Lawrence Fiscal Court meeting gets heated

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

Tempers flared during the audience comments at the Lawrence County Fiscal Court Tuesday morning, July 21, between Lawrence County Judge Executive Phil Carter and Blaine Fire Chief Jeff McCarty.

McCarty stepped up to the podium to address the court saying he had something to say that he wanted the fiscal court to hear.

Judge Carter immediately told the fire chief he could not discuss anything that might be possible litigation.

McCarty stated it was a public meeting and he had a public comment that had no bearing on anything that would be litigation.

McCarty and several members of the BFD were in attendance and wanted to know why the judge locked them out of their new building.

Judge Carter said that allegation was not true and that he has not locked anyone out, but did admit to buying with his own money a $40 lock and having it installed on the door of the building.

McCarty said where’s our key to that lock and the judge fired back, “the keys are at my house.”

The judge repeatedly told McCarty he was not going to argue with him, but during the heated conversation McCarty never got an answer to the question he asked about getting a key to the fire department.

The Lawrence County Sheriff Chuck Jackson and two deputies intervened to deescalate rising tempers between the judge and representatives of Allen Construction who were also present and standing next to McCarty with questions of their own concerning payments for their work that began Aug. 1, 2024.

In correspondence with the Lawrence County Attorney Johnny Osborne, he wrote to the contracting company as of March 16, 2026, their company accrued late fees in the amount of $67,800 per agreement of $300 a day for each day past one year completion date was to be assessed.

“Presently, the fiscal court still owes Allen Construction an outstanding balance of $47,269.13 for the project. Given the amount of late fees accrued by your company there is a balance owed to the fiscal court of $20,000.

The attorney offered for the matter to be settled and balances waived if Allen Construction would complete items needing correcting with the construction of the building.

In an answer from Allen Construction, they explained that they did have authority to allow for weather impact days and that they met substantial completion well in advance of the approved and extension date of Oct. 8, 2025.

“We would consider your (fiscal court) offer to “waive the $20,000 you claim we owe for liquidation damages to be generous if there was any basis for it. Under the circumstances that exist in this case, we find the offer laughable.”

The construction company also states that the LC fiscal Court failed to comply with the conditions of the payment to the contractor.

“We have submitted thirteen pay applications for payment for this project. None of which were paid in accordance with the payment requirements of the contract.” However, Allen Construction said they continued to perform and delivered the project to substantial completion.

It stated that the engineer informed the fiscal court and the granting agency they would complete the items listed that needed to be completed as soon as they have been paid all accounts owed except $10,000 remaining for completion of those items which they contend is extremely reasonable considering the continually late payments throughout the project.

When asked after the meeting why he believed the judge locked up the fire department, McCarty simply said “Refer to Judge Carter, we have no idea!”