The Cannon County Commissioners have come through in helping an elderly Cannon County lady get water to her home in the Gassaway Community. Ms. Eleanor Watkins who lives on Blair Branch Road and has been having problems since March when her well dried up is now on track to have a tap and water line run from the Dekalb Utlity District owned waterline to her home. Commissioner Jim Bush has been instrumental in getting this project started. The project will cost a total of $3400 and a trust fund has been set up at the First National Bank entitled the Eleanor Watkins Water Line. Several businesses, organizations and churches have contributed to the fund to help raise the $3400. More help is needed. People are urged to stop by the First National Bank and donate to the fund. All money from the fund will be used to take care of the water line. With the tax appropriation rate and 2012-2013 budget approvals on hold till possibly the August 14th meeting. The Cannon County Commissioners looked at a few items that were submitted before the Saturday meeting at the Courthouse during their regular July meeting. There were seven commissioners present, Chairman Bob Stoetzel, Russell Reed, Mark Barker, Jim Bush, Todd Hollandsworth, Clint Higgins, and Tony Neal. Absent was Jimmy Mingle, Kevin George and Kevin Mooneyham. Thea Prince who is the head of conducting a study of the Solid Waste Program gave an update to the commissioners There are three options that the County has in taking care of their solid waste. One is to keep it under the control of the county like it is now. The second option is to privitize it to a solid waste company. The third option is to turn it into a solid waste transfer station which would allow waste from other counties to come into Cannon County. After Ms. Prince presented those three options, the Commissioners wanted to know more details about the second and third option as far as cost effectiveness and efficency. The next step will be to get examples of other counties that are using privitizing and waste transfer station methods.
Commander Bobby Ferrell of the American Legion Post 279 approached the commission to give some highlights about what the American Legion Post does for the community. Commander Ferrell made it clear he wasn’t asking for any funding. Commander Ferrell spoke in length about the the Kansas City sanctioned BBQ event in October
Ricky Cope, Director of the Cannon County Ambulance Service updated the Commission about the Heart Monitors the Ambulance service will be needing soon. Some of the Monitors are wearing out and Mr. Cope has turned in a grant request for the state to fund some of the monitors. Mr. Cope also spoke about a new ambulance the service needs. Grant money has been awarded in the amount of $15,000.00 He also said that he can use some of the $36,000 in his budget line item of equipment funds, however the county will need to come up with the rest of the money. It’s an estimated costs of $105-$115,000. The motion was made and passed to get three bids and award one of those bids for the ambulance.
The State mandates that when a County Commission meets, they get paid. The minimum payment is $25.00 per meeting. Several Commissioners were against the state mandate but had to vote for a resolution that would ensure the payment of the commissioners.The motion failed 5 votes to 2. The issue will be reconsidered at the next meeting
The Commission passed a motion to allow the Cannon County Schools to purchase property behind the football and softball fields for $30,000. Voting no on the matter was Russell Reed.
The next meeting of the Cannon County Commissioners will be Tuesday August 14th
