Eastern Kentucky Town Facing Uncertain Future

A small eastern Kentucky town that has no city commissioners, no volunteer fire department and two lawsuits on its hands is facing an uncertain future.

Lawrence County Judge-Executive John Osborne said the city of Blaine is in disarray because so many people don’t want to become involved with the local government.

The city tucked away in southern Lawrence County is governed by a city commission. However, there have been no city commissioners since January. It turns out that no one sought the office after the last terms ended in 2012.

Osborne said he’s sought out people to fill the positions, but no one has stepped forward.

“It is just the mayor because there aren’t any board members…I’ve asked people to join and they’ve said, ‘no I don’t want anything to do with it’,” Osborne said.

Attorney Mike Hogan, represents Mayor Geneva Wheeler in one of the lawsuits and said he can understand why locals don’t want to get involved in politics, but finds it a sad situation.

Local officials said the governor’s office even sent a representative to try and recruit someone to help Wheeler govern the city.

Osborne told WYMT-TV in Hazard that if something doesn’t turn around, the town with a population of 245 may be dissolved. Osborne said it would be a shame if the town disappeared.

“Blaine City, it has been known that for years, and Blaine is a little town but it is something people are proud of,” Osborne said.