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Mayor
says trust may return donations to those who gave to fire
victims fund
By
JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette
Thursday,
Jan. 31, 2008, 11:30 p.m. -- The City of Bardstown may
wash its hands of the trust fund it created to help the families
of victims of last year's devastating Feb. 6th house fire.
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This
photo, dated Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, Mike Abell, left,
chief financial officer for the City of Bardstown accepts
a $6,596 donation check to the fire victims' fund from
IUE-CWA Local 761 President Tommy Spires as members
of the Local 761 Executive Board look on. The IUE-CWA
represents workers at GE in Louisville.
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That's
what WAVE TV 3 reported Thursday evening after investigative
reporter Janelle MacDonald spent the day here trying to get
answers to residents complaints that the trust wasn't helping
those who needed its help.
Critics
have complained City Hall has been slow to provide information
regarding the trust. The fire victim fund became an issue
earlier this month when the fire's sole survivor, Darrell
Maddox, was required by the trustees to sign a statement that
obligated him to seek counseling and a clause stating that
the "fire victims fund committee is under no obligation"
to help him.
As
a result of the ongoing controversy, Heaton told the TV station
the city will send a letter to those who donated money to
the fund to see if they wished the money to go directly to
the Maddox and Litsey survivors. If the answer is yes, the
city will refund the donations, minus a portion for what has
already been spent. The donors will then be able to give the
money directly to the survivors.
Heaton
also said the trustees are considering using the remaining
money for a generic fund to help all fire victims.
The
TV station filed two open records requests with City Hall
asking for the total amount raised by the fund, and how that
money has been spent so far. Mayor Dick Heaton said city attorney
Tom Donan is deciding if the city must comply with the records
request.
As
reported on WBRT and on The Nelson County Gazette, Heaton
told the TV station that a total of approximately $55,000
had been paid to cover funeral expenses and survivors' living
expenses.
The
money collected by the city is in a trust at Town & Country
Bank, and is controlled by three trustees. Mike Abell, chief
financial officer for the city is one of the trustees. The
remaining two have not been identified, though the TV station
reported that one trustee is represents the First Baptist
Church of Bardstown, and the the other is a representative
from the Bardstown Ministerial Association. 
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