Commission Covers Variety Of Topics In Meeting

Sunday 20 April 2008Cannon County is going to be achieving a technological milestone following Saturday’s meeting of the Cannon County Board of Commissioners. Historic Cannon County Chamber of Commerce President Doug Combs informed the Commission that the Chamber has been awarded a $15 000.00 grant to develop a website for Cannon County Government and the Town of Woodbury. Combs said that each County and City department would be provided a web page so that they can offer services and information online. Participation in the web site is up to each individual official with no one being required to create a page. First District Commissioner Nathan Nichols will represent Cannon County Government in working with the Chamber to get the websites up and running. Combs also asked the Commission to consider increasing its contribution to the Chamber as it begins work on next year’s budget. He said that currently the County donates $50.00 per year while the Town of Woodbury donates $1 000.00 annually. Combs said that the Chamber provides a valuable service and that the extra money could help the group bring more positive attention and money to Cannon County. The topic that dominated discussion at the meeting was the Commission’s decision to remove Shangri La Lane from the Cannon County Road Map. In January William Sparkman petitioned the Commission to remove the road. At that meeting Commissioners heard statements from another property owner who claimed his property touched the road and objected to its closure. The Commission determined that due to the fact the County Planning Commission recommended closure the road should be closed. The motion to close passed 7-2 with Second District Commissioner Karen Ashford and Fifth District Commissioner Bob Stoetzel voting against removal. Following the meeting a lawsuit was filed against the County in which David Peeler alleged adjoining property owner and Jan Todd another interested party sought to force the Commission to rescind its action. Peeler and Todd lost in General Sessions Court and have now appealed to Circuit Court where the case is currently awaiting a hearing. Local real estate agent Raymond Pedigo addressed the Commission and gave them a history of the road and went through a long list of past property owners. He also offered statements from several older residents of the Woodland Community who said the road has always been public. William Sparkman also addressed the Commission and said that the road Pedigo and his witnesses were referring to was not the same road the Commission voted to delete. Sparkman and Pedigo both brought surveyors who gave conflicting statements about whether or not Peeler’s land touched the road. After hearing the arguments Commissioners took no action citing the pending litigation as their reason. Commissioners said they would not discuss the issue any further or rescind the closure until they are ordered to by a Court. In other business before the Commission: Commissioners approved County General Sheriff’s Department and Board of Education budget amendments First District Commissioner Nathan Nichols asked the Commission to form a committee to look into revising the County’s personnel policies. Nichols said that the current policy which was created in 1997 and has never been revised might be outdated. He said that it would be a good idea to look into the policies to make sure that everything is still in compliance with State and Federal Law and to possibly bring the policies in line with other County’s. Members appointed Mark Barker Bob Stoetzel and Greg Mitchell to look at the policies and recommend any changes at the Commission’s next meeting. Fifth District Commissioner Bob Stoetzel asked about the progress of Cannon County’s downtown renovation. County Executive Mike Gannon told him that the County hoped to let out bids within the next few months and that there are a large number of steps to go through due to the fact that the grant funding the work is Federal. Gannon also told the Commission that he applied for a grant to install energy efficient windows in the courthouse. He said that this would save the County money on energy bills and allow the window air conditioning units to be removed and a central air and heat system installed. Gannon said he was not sure how good the County’s chances of being awarded the grant are but that he should know something soon. Second District Commissioner Todd Hollandsworth said he would like the County to look into developing a written policy governing the changing of road names. The Commission decided to discuss the issue further at their next meeting.