A new commissioner, updates on REACH and voters may have a “say” in Sunday beer sales, all part of a long commission meeting.Tony Neal was named as the interim commissioner of the 4th District during the quarterly meeting of the Cannon County Commissioners. The vacancy was open due to the passing of Joe Wimberly. Neal was nominated by Commissioner Clint Higgins. Commissioner Kevin George nominated Kevin Steakley, but Neal was nominated based on an 8-1 Commission vote.
Neal will serve until the August 2012 county election when voters will elect who will serve the remainder of the four year term.
County Executive Mike Gannon gave a report. Gannon mentioned that the County is in a recession but is showing signs of starting to pull out. Cannon County relies more on property tax revenue than neighboring counties. As a result there is still a healthy fund balance and taxes have not seen an increase in 3 years
County General Budget Amendments were reviewed. Linda Bedwell, director of the Cannon County REACH afterschool program, give a report on the program. During the 2010-2011 the REACH program budgeted $268,000. Estimations show that the program needs approximately $75,000 to finish out the school year. The program had applied for two grants which they had received in the past. Unfortunately even though the money had already been budgeted, the grant money was not awarded. One of the grants they had been receiving had been done away with. The grants were awarded but the program had to spend the money and the grant would be reimbursed. The goal is to pay around $30,000 of the debt to the county this year and to try to repay the entire $83,000 over the next three years. The program serves 4 sites plus the high school with the afterschool program. Kevin George made the motion and Clint Higgins seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
The Commissioners voted to approve the amendments for the Sheriff’s Department. The County Fund Balance will decrease $1,180.00 with the money going to increase line items in maintenance and repair service vehicles, postage, food supplies, other supplies and materials along with medical claims.
The Commissioners also approved the amendment for the Sheriff’s Department to take $35,144.00 out of fund balance and increase the line items of Motor Vehicles and In Service Training. The $35,000 comes from seized items in drug raids such as cars and other property.
The Commissioners approved to take $22,231.06 out of fund balance. The Commissioners voted at the last meeting to pay the six former employees of the Sheriff’s Department that left due to the change of administration. The money will be used to pay the remaining unused sick days and vacation time for these employees.
The Commissioners approved the application of a Community Development Block Grant. This will extend water lines out in the county. Mike Gannon reported the County was turned down the last application. The grant writers were asked to take the roads they submitted the last time and work it out to where they would more likely to be funded this time.
Bob Stoetzel, Orville Lewis and Pat Simpson were reappointed to the Agriculture Committee. Joe Wimberly was also on the board and Mike Gannon recommended Mark Barker to fill in the vacancy. After the reappointment, Mike Gannon recommended Tony Neal to fill in the vacancy on the various committees in which Joe Wimberly served. The recommendation was approved by the commissioners.
Brooxie Carlton of the Department of Economic and Community Development gave a report of building codes. Cannon County applied for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. The $100,000 grant would furnish new windows and HVAC unit for the courthouse. The Grant is based on a point system. Counties get extra points toward the grant based on a letter of assurance that they would not opt out of the new building codes that went into effect October 1st. The Commissioners in a previous meeting opted out of the building codes. As a result it was discovered that around 25 other communities across the state who told the Department they would not opt out did indeed opt out. The Commissioner of the Department gave those communities until December 15th. Cannon County did not opt back in. The application was rescored and according to a letter sent out last week notified the county they lost the funding for the grant.
Since there is about $1.1 million dollars of funding still left so there will be a third round of applications. Cannon County is welcome to apply and beef up their application or get their 15 points by opting back in to the building codes program. The Building Codes Program would require any new construction in Cannon County to be inspected by a certified inspector. The building code would be the same as currently used in Woodbury. Commissioner Jimmy Mingle made a motion to opt into the state plan, Bob Stoetzel seconded the motion. Commissioners voting no were Mark Barker, Todd Hollandsworth, Kevin George, Jim Bush, Clint Higgins, and Tony Neal. Russell Reed, Jimmy Mingle, Kevin Mooneyham and Bob Stoetzel voted yes. As a result 6 against 4 for the motion failed.
The Commissioners approved the County Personnel Policy. It is the same policies that have been in effect since 1998. Nothing has been changed. The auditors asked Mike Gannon to get them approved again.
The Commissioners adopted a resolution that specified the formal policies and procedures for housing rehabilitation. The Upper Cumberland Development District through federal funds takes in requests mainly of elderly people. If they qualify they use federal funds to rehabilitate the house. This is done at no costs to the county.
Cannon County Director of Schools Barbara Parker gave a report on the Cannon County School System. Mrs. Parker highlighted the Technology Grant, E4TN program, the report card of the school systems and the additions to the Cannon County High School.
The County Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the process of a formation of an audit committee. A resolution forming the committee would be sent to the State Controller’s office for approval. Once approved it is sent to the Commissioners for approval at the next meeting. The State Of Tennessee recommends that every county in the state has an audit committee. The committee only offers suggestions. They cannot make rules or tell the county government what to do.
Dale Peterson, local attorney, approached the commission to request that a resolution that was previously passed by the Commission authorizing $30 to be added to all court costs filings be rescinded. The money would go to the Sheriff’s Department. The costs include all civil, criminal, and juvenile cases. Peterson stated he didn’t think it was appropriate or fair those civil or juvenile cases to have a $30 fee to support the Sheriff’s office. He felt that the Sheriff’s Office is not involved in the process of these cases. The decision by the commission was not to change the resolution.
The County Commission voted to approve the resolution that would allow the County to strip the law enforcement powers of the Constables in the County on first reading. The resolution before it fully passes will have to go through another reading in the April meeting. Commissioner Kevin George brought this matter to the table. After receiving reports that a County Constable was exercising law enforcement powers in the county, Kevin George researched and found out that the County could be liable if a lawsuit arises from the actions of a Constable. There was a law passed by the state in 1997 that allowed the County commissioners by two thirds majority vote and two consecutive meetings. Kevin George made the motion.
Clint Higgins seconded the motion. Voting yes on the first reading was Russell Reed, Jimmy Mingle, Kevin George, Jim Bush, Clint Higgins, Tony Neal, Kevin Mooneyham, and Bob Stoetzel. Commissioner Mark Barker voted no. Commissioner Todd Hollandsworth passed on voting.
Commissioner Jim Bush approached the rest of the commission to discuss the possibility of selling beer on Sundays. The town of Auburntown has been selling beer on Sundays. Cannon County residents are currently going to neighboring counties to purchase their beer on Sundays. The County Beer Board recommends the sale of beer on Sundays in Cannon County. Commissioner Russell Reed made a motion to allow beer sales on Sunday adopting the same guidelines that the city of Auburntown has. Jim Bush seconded the motion. Voting yes for the motion were commissioners Jim Bush, and Kevin Mooneyham. Voting no were commissioners Kevin George, Mark Barker, Todd Hollingsworth, Tony Neal, and Bob Stotezel. Jimmy Mingle also voted no but made a statement that he lives in Auburntown and his vote has nothing to do with him living in Auburntown because they have been selling beer for a time. Russell Reed declined to vote based on the fact that he holds a beer permit in the county. Since seven commissioners voted against the motion, the motion failed.
Jim Bush then made a motion to put the matter on a referendum for the next general election in August 2012.
Voting yes for the motion were Commissioners Jim Bush, Todd Hollandsworth, Russell Reed, Tony Neal, Bob Stoezel and Kevin Mooneyham. Voting no were Mark Barker, Jimmy Mingle, Kevin George, Clint Higgins. As a result of the 6-4 vote, the motion passed
The 2011 County Road map was approved. There were no changes in the map.
The long meeting came to a close with a motion that was made by Jimmy Mingle to change the name of the road that Bob Stoetzel will be living on from Hoot Lane to Honey Lane. The commissioners approved the change.
