Lawrence Fiscal Court Approves Pay Raise for E911

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

The Lawrence County Fiscal Court met in special session on Monday, Oct. 19.

During the meeting, Lawrence County E911 payroll was discussed. After research was done by the Lawrence County E911 Board it was presented to the court.

The requested schedule would be new hire/entry $16/hr.; after academy $17/hr.; after 2-yr contract 18/hr.

The fiscal court approved the schedule while also approving the wrecker/tow service requirements for those who want to be included on rotation with 911 to be notified on emergency calls.

The fiscal court also voted to lift the hiring freeze that was placed on the county last month for E911 only so they would have the ability to replace someone who left their position and another one they feel is getting ready to leave the job.

Right now, they are working people overtime because it takes six people to run it efficiently said director, Jill Jackson.

Jackson cites that low pay is one of the factors people won’t apply or stay because current wages are no longer sustainable.

Other matters before the court were issues brought from last month’s meeting such as the employee who LC Treasurer Josh Puckett said could not get paid because there was nowhere in the budget where he could pay a contract worker that LC Judge-Exec Phil Carter hired.

However, after researching the budget, Magistrate Rick Blackburn along with LC Attorney John Osborne did find a line item that would be where the employee could receive his pay from according to the KRS.

Another item rolling over from last month was the $51,000 bill from Boyd Cat invoiced that was in over the procurement set by the court and Judge Phil Carter. Blackburn stated that after phone conversations with KACO Kentucky Association of Counties with input from the state auditor and Osborne the invoice could be paid and they would self-report and set a spending limit.

“That being said, it is the opinion of the court that the invoices be paid and the right thing be done with Boyd Cat and we will move forward,” said Blackburn.

Blackburn was recently voted in as LC Judge Executive in the primary election.