County Commission - Regular Meeting

Next, we'll have a prayer led by Mr. Randy Bales. And remain standing for the the pledge of Allegiance of Mr. Sammy S. I'd like to ask you just a second assassination and all that. So we'll have moment.

Dear heavenly father, we ask that you provide your grace to us and allow us to make decisions that are pleasing to you. We just ask for your blessing upon everybody in the county each and every person in the United States. We ask for peace in the country, peace in the county and just ask for your peace and your healing touch Lord and this in Jesus name we pray.

Amen. Attention. Salce to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Next, we have resolution 2025-44, resolution recognizing and honoring Melissa Murray for her dedicated service to Jefferson County 911. Would you please come to the podium, please? With her respective commissioners, please stand with her. I understand Mr. Seals cannot. Yeah. Sav represent. Whereas Melissa Murray began her exemplary service with Jefferson County 911 on May 17th, 1995 and has faithfully served the citizens of Jefferson County for over 30 years. And whereas throughout her career, Melissa has demonstrated unwavering commitment, professionalism, and compassion in her many roles, including 911 dispatcher, trainer, shift supervisor, training manager, terminal agency coordinator, and currently as administrative assistant to the director. in whereas her leadership and mentorship has helped shape the careers of countless 911 professionals who now serve the public with the same dedication and integrity

that Melissa has modeled throughout her tenure. And whereas Melissa has answered thousands of emergency calls, often during the most critical and vulnerable moments in her person's life, offering calm, reassurance, and timely action, frequently without knowing the outcome of those she served. Whereas the impact of her work, though often unseen, has touched the lives of countless individuals, families, and first responders, and has made Jefferson County a safer, more compassionate place to live. Whereas her decades of service reflect not only a deep commitment to public safety, but also a profound dedication to the well-being of this community in the profession of the emergency communications. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of commissioners of Jefferson County on this date as follows, Jefferson County hereby recognizes and honors Melissa Murray for her outstanding service, unwavering dedication, and her lasting impact on Jefferson County 911 and the citizens that so faithfully served. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Melissa Murray as a token of the commission's deep appreciation and respect. Hold on just a second. Is there a motion on the floor to accept this to the Jefferson County Commission? Austin Brooks made the motion. Who is my

second?

Janet Dor. Grateful county. We appreciate you and thank you. Next on the agenda, we have

Hold on just a second to make sure everything's working. Count my vote. Yes.

Pass 170.

Next, we have approval and corrections of the agenda. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to move to suspend the rules for the purposes of adding a item out of a budget amendment that failed in budget committee. Sure. What is it? It is uh for the veteran service office. The amount would come out of general fund 101. The amount is $53,095. It's for an additional full-time uh person in the veteran service office. Is there a second to the suspension of the rule? We have a second. Second. Question or comment? And Miss Jenn, we already got one.

Okay. It wasn't on the screen.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to make this uh commission aware of that Marissa is presently recovering from the flu. She's had not been able to complete her job this last week. I think it's kind of sad that we say we support the Veterans of the United States Armed Forces, but we won't even consider in front of our public and discuss and debate why we should do this. The veterans of this county put so much money into this county. I don't think you realize that and understand that and we got quite a few that's sitting in this courtroom. And if you say you respect our country and you respect our veterans, then why in the heck don't we debate when things like this come up and just jumping on it and say no. Thank you.

Thank you. We'll proceed to vote on the suspension of the rule to add If you are for the suspension of the rule, vote yes. If you're not, vote no.

We got a motion to amend. And your second, let us play catchup right here.

We are voting on the suspension of the rule. Are you wanting to make a motion after the rule is suspended? If the rule is suspended.

Okay. We'll proceed to vote on the suspension of the rule. All right, we're having a little technical difficulty. We have seven nos, 10 yes, the didn't make the 11 count to suspend the rule. So, no, it would be 14. That is correct. Sorry about that. It fails. Next on the corrections of the agenda.

Mr. Chairman, good evening. Under approval and corrections of the agenda, I if the body wishes, I'd like to move appearance of the citizens uh after the up to after the consent agenda. All right. Got a motion on the floor to move. Is there a second? There is a saying. So you want to move the uh item appearance of people appearance of citizens up to consent agenda. Right. Right. To fall right after the consent agenda. Yes sir.

Does everyone understand? kind of hold up a second. We got to catch up here with the computer. Wi-Fi.

Second. 14 yes, three no passes. It is moved. Does anyone have a problem with T deck moving up to before election of officers? They are here and they're from out of town. Is there a problem?

Can we put it before the citizens? Nope. It'll be just after. Yes. Mr. Got a motion on the floor. You got a second.

So is a re is there a reason they can't go before the citizens? Is there a reason to not really? We need to clear it up cuz you've done moved it. This is the last thing moved. So you can't go ahead of it.

What's the motion? The motion is to uh move the appearance of our landfill director which he has te with him tonight to uh in between the appearance of citizens and the election of officers. 15 yes, two no passes. Katie Huffford,

can I make a motion to put TK before the citizens? We just moved it. But I They should go first. Let's let the citizens go first. Okay, let the citizens go first. Unless you got a second, then you going to make a motion. That's fine. You want to put them ahead? Katie, are you making a motion? I'll make a motion if there's a second. You can't make a second unless the motion exists. She made the motion. She did.

I second. Okay. The motion is made to move T deck before the parent of citizens. We have four no 13 yes simple majority it passes. So next on the agenda we're going to have t

we're going to have to approve the agenda as oh I'm sorry you are correct. Now, is there a motion on the floor to approve the agenda as corrected? [Applause] Jim

17 yes zero no stands corrected the agenda is approved next on the agenda I believe we have Mr. Eric War and the gentleman from TAC. Greetings. Few weeks ago, y'all asked me to get get some representation up here that you had questions for D T Deck. Last meeting, you sent questions to me. I for those two T deck. Mr. Mick and Dr. Lou are here tonight to answer what they can for you. Just remember they can't they can't tell us how to do or what to do. They can only make kind of recommendations before they get started. This body is invited October the 4th at 100 p.m. to the landfield for demonstration of the shredder. I have one that I they've been gracious enough to come and they're going to set it up for us October 4th. Anybody sitting in this audience, you are more than welcome to attend who? It'll all be done contained area be as transparent as I can. So, whoever wants to come come and see what's going on.

What time? It will be 1:00, October the 4th. Thank you. Where? Just go to the main

Just go to the main entrance. We'll have it set up right there close. So, everybody just walk. We just have to wait till business is done. business day gets done. So, so Mr. Nick and Mr. Lou will take care of you from here. Uh, thank you, Commissioner. First of all, I want to thank you for, uh, moving us ahead. I very much appreciate that we have a Lou and I both have to be in Nashville at 7:30 tomorrow morning. So, um, come here to you today to answer anything you guys want to know about landfills, your landfills, solid waste in general. Uh my name is Nick Lidle. I'm the statewide uh solid waste permits uh manager for the state of Tennessee with the Tennessee Department of Environment Conservation. Uh with me is Dr. Lewis Haynes. He's a professional engineer. Uh he also functions as the permit writer for the greater Knoxville region of counties for all their solid waste concerns. Uh we've been uh working with uh you guys on the uh expansion of your class 3 solid wastist disposal facility construction demolition landfill for quite a while. And uh we've also been working with the uh partial closure and uh uh I guess permit corrections with the class one municipal solid waste landfill as well. Uh we do understand that uh you know you guys have run out of capacity the amount of cubic yards that you're allowed to have at that landfill in your permit. brought out and we have been keeping monitoring and we understand that you guys have been turning away waste and we have some questions about that and the timetable going forward. Um I have some questions that were sent to me here. Um but I think namely the question is what went wrong? Why why are we at the point we are now? Um landfills are difficult. I know we we're not treating you guys like different from anybody else. The there's a narrative out there that the state of Tennessee is against county landfills. That's not true. I think sometimes just the economics are that way. You know,

the the big guys are taking in a lot of waste. They're making a lot of money and money solves everything. Uh landfills are difficult to permit. Uh if they weren't difficult to permit, everybody would have one in everybody's backyard. I don't think that's what the citizens of Tennessee want. Uh you see what your neighbors in Scott County are going through, you know, trying to stop that landfill. You know, landfills are forever. Uh we take them very seriously. Uh the permit process is lengthy. uh you have to get various steps of local approval done. That was a larger stall here. We call that the part one application and y'all had to have a jack law hearing to get that done. Then there has to be a lengthy site investigation done with multiple borings to make sure that the bedrock and the water table are correct and it's protective. Uh and that takes at least a year of monitoring at multiple points to determine the high and low groundwater monitored. Uh and then once that's done then engineering is submitted to us to figure out a way to place this waste so that it doesn't leech into groundwater that doesn't leech into surface water. Uh this is just CN waste. It is mostly a dirt but things happen. We do have to make it protective. You know things end up in the roll off and they end up buried and we never see them again. So we do have to have a certain level of permeability and a certain separation of that groundwater table. Um with that uh you know I can ramble on forever about landfills. Uh, I want to answer your questions. Uh, if you know, specifically, uh, if there's any technical technical questions, I got, uh, Dr. Haynes here to help me out.

Mr. Brooks, so the question had sent in was, has Jefferson County fully cooperated uh, with all the requests that your department has made of of of them? Yeah, I I think I think I first I want to commend you to uh although difficult uh the turning away of waste and making those steps that was I mean you ran out of capacity and you had a slight overfill. You started to turn away waste that's hard to do. You did the right things. You hired consultant firms. Uh we could describe this as just the perfect storm of missteps. Uh you know I could go into the details. I don't want to throw any one item under the bus. I don't think it's in I definitely have Jefferson County spot. You hire consultants, you hire professionals to get this to completion and there were hurdles and problems along the way. We always say that when you when you think you're out of capacity, it's too late. Uh you know, minimum for for a class one MSW municipal solid waste landfill, the professional industries when they're 10 years out, they start planning like, you know, just in case everything goes wrong. They don't want to be left out of capacity. uh when a large like Lakeway or or uh you know the Echo in Sullivan County, they they're planning 10 years always at 10 years out. So, we started a little late. Uh you guys got the uh part one and local approvals started with a work plan in in middle uh summer of 2021. That took a very long time to get to us. It didn't get done for 6 months. Uh I mean that not anybody's necessarily fault it takes that long. Sometimes you had to necessary public steps. Uh we got that hydrogeeologic study to establish the um the groundwater tables. Uh that didn't come to us. We got a incomplete submitt uh the basically summer of 2022. Uh it did not have the groundwater elevations on it. I mean the very thing

that we wanted. We did not have groundwater depicted. Uh there is some carst in this area. there's sink holes. We want to make sure that there's no voids underneath that landfill that wasn't fully described to us. Just basic things that we were expecting a landfill submittal. Uh it's probably known to this board that uh that consultant firm was relieved and another one was brought on. Uh and then uh we got in that finally got that complete hydrogeeologic into us in December of 2023. we can't even talk about the engineering and the drainage and the storm water and everything until we know that the site is suitable for a landfill. So, we got that complete in and uh then we finally got the engineer and the operations manual, all those items in into in the summer of 2023 and uh that was deemed incomplete. Uh basically, we were lacking some detail in how the old land bill was going to tie into the new land bill. Sheets weren't matching each other. uh we can't sign off with our staff. Lou being a professional engineer on a project that had errors all over it. We promptly submitted those errors to the consultants. We got partial answers back. We do a second deficiency notice. We get partial answers back. We do another. We got partial answers back. We have with uh the consulting firm LDA, we've had multiple phone calls. We actually had a video call uh last week on Wednesday or the week before on Wednesday. Last week on Wednesday uh to go over line by line what we were expecting from them as submitts and we uh from a document in July, a 12-page document that outlined detail by detail the errors in the in the middle. Uh those errors are not expected. Uh, every landfill usually goes through at least one of those steps where we go through uh because once we place waste in the ground, we can never take it back. It's going to be there forever. So, we're going to make sure that this thing is

perfect. The landfill proposal has to be perfect. Uh, you know, you may lay over your class one over that landfill one day. It has to be solid. So, that's the point where we're at. Uh, we we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Uh, I know you're um uh you know, you're doing some financial hardships in the meantime. you convert in ways at a higher rate. Uh, and the capital cost that you put into this was high. I know there's some frustrations there,

Mr. Chairman. Sure. Can I ask another question? Sure.

Is there anything Jefferson County can be doing additionally to what's already being done to streamline this process? Well, first of all, there there is I mean you you have one option that you can do right now. Um you know a class one your your class one trash landfill your municipal solid waste landfill it's a jack of all trades. It can take CND waste. So there is option to in the interim take waste into that. Now that consumes airspace that could be used and that ends up out of space faster. So there's you know you might want to see how fast you're filling it up. That's an option you want to do in the interim. definitely can take that way still into your class one that does have the path option. That's your decision to make. Uh but you know just just department is doing good job consultants. The consultants are doing a good job working with us. Like I said, I think we've got good light at the end of the tunnel, but you know, it's still going to be months out. Just

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the the moment I get all of my answers permit treated the same way as every other county, treated the same way as every professional firm out there. Soon as I get those pages of errors button up and to me myself, Lou, the permanent team will do a pe process and we will go out with the notice. We'll have to do a public notice. We'll have to do newspaper. We'll have to have 45 days of public comment. So the moment everything is to us correctly, you have to add 60 days. So just know that you have to add 60 days for the public u comment period and everything else. So if they're back at their offices would be wondering can everybody hear me?

I got that voice. Sir, would you please come over towards the microphone so we can pick you up? Okay. This is recording.

I'll step back. Yeah. No, my army voice will carry across the Okay. Good evening. My name is Dr. Lewis Haynes. I work with Tennessee with Nick here Tekk. Um, one of the issues we've run into this landfall, and this is more of a technical issue, which is why I want to bring it up, is that we're looking at this land doing the hydrogeeologic study, which has been an issue with this from the beginning. It's because the terrain where we want to put this landfill is not easy to develop. Building anything in this area would be difficult. If you go through the the study you guys have sent to us, you will find when they were doing the borings in this thing, they found photosync holes, they find perch fluids, they find all these things that we don't want to find under wonder where we're going to put a lamp. And so all of these issues have to have solutions in the engineer. So if this was a simple I can dig a hole, it all works out. I've taped down the ground and everything works great. It's easy to put a landfill in. But okay, 99% of the time it doesn't work that way. in this case with the car terrain where we're locating it, how the soils look underneath it. Like I said, there's three borings in particular that found issues. Um, now last week we just spoke with uh the engineering firm and the geology firm they've hired in to do the extra work. So you can imagine they've already gone into another firm to look for a series of expertise and talked about how they're going to add additional structuring into this to make this landfill work in that footprint. So this is I mean I'm not trying to confuse it with this but if we've got to take these kind of engineering structures to use that piece of ground it's a slightly more complicated problem than just digging a hole and putting trash in. Does that make kind of help a little bit? And that's why that particular spot has been sort of an issue for the last few years when we start dealing with this stuff. I mean we literally they almost it was like a checklist of everything you don't want to find under a landfill and they hit all of the boxes. Now, there's a way around it, but it just takes time and people have really got to get in there and figure out what they're doing the right way. Does that

help a little bit? And that is also going to dictate timeline because once we get this approved, we've got to build this, too. Yeah. And all that dictates something. Uh, thank you to both of you gentlemen. Thank you, Eric, for setting this up. I yield, Mr. Chairman. Does anyone else have a question or comment or would like to speak to these gentlemen? If not, hearing any gentlemen, we appreciate you coming out with the information. Thank you. All right. All right. We're available anytime. Knoxville field office or downtown Knox Nashville. Call us anytime.

Okay. Next on the agenda, we are down to the appearance of citizens. I do believe. Steve McSmith, you will be first. Second will be Linda Mcmith.

Mr. Chairman, commissioners, my name is Steve McSmith. 3766 Island View Road in the Parrots Chapel community, District 8. Couple of months ago or more, Terry Docky called me to tell me before it was public that he had a health problem and long conversation talked about his future plans. There were subsequent conversations. Maybe three weeks ago, he called me to tell me that he was going to WD Henry to fill his seat that he was exiting uh until at least the election next year. We had a lot of conversation about it and I let him know that I already had made a decision about somebody else. He respected that. Terry has been the best the best advocate for our parish chap community since I met Terry in 2017. He has gone out of his way. He's done his due diligence. He's investigated issues. He has really been an advocate for us. I respect him immensely. And he knows that this country and its governing bodies are supposed to be all about choice. And I want as much choice as I can get. I've owned property here since 1990.

I pay taxes here. This is my full-time residence. I have no others. And I'm interested in this county, its business, my neighborhood, my neighbors, all the people of this county, and where my taxes go and how they're spent. I want the people whom I have an opportunity to elect to have choice as well. In this instance, I don't believe there's enough choice involved here. And I think anybody that's looking at this seat in the future should have at least an opportunity to be in it now in the interim situation. I mean no disrespect to Mr. Henry. I don't know him. Know nothing about him really, but I know what I know. I've had more than one commissioner tell me, "Well, this is the way it's always been." That's a problem. That's a problem in this government. Just because this way it's always been doesn't make it right or necessary. I've also had people tell me, "Well, I've known W.D. Henry all my life." I went to school with Mr. Henry. Uh maybe even he's a friend in the past. I don't know. But for that reason, I'm going to vote for him. I'm asking you simply to give me and the voters in District 8 and anybody else who might be interested in that seat a choice. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have Linda.

Linda Mcmith 3766 Island View. Um we love Terry us help mediate things with the county and work with us. He was a godscent for us and he really helped us out a lot. We know that tonight you're going to be looking at replacing his seat for the interim and then there'll be the upcoming election. We would like somebody that's going to be there ongoingly in that position. Not temporarily, but ongoingly. Like Steve said, we don't know Mr. Henry. We've never seen him here at a meeting. You know, Steve and I come to these meetings. We speak frequently. We hear from our community and we like to communicate forward what we hear and what we see and and let you know that. So we will be supporting Mr. Jim Fox for the election. And so if he is nominated tonight, we would like you to take consideration of him because we feel he has attended meetings. He's been here. He's spoken up. He has come out to our community to look at things that have been issues. He has come out, met with us, ridden around to find out what's going on in our community. That's important to us. If you're not going to be interested in what's happening in your community, then why are you sitting here if it's only your views alone? So, think about that now and for upcoming um elections. Also, as you're thinking about those

elections, some of you are going to be running again and some won't be. Think about who's going to be coming into those seats. Think about your seat on the commission. Have you been active? Have you been engaged? Have you looked at what's in your packets? Have you read through it? Are you coming prepared? I come prepared for your meetings. I would expect that you come prepared, but it looks like people don't even know what's always on the agenda. They don't know what's in that packet. A lot of people don't attend a lot of meetings or committee meetings. And I think there should be some type of requirement for attendance to meetings. So many absences a year should be allowable. And thirdly, the short-term rentals. I understand there's some problems with them and we need to get through some loopholes of legal, but we need to move forward and we need to move forward clear quickly. legal needs to se find out what that problem is and get it sorted so that we can move forward to protect the residents that live in the communities where these are moving in because they are disrupting the normal life of the people that live there as permanent residents in the communities. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. Next, as we move along, uh, youth leadership, are you in the house tonight? Please stand up so everybody can see you. Hope you learn something. Next, Lance. Good evening, Jefferson County Commissioners. My name is James Lance. I'm a 27year veteran of the US Armed Forces residing at 2246 Peninsula Drive, Jefferson City, Tennessee. I'm here on behalf of the citizens of Doggo Acres, some of whom are present tonight. First, once again, I request the commission approve the short-term rental revenue tax resolution that was on tonight's agenda. This resolution will add another new source of operating revenue to the county coffers. This tax will be borne by individuals, majority of whom do not even reside in our county. Secondly, I request once again commission increase the level of transparency regarding how it conducts the county's business. As elected officials, you owe that to your constituents. I applaud the efforts of Miss Carrie Davis for making commissioner decision packets information available via publicly accessible website. Jefferson County constituents can now review this information beforehand in order to clearly and concisely express their viewpoints during the appearance of citizens portion of the meeting. However, I question how some items come to be placed on the agenda, especially when it appears the majority of the county commissioners are not provided with the required background information to discuss the issue at hand. When instances of this nature occur, it promotes a sense of confusion at best and impropriy at worst.

Either way, it robs these commissioner's ability to make a informed decision in keeping with constituents who elected them. For example, the proposed acquisition of more property at cost of $1.75 million, that's our taxpayer dollars, appeared to catch the majority of county commissioners by surprise. One can only assume this information was not included in the read ahead packet. Subsequently, we now know the property was recently appraised at $1.2 million, $550,000 less than the previously discussed price, a significant difference. We've also discovered the owner served as a county commissioner that could have been disclosed by proponents of the acquisition. This incident further highlights the fact that this commission has no plan to develop our county simply because you've got $2.2 million sitting in a line of accounting does not give anybody the chance or the opportunity to spend it on some bright shiny object. In fact, how public taxpayer dollars are spent should be in keeping with publicly agreed upon plans to develop our community. information. Transparency in government is more than just a buzzphrase. It's a foundation for good governance and safeguarding the public's trust. Trust that was placed in each of you constituents voted for you to represent their viewpoints and interests. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Next, moving right along with the agenda. Are you caught up? Next we have election of officers and first is the appointment of commissioner of district 8. The floor is now open for nomination. Sir, uh no disrespect to Mr. Henry. Um, but I agree with the people in him that have stepped up and Jim Jim showed that he's willing to do the job. He wants to do it and I think he's got good ideas. So, I'd like to nominate Jim Fox.

Nomination on the floor to nominate Jim Fox. Is there a second? Nominations. Don't need a second. There is a second. All right. Floor is still open for nominations. I nominate WD Henry. We have a nomination on the floor for WD Henry. We have a second with Mr. Sammy Solomon. The floor is still open. Is there a motion for nominations to see? So moved. Second.

Motion on the floor by Brooks. Seconded by Nino. All right. The uh the choices will be Jim Fox or WD Henry. We will roll. If you're Fox, say Fox. If you're for Henry, say Henry. understand. When you're ready, sir. You need to speak. Is there a right to speak?

Well, sure. I just wanted to share with um commission that I had share that with the other commissioners that I have had multiple requests for that from the people that do live in that area. Thank you. Anyone else? Not hearing any. We'll proceed to vote. Katie Huff, Henry. Janet Norton, Fox. Austin Brooks, Fox. Jim Snogris, Fox. Greg Bird, Fox. John Johnson, Henry. Tim Seals, Henry. Sammy Solomon, Henry.

Rob Leven, Fox. Ranson Douglas, Fox. Randy Bells, Henry. Aaron Lloyd. Ronnie Coleman. Henry. Jimmy Carmichael. Henry. AJ Walker. Henry. Marcus Reed. Fox. Howdy. Thomas. Fox. We have a 9 to8 vote. I believe that is correct. Is that correct? Jim Fox leads by one vote.

We have a motion on the floor. Are you seconded or did you make a motion? Sure. I I'll put that in the form of a motion. Mr. father.

I've been over here for a long time and normally how they do this is the person that's in that district, they take and recommend who they like for that position. I have never seen it go the way that it has. And normally every commissioner has voted for who that commissioner requested to take that person's spot. I just like to say that. Um, so y'all need to rethink it and let them run in May and whoever gets the most votes can take it over.

Okay, we got a motion on the floor to allow to speak. Mr. Snider says I'm number Okay, I'm number one now. Um, appreciate that, Sammy. But actually, I came into this uh process some few years ago where that exactly didn't happen. Um, I was nominated by someone from the Danidge group versus someone else was nominated by the three that or the two that sat here. Um, and I think I the other person wanted and I believe it was 11 to six. So, it wasn't every single person that voted in that particular case. So, yield.

Anyone else? We also we also broke protocol when Tommy music died in white pine also in the seventh district at the time. We nominated someone else. Rita came in. We paid for it for a little while but then we left as friends. So we've not always done that. It's not true. Anyone else? Katie,

I just want to say I've had um conversations with Terry Dockery, too. And I will miss sitting up here with Terry. I looked at him for guidance. I watched his votes. I thought he was neutral and he tried to do what was best for the community. I have a ton of respect for him. I know because I've talked to him for a while. This has been heavy on his heart and he has chosen someone he feels will be good for the community. I know there were some concerns with WD Henry because I guess he missed meetings before when he was on commission and I was told that his work situation has changed and he will be actively at the meetings more so than he was before because it was a work conflict. They wouldn't let him be here. and my vote. I'm going to respect Terry's request because I have a whole lot of respect for him and um I have nothing against Jim. I think you will make a good commissioner too. Um but at this moment I'm going to go with Terry's request. Mr. Ronnie Coleman,

wait a minute. Wait a minute. I think Ransom, would you want to speak to this because you had done spoke once, but Sorry about that, Ronnie. Ransom speak and then it'll be your turn.

Um, again, no disrespect to you, Mr. Henry, and of course, I I want to respect what Mr. doctor says or you know what his wishes are but um like has been mentioned you know your attendance record wasn't always you know subpar and one thing I can say for sure is Mr. Fox has been at every meeting I've been at and I think it's important to remember that we are an elected position and if the people in his district are their wishes are Mr. Fox. I think we should respect that. I'm all about taking care of my buddy, but this is we have to remember what we're here for and who we're representing, and I think we should do what's best for them.

Mark Street. Terry Docky is one of the commissioners that I respect very much. And one of the things that I think Mrs. Smith said or Mr. Smith. They both have talked to Terry. They explained to him who they desired. Evidently, quite a few people from that community uh is behind Mr. Fox. And I can understand that Mr. Fox has been here is every meeting. I've only missed once in seven years. It's important for us to be here. It's important for us to listen to what they are asking out there. They are asking us to consider Mr. Fox. Give him an opportunity to get his feet on the ground when he runs for election to see if he gets elected. I think that's only fair that we start listening to the citizens. I do not hear any bias in anyone. Everyone asking us for a change from each one of us. Are we going to speak the truth? Are we going to do a song and a dance? Are we going to support the old good old boy network? Are we going to do what's right? And what's right is listening to them say they would like to have Mr. Fox in their district seat and they have let Terry know that and knowing Terry Docky, he accepted that and is not going to get upset if he doesn't get what he wished. And I pray the best for Mr. Docky. Thank you. Anyone else? We'll vote on the motion. Ronnie.

All right. I'd like to say Cherry Docker is well respected in the district 8, which is south side of the county. If he hadn't have been and hadn't been doing a good job, he wouldn't been elected four times. I think his recommendation for somebody to fill a position that he served in for 15 years, he knows that person. He knows what type of person they are. He also knows that he can handle the job. You can call it uh the good old buddy system. You can call it whatever you want to call it, but the truth is true. Come election time, I'm sure WD will be running. Then we'll let the citizens speak for sure. That's all I got. Anyone else? We'll proceed with the vote to let them speak. If you wish to hear from both candidates, vote yes. If not, vote no. 16 yes, one no. The candidates will speak. We will start on our list with Mr. Jim Fox. Come to the podium, sir.

You will have three minutes, sir.

Um hopefully I won't need all that. Uh Terry Dockery has been well documented that he's been serving District 8 in the county for 15 years. Uh I salute him and respect him for that and this nomination process. I mean no respect toward Terry. My thoughts and prayers are with him and I do wish him a speedy recovery. Uh I believe the choice your choice should rely on who is best to represent District 8 and the county as as a whole. the same as if you were filling a position in your business or for your business. As as you all know, I have been involved and have been in every work session, business meeting, relevant committee meeting, including the planning commission and the uh uh public service commission with one exception, which is the most recent planning commission meeting because it was rescheduled and it it was a conflict with the Jefferson Sheriff's Citizens Academy. So, I went to the citizens academy to uh further my knowledge of what that department's all about. Uh I have spent countless hours searching key issues that will affect district 8 and the county as a whole. Because of my regular attendance, I am well aware of the issues before this body and have been here to listen to discussions and feel that I could take the office and be a valuable addition immediately. I come with a positive attitude and a vision for district 8 and preserving the county forward. I do ask you for your consideration and vote. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Mr. Henry well I can say uh you know I don't uh it's true about my attendance. I'm not going tonight with the work schedule that's put on and the restructuring of our uh company. 7 at night till 7 in the morning is a long shift and our meetings were at 9 in the morning. It's pretty tough to make that. you know, uh, I know a lot of you and a lot of you I don't know, but I I I respect you and thank you and all for your service to this county. And, uh, you know, to Mr. Fox has been out, you know, telling everybody in our community about my voting record, and that's fine. I'm not into dirty politics. I let my name stand for what it is, you know, and uh so if anybody does change their mind, vote, I greatly appreciate it. And uh also, I I can guarantee I'll be at the meetings and I'll be helping our district along with the county best I can. Well, that being said, if I am appointed and if I am elected, and I'll say right now, I'm announcing my candidacy for 26. And uh but uh I will also want to help the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department by forfeiting my pay for the remainder attorney's time if it works out. And if I'm elected to the road officers that is not, you know, a sergeant or whatever, they're the

people, you know, that put their life out there every day for us. And uh so it's not about the money or the power. I just want to try to do what's right for the people of this county. And uh you know, I want to congratulate everybody and wish everybody the best in their election for next year. Thank you. Thank you, sir. We will proceed to revote. When your name is called, do likewise. Fox or Henry. Katie Haker. Henry. Janet Norton. Fox. Austin Brooks.

Fox. Jim Snogress. Fox. Greg Bird. Fox. John Johnson. Henry Tim Seals Henry Sammy Solomon Henry Rob Blevens Fox Ransom Douglas Fox Randy Bales Henry Aaron Lloyd Fox Ronnie Coleman Henry Jimmy Carmichael Henry AJ Walker Henry Marcus Reed Fox. Howdy. Thomas

Fox 9 to eight.

Y I think it is. No, we can't make seven here sir. So, just to share with everyone in anticipation of something like this happening, there's nothing in our procedures that governs this uh not reaching the 11 numbers. And I spoke with Doug earlier today. There's no precedents out there. Um, our options are to keep going until someone changes sides or changes their position rather. I won't say sides or we can postpone to the next monthly meeting.

I move we postpone it till next month.

We have a motion on the floor to second to postpone next month. Is a comment or question? Not hearing any. We'll proceed to vote. We have 13 yes to postpone, four no. It will be postponed. It will be on the agenda for the next month's meeting. Next floor be open for nominations for chairman.

Door's now open. Nominate Jim Snogers. We have a nomination for Jim Sners. Nomination Carmichael. Okay. Okay, I need I need seconds here. Second. Don't believe me if that's right. I stand corrected. Had too many things going on at one time. We have a nomination on the floor for Jim Car. Right. Nominations are still open. Is there a motion? Nomination cease. Second.

Nomination cease. This vote is for chairman. If you are for Carmichael, say Carmichael. Good. We're both Jim. We're both Jim. So, we got to use last names. That's why I started out with last names. You'll be voting for Carmichael or Sners.

Katie Huff. Janet Norton. Austin Brooks. Snodgrass. Jim Snogress. Snodgrass. Greg Bird. Carich. John Johnson. Car. Tim Seals. Carile. Sammy Solomon. Carmichael. Robert Leven. Snider. Ranson Douglas. Snider. Randy Bales. Carmichael. Aaron Lloyd. Carmichael. Ronnie Coleman. Carmichael. Jimmy Carmichael. Carmichael. Excuse me. AJ Walker. Carmichael. Mark.

Mike Graph. Howdy. Thomas. Congratulations.

Is that right? 11 to 1. 116 11 to six came out. I guess I'll stay your chairman for a while. Next we have chairman pro tip. Nominate Sammy Som. We have a nomination on the floor for Sammy Sen. Anyone else? Nominate Jim Sners. Nom Jim Sners. We have a motion nomination cease. Um chairman I would like to withdraw my name. You would like to withdraw? Yeah. Yes. Please.

Anyone else? Name has been Mr. Sners has withdrawal his name. So Mr. Solomon your chairman pro. We will need to vote anyway

or we could make a motion to accept by acclamation. We have a motion. We have who's second.

All in favor say I. I. Nays. Eyes have it. Next we have chaplain. I nominate Joe Coleman. The way he nominated Joe Coleman. Anyone else? Move to cease. Move. Nomination cease. We can accept this but not proclamation. Motion. Who's the second? Are you making the motion? Yeah.

Okay. You'll second. Getting a lot going on here at one time. Anyone oppose? Not hearing any opposition. Next we have parliamentary ransom. Jim Snager. Jim Sners. Second. Move to cease. Move to decease.

Does anyone have a problem? Mr. Parliamentary. Okay. Miss Monro on to approval of minutes. Let us let us clear up some computer work here and we will be ready to go. We have a motion. K. Huffaker, second by Jim Snogers. Proceed to votes. Mr. John 17. Yes. Zero. No. Passes.

Next we have approval of notaries and bonds. Uh sir, do we have any names to add? I passed out an additional. has six names.

You have an additional list that's been passed out of six names. Is there a motion? We have a motion on the floor and second question or comment. Not seeing any proceed to vote. AJ 17 yes zero no passes. Next we have nominating committee that we met tonight and we had uh the compensation board hammer uh hammer from September 25 to September 2030. Building Inspection, Board of Appeals, Jeremy Jimmy Carmichael from 25 September 25 to September 27th, Ed Franklin, Tom Frank Lake, and Chuck Tat Finance Committee, Craig Bird, Randy Pel, Katie Haker, Jim Snodra, Industrial Development Board, John Miller, and Bill Walker.

You want to take them all at once?

Yes, they would all approve approved tonight. question or comment. We'll proceed to vote. We taking them all together. 17 yes, zero no passes. Next we have reports from elected officials. Mr. Mayor, do you have anything for the agenda?

Just letter from comproller budget approval also has

does anyone have a question or comment for the uh mayor? Next on the agenda, we have chairman's comments. I have a letter here that I would like to read to you from Deborah Scarlet, John Mills. If you just bear with me for a second, on behalf of our entire family, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for the incredible support, gift baskets, thoughtful messages, and heartfelt prayers we have received during this time. The kindness shown to us has been a tremendous comfort. We have been especially moved by the many gifts and donations made to John Ryan and Jackie JD, me and John Neil's memory. It has been truly touching to receive notes from commissioners, community members, knowing that his name is remembered and his family cared for the means more to us than words can express. We are grateful beyond measure for the many stories and personal memories that have been shared. Each one a reminder of the lasting impact John Neil had on this county. Hearing how his life and work touched so many has brought us both joy and peace. His legacy is alive in these stories and we hope they continue to be spoken and shared for years to come. If John Neil were with us tonight, he would tell you how much he loved serving as a county commissioner. He loved his hometown of New Market and you all know how deeply he loved being a farmer. He believed wholeheartedly in the strength and leadership of this county and the individuals who have dedicated their lives to serving Jefferson County in every way. He often said that the members of county commission were the backbone and leaders of the county and he was proud to be one of you. John Neil

worked tireless tirelessly to model leadership, integrity and service hoping to inspire those who would follow in his footsteps. He poured his support time and hopes for the future in the county commission. knowing that this group would continue to uphold, support, and respect Jefferson County, the way of life they represent. He took great pride in representing all aspects of the county community. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We are blessed by each of you. I will leave you with a scripture verse John like to quote to me often. It identifies the importance of wholehearted commitment and perseverance. Those of you who knew him personally will personally will smile as it is so John Neil. Deborah, keep your hand on the plow and don't look back. Luke 9:62. We love and appreciate all of y'all. Deborah, JD, and John Ryan. Next, under chairman's comments, the chairman has a new phone number and it will be emailed out to everyone that the uh we have separated my personal phone from the commission work so we can be a little more thorough with keeping up too many phones ringing at the same time. So, the phone number I have now is 8659281, but it will be sent out tomorrow. I'm sorry.

Can you repeat that?

865 9 02 81 01. Now, it's time to move right along here. Uh, we got one other thing that I had under chairman's comments that I'd like to speak to about is I would like for the county commission to consider and give the opt and talk amongst yourself about returning to the work session. I feel as chairman that we need to return to having a good work session to to help people and hash out our differences openly session. So, I would like for everybody to consider We used to meet eight times a year. We used to meet eight times a year with a special call in June and you know I would like to hear everybody talk about it and next month come back with could make this work better. On the cutting edge of information and the information is changing and the only way to learn is to be here. The more you hear, the more you're going to learn. So, we need to get everybody on the same playing field. And that's all I have for you. If anybody's got a question for me, I'll answer it.

Let's question, but can we put on the agenda next month where I would go eight months a year like we used to with the work? All we got to do is at the next meeting uh we need to check the process if we made a motion to implement. There is a recent process in there. So I can look into that. It's a two3 vote.

Yeah, it would take a two3 vote because you're actually changing how you're conducting business. You'll actually be doing it more. All right. It'll be put on the agenda next month and we will move right along. County Attorney Doug Drenin, do you have anything for us? Next, we're down to finance department. Jessica Elders, as the mayor mentioned, um I included under myself as well the approval letter from the comprollers's office. So, our budget has officially been approved for those that um have asked about it recently. Um, I did want to give you we finally have our fiscal year closed. So, I wanted to give you the the results. I know normally you all have to wait till October for this. So, you get a month ahead on this. This is an audited financial information. Um, I do like to put the journal entries or to reserves that may reflect fund balance. Um, I also do want to thank you guys as a committee. Um, I give thanks to the elected officials, department heads, and the staff, and especially you all, um, for the commitment to financial responsibility and careful stewardship of the county's resources. So, our general fund 101 rollover was around $3 million. Um the the attributions for that were local option sales tax, our property tax, and our patient charges, which has to do with EMS. Um those were the top ones. We did have some savings on our payroll because as explained when I gave it to the school board um payroll when

we budget for open positions we have to budget the full amount for if they take family insurance coverage and if they come in and only take single coverage we do have savings there. So people change their coverages all the time. So, we had that um that that is mainly the the items that contributed to the $3 million rollover for fund 101. That puts us sitting around $7.6 million in our fund balance. Some of the budget amendments that are being presented coming up are utilizing fund balance, but as of July, it was around 7.6. Uh sanitation fund 116, we're always watching it and watching the cash on it. Um, last year we rolled about 200,000. This year was around the same. So the current fund balance unassigned in July is a little over $700,000 for sanitation fund 116. Highway fund 131 had about a $1.5 million role. Um, the huge contribution to that was the gas and motor fuel tax. So, you will see a budget amendment coming before you where we have to make sure that we budget the maintenance of effort for highway departments. And I'm having to increase our budget around $11,000 because it's based off of actual revenue. We don't know our actual revenue until we close our books. So now, this year in the budget cycle, we do have to increase it about $11,000. They base it off of a five-year average for the revenues on the highway department. Um, I did give the school board, so I'll go ahead and let you all know. School board, I think I brought it up, but you've probably read it. They do have some pending budget amendments as well that's utilizing. I believe it drops them down to about 10.6 million. Um, there's really mainly two things

here. Local option sales tax is the first one that contributes to that. It came in around $2 million higher than we budgeted. Um you have to remember I have to remember so I need to remind you all um we have a maintenance of effort that we have to maintain on the schools. So I know there's a lot of talk and a lot of chatter but the m maintenance of effort we we can't increase revenues if we don't think we're going to match them otherwise the county has to pay over those funds to them. Um this last budget cycle we were able to shift a penny back to general fund 101 from the schools general fund 141 and also um the local option sales tax was high but the payroll savings on theirs uh 84% of their entire budget is payroll so that's where each year we have a large role on the payroll because insurance um I you can't you have no idea what when you hire an employee or if an employee retires and we hire a new one, we have no idea what they're going to come in at. So, we have to budget family coverage. Uh that's a big one. Also, um just shifting of employees either retiring or leaving um and not filling those positions right away. So, so do you all have any questions on the financials?

Perfect. Thank you, Jessie. Next we have Mr. Tam Seals the budget committee. Jason, you want to go over them? How many can we take? Sammy's always want to know if we can take them all at once. Parliamentarian question. There's a lot of fund balance and reserve usage. So I'm not sure. Not fund balance. I know we can't do fund balance. I'm

all these were approved by budget committee writers. So item nine on your very first one fund 101 amendment number four item number nine was not approved but it was added to your I'm not sure when you take that oh it's not

okay so um your 101 number four all of them were approved by budget committee except for item number nine It is utilizing fund balance of $57,3895, but the majority of that was your item number nine of,474. Right. We got to separate that one out.

So I move, you know, move that budget committee. See the vote 17? Yes. Zero. No, it passes. Sir, the next

the next two um do not use fund balance or reserves. You could potentially take those together. Um law library fund 114. We're not doing anything. We're just adjusting um the function that we coded at two in the budget. And then fund 121 opioid is just um receding in funds. So move those two. So move Hang on a minute. What about 1015? 1015 item one. I think we skipped that one. No, that's the next one, right? Nope. That was the second one.

Oh, I'm sorry. I presented those separately in the budget committee. Okay, I can I can go ahead. Is that your next on your vote? Okay, let me get to those. I do need to explain that one. Sure.

That's setting aside of funds to the reserves. Um, you'll see four of these. I'm not going to even look at my note. Right there is employer portion of the insurance. The county contributes a higher amount for a certain option for insurance. So, I'm proposing that we can that we contribute the same amount for the four options of insurance. So, the employee could potentially move to a higher deductible and they could afford the family coverage at that point because this would actually help the employee be able to afford family coverage better than they can if they chose that the lower deductible, higher cost to them. So, what I'm asking and proposing is we have no idea who would do this, and I'm estimating what it could potentially cost. If every employee that could do this would make this move, it would potentially cost up to $40,000 for general fund 101. So, I'm proposing we set those funds to a reserve. If we don't need them at year end, let's say insurance, medical insurance didn't increase on any expenditure lines. I'm going to move those funds back to fund balance. I just wanted to if you all approve that, that would be a great benefit for the employees in the county and we would just have those funds set aside if it did cost extra.

So moved from the budget committee. So moving from the budget committee. Which one are we voting on? We're going to vote on fun 1015. I think we can take them one at a time and get them done faster. I think so. Let's just keep the trucking.

Mr. Brooks, hit your button. 16. Yes. Zero. No. One abstension. Okay. So, it's up to you all if you want to take fund 114 and 121 together. 114 and 21. There's no use of

Come on, Greg. I'm still dragging this stuff. Okay. 16 if you're done yet. Uh 17. Yes. Zero. No. We have uh number four in this group. 1162 that was in between them. We'll proceed to vote. Is that

that's part of the insurance that's for I think it's like $3,000 is what we're passes 170 then we're down to fund 131 number two I do believe okay it's showing no use of fund balance or reserves but number so We are using $269.94. So move by me.

We have 17. We have zero. No. Next one. 131. Number three is moving funds to the reserves for this proposal on the insurance. So move. 170 207 207. Number two, um we are moving funds from part-time personnel to increase other salaries and wages. It is not creating a new position. So move passes 170. Last one

207 number three. It's moving funds to the reserves for the medical insurance. So moving budget meeting

passes 170 schools. I'm not sure we can take any of the schools together. We'll have to take it separate that we originally budgeted and now we're having to adjust it due to funding changes. These are all moved. show

17 yes zero no passes 141 number two is utilizing $100,000 of fund balance and reserve amount $1.9 million 17 yes zero no passes 141 number three is using reserves of $68,36.98 8 cents.

17. Yes. Zero. No. Federal funds 142. Amendment number one. This is aligning the grant funds with our budget. 17 yes, zero no 7 16 yes and one no pass. Next we have the equal group cooperative purchasing agreement. Sir, ma'am, everything should do. Go ahead.

I'll go for it. This is an agreement that this board approved about five years ago, and we're just renewing the agreement to allow us to do cooperative purchasing from Equalis. 16. Yes. One. No. Next we have separation of reserves for hotel motel revenue and economic development.

Okay. Um this is this has come up after I've reached out to the state. Our hotel motel revenue was combined with funding that this board set aside a few years ago. So, they set aside a million dollars for economic development or land purchases. They've utilized some of those funds and there's $875,000 of those remaining. So, I want to separate those between hotel motel and separate the reserves. It would be a committed reserve of 875,000 since this board committed those funds. And the hotel mo motel is around 1 point it's little shy of $1.7 million and it would become a restricted reserve. You would see this on your balance sheet. Um I just need you all to approve me to separate those.

Budget committee approved this too. 17. Yes. No. Passes. the uh the old business resolution 2025-6 has been pulled. The short-term rental has been pulled to a later date requested by the county attorney. The next more property presentation of information withdrawn by the property owners, no herself.

And Mr. Chairman. Sir, did we not ask Joe Gibson to put together something on that at the last meeting?

For sale. If he wants to give a presentation, he's more than welcome, but it's pulled from our agenda, so it's kind of good point. You put in the time, sir. It's up to you. That's a commission. Does the commission wish to hear or guess it's a done deal? Next, we have Mr. for Rob Leven, ADA compliance, school board attorneys, establishment of firework permits.

What are we taking for Mr. Chairman? If I could interject uh if you don't mind, Rob, uh facilities committee had approved the uh the system for the hearing device, the money, which we then uh suspended the rules and approved in the budget committee. So, I guess it'd be appropriate now uh if this body wanted to approve it. It comes from as a recommendation from the budget committee. Sure. Unless that needs to go to next month or if we need to suspend the rules to add it. We you would have to suspend the rule to add that now. or we can put it on next month's agenda and get it done. It's up to the parliamentarian what he wants to do.

My personal preference suspend the rules because we've had so many feedbacks about hearing. We'll deal with it now. Motion on the floor to suspend the rule. So move, Mr. Chairman. We have a motion on the floor in a We got a second. Nuggers question or comment before we proceed to I'll just clarify that this is to add uh a budget item that was approved in the budget committee earlier in the amount of 5500 it's $5,5841 I was just about to say that close to $5600 we'll go

question or comment not hearing any we'll proceed to vote to suspend the rule. 170 to suspend the rule.

Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the expenditure of $5,584 and some change. Uh, and that would come from our ADA reserves uh as it was presented into the in the budget committee. We have a Second of that 17-0 passes. Mr. Ble, forgive us for our interruption and derailment.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We're on your agenda. It starts out with ADA compliance. We got that. If hearing impaired, I think we just fixed that. Thank you, commission, for doing that. Number two, begin working with both school board and county attorneys on establishing a legal update annually for both groups. pretty simple like uh the police the sheriff's departments go to inservice most of the department different so I think it's a good thing if we work together with the school board attorneys our attorney and just know what's coming down the road going to affect us are you requesting or want to make a motion just a request whatever the whatever the pleasure of the body is I don't know how that would work at the school board

we we we will request it sure we need a motion I'll make the motion we don't have to have it then there we They can work out the dates, I guess, between the two attorneys when we would have to have it. Yep. We will respectfully request it. Okay. And then number three, the fireworks stand. Could we uh push that to the next meeting for some more information from fire departments? All right. So, you want to postpone to the next meeting? Yes, sir. Mr. Chair, and put it on. It would be old business, correct? Yes, sir.

Next, we got new business resolution 2025-45, resolution urging the general assembly of the state of Tennessee to provide adequate funding for the Tennessee property tax relief program. Question or comment? Not hearing any. We'll proceed to vote. Pass 17 to zero. Next resolution 2025-46. A resolution of Jefferson County, Tennessee to adopt the 2025 Jefferson County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. Pass 170. Resolution 2025-47, a resolution urging the general assembly of the state of Tennessee to codify certain authority for school boards and students to exercise religious freedom. We'll proceed to vote. 16 yeses, one no. Next, we have resolution 2025-48, resolution declaring as surplus and to authorize the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to surplus and transfer said equipment Memorial Library to surplus and transfer said equipment. Great. There you go. 170 passes. There

is no announcements that I know of. Does anyone have an announcement? Sorry. Dr. Zurkel passed away this morning. We need to keep his family and wife in our prayers. Please everybody understand that. Dr. Thank you, Miss Svin. Uh motion to adjurnn.