January 21, 2015;

Fiscal Court votes to take action in FIVCO deals…

WHERE’S OUR JOBS?

LOUISA, Ky. — Distict 2 magistrate John J. Lemaster told court members yesterday they should take immediate action of some type to force Area Development District FIVCO and specifically “East Park”, an industrial site which borders Boyd, Elliot and Carter Counties to apply the agreement as it was first made in 2001.

The discussion came at the end of a ho-hum regular monthly meeting that paid the bills, approved the minutes of three special mettings and set the speed limit at 25 MPH at Yellow Creek and Maynard Branch. The court also set the federal mileage reimbursement rate at 57.5 cents.

Economic Development Coordinator Catrina Vargo reported from trips she has made to meetings in Louisville and Frankfort on behalf of “selling” Lawrence County.

“The main thing is finding out what we need to have ready and how to persuede prospective companies to build here,” Vargo said. “We are getting our foot in the door and finding out how we need to prepare our “package” here locally,” Vargo said.

She said three colleges and/or universities have shown interest in using the Courthouse Annex as a Lawrence County headquarters. A meeting is being set up between the interested parties.

When the presentation was over LeMaster asked point blank about the area development district board and how the county communicates with FIVCO concerning the East Park development site.

Through further discussion it was learned by the court that an industrial park  (East Park) that was apparently done on a “handshake deal” between Lawrence, Elliot and Carter County facilitated by FIVCO in 2001. The tract of property has been prepared and some businesses have moved in.

Louisa businessman Dave Michael represents the county on the East Point project, Osborne said.

But, Lemaster pointed out, Lawrence Countians have only three jobs at East Park.

“We ought to have at least 13 or fourteen based on the number of total employed there,” he said. “I know that doesn’t sound like too many jobs but in this day and time any job is valuable. I can’t see how the miscommunication between this court and FIVCO has gotten to this point.’

County Attorney Mike Hogan, who announced last week that he will seek the Kentucky Republican Party’s nomination of Ky. Attorney General, said he is ready to file the necessarily complaints which, he said, should get their attention.” 

“It’s a proven fact they aren’t going to listen to us if we just keep going along as it is,” Osborne said so I think we should go fot it. The court agreed and Hogan said he will report back at the next court meeting.

“It’s good to see this court begin to look at the bigger picture and begin to look at bigger projects and be more competitiove,” Hogan said.

Judge Executive John Osborne noted that Lawrence County paid more than $200,000 into the deal and is supposed to be guaranteed 13% of all jobs at the industrial park.