LC FISCAL COURT SELLS THE COMMUNITY CENTER… BUT PUBLIC WILL RETAIN ACCESS FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS
Louisa mayor asks court for decision on 911 center, gets answer
By Susan Salyer
The Lawrence County Fiscal Court had a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 10AM at the LC Court House, 122 S. Main Cross Street, Downtown 2nd Floor, Louisa, Kentucky. LC Judge Executive Phillip Carter was in attendance along with the LC Magistrates David Pinson, Rick Blackburn and Michael Mouse Holcomb. John Scaggs was absent.
DISCUSS SELL OF COMMUNITY CENTER TO LAWRENCE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
LC Schools Supt. Katie Webb said,“As I have shared with you before, my intent if you approve this purchase, Is for us to renovate Louisa West and turn it into an Early Elementary School for Pre-school and Kindergarten. Purchasing the Community Center would let us move Pre-school and Kindergarten to the Community Center and let us close the existing Louisa West facility. We can have new space for our kids at a fraction of the cost.
LC Magistrate Rick Blackburn, who is a BOE employee as director of Transportation, said, “That auditorium that everyone uses, will that still be available to the community?”
Webb said, “We have been working with an architect. We have steps we have to go through as far as being a Public School District. We had to make sure the building had enough space to do what we wanted to do. Our architect assures us that we have enough space inside (the new) Louisa West to do 10 to 11 classrooms, library, Office at the front of school and then the area that’s now the auditorium would be where our kids will eat breakfast and lunch. The auditorium can be requested for use, just like they do now.”
LC Deputy Judge Vince Doty said, “With the sale of this property we were planning on using some of those funds to build an indoor recreation center for our kids. It will include soccer, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading, gymnastics, pickleball court and basketball court. It would be a nice place for the kids to exercise and have some activity. It will also have a game room, which can be used for birthday parties.”
The sale of the Community Center was approved with a Motion by Rick Blackburn and seconded by Michael Mouse Halcomb. (No amount on the price of the Community Center was given after a request in writing by the Lazer. Neither Webb nor judge/exec. Carter supplied the price tag and it was not discussed at the meeting…)
Ms. Webb issued this comment to The Lazer after the meeting:
“…We are so thankful to the Magistrates, Judge Carter, and the LC community for this action that will let us close Louisa West and move the students from all three grades currently housed there, as well as improve safety on Bulldog Lane. It will enable the district to make a school for preschool and kindergarten students (at the current community center building). A wing of Louisa East will then be remodeled to house first grade (the other grade currently at Louisa West). This is a huge step forward for students and our district, and will give young learners a better, brighter place to learn and grow. Thank you all!”
APPROVE MINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING
The Minutes for December 16, 2025 Regular Meeting was unanimously approved with a Motion by David Pinson and seconded by Michael Mouse Halcomb.
APPROVE MINUTES FOR SPECIAL MEETING
The Minutes for January 9, 2026 Special Meeting was unanimously approved with a Motion by Michael Mouse Halcomb seconded by Rick Blackburn.
APPROVE LC TREASURERS REPORT
The LC Treasurers Report was unanimously approved with a Motion by Michael Mouse Halcomb seconded by Rick Blackburn.
APPROVE BILLS
The Bills were unanimously approved with a Motion by Michael Mouse Halcomb and seconded by David Pinson.
APPROVE BID FOR DUMP TRUCKS
The Bid for Dump Trucks were unanimously approved with a Motion by Rick Blackburn and seconded by Michael Mouse Halcomb.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor of Louisa Harold Slone said, “Judge, I would like to ask if there has been any more thought given to working with us on the 911 Center. We meet with the architect the 28th of this month. So we don’t need every detail nailed down. I didn’t see the 911 center on the agenda, it’s important to me, and I feel like it means the utmost to our county. So, I wanted to show up today to see if you have any questions?”
Judge Carter said, “We will have to let you know, we haven’t discussed it yet.”
Slone said, “Shall I take that as a No?”
Judge Carter said, “We will have to discuss it and get back with you by the 28th.”
LC Magistrate Rick Blackburn said, “Is it something we can discuss now? That’s a pretty good opportunity to just say No, and not even talk about it.”
LC Clerk Chris Jobe said, “There is $20 million dollars for communications that will be released.”
Blackburn said, “We still get to run 911 even in that building?”
Slone said, “Sure”
Blackburn said, “We are not turning it over, we are just getting a state of art facility that our people deserve.”
Slone said, “Our goal is not to take over 911 Communications and it’s not our goal to make any money. It’s our goal to improve emergency services in this county. Our 911 Center is old. This $20 million is going to be available. We have applied for this grant and we are not sure what we will get. Maybe nothing. It’s a competitive grant.”
The LC Fiscal Court went into Executive Session. When Executive Session was over LC Magistrate David Pinson made a Motion to move forward with the architect. Pinson said, “We would like to have a written proposal on how it will be done and clarifying that the control stays with the county.”
Judge Carter told the Mayor Slone that he needed to get with the county attorney.
The Fiscal Court unanimously approved the 911 Center with conditions. This item was seconded by Michael Mouse Halcomb.
AGENDA
- Opening Prayer
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Call Meeting to Order
- Approve Minutes for December 16, 2025 Regular Meeting- Motion by David Pinson 2nd by Michael Mouse Halcomb. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- Approve Minutes for January 9, 2026 Special Meeting – Motion by Michael Mouse Halcomb 2nd by Rick Blackburn. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- Approve Treasurer’s Report – Motion by Michael Mouse Halcomb 2nd by Rick Blackburn. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- Approve Bills – Motion by Michael Mouse Halcomb 2nd by David Pinson. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- Approve Bid for Dump Trucks – Motion by Rick Blackburn and 2nd by Michael Mouse Halcomb. None Opposed. Roll Call.
- Discuss Sell of Community Center to Lawrence County Board of Education
- Public Comments – Mayor of Louisa Harold Slone.
- Adjourn – Motion by Rick Blackburn 2nd by Michael Mouse Holcomb.
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The next Regular Scheduled Monthly Meeting will be held on Tuesday February 16, 2026 at 10AM.
