County Commission Agendas - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call the September 14, 2026 Jackson County Commission meeting to order. Actually, we might have been here, not today. But at this time, I'd like to ask Ms. Turner, the County Administrator, please call the roll to establish a court.

Commissioner Goley?

Present.

Commissioner Kenimer?

Present.

Commissioner Buckner?

Present.

Commissioner McBride?

Present. We do have a quorum to fill in.

Well, God, our Father, we are thankful to be here. We're thankful for safety. We're thankful for your arms around us each and every day. But, God, we also want to acknowledge the loss that we suffered as a country so many years ago, 25 years ago, and the loss that occurred on 9-11. So, God, we just pray that you'll continue to be with the families of those that lost their lives on that day. But I also pray for those men and women who are protecting us each and every day. They're giving of their time, their lives, and their families are suffering when they're gone. So God, we just pray for the men and women in our armed services and all others that try to spend their lives trying to protect us and keep us safe. Thank you, God, for this country and for this county and the men and women who serve us. We ask all these things in Christ's name. Amen.

Amen.

Attention. Salute. Pledge. I pledge allegiance.

The agenda's in your packet to take a look at. We only have two items in your business. One is to approve minutes, and the other is to approve a motion regarding the singing river trail recommendation. We do have several items on work session. One of those items is to review our annual bids and the recommended for those and we will get to that later in the session. With that, do I have a motion to approve the agenda for the September 14th meeting?

Motion.

We have a motion. We have a second.

Second.

We have a second. Any questions? If not, all in favor say aye. Aye. Mr. Thank you. We have no awards or presentations that we do not have any public comments tonight. So we'll move into the new business. Mr. Ackett, you have two sets of minutes, one for the July 7th meeting and one session and one set of minutes for the session. I'll give you a brief time to take a look at those. Do I have a motion to adopt the minutes for the July 27th and 26th meeting and work session and the minutes for the August 10th and 26th meeting and work session? I like that one. Do we have a motion? Do we have a second? Second. Do we have a second? Any questions, discussions? If not, all in favor say aye. Motion carries. Thank you very much. Next item is a request for a motion to adopt the second river trail plan for Jackson County. In our last meeting, work session, we had members of the second river trail team come and brief us on the plan they have done for Jackson County, if it's a plan. It also includes activities or plans for municipalities across the county along the trail, as well as areas between our municipalities that are in our county, by the way. They are requesting that we adopt this plan. This plan does not require us to be committed to any funding. It really enables them to go after, with our support, federal and state funding for this senior military appointment in Jackson County. that you have a motion to adopt the second river trail plan for jackson county we have a motion we have a second yes i think we have a second all uh any question for discussion i just i just want to make sure we're not committing any money to this right work session, they committed to the fact that this is only us adopting the plan. It does not require us to commit any funding to the program. Any other questions or discussions? If not, all in favor say aye. Aye.

Motion carries. Thank you.

That's the last item that we have in the work session. We'll move to our, I'm sorry, our meeting new business section. We'll move into the work session. First item up is EMA. We have been offered a camera to go on the full house in the National Weather Service. We're going to turn it over to Josh.

This is the same company that the camera in section, they've donated another one to us. This will replace the old bearing camera on top of our tower that hasn't worked since 2023. We're going to take that one down, place a new camera up, which will give us real-time 4K weather information that will be mission critical from the storm that we've had over the summer to upgrade both of those special weather statements into actual severe thunderstorms that have been doing damage through here.

the camera frame, the issue is to get it up on the tower. Yes, sir. And so, I think what we have, of course, is the install of that is for someone to install the camera part. That's what you have, of course.

Yes, for them to climb up the tower, remove the other one, and place that one up there. Everything else is almost already done. It's going to connect the wires to it.

Okay. So, That amount would be $3,111 to do the install of the camera. Now, as I understand, the IT is already in place. All of that is good, and this fits well with the camera system. Right. Okay. Any other questions? So we can approve this new business next week? Okay. We'll put it on the new business agenda for the next meeting. John, thanks. Thanks for working with this for the National Weather Service. I appreciate that. The next item in our work session is absentee election management assistance pay. I think we've already started the absentee voting process for this election. Our circuit clerk, Barton Cannon is making a request for the commission to pay two members of this team that was working the absentee ballot and voting process every day. It is a 55 day period that we'll be working. The state that does allow for this pay for individuals that are working the absentee process.

Mark, any comments? The statute allows for 55 days, but a maximum of only 46 days to be planned. And those 46 days, for me, which will not entail for them weekends and holidays, because I myself paid. Y'all allow me to point them as assistants to the absentee election manager. They are separate duties under statute. They are not regular duties on the circuit board, but they are additional and separate duties. I'm just requesting that they be paid for assisting me in the absentee election process. Thank you.

Any questions? The money for this is coming from the state, correct?

My pay is reimbursed. Yes, the state permits the counties to pay. And we did do this in the last

Any other questions?

So I'm assuming it's in your budget to do this.

That's why I'm asking you all.

Do you have a comment or question?

I do have one more. I think it's a good opportunity if you could kind of give a good overview of how citizens can take advantage

I guess my office is essentially a polling place for 55 days, so citizens can actually come in and vote in person or request ballots by mail. And we process all the ballots, all the requests that come in mail, and we help people actually come in to vote during that process. It's extra duties from what the circuit court does.

Thank you. We can put this on your business. Any questions about that? All right, thanks. Next item is a digital security camera in the upstairs hall. This specifically is in the hallway behind the office. Uh, this came to light, uh, I remember, right? It was sort of very recent trial that we had, and it was an altercation in the hallway between, uh, one of the, uh, members of a family and, uh, uh, one of the lawyers that was working the trial. And we had no camera coverage in that hallway. witness there. So the request that we've had from judges upstairs is that one hallway. Everything else is pretty well covered. Just understand upstairs. There's all the back and stuff in the place of them there. The folks who do our camera systems is J and B Electronics. So Paul says, I've reached out to them for the cost of its home. That cost is $750.81. So this is a security-based mobile home. So, Sheriff, any comments from you on this?

No, my one concern with that is sometimes large number of clients out there, so we'll probably have to let them know that, hey, that's recorded. And that's kind of been...

We're not adding sound, we're just video. That's my understanding. Which again, I think they definitely need to know.

Do you have a question? John, I'll ask you. I'm not sure this requires a vote since we have cameras across the courthouse. This is just a maintenance action to take care of an uncovered space. I'm just asking.

But it is an additional one.

Yeah. With additional cost. So I would say the commission needs to approve the expenditure.

So we could take care of this for the next meeting with a new business portion. Okay. Thank you. Next item is a CPA contract. As you know, we've approved a CPA fund to work with us for assisting in our financial statements as well as assisting us as we make sure that we have all of our documentation correct for 26 and beyond. Jeffrey Consulting had was the firm that had taken care of us for the year 21, since we've been here, 21, 22, 23. And so the request that we're putting before you tonight is, since he has, that firm and Jeffrey himself has the, or Jeremy, has the history of that leads up to 25, that we use his for consulting services for only 25 financial statement and support for all of them. The fee, and you have in your packet the letter of from him regarding the services that will be provided. The fee, I would note, is on your second page. engagement fee, and the estimated price was not exceed $9,500 for all that work. The back page, all the civics that would be responsible for putting together, and then working through the audit period with the support plan. Here's our rate, less than the film that we were using last year. So I would recommend that we engage him in a 25 session to support us. As soon as 24 is over, we want to get started immediately with the 25. This helps us catch up with our loans. Let me turn it over to Margaret. Margaret, any comments?

No, I've spoken with Mr. Jeffries and discussed where we were at. And he's also going to take a look once he's going to have all the financial information that was prepared before so that he'll flow all the data we've had before that right into 25. So you think it's going to, being as he knows our business already, it's going to help to streamline that a little bit, get that to the auditors quicker.

Any questions? We'll put this on the new business for next week as well. Next item is syntax-competent business for Unicorn. Principally, we have two organizations, two departments at Unicorn, Solid Waste and Public Works. one for each department. This consolidates the contract here for one. This would also be considered the fact that we have put together a new uniform policy that describes what uniforms we are able to buy for our employees in those two departments. And that's a policy that I will sign out this week. I'm also concerned, I think, that this department

Yes. The new maintenance is not covered under CENTOS, but they are covered under our new pulse for how we're handling it.

I will say Margaret has worked for CENTOS. We get a rate very much here, but there's a little bit of situation for us. Let me turn it over to Margaret again to give comments regarding this.

No, there's some savings in here. They're also streamlining. It's still going to work the same. We'll have two drop-off locations, solid waste and public works. So their funds will be separated, but I think it's going to help. So we don't have two separate prices, two separate contracts.

This contract, I will say, is compliant with our requirement. Any questions?

I do. You mentioned two drop-offs, but there's a minimum charge per delivery. Are we going to be charged two deliveries?

We're charged one.

Just one. Okay.

Seems like there was discussion about footwear. We decided no.

It's only taking place in one area. So... I don't think that's correct. And they're required by the policy to have no cover boots. What direction?

Close to.

Close to.

Close to. Close to. Okay. So we'll put that in your business. The next item is a We actually received the grant.

It's the AMRVRC&E grant. This year, the county received $91,346. We also received over $3 million in grant requests this time. So it was a hard decision because I'm also on the council that helps decide what grants we choose for the county. Yeah. We applied for safety upgrades to the Jackson County Rural Public Transportation Buses. We asked for $13,555.20. Our grant was approved for $13,565. So Chad's going to have to cough up 20 cents. This will cover a one year service of a fleet management tracking system. This will also provide safety features where if they were to have a medical emergency or an accident on the bus and you hit a button, it will send their location to the office and the office and call 911 or send it to the sheriff's office. 911 can make them get reached out in the county. It also includes six tablets and two monitors.

Thank you. I don't know exactly what the system does. It's just a scientific sheet. This is a description of what it actually is and what it does. I'll run through that real quick because I know we've had a lot on this. Okay.

By the way, thank you, Misty, very much for this. We really appreciate it. There's 27 other transit agencies in the state that use this exact software, so we would take 28. So pretty much we're getting it paid for for a year. We have special ALDOT funds and an escrow account in our cash balance that we estimate we can pay for this two and a half to three more years after the grant money runs out. So that's a plus as well. And then we're projecting it'll be about $7,944 when that time comes. So we only have to pay 20% of that because we get reimbursed 80%. So it'll be roughly $1,600 a year for years from now for that. we're estimating a 10 to 12% cost savings because of fuel, because of the route management that comes along with this, and also a 10% increase in fares and ridership because of the route management software of this too. So we should be able to cover the subscription cost with the savings, is what we're projecting. Yes.

Yeah. Kudos both of you. This is a wonderful addition. On the requesting Is that something that the citizen does, or is that just the program that your office is used?

We use this. Let's do a call our office to set up a ride. This system will have built in a reminder system, so we will send a text and a phone call the day before their ride and the morning of their ride to remind them. So that will also help with no shows us riding out to Woodville or Paint Rock and not getting our passenger. That will be a cost savings as well.

I'm curious if the next step could be automated to where I request a trip and it's- That is part of it.

And we can look at that in the future. We can add that to the software. Yes, sir. Okay.

So when you have a no-show and you don't know that, you need to make a trip. That costs them anything?

They have three no-shows. They're allowed three no-shows. So after three no-shows, we have a suspension policy where we're suspended for X amount of days to try to cut down on that. ALDOT doesn't like us to charge for that, so we lose money on that. This should help cut down on that.

Okay. Question? Again, we will put this on the agenda for all of you businesses. Thanks very much. Mr. Yaw, I also want to say thanks for the chat work. down here. And, um, any comments that are RCMD folks that serve our county? Let's be sort of such on that board as I was leading a Finney concept. Like I said, we have, like, $9,000 this year.

$9,000.

That went across the county to schools and other organizations to support. Um, that's, uh, Last for Council Aging, so we will move to our last item on our work session, which is public sports and blended outline. I'll go first.

Thank you, Chairman, Commissioners. I should have a handout with a list of items. And that list signifies the end of an advertisement period and a bid opening that was held in this room on August 10th where bids were read aloud. It was attended by vendors. Prospective contractors. And the list of items were all open publicly. And the list of items is provided along with a designation, the type of recommendation, which you'll see there at the bottom of each item. You should see a recommendation such as low bid, renewals, only bid, split bid. So the low bidder and only bidder, pretty self-explanatory, I think. The renewal, it's just that. It's a contract that included a clause to allow for renewal. So it's a continuation of the previous year's price. And the split bid would signify that there is an item that would allow it to be split. So some situations that we get into with these particular items to where components allow for accepting the price, the bid price, for two different vendors on the same category of work. So we want to answer any questions you have about split bid or any of those unique items. There are also complex bids where there are multiple items in the contract And at face value, depending on the different bid prices for all the different items, it's not evidently discernible who is the lowest. So in those situations, the best case scenario, we can apply their bid prices to the planned work. So we know the upcoming year's work to be performed. We know the quantities to be performed. So we can take the various prices and plug it into that exact scenario. and achieve a low bidder. Where that is not always possible, then we look back. So we look back to the previous year or the year to date to combine those. So to get in front of any complexities and arguments about that, we go ahead and try to work through all these calculations and then send it to the prospective vendors in advance to show them where our recommendation is going to land. And we want to hear we get to this stage so hopefully all that work has been done and based on our recommendations you will hear none of that and that's taking place and those items are complex items like like in place for their various items. The FDR process, the full depth reclamation, multiple items included in that, and signs. There are a lot of signs. So all of those offenders have been centered calculations. They are aware of our recommendation, and we know of no objection to those. There are some unique items this year that are a little unnormal. And that rejection is an exception. So there are two rejections that we are recommending and one exception. And I'll start explaining that exception because it's on the first page. And these are highlighted in yellow. So it says except MSMA plus, I'll decide the herbicide bid. So all of the other items within that bid or within the county's financial best interest to accept, with the exception of that item listed. So we recommend rejection of that one particular item only, with a reservation that we purchase that through ACCA or state bid. There are other avenues for that. And that language is also included within the bid documents that were advertised in the bid. The other unique situation rejections. You'll notice on the last page, I've decided by two minutes surface treatment. So you'll also notice that that wasn't only bitter. And there are multiple components of the The bid we received for the bituminous surface treatments, we recommend a rejection. And that's due to the bid price exceeding engineer's estimate or exceeding engineer's estimate. So the good news is there's none of this work planned. The work that would potentially take place would be a scrub seal. So that could show up in our SS4A work. Still safe in saying that we can comply with all the bid law requirements and having a name of bid on hand is really not needed, particularly at this price. Aluminized pipe is really kind of the same situation. The price bar exceeded engineer's estimate, and it's not in the financial best interest of the county to award that back to the homeowner. So we recommend the rejection in the aluminized pipe. We use all three types of pipe. So we use reinforced concrete pipe. We use aluminum pipe. We use corrugated plastic pipe. However, in a detailed review, even including the work on 93, we did not exceed bid-law limits for each particular size of pipe. So we feel safe in recommending this rejection for that reason. Are there any questions about any of the items that I can answer? I would also like to mention that we bring the bids in the folder, and that's for you to review. So if your curiosity is up about any of these or you would like further review, we want you to have an opportunity. We want to explain anything that you need or show calculations or whatever we

So if there is no bid, notice the concrete pie precast.

How does that work? We get into expensive volatile products where folks are a little hesitant on bidding and being locked in for a year. So that particular item has no rate adjustment flaws in the bid. So if they were to bid that item, they would be locked in for that year should we award that. Now, most of those are stocks.

Do you have a question?

I want to thank the commissioners for their help with this process. Many hands go into this and it starts many months in advance. But it works, folks. They work hard when it's every year. And it's a laborious event. And it's a dreaded part of the calendar. But everybody performed well.

assigned the County Road 93 grant. Can you give us an update on that?

We did receive a signed agreement from the governor's office. That was last week. So part of that would be the in-place, the plant mix in-place item. That would be the item that would be utilized to perform that work. So we've had some discussions about the contractor that's currently holds that bid. And you'll notice that it is a change this year of our recommendation based on a low bid. So that change would bring about timing and the critical movement in performing the work on 93, as well as Bucks pocket. So for County Road 452, we're expecting to see that work sometime next week. So it's unlikely, highly unlikely, and not a recommendation to pursue in my opinion that that the 93 work we started with the current contractor that holds our annual influence however we could begin discussion and planning with the contractor that's recommended on the sheet before for the work on 93 now that we have a signed agreement

You haven't projected.

So glancing at the procedure that's required. First, obviously, is the executed letter by the state. Then we are required to hold a pre-construction meeting with the state and the contractor. And then we are required to receive a notice to proceed before any work items can begin. So we believe now that we have that executed agreement, we can set up the pre-construction conference as soon as possible. This month is possible. And then we could potentially coordinate the work to begin in the month of October. Assuming schedules align, we receive permission, contractors are available for the work.

The reason I ask the question, if we wait until the

I think your approval of that contractor would allow us to start the discussion and planning on getting the work performed in October. So I think it could potentially delay us discussing that until we have approval of that contractor.

Any other questions? What I'm hearing you say that is that to make sure we're in the best position for an October start of the 9-3 paving would be to move just as soon as possible.

Yes, if you all need time to study this, I understand.

Can you talk to the contract and let them know that this will be ratified in two weeks and go ahead and start the pre-construction meeting this month and get it on the books for next month?

I think if it's the county's contract or the state would be in agreement to hold the pre-construction conference. But without that, I don't know.

Sir?

We want to set aside the rules and pass it tonight. I don't know if you're asking me.

I'd like to make a motion to set aside the rules.

Okay. Do we have a motion to set aside the rules? Do we have a second? Is the second on the first? I think the motion is, and John helped me here, but I think the motion would be to approve the recommendation.

motion. We have a second.

Second, uh, for the discussion. I'm going to say, uh, uh, you know, she cares. Thank you very much. That's the last item in my work session. And this we will move to, uh, report from the staff administrator. Anything else? Uh, I mean, you're talking about everything. One note I will make, we got a letter today from Aldot. It was called the card rails work that we've been doing and that we have approved before. They just sent it. We have that, and I have signed it, the agreement. What they're really doing is asking for their check on our share of funds.

was a delaying that took place in August. And they're asking for our concurrence on their recommendation for war. You know, by the way, give us your fortune up front. So those LRSI projects are a little different. That's the safety projects. We're thankful for them. We appreciate it. But they go ahead and get the match up front. The work is performed and they settle the difference at the end. So that's what that's about.

Anybody else here?

Well, I had initially thought I was going to be giving a life-saving award, but unfortunately, the victim passed away later in the hospital. But John Ravitz, who's one of our new deputies, he responded to a call laying on the side of the road that was not breathing, had no pulse. He began CPR and respirations. And when the ambulance got there, they were able to give her respiration. for advanced care. Their comment was, had he not done what he did, she would not have made it to them. They got her to the hospital alive. Eventually, she died. She had some anaphylaxis issues that they couldn't take care of initially, so she passed away some days later. But I want to give John and Adam a word. I know it's our job to do that, but that's above and beyond, and they did a great job.

I recommend that you give him that award. He saved her life, and that's the essence of it.

Thank you. Anybody else? Josh? Okay. So that will move to comments from the commission next morning.

I'd like to thank the employees for all the hard work that they put in on the new budget and then on the grants and really, you know, everything that they do. And, you know, speaking of setting aside the rules, I'm never a fan of setting aside the rules and doing things, but I appreciate you guys being willing to do that for, you know, so we can get the road paper from Citizens of District 1, County Road 93. They've been waiting a number of years, and I could get all this time on them. They don't think it's ever going to be finished, right? So I heard that the other day when I was at Bryan, but thank you for that and working with us on that and allowing the

There's one more thing I forgot.

The City Council has completed the pavement work on County Road 96 and County Road 133. They did some additional work there because on 133, even though that road had just been paved last year, it had some more base failures and some things happening to it. So I met with the contractor out there and he did some additional pavement work. Extra work they did on that, and it's all turned out really well. I think the striping contractor is going to try to get out there in a couple weeks, and they'll be doing some shoulder work on it in the next week or so, and they'll be finished up. They'll get the stripe kind of wrote 255 as well. They'll have all that work completed. No calls to Jackson County City Council for the bill and all that.

I'm so excited with everything that John said, and it's been a wonderful meeting because, again, I know so much of this takes a lot of work, and I appreciate everything that goes into the bidding process, making sure everything's in compliance. It's wonderful knowing that the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed. peace of mind for us in knowing that we've got people that are willing to do that and see that as the standard. So thank you for that. I do appreciate everybody, all the work you do. It is not recognized enough, but we are very appreciative of it. And I say we as representative of the citizens. So thank you for that. Mr. Thorpe.

I'd like to thank all of our employees from the hard work and dedication of our county. John, great prayer in the beginning. It doesn't take much. 25 years ago that so many times lost, and when I reflect back on those times, it's just terrible. Keep the Barnes family in your prayers. Miss Tammy Barnes, Seamus Barnes, passed away, and she's been a teacher out there well over 30 years, a dear friend. good person, I'll pay for our grief and just keep that fast in your prayers.

Thank you very much. I just want to say thank you to all of our partners tonight. You heard tonight, you heard about the National Weather Service and getting a camera on the towers. The grants that we get for our public works, we actually give our transportation system and other systems for our chemical agents. This is the work that we've done for our lives. Those grants help us get more done with the buddies that we have. And so I really appreciate the work that goes into all of that. And it really pays off for the people of Jackson County, whether it's a road or whether it's safety issues or whatever. So thanks very much to each and every one of you. So we've had our next meeting date is September the 28th. It will be in our normal meeting room, we hope. Grand jury's not still in session at that time. But we do need to go into an executive session. I'm sure everyone has heard or read about the decisions that have been made by the federal judge. And we need to go to executive session to discuss the pending litigation. And so with that, I can get a motion to go into executive session. Second. Second, all those in favor? Motion carries. Sheriff, we invite you to stay.