST – Motion by David Pinson and 2nd by John Scaggs. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- APPROVE BILLS – Motion by David Pinson and 2nd by John Scaggs. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- FY 25/26 CLOSEOUT – Officially closed out the year.
- APPROVE FIVCO PAYMENT – Motion by David Pinson and 2nd by Rick Blackburn.
- APPROVE RESOLUTION FOR BOB WILLIAMS VETERAN SIGNS – Motion by David Pinson and 2nd by Rick Blackburn.
- APPROVE LARP RESOLUTION – Motion by Rick Blackburn and 2nd by John Scaggs.
- BID FOR JONES OIL – Motion by Rick Blackburn and 2nd by David Pinson.
- DES Director Travis Hughes – update on weather.
- LC Superintendent of Schools Katie Webb – Update on school events.
- LC Magistrate Rick Blackburn – Update on the Lawrence County Fair.
- Discussion on Fire dept
- ADJOURN – Motion by Rick Blackburn and seconded by David Pinson.
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The next regular scheduled fiscal court meeting will be held on Tuesday August 18, 2026 at the LC Courthouse at 10AM.
