COUNTY TREASURER JOSH PUCKETT DENIES JUDGE CARTER’S PURCHASES
By Susan Salyer
The Lawrence County Fiscal Court had a Special Meeting on Monday September 28, 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, Michael Mouse Halcomb and John Scaggs.
PAY BILLS
The Bills were unanimously approved with a Motion by Rick Blackburn and seconded by Michael Mouse Halcomb.
TREASURERS REPORT
LC Treasurer Josh Puckett said, “The encumbrances from the General Fund have made the account negative.” “We will transfer funds from the Road Fund to the General Fund. When General Funds start coming in we will transfer the funds back to the Road Fund. The Court unanimously approved the Treasurers Report with a Motion by Rick Blackburn and seconded by Michael Mouse Halcomb.
TREASURERS REPORT
Puckett said, “We have a guy doing dozer work for the county. The question is, Is he a County employee or a Contract Laborer? I do not think under the guidelines that he is a contract laborer. I suggest we get a decision from the Labor Department. I recommend we get something showing he is a contract laborer. Secondly, The truck rental. It’s here on our property. The question is were we able to purchase the truck in the first place. No contract was ever made or approved by Fiscal Court. The original estimate was $48,000. which is above our purchasing limit.
Nothing that Josh Puckett said was acknowledged by the Court. There were no motions made about these two questions. Carter said nothing about the charges and moved on to the next Agenda Item which was Open Bridge Bids.
OPEN BRIDGE BIDS
There was only one bid for the bridge at Bishop Knob Bridge Replacement. The bid was from B & E Contractors for $89,540. Motion was unanimously approved with a Motion by Michael Mouse Halcomb and seconded by Rick Blackburn.
REAPPOINT PERSONNEL BOARD MEMBERS
The Personnel Board Members will be Vince Doty, Shawn Marcum, Chris Jobe, Dave Hensley and Clyde Burchett. Motion unanimously approved by Rick Blackburn and seconded by Michael Mouse Halcomb.
DISCUSSION OF CLASSIFICATION AND PAYMENT OF INDIVIDUAL PROVIDING SERVICES
LC Attorney Johnny Osborne suggested making the purchase retroactive.”
LC Treasurer Josh Puckett said, “We don’t have a contract labor line item.”
LC Judge Executive said, “I will check to see what other counties do in this case.”
Puckett said, “I need to pay him today and let him know what we are going to do. He filled out a County time sheet and Judge Carter signed it. Under the law I have to pay him, he’s owed money.”
Osborne said, “I want to look at the statue to see if it bars us from paying this guy. This guy is doing the work, but I have to look at the statue.”
Puckett said, “He can’t be out there working another minute till it’s satisfied.”
Osborne said, “I agree”
Carter said, “I need a Motion we table it.”
LC Magistrate Rick Blackburn said, “I make the Motion we table it and he cannot work until this is resolved.”
This Motion was seconded by David Pinson. None Opposed.
The dozer is also parked at the LC Soccer field next to the Fairgrounds.
APPROVE TRUCK RENTAL
Judge Carter said, “We need to make a Motion to table this for now.”
Puckett said, “There is a cost every day on that truck parked on our property.”
Carter said, “The Court has voted retro-active back to July. We were going to appoint a Board.”
Johnny Osborne said, “The earliest will be November because there has to be a first reading and a second reading of such an ordinance.”
Puckett said, “September 9, we received a Rental Dump Truck Agreement which had an estimate from Lawson Excavating for $48,982.00 then Judge Carter requested a Purchase Order for the rental, this can’t be done because no contract had been approved by the court and it is over the $40,000.00 limit, anyway.
Puckett continued, “At the next meeting Judge Carter asked the Finance Officer to make a PO for the Track Rental and then again was told ‘No’. Then on September 23, the Judge requested the Finance Officer to get $10,000.00 to pay Lawson Excavating on the same truck for rental deposit. Lawson called and said the truck was delivered the day before by Judge’s order. On September 25, the Judge called Lawson Excavating and told them to change their estimate. They sent it but it was predated back to the original PO September 9. We have a truck up by the soccer field incurring expenses every day. Six days of rental already. To allow this to go forward we need an investigation on why this is happening and whether or not this was handled properly.”
Osborne said, “Fiscal Court needs to approve this and if it’s above the amount allowed it can be bid on. This has to happen.”
Rick Blackburn said, “So we can’t approve this?”
Osborne said, “If it’s not been approved or bid on, this has to happen before this can take place.”
Rick Blackburn said, “I make the Motion not to approve the truck.”
Carter said, “We have a Motion not to rent the truck do we have a second? John Scaggs seconded. All in favor.”
ADJOURN
Motion to adjourn was made by Rick Blackburn and seconded by Michael Mouse Halcomb.
AGENDA
- OPENING PRAYER
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- CALL MEETING TO ORDER
- PAY BILLS – Motion by Rick Blackburn and 2nd by Michael Mouse Halcomb. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- TREASURERS REPORT – Motion by Rick Blackburn 2nd by Michael Mouse Halcomb. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- TREASURERS REQUEST – Discussion and questions by Josh Puckett.
- OPEN BRIDGE BIDS – Motion by Michael Mouse Halcomb and 2nd by Rick Blackburn. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- REAPPOINT PERSONNEL BOARD MEMBERS – Motion by Rick Blackburn and 2nd by Michael Mouse Halcomb. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- DISCUSSION OF CLASSIFICATION AND PAYMENT OF INDIVIDUAL
PROVIDING SERVICES – Motion by Rick Blackburn and 2nd by David Pinson. None Opposed. Roll Call. - APPROVE TRUCK RENTAL – Motion denied by Rick Blackburn and 2nd by John Scaggs. All Opposed.
- EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
- ADJOURN – Motion by Rick Blackburn and 2nd by Michael Mouse Halcomb.
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The next Regular Scheduled Monthly Meeting will be held on Tuesday October 13, 2026 at 10AM.
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