Commission - Regular Meeting

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All rise. Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes. This meeting of Washington County Board of Commissioners is now in session pursuant to adjournment. The honorable Chairman, Greg Matherly, is presiding. Come to order and remain standing. Thank you, Sheriff. Our first order of business this evening is our prayer led by Commissioner Huffine followed by the pledge led by Commissioner Malone. Commissioner Huffine. Let us bow our heads, please. Dear heavenly Father, we come before you tonight with humble thanks for all the blessings that you provide for us, the beautiful sunshine of today and the warm temperatures, dear Lord. Lord, as we approach this very special summer and the upcoming celebration of our country's 250th anniversary, let us remember that it's because of you that we are able to celebrate and that you and you alone make these things possible. Dear Lord, please guide us tonight and every moment of our lives to them to live in a manner that will glorify you. Help us make decisions that are for the benefit of our citizens, dear Lord. In your name we pray. Amen. Amen. If you will join me in honoring the flag. I pledge allegiance 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. Would go ahead and indicate your presence on the roll call screen, please.

You're good now. We have 13 present, two absent. We do have a quorum. Next item is uh approval of our agenda. I have no recommendations for changes. Is there any? Commissioner Tucker moved to approve. We have second, second by Commissioner Huffman. All in favor of approving the agenda signify by saying I. I. All opposed, and the agenda is approved. We'll go ahead and uh move into our public comment portion and recess for that. Each individual be given 3 minutes to address the board um of items that are germane to uh county county business. We do have two speakers that signed up for public com- this evening. Um is it Janette Butler? Janette? Um is it Butcher or Butler? Butcher. Come just come forward, ma'am, and give your name and address to the clerk. Did I get the first part right anyway? Jean. Jean, okay. Come on come on up to the podium, Jean. And just give uh give your name and address to the clerk and uh I'll get her time started.

3009 South Greenwood Drive in Johnson City. I'm here to um request a rezoning of my property from R1 to A1 for a additional dwelling on my property for a mother-in-law suite. That is not provided right now. Um Jean? Yes, sir. I failed you. Because we're going to have public hearing for rezoning here in just a minute.

Okay. At least I'll get your name correct during that. So, thank you and and I apologize. Normally I would announce that this this is not a time for rezoning public hearing, but I failed to do that this evening. So, I'm sorry. Matthew Paul, are you here for rezoning or are you here for public comment? Come forward, sir. I can get your name right. You'll give your name and address to the clerk, Matthew. Uh Matthew Paul, and I live at 126 Sarah's Way in Jonesborough. So, I uh saw on the agenda tonight that we're going to be talking about the county farm um and I was one of the ones that helped try to put bring forward a uh presentation for a uh neighborhood park in the the county farm before uh the effects of Helene happened and the highway department needed that space in order to continue block two uh operations. And um I know there's an auction going on for the 7 acres on the other side of the road. Um but I really wanted to talk about the the rest of it and specifically the the wooded portion at the top of the lot. Um Just a couple things that I was thinking about as I was driving over here is uh I took a quick look at the map and the block two space before it was wiped out um by the floods was around 3 and 1/2 acres. And um if you take and draw a polygon on what they've done now, it's about 7 acres. And so they've doubled the space that they had, which I know that as our roads continue to grow, we're going to have to

have more space for equipment and things like that. Um but one of the things I wanted to talk about is I think that it's really easy to uh it's really hard to grow a forest and it takes minutes to chop one down. And um I do a lot of kind of naturalist work. I was a boy scout, I'm an Eagle Scout. And uh so a lot of my education was was built um in fields and farms and forests and learning how um when we take care of the land and especially the open spaces that the land takes care of us. And I wanted to speak that um recently I had the opportunity to take uh several children on kind of a nature walk in Stage Road Park. And one of the things that I focused on was that you don't have to go to these really big parks, to Yosemite, to to the Grand Canyon in order to find things that will excite you or to to kind of blow your mind at the beauty we have around us. So in Stage Road Park, I really focused on a couple of native trees and a couple of invasive trees that we've had cropping up. And what was amazing is that the children there literally just wandered on. They were playing in the the park when I decided to do this and they saw some other kids wanting walking with me and so they got their permission from their parents and they joined in. And what was very interesting is at the beginning of that um that walk, everything was a plant. It This is a tree. This is a big plant. This is a small plant. Um by the end of it, they were able to pick out without prompting the individual trees and that would not have happened had they not had that park close by because they didn't

travel. Their parents didn't set out to to do that. And I think it's really important that if we're going to um raise children who respect what God has given us and learn how to work with it rather than just to um to pave over it. I think it's really important for them to have ready access to something wild. And the space at the top of County Farm represents one of the last few wild spaces that is in public hands in that area. There's been a lot of development. The 7 acres is likely going to get a couple of houses on it. Um and so now is the time we have that that property, we can bank it under the highway department for now and keep it in there and then we can also start doing some light programming in the area. I'd be happy to do a nature walk in that forested portion for people to see what is going on right in their backyard. Uh and you can't get that if you have to make it a big day. It requires being able to walk or to take a 5-minute ride in order to go there and really to ignite the the children's love of nature and outdoors and really help them explore in a space that is open. It's not curated like school or anything else. And so I know that the highway department has a lot of needs and I know that they will continue to grow that space and they've done a really good job and utilizing the space so far. Um and I would just ask that we think about this as a way to maximize the use of that space and that it doesn't have to be open all the time. We can bank it as a forested space and we can start doing some programming. I said I volunteer, I'm happy to do it to really gauge interest and to start helping people understand that we have public spaces that are available that

can really help more than just the highway department. That they can help the the neighborhood, they can help train the next group of people who are foresters who really understand how to responsibly engage with the the land so regenerative farming you've you've reached your time. Okay.

I'm sorry. Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity. Thank you. That'll conclude our public comment period. This And we'll go ahead and move into public com public hearing for rezoning. We only have [clears throat] rate one rezoning to consider this evening and that's the resolution that you have 250501 is a in the eighth Civil District presently owned by Jean M. Butcher. Jean, if you'll come forward now uh and give your name and address to the clerk. Uh we'll register you under public comment uh for this rezoning. If there's anyone else here to speak in favor of this rezoning, uh please come forward after Jean. Jean? Jean Butcher, 3009 South Greenwood Drive, Johnson City, Tennessee. I'm here to request rezoning from R-1 to A-1 for a additional dwelling for my mother-in-law suite that is actually not attached to my home. All right. All right. Thank you, Jean. Is there anyone else here to speak in favor of the rezoning? Seeing none, is there anyone here to speak in opposition to? Seeing none, we'll close the public hearing and move back into regular session. Motion to approve. At this time, I'll need to call forward before we take any motions.

Uh [clears throat]

uh Miss Charles from our uh our planning and zoning director. She'll answer any questions you have about the rezoning. Thank you. Um um as you heard, the rezoning is from R-1 to A-1 to allow a second detached single-family dwelling unit on the property. It is approximately 7 acres in size, but the R-1 um currently only allows one dwelling unit despite the size of the property. I'd be happy to answer any questions. All right. Any questions for Miss Charles? Thank you, Angie. You do a great job. We appreciate you very much. Is that a commit motion by Commissioner Malone to approve the resolution seconded by Commissioner Wexler? All the questions. Question's been called. Madam Clark, if you'll switch us to the voting screen, please. Go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. Madam Clark, if you'll announce the vote. 13 years, two absent, and the resolution passes. That'll conclude our report of the Regional Planning Commission. And we do have Zoning Appeals minutes, page 12, for your review in your packet. Um Was the England one out? We do have uh special recognitions and proclamations. Um Our first recognition this evening is our 4-H essay winners. We have Michaela, are you here? Yes, there she is. I think she was making uh poke at me a little bit when I come in the door. We're great It's great to have you all here this evening. We always look forward to hearing from 4-H this time of year. All right, any of our 4-H essay winners, if y'all will go ahead and make your way up this way, please.

Michaela, if you'll introduce those. We We did include their names in the packet of the agenda packet this evening. I got you. All right. So, [clears throat]

these are some of our essay winners. Unfortunately, not all of them were able to be here, but we run a essay essay a countywide essay contest for environmental essays every single year, and out of all of the Washington County kids that turned in essays, these were our top three from both the fourth and fifth grade division and the sixth through eighth grade division. So, we have Miss Kayla Greg has first place for the junior division. You're a good girl. Uh we also have Kendall Gardner. Freya was not able to be here, but Freya Magnuson got third place. And then for junior high, we have James Todd in first place. Ava Dugger in second place, and Elijah Loines in third place. So, if we want to go ahead and get started, and they're going to just really quickly read their essays. They're all between like 100, I think 500 words is the max on any of them. So, super short, but they all did a awesome job. So, first up, Kayla, you want to give it a whirl? Yeah. Thank you for coming here this evening. The title of my essay is home recycling, protecting Washington County's future. Home recycling isn't just a chore. It's a service that's vital to our home community. One major problem that Washington County faces in 2016 is the limited space for landfills. By doing all this recycling, we're basically reducing the tipping fees that are being paid to landfills, which means taxpayers can save thousands while preserving the natural beauty of Eastern Tennessee. The why part is pretty simple. By recycling one aluminum can, you will save 95% of the energy to needed to make another can. And removing cardboard from the trash can help protect our forests. The how part is searching our kitchens.

To recycle the right way, we must ensure that items like empty milk jugs, soda bottles, and cardboard are empty, clean, and dry. In Washington County, we should always keep recyclables loose in the bin, never bag them in plastic. We should all We should also utilize the convenience centers in Gray, Limestone, and Lamar. For example, Cashwell Convenience Center for larger items like electronics. By placing my hands in this service, I'm helping to build a circular economy. When we recycle at home, we're not just getting rid of trash, we're protecting Washington County for generations to come. Now, who's with me?

[applause] [applause]

All right, awesome job, Kayla. Next up, we have Kendall. The title of my essay is home recycling, the why and how. Why is home recycling important? Earth is home to people, animals, and plants. When we pollute it by not recycling, everyone could suffer. However, it could it can be easy to recycle. Even a small amount helps. Recycling is important because it helps keep our environment healthy. Too much trash build up can overflow our landfills, which leads to poor living condition for people and animals alike. It can also pollute the soil and the air, which harms everything in the environment, including plants. Home recycling can be easy. The city can provide a recycling bin that you can fill up throughout the week with bottles and cans, and they'll take it away to a recycling center for you. It's also easy to reuse certain items. For example, switching to from single-use paper towels to washable rags leads to less trash. Home and Home recycling is very important for many reasons. And doing our part to keep our environment clean may be the most important. Everyone can do their part in small ways to make a big difference.

[applause]

All right, and then moving into our junior high division. In first place, we have James Todd. [cough] [clears throat]

Have you ever wanted to help your community, your county, and your world? You can help your home community in even count county by avoiding littering. Today, you can help your county and even your own school by recycling, reusing, and repurposing your trash to prevent littering. Tennessee is not new to the idea of recycling. Has has recycling convenience and and grave, Johnson City, Jonesboro, Jonesboro, and such as the counties as as Hollow, Wormald Wormald, and near most colleges and universities. Most of our glass bottles and waste can be easily recycled by melting it down into new shapes or or cleaning them disinfecting them. Even most food waste can be composted to grow to grow nutritious locally grown vegetables. Because 40% of food waste is is edible and contributes to global warming by emitting methane. And could still be used to help the environment or your community. This shows that recycling can avoid littering, help our county, our community, and even our planet. Reusing is part of a recycling program, but it's not as popular. But reusing can be can be used to make a terrarium. First, you plant seed you plant seed seeds and any small animals. And a plastic bottle filled with soil. And then you make a small air air hole on the top top. You add water and keep it by a sunny window. And then you have your very own terrarium in your house or even ecosystem. Another way to reuse a piece of scrap that could hurt your environment is reusing an old cardboard cardboard box to make a cat house for a stray cat. You can even add food inside.

This shows that this is something that you can do to help your environment and even make shelter for animals while preventing littering. Repurposing is also another way to help prevent prevent littering that you can do yourself. Repurposing fruits food scraps and such a thing as a worm bin can make excellent fertilizer for plant and help support the environment and give you some food. If you throw away batteries, they can catch fire and even explode and release a poison into the environment. But by buying rechargeable eco-friendly battery batteries, you can help your environment and save yourself money. This shows repurposing things or doing things in different ways can prevent littering and also prevent adding methane to methane and contributing to pools of pools of trash contributing to global warming. These ways of reusing, repurposing, and recycling can help avoid littering in your home, school, county, or planet. And even state.

[applause]

Chop.

All right. At this time I would also like to call Mr. Haney up for whenever we're done with speeches. So, next up is Ava Duggar has second place in junior high. The title of my essay is stop the littering. Pretty self-explanatory. Take a look around. There's trash everywhere you look. Just trash, garbage, and people littering. This is a global problem, but taking small steps can really help our world. You can help your community by organizing trash pickup parties, learning what is disposable and what is recycle or what can be recycled, and what types of trash is biodegradable. Trash is a common thing in this world, but planning a trash pickup party can be good way to help the environment and have a little fun. Scientists say that roughly 71% to 90% of people prefer to work when music is playing, and about 81% work better with friends and family around. In addition, you are more likely to succeed in picking up litter when more hands are working together. That's why having a party to pick up litter can be a way to help our world and be fun, too. Another way you can help our environment is to have the knowledge of what can be disposed of, recycled, and what can be turned into compost. Some examples of disposable waste include checkout bags, wrappers, plastic cutlery utensils, and many, many more. Whereas things you can recycle include things like reusable bags, paper, and cardboard. Learning the difference between disposable and reusable things can be very helpful to our world because instead of throwing away food for instance, you can place it in containers and use it for compost, which is fertile soil to help grow more food. Scientists say that about 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year. So, instead of wasting the that uneaten food, you can just use it for compost and maybe even

donate it to local farmers. Plus, if you recycle paper instead of wasting it, you're saving lots of money, trees, and extra work for others. That's why if you know the difference between recycling and disposable, you can be saving live living trees and helping with littering prevention. Now, you might be wondering, what is biodegradable and what does this have to do with littering? Well, to answer these questions, biodegradable products are products that will rot and fertilize like soil like food. People should not litter with this either, but it will help decompose and reduce size of waste that is not biodegradable. On top of that, experts explain that biodegradable products reduce pollution, lower landfill volume, and minimize carbon footprints. So, if you start using biodegradable products, you can help our world a lot. All in all, you can help your community by organizing trash pickup parties, learning what is disposable and what can be recycled, and what types of trash is biodegradable. Knowing these things and taking action to prevent littering are helpful to the world while also being a fun way to pick up litter. So, next time you go outside, go get your friends, tell them about this worldwide problem, and pick up some garbage. You never know, you could be saving a plant, animal, or living being.

[applause]

All right, and last but certainly not least, Elijah Lyons. The title of my uh essay is my paragraph about why littering needs to be stopped. My name is Elijah Lyons and I'm in sixth grade and I go to Sulphur Springs Elementary. My homeroom teacher is Ms. Clark. I've been a hundred fisherman since I was little. I hate seeing animals being hurt or killed just because of litter. It hurts me to tell this story, but many people need to know. One day I was running around playing and all and all I saw was a dead devil with a plastic bag stuck on its head. It was a sad sight to see, but just one of many reasons we should stop littering. Also, another story of mine is I was fishing at a pond by myself. I caught a fish, but noticed something about the fish. There was a piece of plastic in its mouth. I pulled it out and I measured [snorts] it. It was about 3 in long. The fish was trying to eat it and I knew if I didn't help, it would die. So, all my fellows and hunt all my fellow hunters and fishermen, please please pick up your trash and be responsible. Many other people have had similar interactions. It is common way It is more way It is way more common than it needs to be. I also have many friends that can back me up because they've had similar experiences. It's hard to see what the world has done with nature. It's hard for even your dog to use trash like a chew toy. That just shows how much trash there is in the world. If you go to the beach, you see it seagulls eating trash and just killing themselves. It's bad for the environment and if we want to see the future generations get to experience the outside world, we need to save the world. We need to be teaching younger generations not following in others' footsteps. This isn't a problem This isn't a problem isn't a one-person fix. It's going to take all of us to stand up for the world and help stop littering. I think to fix this problem, the state should step in by letting prisoners work for make make [clears throat] wages for picking up more trash. I know [snorts] they already do that,

but that's called an incentive, which can help make them work harder. Also, putting up more signs to enforce and warn people to think before they act. I would also like to see more recycling places and recycling bins placed in more locations than they are now. So, with that being said, let's stand together, stop [snorts] littering, stop harming the environment, stop harming our animals, and let's make this world a better place. [applause]

All right. We are very thankful to the Solid Waste Department for sponsoring these kids. They actually get awards with this. So, the director of the Solid Waste Department, Mr. Haney, is going to help us present their plaques. So, first up, Who we got? Do you want me to order? Kayla, okay, perfect. For junior division, we have Kayla Gregg in first place. [applause]

In second place, we have Kendall Gardner. [applause]

Moving on to junior high, in first place, we have James Todd. [applause]

In second place, we have Ava Dugger. [applause]

And in third place, Elijah Loins. [applause]

We would like to thank you all for listening to their speeches and just reiterating that it's very important for them to practice their public public speaking skills, just like me tonight, we're always practicing. And also just for them to be able to have the opportunity to really look deep inside and look at the firemen around them and be able to elaborate on how they feel and try to better as a whole. So, from myself and Ms. Laura, the other 4-H agent, we would like to thank you all and have a nice night. Thank you very much. [applause]

Mr. Mr. Haney, how long has our solid waste department participated in this program? Do you you recall? Do you recall how long with the solid waste department participated in in our 4-H? Uh I've been here about 5 years and Charlie was done it before I got here. So I'm not been years and I you know, I really commend you all for doing that and what a great result it shows us working with our extension office and and we just want to thank you, too, for for for riding this for the Thank you. That's our future, so.

Absolutely. Absolutely. Thank you so much. He's such a great guy. All right, Mayor. I think we have some proclamations to present as well. Anyone here for ALS this evening? All right. We have a motion to submit to the record. Motion made by Commissioner Davenport, seconded by Commissioner Stout. All in favor of the proclamation and entering it into the record, uh signify by saying I. I. All opposed. And it's entered into the record and we appreciate the the that that work, for sure. Thank you, Ms. Wilkinson. Right tonight, we have a uh particularly special proclamation, which is um honoring a couple of our favorite uh Jonesborough folks here. Um Linda McCready and uh Donna Briggs. Of course, everybody knows these folks. But it's recognizing the semi-quincentennial of the United States and the specific place that Washington County holds in that celebration. So, without further ado I do. Whereas July 4th, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a milestone in history that gave birth to the United States of America. And whereas George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and first president of the United States, exemplified the qualities of leadership, integrity, vision, and dedication to the principles of liberty and democracy. And whereas his enduring legacy is

honored by communities across the United States that bear his name, including 30 counties and one parish. And whereas the year 2026 offers an opportunity to celebrate our nation's founding, reflect upon our shared values, and renew our commitment to building a stronger and more unified future for all Americans. And whereas counties named for George Washington across the nation are joining together through the Washingtons Unite Celebrate collaboration, Washingtons Unite Collaboration, to commemorate the 250th anniversary, sharing common recognition of our namesake, and contribute to the national celebration. And whereas as part of the Washington Unite Collaboration, counties named for George Washington are contributing individual quilt squares to a collectively assembled handcrafted quilt that symbolizes local identity, shared history, and national unity in commemoration of the United States 250th anniversary. Whereas this collaboration highlights the unique role of counties and cities as the level of government closest to the people and demonstrates the power of partnership in honoring our history and strengthening our democracy. And whereas the quilt square contributed by Washington County, Tennessee is a creation of Linda Crouch McCready who has produced a number of award-winning quilts and whose family includes several Revolutionary War figures who settled Washington County. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Tennessee that the Board of County Commissioners does hereby recognize the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, honor the legacy of George Washington, and

express its support for the Washington Unite initiative bringing together Washington counties across the nation. Thank you. I present this proclamation to the County Commission for its approval. All right. Thank you, Mayor. Motion by Commissioner Huffine to approve, seconded by Commissioner Wheeler. Discussion? Seeing none. All in favor of the proclamation signify by saying "Aye". Aye. All opposed like sign. The proclamation passes. Congratulations. All right. So So we have Donna and Linda here and I'm sure they have some things they want to share with you. This is a square. Turn it inside and brown.

[laughter] Got it sideways. The block is actually called the Martha Washington star block. So we are also recognizing George Washington's wife as well. You're amazing. You've done some beautiful quilts. Beautiful, isn't it? It is. And this is going to be the center of the quilt. Stand together. Yes, this this block is now in the quilt. The quilt is arriving in a couple of days to be displayed here for a while. And so they are this is our block. And hope you'll That's awesome. like it. Oh wow. It's one of the best. [laughter] [applause and cheering]

Um I do want to say that we're going to have a celebration and you were invited to come into the courthouse. It will be the quilt will be arriving within the next few days and we're going to have it on display in the courthouse for about 10 days, 12 days. And we're having a special celebration on June 5th at noon to celebrate statehood and to celebrate the quilt and the 250th birthday. So you all come in and look at it. Thank you very much. Thank you all. Mayor, I do want to correct one thing before Linda leaves. You said talked about Jonesborough living. We live in Boone's Creek, too. So thank you, Linda. For all you do. We appreciate you. Well, you know, I know, but I just I just had to correct that, Mayor, because I I just I couldn't let that go. All right. Man, what a great quilt. We'll be looking forward to seeing that for sure on display there in the courthouse. We'll move right on to the elections and appointments and confirmations. I I probably shouldn't have let the Mayor sit down. Uh this the one we're going to consider first is resolution 260502 is a resolution appointing a member to the Tri-Cities Airport Board Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. Now you have a resolution that has a blank on it. Um but with that resolution and that being said,

Oh, I skipped number nine. So, I've been called out. [laughter]

All right. So, another another failure on my part this evening. Well, you know, names are tough for me, but we'll we'll go ahead and and move right on here to this uh uh the Board of County Commissioners minutes. Uh we have uh uh two sets of minutes, page 16 and page 17. Uh is there any questions or discussion? Do we have a motion to approve? Motion to approve by Commissioner Fitzgerald. Both sets of those minutes seconded by Commissioner Wexler. Any questions or discussion? You okay? Seeing none, all in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. All opposed. And the minutes are accepted. All right. Thank you, Madam Clerk, for keeping me straight there. We didn't want to get off track. Uh so, back to the resolution we were speaking of. So, this is a Mayoral appointment. We're just a confirmation on this on this resolution. So, we're just confirming the name. Now, there is a timeline associated with this, and that's why we brought it to you this evening. Mayor, I'll let you take it from there. How is is that close? You're right on there, Mr. Chairman. Um most of you probably know there was legislation passed in the last General Assembly that basically dissolved the boards of of all commercial um airports in the state. There's five. Um it was targeted basically to the Nashville Airport, but it included um Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga, um as well as Tri-Cities Regional. So, it's uh it's a it's a little bit of a convoluted piece of legislation as sometimes they get, but um

our current airport board is being dissolved at the end of June, and a new board is going to be established just after that, the 1st of July. So, all nominees for the airport new airport authority have to be have to really be made in June. And um our commission meeting in June wasn't until the 22nd. That really didn't give them time to um put this together. So, the way this works is there's 12 members on the board. Seven of those members are appointed by uh folks in Nashville. The governor has three choices, the lieutenant governor has two choices, Speaker of the House has two choices. That's seven. The remaining five are determined by uh the mayors of Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City, Sullivan County, Washington County. So, uh all of the board members um by the resolution have to be either from Sullivan or Washington County with the exception of one who's designated essentially as Bristol, Virginia. So, the board has the ability to be It's It's a 12-member board today. It has the ability to be reconstituted in its in its pretty much original configuration, although the members may not necessarily be the same cuz we don't know at this point who um the members will be that are appointed outside of our community. So, my nomination for the the one choice that I get in Washington County for y'all to approve, if you will, is Todd Hensley.

[snorts]

Todd has been a member of the Airport Authority. Uh he served as chairman. He is a pilot. He's an aviation mechanic. Um he claims to be an engineer, although you know, that seems a little questionable in some cases. But anyway, regardless, um he fits the bill and regardless of whoever gets chosen by these other entities, uh he will provide a um unique amount of continuity for which is my recommendation to you for approval is Todd Hensley. All right, the mayor has uh made his uh appointment recommendation. Uh we would just need to vote to confirm that. Uh [clears throat] so it would be a confirmation vote. Motion by Commissioner Huffine to confirm second uh by Wexler. Commissioner Malone? Mayor, I I did just have one question. I think right now Washington County has two representatives on the Airport Board. Is that correct? Washington County has three. Three. The city has three. So based on the legislation though, you will continue to serve representing Washington County in addition to Todd Hensley. Is that correct?

I do not serve on Okay. So if Washington County from the city and the county had, if I understood, seven, is that now being reduced to Washington will be It will be six. Who are the others from Washington County? On the current Okay, so they will continue. I don't We don't know. We don't know. That would be up to the appointee. Are there other appointees? I guess the My question is right now, how many do we have and come July 1, how many will we have? One. Three and three. Okay, but only one of those will be appointed by this body or based on your recommendation and the other two by the city. By the By the state. Okay. It's a really and I will say when I first saw this legislation, I was I panicked, quite honestly. But then when I had a conversation with some of our local representatives, they talked me off the ledge and I do see and I am I will express my gratitude to them. I do know that specifically Tim, representative Tim Hicks, and representative Rebecca Alexander, they fought hard I think to make this legislation better than it otherwise would have been. But it's still, I mean, while it will still be three, I mean, I think there's less local input from this body and so I I do kind of regret that, but I am supportive of the resolution. Thank you, Mayor. So you have a motion, second. Com- Commissioner Crawford, did you have one or Yeah, just I wanted to reiterate the Mayor's comments. Having the opportunity to serve last, I guess, 3

years now with Todd, he is the perfect selection for this body. You know, we don't know what new members are going to be appointed out of Nashville, so we do need that continuity. We do need his experience and his representation. So just once again, fully support and I couldn't think of a better individual to be selected to represent Washington County. I'll Mr. Wexler.

Yeah, I I know we I'll just go ahead and say the same thing. Having having served with with Todd um for the last, uh, I guess 3 and 1/2 4 years. He is the best candidate to to, I mean, to represent us, I mean I I think he has a lot of, uh, skill the skill set to to really do a good good job and has done a good job and has been on the board for probably 20 years. Any further questions before we vote? Call off the question. Question's been called. Madam Clerk, if you'll switch us to voting screen, please. You can cast your vote and lock it in. Madam Clerk, if you'll announce the vote. 13 yes, two absent and the confirmation passes on the resolution. All right. Thank you all for that. Uh The next resolution is kind of, uh, a little as tricky as that one was. That's resolution 260503 is a resolution appointing a judicial commissioner in Washington County General Sessions. Judge Mengel is here with us this evening. Uh, they have a recommendation to present to you. I will have to open the floor up for nominations, further nominations, and voting. Uh, so Judge Mengel, if you'll bring forward your recommendation uh, to the commission, we appreciate that very much. And we didn't have one until about 4:30 today. But we have one. We posted the job, um, maybe something like that and, uh, luckily today, uh, we were sent a, uh, very good applicant, uh, with very good resume for this position. Um, the person that we are nominating for this position, uh, well, let me explain to you why this is necessary. Um, one of our five

judicial commissioners has uh, done such a great job in the position and, uh, learned so much in the position that and we knew when he um was appointed by this commission to be a judicial commissioner that he was um planning to take the bar exam. He was a law school graduate. He had worked in a district attorney's office and um things like that in Illinois and he was planning to practice law in state of Tennessee. He's now passed the bar exam and he has been hired um to a local law firm. And um we appreciate the time that he spent with us. He was a phenomenal judicial commissioner. We hate to lose him, but we're glad it's because he's advancing in his career. Um that was Ethan um Max Glover and he's going to be a phenomenal lawyer. Um the reason and so that's the reason that we have a open position um really as of today. Um and so I'm hoping that um whoever you choose to appoint um you can do so today. Um Our recommendation from the general sessions judges um is Neva Hughes. Neva is a uh Washington County resident.

[clears throat]

You don't have uh I don't I doubt you have any of her information. Her name is spelled n e v a. Um h u g h e s. She has worked in criminal justice in the first judicial district, which is our our district, um since 2005. She has in that time and she's a uh criminal justice bachelor's graduate from ETSU. Prior to that, um during that 21 years or so and working in criminal justice in the um first judicial district, she has worked as a probation officer. Um she has worked at I believe maybe the same agency, but two two different divisions of First Tennessee Human Resource Agency doing misdemeanor probation, felony probation, um things like that, ACCP, which is um alternative community corrections program. Um she's very familiar with the justice system. She's very familiar with um how it works from multiple sides because she also uh spent 5 years um as a a bonding agent. So, she understands um uh how bonds work. She understands how um what factors are to be considered. As a matter of fact, I'd I'll read you one sentence from her um resume, which I thought was phenomenal for our purposes. Um as a bonding agent, she um was proficient in evaluating defendant's background, criminal history, job stability, and community ties to determine their flight risk and reliability. That's uh she's ready for the job, okay? Um and so, with the tools that we can give her access to um in this position and the authority that she'll have

uh to do those things, um she's really a great applicant. And so, it was a blessing to get her resume today. And so, um we're thankful to be able to stand up here today and tell you that we're recommending someone, and um certainly I'll take any questions that you have, uh but otherwise, I'll um defer to the chairman to uh um open up the floor. All right. I'll open the floor [clears throat] for nominations, but we'll hear from Commissioner Wheeler first. Uh so, I'd like to nominate Neve Hughes for the position. All right. Neve Hughes has been uh nominated for the position. Do we have any further nominations from the floor? Commissioner Wexler? Uh yeah, I I'm going to abstain from the vote because I used to rent a house to Nita.

Oh, is that right? Yes. Okay. All right. I don't know if that I'll note that Commissioner Wexler abstaining. Are there any further comments before we vote or any further nominations? Nominations cease. Nominations cease. I noticed that Judge Minga conveniently failed to reference the poacher. I was trying to be nice. [laughter] I understand. No, it's it's our loss, his gain. Right. You got to bring first aid. That's good. So, Commissioner Huffine I I did not fail to to do it in the public safety committee. I didn't want to do it in [snorts]

I wasn't bringing it up. I you know, I I just I'm just saying. I wouldn't want to talk to the talk about the vice chairman. All right. So, Commissioner Huffine move that the Another thing I should add, she she's ready to begin training ASAP. All right. Well, please express to Ethan our our thanks for his service. I will do. Call the question. Commissioner Huffine move nominations cease and Miss Hughes be elected by acclamation. We have a second? Second. Seconded by Commissioner Jones. All in favor of that motion signify by saying I. I. All opposed. All right. Miss Hughes is selected as our candidate.

And it's a it's a 90-day temporary probationary appointment. She understands that. Um if she doesn't like it or we decide to do something else, She's aware. All right. And be sure, Madam Clerk, to show that Miss Commissioner Wexler abstained on that vote.

Yes. Since we had a voice up. All right. Um as I sat down, I wanted to mention I'm not sure if you all are aware the last young man who read his essay um Elijah Lyons, both of his parents are one's a current and one's a former employee of the county. So we should be proud of him. Those are outstanding students. We are very lucky to have them each year hearing about 4-H and all that they they do. Our county, especially our agents at the extension office. All right, we'll move right on to to the county mayor's report, Mayor Grandy. Nothing to report from the mayor. Do you have any questions? Seeing none, we'll move to the county attorney's report, Miss Wilkinson. Good evening. I did not submit a report to you, but I'm here to answer any questions if you have any. Any questions for Miss Wilkinson? Seeing none, we'll move right on to the director of the health department, Director McLellan. Seeing none, we'll move to the director of schools report. Director Bowden. Uh didn't submit a written report, but I'd certainly be happy to answer any questions anyone may have. Graduation went smooth. Right on time. You tell me. Perfect. Perfect. I thought it did. The staff, everyone did a great job. I thought it was super. I commend you and your staff. It it was really Well, so did our students. And we had Not everyone walked at Boone, 260 graduates from Boone, 281 from Crockett. Uh when you add our Asbury graduates, we're approaching you know, 600, almost 600 students graduating. We have a few at Asbury and they're still working through it. They they may

pull it out before uh, June. Good. We hope they do. Well, y'all do a fantastic job at that. I I I commend you. Well, the the staff that is involved in planning and executing, they do wonderful job and make sure it's an experience for the students and families that they can be proud of. I do uh, Yes, sir.

I miss the written reports. Is that just a temporary thing? I know you've been busy with budget and the end of the year uh, of the school year, but is is that a temporary Yeah, I don't I I mean it it falls on me. I just uh, made a conscious decision. Some of it was timing of in one case and the and this month was just uh, a lot of other things happening, but um, I I intend on continuing that. Yes, sir. Thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you for asking. All right. Uh, last thing, you know, Thursday is the final day of our school year. Uh, it's an abbreviated day, so our high schools will uh, will dismiss at 10:15. Our K8 schools will dismiss at 10:30 and that will officially end this 2025-2026 school year. So, I'm I'm sure there'll be a lot of disappointed people on uh, Thursday afternoon. Yeah, there will I'm sure there will be. Yeah, but uh, overall, uh, you know, we always have challenges, we always have hiccups, but overall, there's you know, um, a lot of successes that we all should be proud of um, based on a lot of hard work of our teachers and everyone that supports our teachers and and our students. So, they they they work hard um, and and we realize a lot of successes. Not never all the successes we want to see, but we we certainly uh, are proud of those that we do and and And know we always have opportunity to improve. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Thank you, director board. Administrator of rural elections report, I don't think Mr. Vest is here this evening. I don't think he had anything to report. We'll move right on to the CIA committee report, Commissioner Wexler. Yes, sir. On May 6th at 9:00 a.m. the CIA committee met at the historic courthouse.

[clears throat]

Uh on page 30, you have a copy of the minutes from that meeting. Included in that meeting is a update from uh uh Bridge on Breeze Airways performance thus far and the minimum revenue guarantee that was backed by Washington County. Um it's interesting reading. If you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer them. Um I have two uh before you today two uh resolutions. Resolutions 20 260504. A resolution of the Washington County, Tennessee Board of County Commissioners in support of Senate Bill 1771 and House Bill 1720 regarding enforcement of zoning, land use, and development regulations in unincorporated areas. A copy of that bill is in inside the packet along with the resolution. I'll bring it to you before before you in the form of a motion and ask for its approval. Motion by Commissioner Wexler to approve the resolution. [clears throat] Seconded by Commissioner Malone. I will say Ms. Charles is here if you'd like have any questions for her. Uh Commissioner Malone. I was just going to offer I'm I'm definitely supportive of this and I I Ms. Charles can uh correct me if I'm wrong, but this is actually something I think we have been asking our local representatives to do for us. And I actually I had two people ask me about this today, and I think it was based on the headline in the paper because the the headline made it seem as if we were wrestling away zoning and and that sort of thing from the city and or the town, and that's really not the case. This only applies to the unincorporated portions

of the county. And so the the Johnson City still has responsibility for the city, and the town of Jonesborough still has responsibility responsibility for the town, but but I'm I'm thankful to Representative Hicks for sponsoring this legislation. I think it it is a positive. Um so I am supportive. Thank you. Ms. Charles, maybe you could come up. There might be a few questions [clears throat] that may be answered. Um just a couple questions I had today. Will this do away with the with with the growth plan? This does not officially do away with the urban growth boundaries. It just returns zoning and subdivision development authority to the county in those areas, but the boundaries themselves still exist. Will Will this So Johnson City's regulations will be still part of that 1101 growth growth plan? The 1101 is still intact. Johnson City's regulations in terms of their zoning ordinance and their subdivision regulations would only be applicable within their municipal boundary after this takes effect. All right. Commissioner Wheeler, I'm sorry I interrupted your hand going up. Not at all. Will the municipality still will their planning commission still have to deal with properties outside their city limits? They will not unless those property owners request annexation. Okay. If they're so So, the current boundary that they look at, they will not have to deal with. They'll just deal with their city limits. That is correct.

[cough and clears throat] So, I I spoke to you earlier and it really helped me think about how challenging it is for people who wanted to do a project in that boundary area who have to go through the city planning commission and then through the county. And we've all been through projects like that and this seems like it would simplify things for everybody. But just now when you said it would change um like the city's subdivision something something wouldn't apply anymore to those areas. So, it reverts to what the county codes are or zones are however it works. Is that correct?

That's correct. We're not amending their regulations in any way. They still stay intact. They're just only applicable to properties in their municipal limits. Okay. So, our regulations would pick up anything that's outside of that jurisdiction. Got it. And you would building inspection increase for the county you you think or would that not be a an issue? Building inspection will remain the same. Um and currently we're already processing the storm water component of subdivisions and new developments. What we will see change is we're already doing work with re-zonings, but we will be picking up the subdivisions within those those planning boundary areas. And as you know, we already have an agreement with the town of Jonesboro. So, we're already um handling those. So, it'll just be picking up Johnson City's. All right. Mr. Chairman, Yes, ma'am. if I could just add one thing. The planning director and I have been addressing monitoring the final stages of this legislation in Nashville, and it has not yet been signed by the governor. So, just as a catch all, section one in anticipation of this timing does say that it is to authorize all action necessary to effectuate the intent of the resolution subject to review by the county attorney for conformance with Tennessee law. And so, the effective date of this would be consistent with with the signing date. And I just wanted to point that out so that she's got the authority should you approve it, and we'll monitor it for an effective date that correspond with with the the state authority. Thank you. All right. All right. Any further questions? Mr. Chairman, just one more point of clarification if I may because I think the last sentence you said we would just be picking up

the portion from Johnson City. But just to clarify, we're we're not doing any subdivision, zoning, or regulations as it relates to anything inside the Johnson City municipal limits. Is that correct? correct.

Okay. We're only [clears throat] picking up what what what would have been in the urban growth boundary that was outside the city limits. It's it's in the unincorporated portions of the county. But because of the way the legislation were was in the urban growth boundary, the city or the town had responsibility of that. Or so, it's just restoring it back to the county. Correct. Thank you. Yes, sir. So, in the urban growth boundary, we would be going back to the municipal limits of each city? Correct. And that regional planning boundary, would it still be in effect? The The boundaries as 1101 was set up is still in effect. It still exists. But the development new development from here on out would be controlled over the county's jurisdiction over our regulations. So, if you were a half mile out from the city down Pickens Bridge Road past Flaherty Road, would you

[laughter] Yeah, you got to be careful where you're at, Al Terry, you know, because you can be in the city or the county. I mean Yes, sir. You You would call our office. if you're just just outside of that jurisdiction, would you still would would you fall into the county planning commission? Yes, sir. If you are outside of the city limits, you'll call our office. Yes, sir.

Okay. That does make it very That makes it a whole lot better for residents out in that area, really, because because they a lot of times they are they get very confused as as as where they call, and sometimes the more I talk to them, sometimes I get as confused as they are. And it really takes Sometimes they have to call their commissioner to figure out that plan. So, this this may may be very beneficial. So, thank you very much. Thank you. Commissioner Huffine, have I just not cleared you from the screen yet? Is that it now?

No, yes, I was just going to re- You're exactly right. I mean, it it's really very clear now. If it's inside the city limits, it's the city. If it's outside, it's the county. I know being on the planning commission, sometimes we face that same confusion as everyone else. So, this really simplifies it and makes it much easier for all the citizens and provides some clarity. So, again, thanks for our state legislature. Is that all all the questions? All right, the question's been called for. Madam if you'll Madam Clerk if you'll switch us to voting screen. [clears throat]

Go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. Madam Clerk if you'll announce the vote. 13 yes, two absent, and the resolution passes. Commissioner Wexler? Yes, sir. Uh and for the next resolution, 260505, a resolution approving and authorizing an extension of the waiver of building permit fees for property owners affected by severe storms, Hurricane Helene, on September 27th, 2024. I bring this to you in the form of a motion and ask for your approval. Motion to approve by Commissioner Wexler, seconded by Commissioner Malone. Question or discussion? Call for the question. Question's been called. Madam Clerk if you'll switch us to voting screen, please. Go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. Madam Clerk if you'll announce the vote. 13 yes, two absent, and the resolution passes. Anything else, Commissioner Wexler? Um one last [clears throat] thing in the in the packet with uh the information, there is a uh April 2026 marketing report, and a lot of good information there. Just bringing it to your attention. Yes, I I enjoyed the airline report. It was very good. Yeah. All right, we'll move right on to the uh communications task force. Uh Commissioner Huffine? Yeah, you'll receive uh our minutes on page 46. There's also a report from corporate entities. If there's any questions, uh be glad to try to address those. Any questions for Commissioner Huffine? Not seeing none, move right on to the county owned property report, Commissioner Adkins. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As you'll see the minutes from our May 6th meeting on page 49, we have one resolution before

you tonight. That's resolution number 260506. That is a resolution amending resolution 2411 06 and allocating a portion of the county farm for use by the highway department. This comes to you as a recommendation from the committee and I move for its Excuse me, approval. A motion by Commissioner Adkins to approve. [clears throat] I'm not seconding it. Have a second? Second. Okay.

By Commissioner Johnson. Commissioner Jones? I'm I'm a little confused about um how this is represented. And I I feel like it may have um been a documentation error. So, uh the highway department was uh and the county farm were the last item on our agenda. And we had a long first item, uh which was the Harmony ball fields. And we had 13 public comments in about 5:00 after 5:00, which was 5 minutes after the meeting was supposed to be over, we got to that item. Mhm. And um I asked to table it because we had no time at all to talk about it. And the Public Safety Committee was waiting in the hall. And um the way it got transcribed in the minutes, it says that uh developed plan um uh was provided, but we didn't have time to see a developed plan.

Right. We had about 1 minute to decide how to handle this. Um it also says uh that report There was a report on improvements made. There There was no time for Mr. Jones to present on any of that. Um And so um and then it says following questions and discussion, which we didn't have time for. A motion was made by Commissioner Jones to approve the request, which I didn't do. I think what happened, if I remember, and it was a there was a lot going on. So, my memory is that maybe either the mayor or uh Commissioner Edens made a motion to just take it to the full commission. I don't think with a recommendation. And then we passed that through so that the full commission could hear the plan. But no none of us saw any plans on county on property day. So

uh Commissioner Jones kind of takes that right out of my mouth. Um as a as a comment I would have on it is I was a little confused at the end of that meeting with this as well. Um it was kind of displayed as and I may be remembering this incorrectly. Um but when we asked for a site plan when we originally moved in there that they would return to the full commission. So, I was uncertain if this needed to run back through county on property when it was where it was originally brought from county on property for consideration when block two washed out or if it was something that we did indeed need to hear in committee. Um Maybe the county attorney or the mayor can kind of speak to that for us a little bit before we take any kind of action. I'm happy to take the first uh review of it. Just procedurally addressing if there's a concern about minutes, these are draft minutes. And so procedurally here tonight, the first thing would be that in the event that Commissioner Edens is making the motion for approval, I would recommend that it not reflect as a um on behalf of the committee. I would say that that That be an individual commissioner. It's no problem at all. I'm happy to listen. We have audio of the county-owned property meeting. There was a lot going on. Um uh Superintendent Jones was behind Commissioner Jones because there were no seats, and I know he had the maps out and that sort of thing. But if it doesn't accurately reflect, we will revise that, and I'll share that with you, Commissioner, before the meeting so that you know exactly what we have on the audio.

[clears throat]

Um and you can amend your minutes or not approve them at your upcoming meeting in June. So, I would say that. Now, the original resolution, which goes to your question, Commissioner, is that when it came forward, it originally was taking into account the fact that there was a large animal um shelter that was currently in operation there. So, a portion of the portion was set aside for the large animal shelter. That was has not been used in the entirety of the time. And so, um this was but and what was amended on the floor that night was for the highway department to bring it back to the full commission before July of 2026. So, we're now in May 2026, and Superintendent Jones, Doug Jones, had brought it back. He referenced it in public works for sake of good order for that committee. Then he took it to county-owned property. No action was required of the committee, and it does need to be reviewed, I would recommend no later than July 2026. And I don't think, Mr. Chairman, it would require the recommendation of a standing committee to address the prior resolution, but our local our general rules are that you have the recommendation of a standing committee. So, I think it's uh your choice what you're most comfortable with If a committee should review that. Does that make sense?

It does. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Wheeler. Um you know, we have the rule in place about things going through standing committee for a reason and that's to give five of us who are focused on that area to have an opportunity to look at it. And and I think that needs to happen here. I mean we we don't have a plan that we've had any opportunity in advance even if there is one out there tonight that gets shown to us. But I I think that we ought to table this. We've got time to do that for them to bring it to the July meeting and ask County Young Property to to look at that plan. Um so they can make a recommendation to us and then and then we can follow with that and it'll be in our packet. So we've got opportunity to ask questions. I got a message voicemail message today asking me if I had any questions on this and I'm I'm like I How do I ask any questions? I haven't even seen the plan. So I would uh I would move that we table this uh to the July meeting and ask County Young Property to look at the plan in the meantime and make a recommendation. I would second Commissioner Wheeler's motion. Um so my question with it was not that I had an issue with it, but was going back to the original action that we took to place them there in the first place on whether it needed to run back through a committee or whether it needed to come to the floor of the commission for review. If it needs to run back through a committee, well, as Commissioner Jones pointed out, it simply hasn't. So before we could take action here, we would need to hear it and give it its due at County Young Property. So in light of that, I would second his motion to table this issue. Do you want to defer back to the committee, Commissioner Wheeler, or just table? Defer back to the committee. That's a good point, Mr. Chairman. All right. I'd just send it back to the committee. All right. Second. Still second. Second on the deferral. All those in favor of deferral back to the committee

for next month signify by saying I. I. Opposed. I. The eyes have it. It's deferred back to the committee for review next month. [clears throat]

All right, is it is there any any other items? Any questions? Commissioner sir. All right. Well, we'll move right on to the county public safety committee report. Commissioner Eden's I'll come back to you. I was going to say I was I was up to bat and on deck. Yes, on deck. Yes, sir. Uh we have five resolutions for your consideration tonight. You'll see our meeting minutes from May 6th on page 54 for public safety. Uh first we have resolution number 260507. That is a resolution approving and authorizing an interlocal agreement between the city of Johnson City and Washington County for fire protection assistance. This comes to you as a recommendation from the committee and I move for its approval. Motion by Commissioner Eden's to approve second by Commissioner Fitzgerald. Questions or discussion? I'll question. Question's been called. Madam clerk, if you'll switch the voting screen, please. Go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in.

[clears throat]

Madam clerk, if you'll announce the vote. 13 yes, two absent and the resolution passes. Commissioner Eden. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Next we have resolution number 260508. This is a resolution approving a memorandum of understanding between Washington County, Tennessee and Families Free Incorporated. This comes to you as a recommendation from public safety and I move for its approval. Motion by Commissioner Eden's to approve the resolution. Second by Commissioner Fitzgerald. Question or discussion? Call the question. Question's been called. Madam Clerk, if you'll switch us to the voting screen, please. Go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. Madam Clerk, if you'll announce the vote. 13 yes, two absent, and the resolution passes. Commissioner Eaton. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Next, we have resolution number 26-0509. This is a resolution authorizing the disposition of Washington County Sheriff's Office surplus property on GovDeals.com. This comes to you as a recommendation from the committee, and I move for its approval, and I already have a second.

Motion made by Commissioner Wheeler to approve the resolution. Seconded by Commissioner Wexler. Question or discussion? Call the question. Question's been called. Madam Clerk, if you'll switch us to the voting screen. Go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. Madam Clerk, if you'll announce the vote. 13 yes, two absent, and the resolution passes. Commissioner Eaton. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Next, we have resolution number 26-0510. This is a resolution approving and authorizing an electronic detection canine award application for the acquisition of canine Mabel from Defenders for Children. This comes to you as a recommendation from the committee, and I move for its approval. Motion by Commissioner Eaton to approve the resolution. Seconded by Commissioner Malone. Question or discussion? Call the question. Question's been called. Madam Clerk, if you'll switch us to the voting screen.

[clears throat]

Go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. Madam Clerk, if you'll announce the vote. 13 yes, two absent, and the resolution passes. Commissioner Eaton. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Finally tonight, we have resolution number 26-0511. This is a resolution amending the fiscal year 26 budget emergency management Knox [clears throat] Box systems. This comes to you as a recommendation from the committee, and I move for its approval. Motion to approve by Commissioner Aiden, seconded by Commissioner Jones. Our EMA director, Evan Claborn, is here with us if you have any questions about uh this. Question or discussion? Call for the question.

Question's been called. Madam Clerk, if you'll switch the voting screen, please. Go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. Madam Clerk, if you'll announce the vote. 13 yes, two absent, and the resolution passes. Chairman, I think we've got a visitor with us. We do, Mr. Chairman. Our our canine is here to meet the county commission tonight. Well, it must have been a hiding over there. Mabel. Explain to them what what Yeah, bring her up here to the podium.

[laughter] I didn't even see her back there. Yeah. Yeah, I didn't even see her back there, either. She's been back there this whole I just thought the sheriff normally had a dog. Hi, Dr. [laughter]

She doesn't bark much here. Huh? She doesn't bark much, does she? No, she's the greatest dog you've ever met. Mabel. So, explain to them exactly what she's looking Okay. So, uh canine Mabel was she was donated through Defenders for Children. Uh they're big into uh protecting our kids from child exploitation, human trafficking. These dogs are trained to detect storage devices, which people who uh have CP and things to extort children, they like to hide on these tiny little microchips and you know, we miss a lot whenever we go into a search warrant cuz those items [snorts] are really tiny. Um and Mabel will go in after a search, basically clear the residence to make sure that we didn't miss anything. Um they have I've I've used her and located teeny tiny little microchips like in the ceiling. Um she's she's really good. She has been trained to alert and

[clears throat] uh I should have said this part too. This is investigator Megan Harker Rhodes. [laughter]

She works in our special victims unit and uh child sex crimes is something that's on the rise and something we're commanded to do everything we can do to investigate. She's one more uh really valuable uh asset. I got fussed at for calling her a tool. She's an asset. [laughter] I'm not talking about Megan. Megan's an asset, too, but Mabel. She's very laid-back and she can It's amazing uh just to tell you a real quick story. She was training in one of these courtrooms the other day and uh the dog kept alerting. Mabel kept going back to this one spot and she knew she didn't put a hide there. Well, she went back to it and there was a credit card that somebody had lost in one of the seats. Fell out of their pocket. She was able to alert on the microchip inside of the uh credit card. She wants her duck. I'm just here to carry the duck. [laughter] Yeah, she's a She actually Yeah. She seconds as a therapy animal as well for like children. Like if we go out on these search warrants, they are kind of traumatizing. These kids a lot of times don't understand why we're in their home. We don't They don't understand that they're victims at that point. And it's it's scary. Um this dog is there to soothe those kids and that family and you know, animals have that effect on people and be very calming in a really stressful situation. Okay. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Megan, uh she's she has to work to eat. Yes, so

So, she has to train her three or four times a day, I guess. Yeah, so And then Explain. Oh, sorry about that. Yeah, she's

It's an interesting 100% hand-fed. Um anything that goes in her mouth is because she's finding an electronic device. Uh so, she's very hands-on. I work with her multiple times a day hand-feeding her for electronics. I make it fun. So, uh if I have like a cell phone or something on me, it's kind of funny because I have like USBs that I keep with me. I'll just toss it out somewhere or hide it somewhere and if we're out and about, then I'll send her on a search and she'll locate it. Or if I know that there's items there, it's just used as a training opportunity. Um so, she's a very hands-on dog. She's with me all the time for the most part. She's uh Velcro dog. [laughter]

But, she's she's a great benefit. on getting the rest of the employees to WORK LIKE THAT. [laughter] YOU DON'T PRODUCE, YOU DON'T EAT. SO, [laughter] SHE HAS TO CARRY HER BAG WITH HER ALL THE TIME.

YEAH. I constantly smell like kibble, so um I apologize. How old is she? She's three. Okay. Is she smelling of the microchip? Is that what it is, Megan? So, there is a heat protectant uh chemical called TPPO. I can You can Google it. It is a very long word that I'm not even going to attempt to to say, but it's in almost every electronic device that they produce. It's from my knowledge, it is a heat protectant that they spray on uh these devices. And there are that's the key component in it. And she's imprinted on that odor and from there trained with actual devices from where I was able to go up and get her from, which is uh

in Indiana, so. That's really awesome. That's That's something else. Wow. Huge commitment on your part Yeah. Yes. Yes. I enjoy I enjoy it. I really do. Sheriff, keep those kibbles coming. That's all I can tell you. We We appreciate your hard work. They don't drive to me. Yeah. [laughter]

Keep them coming. No, they don't drive. She's the sweetest dog you've ever I don't think I've ever seen her excited. She gets excited whatever, but for the most part whenever she Whenever she's working, she understands like There's time to be a dog, and then there's there's time to be at work. It's amazing. I never heard or seen her. I I mean, I had no idea she was even in this room. It's amazing. She's very well-behaved. I would say. Yes. Yes. She's a good [laughter] Yeah. All right. I found her over there with the Susan. Give me a I'm I'm out there. Sure. You might want to pet Megan. Uh

[laughter] Mayor Grandy, of course. You know, one of the things I learned as a deputy it was never to follow the dog because it it was over. So, you know, I'm just saying uh Or that the paws She's the sweetest dog. Wow. Good. Okay. [laughter] Megan, we have plenty of devices at 911. She can come and sit in the Oh, I'm sure she would have a field day. She would She would love it. She would love it. Yeah, [laughter] she would. She would. Thank you. Megan, Susan's Do you have a problem with Hey, show your badge. No.

Thank you, Sheriff. We appreciate you having them here tonight. Well, Commissioner Davenport, it looks like you're going to have to follow the dog. Yeah. [laughter] Tell me never to do that, so I'm just saying, you know. Mr. Chairman, I was thinking the exact same thing that public safety finished with an adorable canine unit. Good luck. There you go. Actually, you skipped over the canine unit. [laughter]

I saw it out of the corner of my eye. The eyes aren't that bad just yet. The glasses aren't that I got you. I got you. All right. So, uh public works, we have uh you'll find our our minutes on uh uh page 104 of our May 6th meeting. Um we have four resolutions coming for you tonight, all of them in the form of a motion. Um the first one is uh resolution 260512, resolution adopting uh the revision to the Washington County road list. All right, we have a motion by Commissioner Davenport. We have a second? Seconded by Commissioner Wexler. Question or discussion? Call the question.

Question's been called. Madam Clerk, if you'll switch to voting screen, please. Go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. Madam Clerk, if you'll announce the vote. 13 yes, two absent, and the resolution passes. Commissioner Davenport. Our next resolution is resolution 260513, uh resolution authorizing the disposition of solid waste department surplus property on GovDeals. Motion to approve by Commissioner Davenport, seconded by Commissioner Wexler. Question or discussion? Call the question. Question's been called. Madam Clerk, if you'll to the voting screen, go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. Madam Madam Clerk, if you'll announce the vote. 13 yes, two absent, and the resolution passes. Next resolution is resolution 260514, resolution authorizing the disposition of Highway Department surplus property on GovDeals. Motion made by Commissioner Davenport, seconded by Commissioner Wexler, to approve the resolution. Question or discussion? Call the question. Question's been called. Madam Clerk, if you'll switch to the voting screen, go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. And Madam Clerk, if you'll announce it. Our final resolution tonight is resolution 260515, resolution approving and authorizing a property lease agreement between Washington County and Eugene Honeycutt for the use the use by Washington County Solid Waste. Motion by Commissioner Davenport to approve the resolution. Seconded by Commissioner Fitzgerald. Question or discussion? Call the question. Question's been called. Madam Clerk, if you'll switch to

the voting screen, please. Go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. Madam Clerk, if you'll announce the vote. 13 yes, two absent, and the resolution passes. Anything else, Commissioner Davenport? That's all I have. All right. Move on to the Purchasing Commission report. Commissioner Have fun. Yes, you'll see our minutes on page 120. And I'll answer any questions there. If not, I'll bring forward resolution number 260516, resolution approving Washington County's participation in the Qualis Group uh purchasing cooperative. This comes to you in the form of a motion and we ask for your approval, please, sir. Motion by Commissioner Huffine to approve the resolution. Seconded by Commissioner Jones. Question or discussion? I'll take the question.

Question's been called. Madam Clerk, will you switch to the voting screen? Go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. Madam Clerk, will you announce the vote? 13 yes, two absent, and the resolution passes. Anything else, Commissioner Huffine? That's all we have this evening, sir. Thank you very much. You'll find your safety committee report. Mr. Haney is a our public our solid waste director is also our a safety committee director. Uh he served two different roles. Thank you, Mr. Haney, for doing that for us. Uh you'll find that report on page one 23 for your review in the packet. Moving on, [clears throat] you'll also find the Washington County Library Board of Trustees report in your packet, and that'll be on page uh 126 and for your minutes to review. Uh the water task force uh you'll find that in your packet. Uh Commissioner Davenport Yeah, you'll find the minutes on uh page 128. Any questions? Seeing no questions, we'll move right on to the budget committee report, Commissioner Carter. You want me? I'll take it.

Oh, Commissioner Tucker. Yeah, you'll find our minutes on page 129, and we've got one resolution coming, and it's uh let me find it right here for you. I'm sorry, Commissioner Tucker. I I I can't keep up with you guy you guys on the budget committee.

It's resolution 260517, resolution approval of revision uh fiscal year 26 in the 5-year plan amending 26 budget and approving authorized capital funds for the Washington County Sheriff's Department server replacement. This comes you as a recommendation from the meeting. I move for its approval. Motion by Commissioner Tucker, second by Commissioner Fitzgerald. Question or discussion? Call the question. Question's been called. Commissioner Wexler, Madam Clerk. You announce the vote. 13 yes, two absent, and the resolution passes. We have no old business to report to you this evening. Commissioner Tucker, do you have anything else?

No, that's all we had.

All right. I think Mr. Wheeler had a question. He had his hand up. Oh, I'm sorry, Commissioner Wheeler. I I didn't see your hand up. And this question is more for maybe the mayor. Do we know at what point so I see sales tax is still increasing, but slowed down. Do we Do we know what point it would go down to before we would have any issues with our maintenance repair for our school system? That may not be something you may be able to answer. It won't have to be an exact number. But sales Um And our our So, um Anyway,