Commission - Regular Meeting

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board commission's now session pursuant to adjournment. The honorable chairman Greg Masley presiding come to order and remain standing. Thank you, Sheriff. This is for real this time. I appreciate everybody and you're just hard. I know it's hard to get here some nights and we we sure do appreciate you being here. Our first order of business this evening is our prayer led by Commissioner Carter and then uh immediately following will be our pledge led by Commissioner M. Gerald. Commissioner Carter. So if y'all been to a lot of commission meetings, you know that I say a lot of the prayers, right? Like more than more than more times than not. I just wonder can y'all hear me? It's fine. No one pray for the same thing no matter what we have this sound issue and then it went through my head. Do you all even hear what I say? So here they're not the you'll bow your head. We'll open our meeting of prayer. Heavenly Father, we just give you thanks for today. We've got so many people that taking time out of their schedule to be here. Lord, just help this meeting go well. We certainly all notice the heat today and we give you thanks for it and the joy that it gives us to have for true seasons in East Tennessee. We're so blessed for that. So blessed and we thank you for that, Lord. And over the past weekend, we sent some of our men in uniform to uh help protect the world. And we certainly thank you for those. Lord, you know my heart son's

coming home tonight from Alaska. Please get him back to safe. Father, we have so much on the agenda tonight and so many important things that that we're responsible for and we ask your guidance and and those decisions that that we made and may we make it to honor and to help the citizens of Washington County. One of the big decisions Lord is pointing Joe. It's one of the most important things I think that we might be tasked with. And whoever it is, Lord, I ask that you just bless them and help them through that job. It's a very stressful job, but all these things we ask in your son's name. And we love Amen. Amen. Amen. 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. All right, madam cl get our ball screen cleaned up. 13. Yeah. The 13 14 present two ab

two absent would be 16 for 14 present one absent. All right. Next item is approval of our agenda. Any questions discussion? Do we have a motion to approve the agenda? Motion made by Commissioner Carter, seconded by Commissioner Jones to approve the agenda. All in favor of motion signify by saying I. I. All approved. We'll go ahead and move into our public comment section of our program. Each individual will be given three minutes to address the board regarding agenda items. Comment shall be limited to items on the agenda this meeting agenda. We have one uh person signed up tonight. Uh Silvin Brunie, if you'll come to the podium, please. Silvin, if you'll give your name and address to the clerk. Good evening. Sing 166 Garland Way Johnson. Silvin, let me make sure your uh microphone's working before we get started. That little one right there. Let me call that again. Is there is the lot on the bottom of it? All right, I'll try to project. Um, dear commissioners, there's work. So, not projecting too much. There we go. Dear commissioners, um, thank you for the opportunity to ask a question that pertains to both the monthly update memorandum from the director of schools, which is item 11D1, and the minutes and related resolutions from the budget committee, item um, 11x1. in his report dated June 11th, uh, Superintendent Boyd relates that the current funding gap for the Washington County schools um is uh at a level that needs to be addressed. The report states that the school board

approved on June 3rd, adding about $2 million from its reserves to close that $6 million funding gap. He notes that a request was sent to the budget committee to close about 50% of the $6 million gap on May 27th, but the minutes of the subsequent June 11th budget committee meeting do not mention such a request. Um, a recent article by Mr. Hook in JC Press uh related the critical concerns from educators if this gap is not closed. Uh so since the commission approved the budget at a previous meeting without uh additional funding at this time, my question to you on the leadership, the commission, the school board is simple. How will Washington County honor its commitment to education and state educational mandates and close the funding gap to ensure both that our local schools remain at the top and that our children get the best possible education? Thank you very much. Thank you, S. All right, that'll conclude our public comment period for this evening and we will move directly on into our public hearings for resoning. Uh we have one reasonzoning tonight. It's a resolution on the tax map in the fifth civil district presently owned by Robert East. Is there one anyone here to speak in favor of that zoning request to see? Seeing none, is there anyone here to speak in opposition to seeing none, we'll close the public hearing, move back into regular session. We'll have our planning and zoning director Charles come forward and uh answer any questions you may have on the resign. Thank you. um resoning is from A1 which is our general agriculture to B3 which

is general business. It does fall within Jonesboro's planning boundary. So their planning commission sends this to you with a unanimous recommendation of approval and staff not received any kind of composition request. Be happy to answer any questions. Any questions for Miss Charles? Thank you. Right. So we do have resolution 25604 is a resolution res re reszoning the tax map in the fifth civil district presently owned by Robert C. East that's on page seven. Do I have a motion? Motion to approve by Commissioner England second by Commissioner Carter. Question or discussion? All questions. Question's been called. Madam clerk, if you'll switch the voting screen, please go ahead and cast your vote and lock it in. Mad cler will announce the vote. 14 yes absent. The resolution passes. That'll conclude our zoning report. We do have minutes from the zoning appeals on page 10 review. And we do also have minutes uh to be approved by the board of county commissioners for the May 15 and 19th meeting on page 11 and 12. Do we have a motion to approve? Motion by Commissioner Wexler, seconded by Commissioner Kita to accept those minutes for those meeting dates. Uh is there any corrections? See no corrections. All in favor of the motion to approve signify by saying I. I. All votes and the minutes are accepted for those two meetings. We'll go ahead and move into our election appointments and confirmations.

Um we we will be taking uh nominations uh for the resolutions naming the Washington County uh for the sessions court judge. First thing we do, we'll take nominations or recommendations from the public. If anyone from the public would like to make a recommendation to the commission, um, I'll go ahead and open open that up. Uh, if you're from the public and would like a to make a recommendation to the commission for someone to be nominated. Seeing none, I'll go ahead and open the floor for nominations from the county commission. Commissioner Wheeler. Mr. Chairman, it's a pleasure to I'm trying to get your mic on right now. Is it flashing? There we go. Mr. Mr. Chairman, it's a pleasure this evening um to nominate one of my colleagues in the bar, William Long Jr. for this position. Uh Will received his undergraduate degree from King University in Bristol and his law degree from the University of Memphis. Um he's currently the longest tenure attorney in the first district attorney's office assigned the general sessions criminal matter. Um he's worked in both the criminal court, criminal justice board and the juvenile court. He's qualified and ready to serve and I would nominate William Jr. All right. William Monk Jr.'s name has been placed in nomination. Do we have any further commission?

Is this off? All right. Is your light flashing on on the bottom? Okay. For a second. Is it Is it pressed down now? Dustin, um, it's my distinct pleasure to recommend someone who has done uh, uh, so much for Johnson City, Washington County, and the region. I'd like to nominate Steve Darden. All right. Steve Gardens's name has been placed in nomination as well. Do we have any further nominations? Commissioner Carter. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to nominate Steve for consideration. All right. Nick Palmer's name has been offered for nomination. Commissioner England. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I would like to nominate Stephanie Sherwood for this judge. All right. Stephanie Sherwood's name has been offered nomination as well. Any further nominations?

Seeing no further nominations, um we will go ahead and close our nominations and uh hear from our each of our candidates um this evening. Um, madam clerk, if you'll place those in the alphabetical order and uh we'll go ahead and call your name. The first one that the clerk has, Steve. Steve Darden, if you'll come forward to the podium. Steve, we're going to give everybody three minutes to uh speak. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen of mission, honored guest, Mayor Grandandy, and members of the public. Good evening. I appreciate very much the nomination, and I seek your appointment to this important judgeship. You have difficult choice ahead of you this evening with several qualified candidates and I'm sure you will uh you will select the best person to fill this seat until 2026 elections that happen not that far in the future. I've always sought to be a difference maker in things I've taken on at my law firm Hunter Smith and Davis which is 109year-old institution and on behalf of its clients I've practiced law there for almost 40 years as its managing partner for the past nine years I've worn the managing partner hand attorney hat so I'm not any stranger to uh hard work long hours. I've also been an active participant in community affairs, including the

commission and mayor of Johnson City. I'm particularly proud of the economic development activities that I've been in act that I've been active in, having been a founder of the Washington County Economic Development Council in its first iteration. And I believe the incarceration to workforce movement is uh an important one and something I'll take an interest in. Graying my hair therefore is not just uh to mark the passage of time. I am experienced in law and I'm experienced in life and I'm experienced in our community having lived here my entire life. If you appoint me, you'll get someone who has been around and had respect for people for all walks of life. from my family to my neighborhood through my beginnings as a 10-year-old dishwasher at my dad's restaurant, which was across the street from the Ash Street Courthouse on Walnut Street in Johnson City, which held not only the clerk's offices, but the register of deeds and other county offices, too, as well as various boards. This judgeship is extremely important. It's extremely busy. It dispenses a lot if not most of the justice in our county. It will likely be the only exposure that people who are before it ever have to the legal assist to the legal system. So, I pledge to you that whether it's a juvenile matter, a civil dispute uh such as a landlord tenant issue or uh a dispute between neighbors, whether it's a debt collection or a criminal matter, I will apply my best effort and exercise the type of judgment that fits the situation,

striving always to be fair and reasonable and consistent. Thank you very much for your time and I would very much appreciate your vote. Thank you. Thank you, S. Take your next podium. Chairman, commissioners, um I agree with Mr. Dart. This is a very important position for our community and it's an honor to be nominated um as a consideration for this position. Uh I want to let you know that if appointed that I will work hard every single day to serve our community, the members of our community, and to uphold the highest levels of judicial efficacy. I've worked in state uh service for 13 years split between the Department of Children's Services and my time working as a prosecutor here in Washington County. And during that time, I've consistently tried cases 5 days a week in session sport. I'm familiar with all of the subject matter that's going to be coming across this judge's desk. I'm competent in all areas of the law that a sessions judge is going to be asked to reside over. My time serving as an attorney for the Department of Children's Services has provided me with great insight into the juvenile court. I feel that is one of the most important functions that this next session's court judge is going to have to face is presiding over the juvenile court matters. This is an area that is near and dear to me and I believe that I am familiar with our DCS

families. I understand the needs of those families. I understand the needs of children who are in foster care. And I believe that this next judge should understand those needs and be in a position to service those families. I understand the services that are offered to them. And I believe that that will affect my judgment. It will provide me with an opportunity to make wellrounded opinions and hopefully service what will be the best interest of the children and the members of the families that that we're servicing. Um I've worked as a prosecutor here in Washington County for the last 30 years. And in my time working as a prosecutor, I have been asked to make decisions on what is in the best interest of our uh public safety. And I have had to make considerations for what is in the best interest of not only the the safety of the public, but if the uh what's what's considered to be fair and just. And I believe that I'm in a position to do so. Um I understand what it means to make decisions in a judicial setting that protect the welfare of our citizens while attaining an outcome that is both fair and just. I understand the function of setting bonds and the function of setting a bond in this board is to protect the community and it's also to ensure that people are going to show up at board but I also am cognizant of the fact that uh we are living in one of the fastest growing areas of our community of the of the country and with that more we're going to have more justice involved individuals and I believe one of the biggest concerns of the sheriff is going to be how are we going to adjust to the number of people that are going to be incarcerated. I'm open-minded in working with the sheriff to figuring out ways alternatives to incarceration for people that are awaiting trial to make sure that we're not going to have overcrowding issues. Um, one of the things that I believe that I bring to the table more than anything

else is my ability to work with people and I have developed relationships in this judicial setting that I believe uh go beyond just my request to be the next judge. Nick, I appreciate you. You reached good time. Thank you very, very much. William, William, good evening, chairman, commissioners. First of all, I'm going to take a little bit of my time away to I probably should have signed up for the public comments earlier. I'm going to ask you all to sincerely consider the benefit of Miss Brenda DS and her staff in the clerk's office. I highly recommend supporting the clerk's office and make sure that they get the support that they need. And if you all feel so fitting, I think they deserve every bit of compensation they get and then some because they are the backbone of the judicial system and everybody needs to understand that. I'm willing to give up my time to address that, but I'll move forward on my own behalf. Now, I was uh fortunate to have an education that included a little bit of business. And one thing I learned in business school was the KISS principle. Keep it simple, stupid. And so that's what I intend to do today. I've got four uh key points. Um first of all is um Mr. Pharma addressed it some. As a prosecutor, a prosecutor's job is somewhat similar to a judge anyway. Our job is to pursue justice. It is not to go out and just take advantage of and nail down the guilty as much as we can for the um hardest sanction that we can get on them. It is to do justice. And so, as a judge, the judge is called upon to do justice as well. I've had the opportunity over my 21 years as a prosecutor to serve in every realm and aspect of the district attorney's

office. There is no other imaginable form of way to participate in the juvenile I'm sorry in the judicial system that that I have not done. I've been involved with child support enforcement. That was my early career. My first seven years of my career here in this jurisdiction. I was involved in juvenile delinquency proceedings. I've been involved in of course majority of my time as Commissioner Wheeler indicated has been in general sessions court. I've been at that for 21 years now. um primarily focusing I'm sorry uh 14 years now focusing primarily on general sessions cases um but I've also done jury trials in criminal courts so I've I've gone across the gamut I've addressed every nature of proceedings they are and I agree with Mr. probably the most important role as this judge or for this judge would be in the juvenile court. Juveninal court is going to be what's shaping our future. A lot of times we end up dealing with um people that have been misfortunate and not had a chance at rehab and juvenile court's focus is for rehab. Second, I've been a petitioner in juvenile court myself. I have petitioned juvenile court to ask for custody of my own nieces. Well, my wife's nieces by blood, but uh we petitioned juvenile court. So, I've been a party, a participant. So, I know what it is to stand here and address a judge as a participant in a proceeding. Uh we were fortunate Judge Keener blessed us with the custody of those two nieces back around 2001. Thirdly, I've been a witness in the system. I have been a witness before Chancellor Johnson. Some of you all may have served on the commission with Chancellor Johnson. You know how stern of a man Chancellor Johnson was. um I was called upon as a expert witness in a proceeding in order to address the federal child support laws back during my days during child support. So I understand the avenues and need for um to compassion for witnesses but participants and finally I'm going to say I've been

blessed and fortunate to have the good sound tillage and guidance of some very fine judges not just general sessions judges but juvenile judges to include up in Johnson City uh Judge Green as well as all the judges I've served under here over my last 21 years as a prosecutor. and I would greatly appreciate your all's vote this evening as judge for the general sessions board. Thank you. Thank you. Come forward to the podium. Thank you chairman, commissioners, Mr. Mayor Stones, and thank you for the nomination. Hands free. I don't have notes. I think I've given this this speech a few times and I'm in very good company tonight with my fellow nominees. Um, I would just like to point out what I believe sets me apart with my experience and qualifications for this, as it's been said, very busy court, a court that does touch so many lives in our community. Um, a court that I've had the privilege of practicing in for 17 years. Um, I've been in private practice and my work has been distributed pretty evenly amongst the civil, juvenile, and criminal session sports. So, when I say I can walk in day one and handle any of those courts, uh, you know, I'm coming from a place of true experience. I've also had the incredible honor and privilege of serving as Johnston City's substitute municipal judge for 16 years. Um, I've been sitting in for Judge Widner for these years, and I have learned so much from that work, uh, from Judge Widner, from the clerks in that court, the officers I work with in the police department. And it's been a huge honor and a learning experience. And I

would say the number one thing I've learned about the job of a judge is that it's more about listening than talking. Uh what we do is we listen and we weigh the credibility of the evidence and testimony put before us and then we hold up that against the law and we follow the law. And in that process where we can make a difference and leave a mark is in how we treat people, how we conduct ourselves and how we represent our community and we represent our county, our state and our constitution. I was born and raised right here in Washington County and I I hope that my experience and qualifications shows that I've been training for this position a long time. Um I built relationships with our incredible court clerks. In fact, I was a court clerk before I went to law school. So I I know firsthand the hard work that those people do. Um, and I I hope I've built great relationships with my colleagues in the defense bar, law enforcement, and the sessions court judges that I work with every day. And it would be an honor and privilege to work with them here. And I would appreciate your vote very much. Thank you. Thank you, Steph. All right, you've heard from all the candidates. Is there any questions from the commissioners before we proceed to the vote? Mr. Jones? Is it on? Is your button pushed down? It's blinking. Okay, let me see. I just want to thank uh the four nominees that put their names in the hat and just say how much I appreciate that you did that for our community and gave us the opportunity to um consider all of you. and I realize how hard it is to put your name in for this kind of an appointment because I did it myself and um thank you for setting up your committee. Yes, I agree, Commissioner Jones. We're

very fortunate to have such fine quality candidates uh in their position and u and uh we're we're very blessed and and uh it's a it's sometimes a tough thing to come down here to. So, I commend all four of them. Few more comments before we uh go ahead to the vote. Uh when the clerk calls your name, if you'll call the vice name of the candidate, do you support? Um and she will record the vote. Anything else from our county attorney that we need to uh before we begin the vote? No, sir. I there's nothing else to add that just for sake of good order. The county did publish the notice um more than the statutory required period of time, but everything else has been addressed today. All right. Thank you very much. Mad clerk, if you'll call the roll and like I said, the candidate of your choosing, if you will uh give the clerk their last name, and she'll record that on the record. Tucker M. Johnson. M. Edens Balmer Davenport England Sherwood Malone Tama Jones Wexford A fine Darden Wheeler Carter. Madam clerk, do we have anyone that has

received the eight required votes? No, we did not. If you'll now announce the number of votes for each candidate. M six, Darden four, FMA three, Sherwood one. All right. According to the rules, the number of the candidate that receives the police vote shall fall off of our next vote. Uh so that would be uh Miss Sherwood. She would fall off that vote. Uh so we'll again proceed to vote again. Any comments for my attorney before we move? on the second vote. Thank you. No, sir. I just wanted to confirm as you're referring to the rules, those are the Washington County Board of County Commission rules of procedure rule 10. All right. All right. Madam clerk, is there any questions before we take our second vote? See no questions. Madam clerk, if you'll call the role and then we'll give you the name of the candidate on the second vote. Tucker Monk. Johnson monk Fitzgerald Edens B Davenport Mly Monk England Malone Tama Darden Jones Wex Garden Wheeler Carter. Madam clerk, is there anyone that that has received the eight required votes? Would you go ahead and name the candidates and their votes,

please? Monk seven, Darden four, FMA three. All right. for would fall off on third upcoming vote receiving three votes and we will be back to to the third vote. Um is there any questions on the third vote? Madam clerk or madam attorney, is there anything that you'd have to add before we take our third vote? No, sir. The second the third ballot would be just as the second. All right. No. Madam clerk, if you'll do the same and call the role again and the commissioners will indicate the candidate they're choosing. Tucker M. Johnson Fitzgerald Edens Monk Davenport Darden Mly Monk England Malone Monk Tama Dart Jones Darden Wexler Darden Huff Darden Wheeler Carter Madam clerk, is any candidate receive the Friday votes? Yes. Receive nine and Darden five. Nine and five. All right. So, uh we will not did receive the required eight votes. Uh actually nine and will mon if you want to come forward to the podium please. Well, thank you for putting yourself out

there for nomination and uh you can see what great candidates we had uh by the number of folks that we took and uh it's very just want to say thank you and congratulations and and all that you have your uh say now. Well, sure. Again, thank you all for your time and thank you for hearing me out. I think I've approached every one of you either by email and or in person or by phone. I thank you for your time and again before I step away from here. I look forward to being the next general sessions judge, but please take care of the clerks whenever Miss Clark's come up for consideration. Thank you all. All right, we'll update you for one of the things on the morning is it will not be tonight. It will be uh when that vacancy does occur in in July. So that is uh we normally do that this evening, but like I said, we're just doing that preemptive vacancy because if we didn't, it would put us into uh into the end of July. Um I do want to take just a minute, thank Commissioner Wheeler for all the work he's done and helping me to organize this and especially through a tough budget time and some other tough and challenging issues this commission's had over the last 30 days. So, uh, thank you, Jim Wheeler. I appreciate you. Um, our next item is resolution 25605. It's a resolution named the Washington County appointee to a tax increment fund advisory board of Johnson City uh, development. We do have a vacancy on this this committee. Um, we had a

commissioner throwing in that in that position. Um so it has come back to you if uh I can open the floor for nomination at this time for a uh for to appoint someone to serve in that role. Mr. Jones explaining that it's not just as a reminder um alum and I are serving on this board. Um and this is the board I brought up in the past that's like subboard of the JCBA. It meets it frequently and its business is this very specific tax incident finance sort of regist. Okay. Am I on now? Your off. It's got a red light flashing, but I know I can't hear myself coming back. Let me see if that is it. Is the light on? The lights on. Yeah, we know we can go up there. We know that. Okay, stand up and say it really loud. Um, this is a an appointment to the tax increment financing uh board. It's a subboard of the JCBA. Currently,

Commissioner Malone and I sit on that board. Uh, it's a board that makes decisions about the redevelopment district, which is a a small part of downtown Walnut Street. And, um, my position on this for the last year or so has been that we should recruit someone from the community to serve on it. Uh to this point we haven't had an application that the commission has been willing to approve. I would still like us to try a little harder to find a community member rather than have three county commissioners serving on that very limited board which should have significant interest for people in our community. So I would suggest that we try again for a community candidate. Uh, I think the CIA committee will have to work hard on making sure the follow through happens with getting it posted, talking to folks. Everyone on this commission should be talking to folks they think would be qualified, pointing them to the application and trying to make a deal of that rather than having three of us on there. A motion to defer. Thank you for that. Do I have a second on deferral? Commissioner seconds to defer. This will be deferred to the CIA agenda for next month. Commissioner White. Yes. Yes, sir. Yes. Maybe some subsequent we got a big meeting. All right. Motion to defer. All in favor of that motion signify by saying I. I. All oppose. All right. That item is all the county mayor. Welcome.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity to speak briefly. I just want to share that we've had a bond sale and that bond sale took place on the 11th of uh June and we closed on those bonds last Wednesday on June 18 and received the funds today. So uh that piece is done. The proceed the bond sale was 72,755,000. we actually had a much better um participation in this bond and hence a more than better expected result. So the true interest cost for these bond was 4.24%. There were 11 biders that expressed an interest and signed up to bid. Five of whom did. And uh with coupon rate of 5% and a uh that yield of $4.24, we wound up with a $3.6 premium, which is pretty extraordinary. Um the the basic basically the reason for that was what Moody's uh expressed to us that uh Washington County is strong financial management responsible use of taxpayers funds and really it was an excellent transition as the star sort of line as you recall the market has been in general flux for about the six weeks prior and it stabilized is uh really just in time for us to um sell these bonds. So uh going forward there are

guard rails on the use of the funds for the bonds but left with options open as we refuse the notes at the three call point and uh or extend part of the funds as needed. So boy a lot of uh a lot of good work there. Uh we thank our bond advisor, we thank our bond council. It's a lot of documents that allow them to do get it done, but they did a great job for us and we will be bidding in our first projects as a result of this next week. So that's um I just want to first um deliver this report to the full commission. It's a report on debt obligation which required to do by the controller I delivered to the chair here in just a minute and I wanted to share with you two things. One there is a general obligation capital outlay notes summary which is over here on the table if anybody needs a little late night reading. It's actually pretty simple but and also um card that is up here if you'd like one. is presented to us by T dot on the reopening of the PO bridge route 81 and then it shows a picture of what it looked like the day after the construction and what it looked like as it was opening. So this anybody has any interest in that. So Taylor, this is the third bridge named for Al Taylor. Hopefully third time's a charm. So we'll find out. Anyway, so that's all I have for you tonight. Um, was there any questions? Any questions for not yet. All right, we'll probably catch you here in a minute.

All right, our next report is county attorney's report. Mr. Hogerson, good evening. I did not bring you a formal report on any particular topic this evening, but if you have any questions um on any individual items, I'm happy to help. Any questions for Miss Wilkerson? All right, seeing none, we'll move right on to the director of the health department. U we have a director, mayor. Yeah. All right. Commissioners, I'm Rebecca English. I'm Northeast Tennessee regional director for the Department of Health and we have appointed a new health department director. This is Katie Mlelen. Uh she has been with our department for a couple of years now. She's been our regional uh public information officer and also our assessment and planning coordinator. uh she has a master's degree in public health and um comes highly recommended and I just want to just introduce her to you guys and if she wants to say anything about herself. Yeah, thank you guys for having me. I'm really honored that I get to serve the Washington County community. Um I'm a resident of Washington County, so being able to serve as Washington County director is really an honor to me. Um the services that we provide at the health department are really vital to so many of the people in our communities. Um so I'm excited to be able to continue to support the mission of the Tennessee Department of Health and increase access to our services to all the residents in Washington County. Um and it's really just an honor to be here tonight. We're sure happy to have you. Don't think we're not. We appreciate you you taking on that role. Miss Butterfield was always a great asset to us. And uh

don't let him tip you away though, you know. I'm just saying. Yeah, Rebecca, you'll be back. You know, I've been being nice to Rebecca. I've not been telling her to come down to our meetings every month, but you know, uh we appreciate you. Thank you, K. All right. our uh director of schools report, director boy is here with us. Good evening. Uh just want to say commissioner card, thank you for your prayers for our men and women serving overseas and said protecting the world. Um just uh if you have my memo from earlier this month and if there's any questions I'll be glad to address those. If not, there will not be a a written report in July. The next one will be in August. So, I wish each of you happy July 4th holiday certainly with what's happening in the world. We should we should savor it even more. But thank you all for your service. Thank you board. We appreciate all you do. All right, our next is our administrative elections. Miss Hayes, are you here? Miss Hayes, see Miss Hayes here this evening. We'll just move right on into the uh commercial, industrial, and agricultural committee report. Commissioner Rex, I don't know if my microphone's going to work, so I'm just gonna have to talk loud. Well, how about uh [Music] Commissioner Hines does for some reason and I think he still

I'll just I'll just talk like so we we've met on June 5th in the packet is a copy of the minutes. Be glad to answer any questions that you have. But also in the packet is resolution 25606, a resolution approving and authorizing $50,000 in funding to support updated marketing plan designed to promote Washington County tourism and amending fiscal year budget 2025 2026. I bring this to you in the form of a motion and ask for your approval. Motion made to approve the resolution by Commissioner Wexler or seconded by Commissioner England. Question or discussion? All the question. Questions been called. Madame Parker, if you'll switch us to the vote screen, please go ahead and cast your vote. Lock it in. Madam clerk, if you announce the vote 13 yes, one, one absent, and the resolution passes. All right. Anything else, Commissioner Wson? No, sir. Thank you very much. All right. Nothing to report there. Our county on property committee commissioner. I'm sure this won't work either. Let's see if we can get your commissioner committee. Is it flashing now? You're not on the bottom. make a motion for communication system. Well, it's funny that you asked. I got your light on now. It's on there. See? See? You got to get down there pretty close to it and talk on now. All right. Yeah. Yeah. You're sound smarter with not Well, you threaten you threatened with replacements. So, the county property minutes packet

on page 51. We have one item uh to consider. Resolution number 25-06-08 resolution approving and authorizing property lease agreement between Washington County and Wolf Development and Tennessee General Partnership for replacement of a commercial dumpster. What uh they are proposing to do is take an unused portion of the parking area behind the house, add a uh dumpster u with an enclosure, a uh nice enclosure uh and add two additional parking space. This will be primarily for the new restaurant, the Jackson Prime, which is leasing the building from development. Uh this will keep a tremendous amount of garbage uh off of the front street in red containers and keep it in the back. Um Miss Wilkinson has reviewed the lease. He's comfortable with it with its terms that comes to you as a motion. Motion made to approve resolution by commissioner second by Commissioner Tucker. Question or discussion? All the questions. Questions been gone. Madam clerk, if you'll switch the voting screen, go ahead and cast your vote. Lock it in. M clerk, please announce the vote. 14 yes, one absent. The resolution passes. That's all we have. Right. Thank you, Commissioner Cleveland. Employee comp and benefits committee. Commissioner Wexler. Well, I don't think my my microphone Well, we got one. We'll just pass it around. You got to turn it off. Which one do you have? I have 10.

Whose view do you have? Testing. Okay. All right. So um uh I'm bringing for you uh resolution 25608 resolution approving an author that's the wrong one. That's 25609. [Music] Resolution 2569, a resolution approving and authorizing one digital as insurance broker consultant for Washington County, Tennessee. I bring it to you in the form of a motion and ask for your approval. Motion made to approve the resolution by Commissioner Wexler, second by Commissioner Jones. Question or discussion? Call for the question. Question's been called. Madam clerk, please vote in screen. Please cast your vote. Lock in. Madam clerk, will you announce the vote? 14. Yes. One absent. Your resolution passes. All right. Thank you, Commissioner Wexler. Yes, sir. Yeah, we have representatives here from one digital if anyone would like to speak with him. We went through an extensive RFP process for them and an extensive interview of several different Is that new equipment or is it this equipment? No, it's it is not. If it's this equipment, we'd like to speak to you out back. Yeah, one of the good things is while you got me off on this subject anyway, we do have replacements for for the communications equipment here and thanks to you all for that, especially the rules committee and and we uh we did

get that done and uh and one of the great things about that is is u is our is our judges as well and our clerk benefit out of that equipment as well. So, it's just not for for this courtroom, but it's for also the daily business every day uh here as well. So, it's a it's it's going to be a great thing. Um and uh and we're really anticipating getting that in purchase orders done. We're just we're just waiting on the installation. The mayor has really helped me a lot on that. Thank you, mayor. I appreciate you all you being on that team. All right. The public safety committee report. Commission. Thank you, Chairman. Um, sure mine's on either. Is the red light flashing on the bottom of my It's more of an orange color, but it is flashing. There you go. Then again, I've never needed help being loud. So uh first we have um you can receive our minutes and attachments of the June 5th 2025 meeting on page 120. Uh we have four resolutions for your consideration. Um first is resolution number 25610 and that is resolution approving and authorizing the funding to the town of Jonesboro for services of the county fire zone. Uh this comes to you in the form of a recommendation from the public safety committee. Um however on this one there may need to be a little discussion or clarification for motion to have second by Mr.

Um, Mr. Mayor, if you would, um, or member from budget, um, with this resolution, um, can you speak to exactly what funding has been approved for that? Yes, sir. Mr. be happy to the so you can look on the resolution and see there's $535,000 to uh to help fund the FAR to expand their district beyond the town limits. There's another 640,000 on there for staff to support a couple of other stations and some money for that. You may recall that last Wednesday in the budget that was approved for the county's FY26 year, the $535,000 was included. So that portion of it has been approved. Uh the other $800,000 has hasn't wound it budget yet, so it hadn't been considered. Um, and I think that there was a recommendation, maybe just a suggestion that came out of public safety that task force for working group be put together to to establish the fire the new fire zone to be a result of some of this work. So T go is committed to continuing to do the fire service protection that they have in the past until some of this can be worked out. But there are other stations involved that need to fill in the gaps in particular. question. Remember that there'll be fire vehicle in the comfort

invest which is a live vehicle and then in for the Emeryville side there's a new fire building to house fire equipment behind rescue station 80. So, none of those are quite ready to go yet. So, that's maybe a little general, but $800,000 not considered as fun wasn't any benefit. So, tonight we would be voting on $1 figure. Exactly. Any dollar figure you want to. You guys are a funding organization, but it comes with no recommendation from budget. The 535 has already been approved and the other 800,000 that's not commission. So really what this resolution does put this in place then we come back to the funding whatever the amount is out of the of the 643 for everyone that will come back to the commission. This just gets us started to let that group do its work. Is that your way of doing this? Definitely sets the stage for some sort of a plan. We know that there has to be something different with regard to Jonesboro fire system. ISO folks have come in and said, "Hey, the way you're operating, you cannot continue to operate out of there." So if you want James to participate in fire service outside of their town limits, then this funding was to initiate a plan to do

that. But there's still gaps from what they're proposing. And I would just say that it's a plan in work. It's not really at the finish to touches. So there's no map of this. We're not we're not pulling back at this stage, but we're getting them where they can get people in place to be able to continue the governance they're trying to do now. Stop that. Really hurt. people. But my understanding is so my understanding is was the money's already been appropriated and designated to Jones, but this gets them in a position where they can go and get people hired, continue doing the coverage they're doing out hopefully. That's why. So it is it is committed that this is the direction we intend to go but we're not funding it until it comes by active through budget and maybe public safety can speak to that better because they heard a lot more information at that meeting with regard to the plan and the future plan. So, but you're right about as far as getting the town prepared to serve continue to serve outside of the town limits as a member of public safety. Put my comments on it. This we were looking at this versus 9 million to, you know, staff all our volunteer fire departments with full-time people county fire chief. So, this was the much lesser of the two plans. This is what public safety is recommending that we go with. So we're we are suggesting that commission go ahead and say we won't head this direction. We are not committing funds on the on the volunteer side of it just yet. But as far as public safely

are we asked at our meeting for go ahead and come on through even as part of the budget but it was the week before the budget was going through. So we understand why that didn't happen, could happen, but um but we would we clearly what public safety was asking because we did ask for that was that this move on quick and commissioner that's the way I understood it as well. Yes. I just wanted to the way I understood when come through budget and I've got two other three other budget commission. It was something we put a placeholder there. did not come out of uh budget as support until safety made a recommendation of how to spend that money. So, I just wanted to clarify what our conversation was in budget and that's the reason it was more of a placeholder in uh in in our next year's budget. And then we were waiting on safety to come up with a plan of of how to get all the areas Commissioner Carter. This has gotten really confusing as to like what who's going to cover what and then we've got a few volunteer fire departments and then we've got Jonesberry too. And one of the issues early on, you might be able to answer this, but we we were worried that even if we did this, there was going to be like a two mile section or something that wasn't going to be covered. My my question would be if if we if we're putting this much money behind it, I would hope that everything's going to be covered.

I think that's sort of a plan for the working group to get those details worked out and bring back something that is not and maybe everyone understands. So, I remember us coming through budget with Jonesboro coming up with their staff to ask for this $535,000 and we didn't prove it the first program because we brought below the budget that they come back and after the tough time with the budget we was having. We agreed to the 535, but I've never seen these other numbers, correct me if I'm wrong, but this other where it goes to 1.3 million. I don't know where that number I mean I don't remember approving that budget. I remember the 535 We set that aside. So I don't know where the other 640 and the 80 and the 80 come from. It's not in the budget. Do you have a good memory? It's not in the budget yet. Yeah, it's not in the budget, Mr. Jones. Is this working? It's not working. Is it? Well, it looks like it's working. Put that teacher. You got to really get close to it. I don't think I can't answer your question, Commissioner Tucker, about where those funds will come from, but to Commissioner Davenport's point, you put that 535 as a placeholder, send it back to public safety. We heard uh Jonesboro with uh Mr. James as a team present comprehensive plan, which was the best plan we'd heard. I know this has been in the works for over a year. I've only been on the committee since October, but it's great and it does shrink up Jonesboro's um zone a little bit to where then the county needs to fund the other side, the extra money that's not in in the budget yet uh to make it really work. Um but I really uh applaud Jonesboro for getting this rolling. It

feels like there's a sense of urgency for Jonesboro at least to get it started. And I appreciate the mayor's approach as long as we all know that the other part of this plan is is waiting for us on the other side. And it was just a timing thing when it came and how it made its way just in the minute that we were working on the budget. So thank you, Commissioner Jones. You're right. We do have Tim James. He's the chief's blindstone there and he would be a big part of this plan of working out through and chief and him has been a real leader in helping develop this plan. So he is here if you would like to ask him any questions as well. S I just I just want it ain't that I'm against it. I'm just saying the money is the issue. I mean we worked on budget for I don't know how many months trying to get a budget approved and then this gets vote out here. I'm just saying I'm not against it. I'm just I don't understand how we can all of a sudden come up with 700 something dollars when we couldn't probably get budget. That's my only point. I don't think the budget committee has had that opportunity yet to consider $700,000 and um and I don't know if what the plan is to uh uh for that consideration. Um but I do know that with Jonesboro reducing its fire district and the county and the other county districts not expanding theirs uh there will be a significant hole in their fire coverage. So I think we need to address that beforehand. Commissioner H. Yeah confusing but I mean just try to simplify this. The 535 is in the budget. We know that and we just approve that portion of it and then when the rest of the program is worked out with funding bring it back into totality so that we can make a really good decision at that point in time. That might be the

simplest thing for us to do tonight. got one other so the EMS two staff members we also addressed some staff members for EMS as well in the budget is that this or was so that that does make it a little more confusing because that 64 that that's $640,000 Not that $640, but the exact same number is already in the budget for EMS to add additional support at at limestone and station. So now they're asking for that to be duplicated into more stations. Uh, one of which just has a power program that's halfway through [Music] and there's some So, so the 640,000 in the budget, not that it's not this 640. That's right. Okay. Let's say for EMS and it says for staff, but that's the staff that we approved last in January. It just yes it but last fiscal year uh and those people are already in place. We just got hit with the full year is the reason the increase. Okay. So that's that's so if you look they're two different things completely and that was a big confusion for me. Right. So this 640 that's in there the way I understand it is intended at that same type of

service to Limestone station in Telford and the station Emmyville station at the mall. So that's and that's so that's in addition to the to the initial limestone um addition and another addition that the money that's already in the MS budget you just so this is another pair in order to give in order to allow them to provide service into what would what will be formerly Jonesboro coverage care for and so they're anticipating and in that particular area gets very tall volume so they're anticipating additional extent to you know commissioner it probably needs to be pointed out that this interim that was talked about early on leaves them exposed to a problem with their with their eyes and um if at any point ISO walks in and says we're done. We're not giving you any more time. They will have no choice but to pull back immediately which would leave us in a situation where some of the county would have no fire protection in their eyes. So they would um they won't have any choice. I mean that to do otherwise would be totally dare in their duties and all the way from town. They have they have worked for years like just stay here but respectfully but they have worked for years to keep this and push this off and not do this. So they are anticipating that this gets approved that we're going to get moving forward on this. Again, you're not to say we don't want to approve it because of the fund, but this

does not approve the fund. We have to come back and approve the funds at a later date, but it does commit that we are going to move forward with this program and let this work the group, get these lines drawn. The lines are already drawn, but get this working group to figure out who's going to cover exactly what outside. And that has for the largest part been decided already, too. Um but you know I can tell you that in talking with particularly with Wolf who's kind of taking the lead on this town um they they were disappointed that we weren't moving forward with the funding for volunteers in the budget because they realized that this whole thing hinges on both pieces of the of the both their piece and the volunteer fire departments being able to cover what they're going to pull back the funds if if especially if that were to delay the 535 which includes what their normal annual distribution is. If that delays that at all and keeps them from going ahead and starting to get people hired, we're going to run into the side problem very quickly because we don't have the staff. The staff right now to cover their they're for this full year at least. You know, they've had all of their firefighters on call all of the time. They have never been allowed to not be on call which is terrible for Mor. It's becoming a bigger big problem. People can't use their vacation time because they have to be on call. So the whole idea here is to get this in the posture where we can deal with an inter time finalize the details on this and again the majority government already dealt with but deal with any details the mayor wants to deal with and then get this

back to the commission for approval funding. I don't think there's not been one suggestion of another way to deal with this. It doesn't cost the $9 million. So we and we could put ourselves in a position where where we've gotten too far on and now we have to look at that option and and I think you know Tim James can speak to this. The the volunteer fire departments in the town Jones are in lock step and agreeing on this as as the the least expensive way to deal with this and provide coverage. That's so I would encourage us to to approve this knowing that we are not approving the funding and we go back through budget they can look and see there questions on whether we have it. I think the mayor's committed to finding way to do this to ensure that keep cover that $535,000 is approved in the bush and um taking action on this but that other $800,000 in there might be a little so there's no friction to go forward. based on action. Mayor, I may have a question because I think I am supportive of what Commissioner Huffine suggested, but the the question I wanted to ask, maybe it comes back to Commissioner Willard. Just a general statement first. I I have served on the public safety committee in the past and hopefully the public realized this based on the conversation that's happening, but I recognized in my service of public safety that how the

county helps provide fire protection to the uninccorporated areas of the county is probably in many ways going to be one of the biggest decisions and challenges that the county has over the next 10, 15, 20 years. So this this is a big deal and in some ways this is just a step on the process. This is just a first step on a much larger plan that will have to occur over a lot of time and is going to cost a lot of money. But hopefully we're doing it in a way where we incur the cost a little bit at a time and not all at once. So statement, thank you to public safety for what you're doing. I recognize this is a big challenge. The question I have is, you know, to Commissioner Wheeler's point, if we only approved the 535 tonight and and not the other monies that hasn't gone through budget yet, is there any portion of the county that is going to be left without any fire protection, or is that what you're saying? Jonesboro's agreed to work with us and to cover those areas until we get this plan fully pulled together. Unless, as Commissioner really pointed out earlier, I shows up and says you're out of business unless you need to extend beyond your town limits. So, uh, there would be a sense of urgency for Jonesboro to move forward with these additional paid firefighters so that a transition plan, which I think is sort of what you're alluding to there, could be implemented and the zone that's drawn today may not be the zone we could start, but that it would be uh one that would probably work towards

over time and I think oh he's still there. So Chief White is is is done is an excellent chief and he's done a great job and and he is not wanting to turn his back on people that need fire protection. And I would just say this in Washington County, we are we are blessed with uh the town of Jonesboro, the city of Johnson City who and EMS who all work together and my experience in working with people places in the states program that you have an ambulance service working with anybody and much less policy of fire and and special fire. So and and and really we are relying on Dan Cle's team to make all of this happened particularly through the transition. So he the he the spending time around them these volunteer fire departments they're fiercely independent and so really they they generally need to be brought on board to the countywide program if we're going to be successful in this everybody's got to step up in the district the county as you know funds the volunteer fire department significant And but to commissioner wheel's point earlier, it is much less expensive than having a full pay group. So really from my perspective, there's really no action that needs to be taken on this because the 535,000 is already approved. It's already in the budget. This commission approved it last Wednesday and the town once we get to the 1 of July town for has access to it

as they begin to um and really we need them to get on it because the sooner they get those people in place the sooner um Chief White has the opportunity to take care of people outside. questions been called. We have a motion to second to approve the resolution. Mad switch cast your vote. Walk it in. Mark it. He has four no one absent and resolution passes. All right, the next item is resolution 25611 is a resolution Oh, I'm sorry. Did I get in your way, Commissioner Edens? Chairman, you were doing an excellent job. I was I was the same chairman one time, you know. So, you can be again. I mean, if you need to be we'll swap places here in a minute. No, I'll just keep my seats out there. You go ahead. Excuse part. Sorry. Thank you. Next, we have resolution number 25611. That's a resolution approving and authorizing the creation of the Washington County Office of Judicial Commissioner and the commitment to provide for fund such or and fund such and a judicial commissioner program. Uh this comes to you as a recommendation

from the public safety committee and I move for it approval made by commission. A second by Commissioner Fischer. We do have several members of the court here this evening with us. I think I saw our district attorney here. There he is back there. We have come to several of our judges here as well. Well, three different here this evening. So, if y'all have any questions, can we hear from them? Absolutely. That's to absolutely. Why? Sure. You wouldn't mind weighing in too. I'll answer any questions you may have. I can answer this attorney. We'll call on him. He's he's been worked very hard. I know he has been kind of worked it up for this. This was a vote started I first came in office uh dealing with public safety. Uh it also deals as I told the communities safety committee that it it deals with the law has bypassed where we were cls um essentially um there's law granting bonds which cannot be signed by answer judicial judge can't be signed by also um protection folks can't sign those and therefore as

I on weekends there's no one available to do those and that is statute law and drive Tennessee when law enforcement goes out tell them all these things are available system we have those things aren't available as far and that's that's where I started with And the judge is it's really I'm kind of step out that I have no control. They they would be under control of the judges. So it's not like I'm trying to lock everybody up and everything. I'm just bringing the issue to you and we came up with a solution for that issue as well. Before I say anything, do you have specific questions? If you do, I'm happy to answer any specific questions and am I allowed to follow? No, they sometimes they'll indicate up here if they're going to ask a question. We'll go ahead and get started with Commissioner Wexler. See his hand. Commissioner Yeah. So, after reading all of this, I'm still a little confused, but I kind of gathered it. Is you're going to replace the night clerks with commissioners, right? All right. And because they have a little bit more expertise, maybe authority is a better word for it. Yeah. And and the the difference is $91,000. Well, that's if there's new money. That's if there's new money. I think um based on what happened in the budget meeting, I think our ask would be to implement the program um and uh allow us

to form the office of the judicial commissioners for Washington County and basically to start with what the night clerk's salary and benefits are and that's already in the budget. And I I do want to say, you know, Brenda DS, we work hand in hand every day. Uh I don't talk to anyone more than I talk to Brenda DS. And no one um is here telling you that their their office is doing anything wrong in this regard. They simply don't have the statutory authority from the legislature that allows them to do what a judicial commissioner can do. And so what is in the budget for her five night and weekend deputy clerks um with their salaries and their benefits is what we're asking you to redistribute into our budget. Simple as that. You would just be simply transitioning that position to the new position. Right. Correct. Well, if you mean the same the same funding transition. Yes, sir. So I guess my question is and you all are the experts like you can put this together as we make this transition. What are you going to have in place to monitor this hold yourselves accountable for it to make sure that it has been the right decision and the right transition? Yeah. Yeah. Um first of all, daily supervision. Okay. Um, every day in Washington County, you don't get this in a lot of other counties, we do arrangements and initial appearances. So, say it's my week and we rotate on a weekly basis. Say it's my week to do arraignments. I'll know exactly what the judicial commissioners from the night before did that night because it'll come to me that day and I'll be able to see it. I'll be able to talk to them at the end of our day before they come on shift and we'll be if there's a problem and

sometimes there's problems we can fix it right then they have training we will train them we will supervise them I think the statute says that the um one of the presiding general sessions judges has to supervise them uh yearly although we look at it as a team approach um but one of us would be responsible for for the judicial commissioners each year on a rotating basis. And what we've proposed, I think, is to look at it as a probationary period in the resolution for the period of one year, maybe have a special committee with the public safety committee um to monitor it quarterly or something like that to be able to look at it and say, "Okay, are are anyone's concerns for the program um are what are we seeing? Are we seeing different size bonds? Are we seeing um overcrowding of the average daily population in the detention center? Are we seeing any of these things? Because I've heard some of those concerns and I think there's an answer for all of those concerns, frankly. Um but not to mention what what the judicial commissioners by statute can do that and there's no no statuto authority or a night clerk. They're a clerk that works during the night and on the weekends. Okay. And so what they can do versus what a um clerk can do is significant. And it that's the public safety component that general fitting speaking to. There are things they can do that can really really help the community and citizens especially victims and things like that that um that we're not able to offer at this point in time in Washington County. Um there are 14 I said this to the public safety committee. There are 14 counties in Washington, 14 counties in Tennessee um with 100,000 or more population. Every single one of them other than us has judicial commissioner program. And

um and again I just want to stress nothing that the night clerks are not doing correctly is they can't. Yes, sir. Um, I've been in all the public safety meetings and I I haven't been in favor of this. Last meeting it was my understanding that we are not within the law the way we are currently doing. Is that correct? And can you explain that in your opinion or inside law or my opinion? That's the answers. There's two statutes that we're talking about um 401 and that's with the order and they talk about masters in the same thing and judges they don't work no code don't have sign so there's One of the problems second is uh again by statute 40 713 when I dies police go out this domestic violence they were told resources available which is halfway houses shelters that way and also the right to get connection clerks can't sign those either. But have they been signing them? No. What we've been not what we can do with nights, but I'm kind of it's not going to fix as long as

we're within life. But you're saying we we're not acting within shared that with uh county attorney and some I have some members of the commission to show that and I appreciate but it's something I feel that we I feel that based on the law Mr. I think they answered most of my questions. But again, just to be clear, you guys are saying we can do this with no we can put this in place with no new function. We're just shifting fun. So I'm I want to maintain my credibility with your body. Okay. We don't know the true cost of what it will cost. What I can tell you is right now you have five night clerks that are doing that are filling the hours that we're asking to fill. Okay? And we're asking to appoint four judicial commissioners and a fifth person to help maintain that program and supervise and and administrate that program. And we're asking for the exact same funding that's currently in clerks's budget. Yes, sir. But that's that's it for the for the first year and then we regroup after a year. That's it. we need $8 million and and frankly the big question is we don't know exactly who's going to be in those positions and so we don't know if if right now a night I clerk is not using um health benefits or things like that we don't know if the person who may or may not you may appoint as a judicial commissioner will need that and so that's but we're committed to using the funds that are there and just it's maybe a dumb question but why now I mean if we've been out of compliance for what

50 years. Why? Why? Why now? What? What triggered? Why are you here now? Why were here four years ago, eight years ago, 12 years ago? Looking up the law, looking up the law. It had just not been taught that we weren't doing this pursuant to the order of Bron statute. And this is probably a question I should not ask, but is there li is there a liability issue? There are there have been a lot of changes in the past two or three years in regards to domestic abuse criminal offenses and a lot. Um last year you all and I wasn't part of this process but last year you all identified third party vendors to um to uh provide the GPS ankle monitors and things of that nature that came and frankly um it came a couple months late but when I go to a judicial conference they're saying you guys have those we ain't gotten those yet. And it's um I guess it's a better late than never answer to be honest with you because um it's necessary. Like I said there's uh and this is from Sar County General Sessions judge who did this work for the conference 58 at least 58 out of 95 counties already have commission. First, could you speak to the framework for this position, the job description, the requirements for set position? If you don't mind if I pull up the uh the resolution in it's on page 153. if you have a full

packet. I'm I'm here Mr. Wheelers 154 155 the way it was written um it gives into duties page 155 is pretty detailed now um it's there just for clarification sure they should um applicants for the physician uh should have a law and justice legal studies or criminal justice background minimum of two years court system experience as a clerk night clerk magistrate for a licensed attorney. Um there is actually and I spoke with spoken about it. I did that again with Wilkinson about it um earlier today. There's a mention there of a Washington County residency requirement. Apparently there's already been some interest from just the article in the newspaper. Um and that's something that is in there because that's what they require judges. And um I mean personally just want someone who's able to make it to work and and be there. Uh obviously I'd like for them to have some type of um commitment for the county, but that's something that is not as important as the qualifications in my opinion. Does not have to be an attorney. A lot of counties say they have to be an attorney. Start hiring only attorneys and you start um saying that this budget does not look like what it is. Um, secondly, I know one of the concerns that's been expressed through this process has been the potential for, and you alluded to it earlier, overcrowding in the jail and where that would lead us as a county. Um, you talked about supervision and reoccurring evaluation. Um, what would be some of the steps we could expect to be taken under that supervision, reoccurring evaluation that would help us prevent that from happening? Well,

again, I'll I'll mention the initial appearance thing. Um, every day we have the people who are arrested overnight. Um, they come into our court for an arraignment docket at 1:30 every day. Fridays at 10:30. Um, if you come and sit downstairs on a Monday afternoon, you'll see dozens of people in custody. Okay? Today, I think there were 21 males, uh, seven or eight females on the arraignment docket. um all of those people other than the ones who were who we set bonds on during work hours um were arrested by a law enforcement officer and a bomb was placed probably by a nightcl if it happened over the weekend. Okay, unless they called one of us and they felt like it was something that a judge needed to handle. Um, every day they pass the clerks pass us the warrant, we call up the case and we look at what the bond is. And we have a certain set statutory factors that we have to consider when we talk about bond. Things like safety of the community, things like um, you know, whether or not they have ties to the county or or whether they're employed, things things of that nature, whether there are prior offenses and things like that. We will be looking at that every day. Now, um obviously it's easy to track sheriffs how many people are in your jail and what your capacity is and things like that. A judicial commissioner will have way more discretion and authority than respectfully a night clerk does because they're limited by statute. A judicial commissioner can grant Obama's signature wrote sorry I could explain what that is. a release on recgnissance signature bond promising to show up in court, okay, without having to stay in the jail. Um, a judicial commissioner because putting someone on an ankle monitor and in lie of having them in

custody, which we do all the time um with the sheriff's uh ankle monitor program can do that as part of a bond condition. A judicial commissioner can do that. We can do that. Okay? And they'll have the authority that we have overnight and on weekends. Um, and so frankly the easiest thing to do is monitor the daily population. I mean, and I I'm pretty sure I'm not I'm not on social media, but pretty sure you post it every day. 483 today. Okay. So, and there we go. There's our base. Although that's that's pretty low today. Um, which is interesting because it's it's a Monday. So, um, but that's that's the best way to look at and see whether and we can track what bonds are. We can track whether or not bonds from today back are going to be different than today forward over the next three months. We can track that. So, and we can report. Yes. And I respectfully ask these questions. You talk about the counties that have this kind of support. Sure. When we talk about paying these people, what's their salaries in the others? because I feel like that will be coming up next year that we are off. So what's their average pay per person? 100% don't know. I'll just be honest. And I'll be honest with you, it's very difficult to make a decision while I have those child numbers because that things those things are Yeah. Okay. Sorry. We think we can hire Jewish commissioners for the same or similar as the vice versa. But that's still not Well, I know what they mean. But if if you Yes. But if you knew what u the other counties that you're put plotting this against, that would be good information, wouldn't you say? Okay. The other thing is when everybody's in charge of people rotating

a year, no one's in charge of people. That's just straight up management. Okay. So, the management structure I had a little trouble, too. And also I'd like to ask our attorney, the county attorney, if she feels if this question is appropriate. Sometimes my questions are not appropriate. So, but are we um are we outside the law the way we're operating right now? I am happy to answer the question. Um General Finny and I have talked about this in broad terms. We have not done an evidentiary review of every bond that has been signed in the past year, in the past five years, etc. However, and I and I don't see them. General Finny is of the view that if we applied the law of who can sign what to particular facts in Washington County, we may find that there have been orders signed by someone without the statutory authority. Is that fair, General? It is. Okay. But it's more to it's my research. And so I would let that sit with General Finny as the chief prosecutor in, you know, for the judicial district. I have looked at the legal side of things and would look at our neighbor in Hamlin County um which was sued for specifically how it arrived at its decision to detain arresties before trial which is a little bit same but different. um what criteria was used and the method of decision making. The method of decision- making is important, right? What authority was applied. And so in that case, our neighbors in Hamblin County, there was a finding um that the challenge to their approach did result in there being a class action

certified, which meant a group of people, like I said, we I'm not aware of a group of people who would be able to say that they are a class similarly situated to sue the county like what happened in Hamlin County. But that Torres case is important because I think it does provide an instructive framework that there's risk exposure when statutes are not strictly construed. And when General Finny first brought the issue, he was very differential talking about public safety generally and what he sees as certain types of drug um arrests, repeat offenders, and very specifically the ability to prosecute um um intoxicated drivers because the longer they sit waiting for the blood draw, the less um intoxicated they are. So that was really the discussion and just for clarity over the next almost year we've all worked together. The judges have looked at um other judges at their conference. I've talked to uh the judicial commissioner association about the training etc. The salaries are all over the board. I did a broad scope review myself just to see what we could find um in public information and through other sources. And you'll see sometimes it'll be um you know for a firefighter on a second job on a second shift that they're picking that up as a part-time position. Other ones you'll see where the judicial commissioner works all day or all night. It's a full-time position. And so it's across the board. The budget that was submitted that I gave to y'all in a memo had a budget I think of $140,000 proposed by the general sessions court judges to fund four judicial

commissioners with a little bit lower salary um for the um assistant. And so the when you look at the amount of funds available, just to clarify because I pulled this from Mitch Meredith was the the difference in funding if you set apart the benefits because the benefits and the Medicare and the taxes is a variable. And so Mitch very kindly provided this cost comparison that shows what was submitted by the judges had this come to you before the budget and he's compared it to what the clerk of court has submitted for the night clerk program that's currently in place. And when you just look at the compensation, the difference is about4 something thousand. But it just depends if you have, you know, currently we have five part-time employees salaried who work um 30 hours a week and therefore they're entitled to benefits. Not all of them take it. So those variables are what what go to the other um increase in the amounts. So, a long answer about liability, but to tell you I have not reviewed the evidence. I've worked a lot with Judge Harden who has learned a lot about what was available as resources to look at who's out on arrest where, what she would have seen had there been a judicial commissioner because night clerks don't have the authority to access this database. a judicial commissioner, for example, and the judges can tell you this, can look at that and then they know it has to be doubled. There's all kinds of statutory rules and they've been very patient with a civil lawyer um explaining the criminal prosecution line

of it. So, I would say liability right now, I have not reviewed the evidence of that to stand up and tell you that we're at risk of a lawsuit, but I have directed you to cases where our neighbors faced that, but they had judicial commissioners. So, it's not about the name of the person, it's the program that's implemented and whether the law and people have due process. So, orders of protection, blood draws, um, and the instruction of counsel at during 24 hours a day. I would say that's what's really an issue. If the judges or General Finny correct me, that's totally fine. I appreciate your patience. Thank you. Thank you, We once we realized once we realized that was happening we started signing every single uh my first impression sort of like commissioner Johnson it's not broke sounds like it is broken and we do need to fix it always risk of lawsuit no matter what. Anything we can do to limit that opportunities, I think we need this. So, I want to thank you all for putting this together. The one question I have concerned about funding, make sure we got the proper funding, but do we here in Washington County have candidates that you think you're going to be able to fill these jobs? There's five there's five people in these positions right now. And I mean they've got experience. Okay.

I mean that that really sort of helps the salary question as well. And that was sort of a missing thing for me qualifications. They can't do it now. Really the reason they can't do it now is the way they're classified. They have the the skill set necessary to do this. They don't have the authorization to do that. So basically, you guys are just asking us to redefine this and give them the authorization to perform their job at the highest level possible. Again, whoever you decide to put in that position that Mr. Huff, I've been working on this for almost two years and that is the most concise statement in that two years. That's exactly what we're trying to do. Whoever you decide will be the commission we do with our input is what the statute says. We don't that is that is not us. That's you you know how we'd love to pick them. How how is that statuto? Yes. That's hard. Yeah. That's hard. But conceivably, so I mean to make it simple, we could just take the existing Dongers and may want to ask her that question. Right. It's an appointment by the legislative body with input from the session. Yes. in legal in lawyer. I think what she's we don't have to we don't have to we don't have to because I think what everybody's worried about is so we're going to be looking at you know an increase in funding. We've already done the budget a budget year. It probably ain't going to happen but if we can just annoy who's in there to do it that it's an equal opportunity that they have to apply. Okay. And and if if there are five applicants and they're

qualified and certainly these people are the way the qualifications list is and there's five applicants and you guys like those applicants. I wish we talked about that 30 minutes ago. That sort of answers a question. But uh real quick, um you said the bond issue the the Hamlin County was spurred by bonds being signed by people who were not authorized to sign bonds. Is that Did I just hear that wrong? Well, it was it was more specific. It was about the process that they used for their detainees. So whether they had due process regardless of who we had doing that there could have been an issue that that wasn't necessarily because of what we're talking about. That's right. It's but it's about due process product due process making sure that due process is available. I mean 40 some odd county still doing it the other way I think. But yeah I mean me personally I'd be comfortable if as long as we address the funding issue. I was commissioner that report. If everybody's in charge, nobody's in charge. That is nightmare. Well, and I did say feel like we're a team approach on that. Judge Harden would be the first supervisor for the first year. We we talked about that today. I mean, she would be the first supervisor for the first year, but we would all have access to training. Well, that's statuto. All right, M. Well, that may have just answered one of my questions, but I have a few mechanical questions. And I I tell you, I read through this a couple times and then while we're sitting here tonight, I've skimmed it again and I I have questions. Um, there are currently five night, if I've understood this correctly, but you only intend to hire four judicial

commissioners. That's right. Work more hours than the night. So, so now we're going to have a situation, if I'm understanding correctly, through the question, we will still have night clerks that are in the court clerk's office in additionally judicial commissioners. Yes, sir. So, are you suggesting now then that one of the current night clerks in in the court clerk's office will be unemployed? Um, they could still be a clerk. That'd be a two clerk thing. She's going to lose the funding for that clerk. The way I understand it, the county has to advertise and the county has to bylaw the requirements applications will come in and we'll be glad to help but the commission makes by law the ultimate decision. So it may be those people. It may be that they don't apply. They are parttime now. We are asking for fulltime and that may matter the survey. It may not, but that's our understanding of how the process has to work by. So from a budgetary standpoint, that's part of the or that's one of the ways in which you're able to to not have any new money at least the first year is that instead of having five employees, you're only going to have four. Well, keep in mind we're asking for five positions, four judicial commissioners and administrative assistant. So the administrative assistant would, you know, I mean, but it would be a part-time position, right? Well, it depends on frankly. Well, one of my other questions um at least in the business world, and I I'm the first to admit that government blows my mind sometimes, and it often doesn't work in government the way it works in business. But in business, if you give somebody a new title and more responsibility, which is what you're saying, they're going to have significantly more responsibility.

they're going to expect more money. And so I'm baffled about the thought that you can that you can keep the same dollars the first year. I would expect that you're going to have to pay these people significantly more. And so instead of four judicial commissioners, you're going to end up with three and then you're going to overwork them. And so I I don't understand that. I mean would you agree that if you give somebody a new title and more responsibility generally um and just I mean that's why we ask for more and and it was kind of I heard you guys talking in the last discussion um on the the fire issue is um it's a timing problem six months ago I think obviously come to you and said this is how much we thank it for then So did I understand correctly? I think this commissioner to was finishing up his question. So we could not simply appoint two of the current night clerks and appoint them as judicial commissioners and leave them in the clerk's office. Do they have to report to a judge? They have to by section. We would love to keep them under umbrella. And originally originally two years ago when I started that I thought that would be that easy and it quickly turned out that it was. So the way we stay out of trouble at the moment and since you've kind of learned this the way we're staying out of trouble at the moment is that instead of those night clerk signing the bonds, you guys are signing everyone up. Well clerk can set a bond. It's it's he's more talking about the order man for domestic abuse cases. uh last time. Thank you. That answers. Mr. Chairman, I know our sheriff is here. I'm I'm I would welcome the opportunity to hear from him. And then obviously

this has has an impact on the court clerk's office. I'm curious of her thoughts as well. So have an opportunity to hear from them. Thank you. Yes, absolutely. I do have some more questions, gentlemen, before you have a seat. Uh I always wait for the last mine. I'd like to say one thing to Commissioner Carter. I appreciate your prayer for the new judge. You can see I respectfully ask for your prayer for the old. Um, Commissioner Carter hasn't got to speak at all. Uh, Commissioner Wexer, have you spoke? I I did, but I have one one quick question. Okay. All right. This this comes from the notes from the budget committee and it's uh item five C. It says appointment of judicial commissioners in Washington County Court in fiscal year 26 budget $221,000 was removed from the cir circuit court budget deleting five night clerk positions. So apparently this has already been done or No sir. No, it's it's 144,000 and it's still in my budget as of today. That can change. The proposal was that $313,000 be added to the judge's budget for four judicial commissioners and an assistant. This would be an additional $91,560. So, you're saying I just want to make sure we're clear. You're saying that it's not any more new money. That's that's frankly that's not what we asked for because we think it requires different but that's what we're left with and so yes. So the the resolution states that or how did how is that handhold in the

resolution? So that there's there's no funding recital in the resolution. This would be a program that's effective in August. And if the county adopts the judicial commissioner program, I would expect that then a budget amendment would be required to uh move $221,479 from the court clerk's line item that's associated with the night clerks. And that would go to the um general sessions court judges as personnel. Mr. Commissioner. Okay. Um I've got a couple of questions and you all can answer these in any order that you want to and whoever can answer them that's great. So our resolution says that we're creating Washington County Office of Judicial Commissioner. So when we seek the budget next year, are we're going to have a whole section that is judicial commissioners and line items under that. And I've got one other one. So whenever we work on the budget and there's almost always where might increase one part and then take away from something else but sometimes you increase one part then you're going to increase another part and my worry here is share of sex and I I might be looking at it wrong but it looks like it's if I was in charge of that. He might have to staff extra people in the courtroom or wherever their these commissioners are going to do their work. So, I might be

wrong on that, but if if that's so and he can guess how much his budget is going to increase or if it's not going to have any effect, I appreciate him letting us know. Can I answer the first one and then turn it over to the sheriff? Um the original budget request placed um the 140,159 in salary for the judicial commissioners in the assistance line item under the judge's budget. I don't speak budget. Um I defer to Miss Wilson or Mr. Meredith, but my understanding is it would be in the general session court budget. same as everything else that's in our budget. It would just be the line item under assistance which is currently not there. Yes, commissioners. The last page again that I referred to of the memo shows the submission of a budget request by the general sessions judges and that personnel item is under assistance and clerical personnel. So that would be under their office. Thank you. After doing up, I didn't know Mitch was in here. No, after doing a little research, the controller does have a specific department for judicial commissioners in the chart of accounts. So, it would be a separate uh budgetary department in in our accounting system. Yes. Related quick question, Mitch. Does the state set the salary for judicial commissioners? I have no idea. No, you will not. Commissioner would along with the appointment. Can I say one more thing? Because I

think we're getting ready to let others we're we're not we're not here because this is something we want. I I'm I'm I'm being dead serious. This is something we want that makes our job better than anything like that. We're literally here so we can be efficient, follow the law, and best serve Washington County. It is not because um of any other reason. It's it's it's just not. So I just I want that to come across if it hasn't. Okay. Thank you. So just a couple more questions I have, Judge. Um so if you uh as far as these appointments go and the commissioner appoints people and how long is that current form? The statute states that it cannot exceed four years and this initial resolution is for a one-year term with a probationary period. Um our research did show where sometimes people had appointed someone and didn't want to run the full year. So that has been um considered so that uh the county would be in best position. Uh so it's a one-year term and there's a probationary period. I think it we put 90 days. Um but they c the position cannot be appointed for more than four years, but the same person could be appointed in perpetuity. So they're not disqualified after serving. So if you if you selected the wrong candidate and and they got through that 90-day probationary period, they would serve the the rest of that year. That's correct. And that's but the 90-day probationary period is there so that the legislative body has some um ability to know that the first 90 days would be heavily vetted, supervised for performance so that it wasn't an

appointment with no recourse for the first year of the term. As far as office space goes, Jeff is some of the worst situations I've gotten into here as a commissioner is dealing with office space. Um, of course, it's a vital and and and sacred thing here. And when it comes down to it, the county commission has jurisdiction over all office special. And do we have a plan for office space uh for these for these individuals? Not an offer. I'll be taking it. Sheriff Sheriff Ston at our many meetings um has offered a location in the jail for a centralized one-stop shop for these law enforcement officers who are making arrests, who are asking to get blood draw search warrants um and who are needing bonds set uh exparte orders of protection to be issued, things like that. So he's offered it could not be more convenient and I don't know that he would agree with that but as far as an overarching um view of it could not be a more convenient place. It's tough. It's tough. Office space is getting tighter here every day and I know the district attorney knows that very very well and uh I just want to make sure we we covered that too. As far as equipment goes, I know that will they be expected to have more additional equipment and nightcl laptops, telephones, all these things. Something that Commissioner Blood referenced a little bit earlier. It is is all those cost covered in the budget because I know it's probably not covered in in this budget. In our initial request, it was one time setup. What I'm thinking is a laptop and we provide the

paperwork. I mean, literally, it's it's it requires a computer. Oh, no. And a chair. I just want to check sometimes that it it it's kind of I'm I'm sure the sheriff taking care of that. Commissioner Jones. Yeah. I just wanted to say I I appreciate all the consideration and all the points we've talked about. Um, I've also really appreciated Judge Manga's explanation of all of this to us in committee. And when I was talking about it with my constituents last week, I was able to use a number of your talking points. Really, what pushed me over was that this these judicial commissioners will be able to provide more better care for people in our community during the night. If any of you have had to wait a long night with no news or no information or no decision, um, you know, that's a terrible time to be waking. And that's kind of where where I felt like with DUIs and domestic violence, some of those issues, people are going to be getting faster judgments and faster evidence and faster, more efficient care. So that made a difference. Quicker safety, right? All right, we appreciate this. Any further questions before we call Sheriff sex in the podium? Thank you folks. All right. Thank you all. Here I am in an argument. Ask me a question potentially. So, I try I've tried to stay out of this argument because I really don't feel like it's the sheriff's argument. The sheriff's responsibility is to run the jail. No matter how many people are in the jail, if the judge signs an

amendous, they go in the jail. I'm ne neither for nor against u the magistrates. There's a lot of it that I think would be beneficial. Uh the things that worry me is when that population goes up, TCI comes in and they descertify the jail. I do believe, and this is just Sheriff Six's opinion, that higher bonds keep poor people in jail. I've got a guy over there, I talked to him two days ago, he's got a $250 bond, and I think he'll get out in September. If he had $250, he would be free and clear, but he don't have anybody make his bail. Um, as far as the OGBs go, Brenda, OGBs right now are being signed by clerks, right? By night clerks during day, but sometimes the clerk sign I' I've checked on this in the past. Correct. Shar in the past judges are very adant. So, what what has concerned me about this whole process is is there anybody on the commission that knows the true number what it's going to cost? Do we know? I don't know either. Uh I can provide the space. We'll we'll make the space. Um I don't really know what the responsibilities are. What are the how many are there judge that they can do? How many what are the responsibilities? What what are the exact responsibilities that the magistrates will have? So they would be um signing certain points. They would be um setting bonds. They would be issuing exparte domestic restraints of protection. They would be appointing council and signing restraint. Okay. And and I'm

not trying to put you on the spot. Okay. Um, I do I do would ask I would ask the commission that if this is approved that we set up some kind of check and balance system, whether it be through the public safety committee, however you decide to have at least an every 90 days where we sit down. When I say we, I'm saying commissioners, the district attorney, the judges, the sheriff, the court clerk to say, is this working or are we going down the drain? Um, we can look like the judge Minga said, we we will know what the jail population is. We know every day. We we have that. Um, but it's like I said in the past, um, p keeping prisoners don't make you money. Having people in jail does not make money. Um it's a if they did the state you've heard me say the state wouldn't give them to us and as soon as we can get them to we need to keep the bad ones in there totally fine with that but we need some kind of review process in my opinion. The other thing is I think and we we do have it uh we have to have a safety valve if we start climbing and and you know the one that always comes up is ankle monitors. We have probably 20ome people at the most um on ankle monitors and sometimes it's stuff that we go over and ask the judges, hey, we this guy's sick. We need to put him on ankle monitor because we don't want, you know, the the taxpayer to have to pay the bill. And it's never anybody who's a a bad offender. They make that decision. And sometimes the judges come to us and they say, "I'm putting this guy on ankle monitor." And I know that the district attorney is not a big fan of ankle monitor. Um we we had a big meeting over that. So but I think there's going to have to be give and take on both sides of this thing. Um I do like the fact

that in the middle of night you can get search warrants that you can get orders of protection. That's great. Um I do have a space for them but like with the ankle monitoring if that program grows I'm going to have to come to you and say hey I need some more people. Right now it's it's kind of extra duties except for one person, but we have more than one person working on our ankle monitoring program. But the way that that works, I like it because if you have a low-grade offender, every day somebody's checking on him. We make sure they make their court dates. Um they have no excuse not to be in court. And of course, you're going to have to look at what they're charged with. Um, so that would be my two requests is we need to monitor it as we go and uh have a safety valve plan, so to speak, whether they be ankle monitoring, day reporting. You know, we don't have to reinvent the wheel. There's other counties. Sullivan County has hundreds of people on ankle monitors. I don't know. Is that right or wrong? I don't know. But I can tell you when that headcount goes up, TCI will come in and mayor's on the board. Um, we have we barely missed the plan of action for this past year by sending out our state inmates and our federal inmates. But what did that do? That gave us a about close to a $3 million. We call it a loss, Mitch. Where'd you go? I don't It's a It's a budgeted loss every year. Inmates are a losing game, but it's We have to do it. But we have I would say that we've got to have that checks and balances going forward, something set up so that we look at it and a safety valve so that because I don't want to be here next year worried about having to build in a 100 plus million dollar jet. That's a bad idea. I think we need to make the commitment that we do everything we can do to keep from that happening.

Any questions? Yes, sir. This may be unrelated, but ankle bracelets don't seem like very many out of 400 return. Why don't we have more? Well, as I was just we're talking about um the district attorney's not big on it, right, Steve? I have several people around. Okay. And I and and I'm good with that. Uh Judge Judge Ming is really good. He's our go-to guy when we we got a problem. He saved us a lot of headache. Um and I and again I say bad bad people we don't need to consider. We have a we have a a chart that says you know are they violent offender? No. Okay. A flowchart. So, but we have a lot of people I feel like that are charged with misdemeanors that we could probably put on ankle monitors. But there again, that's going to the judges do that. Um, not the sheriff, not the district attorney, that's the judges. So, um, maybe that's something we can look at. And that's my point is we should be looking at if we go into this and we've had to have the conversation if the headcount goes up already. So, why not have the conversation of if we want to do this, these other programs, whatever they might be, there might be some better ones out there, but uh those two are the most prevalent. And um maybe we say we got to look at that. Yes, sir. So, you're saying the judge can issue the without going through the district attorney? Yes, sir. Is that correct? Absolutely. I do it all the time. Can I ask your opinion? If the jail if the jail does start to grow over this deal, would you consider put more braces on from the recation the sheriff of their local

guy? I can first of all the law requires me to consider every person that comes in front of me for Okay. And so, yes, I spoke the the person that he was talking about that everybody's extra duty except for one and I assume that's happening. Yes. Um spoke to her yesterday and I asked kind of for a flowchart of supervision for it because I knew this might come up and I said, "How are we?" Every time I see her, which is almost every day, um I see her poking through those windows when I'm on the bench. Are you busy? So, and and every day I ask, "How are we? How are we on ankle monitors? Are is there too many? Are there too little? Whatever. Do you have space for more?" And yesterday she said, "We've got 20some right now, I think." And she said, "We could probably do up to maybe 50 without more sat." And so, me and Captain Smith will be able to talk. Please don't. But um Evelyn Smith is um she's amazing. But um I don't know where that number came from, but there's room for more. Okay. But if you're talking about well this may cost money staffing another shares may cost money also. Absolutely. So um population growing you know. So yes, we we considered every person that goes before us because that's above convictions. There are 50 less inmates would save you money though, correct? Be a savings on the other side. Yes. What's hurting us on the jail right now is not misdemeanor. So over half our population are charged with felonies just to wait to go to trial. And that's going to be something

else we should think about is if we ever have to go down that road, it would be cheaper to hire a couple more judges that can do criminal court cases than it would to be build a new jail. But over half our population are pre-trial felons. And then we have pre-trial misdemeanor, we have convicted misdemeanor. The county jail should be for convicted misdemeanors and pre-trial misdemeanors. and a few uh felons waiting to go to jail or I'm sorry to trial because as soon as they're sentenced we send them off. But what has that done? I came to you about two to three years ago and we fought to get the federal inmate contract up started making a little money on it and then our head up and then we got to tier one accreditation. We got a little bit more money and we're getting ready to pick up tier two, but then we got the number went up and so we had to send all our state inmates out and then uh Mitch was spanking me the first meeting. I love meeting hard time. So we lost money on paper. Um but it's a battle and that's about all the sheriff has to fight. So but I I it's my responsibility to let you know and I feel like I've done that. I've I put it in writing and gave it to you in February. Um, I'm not saying that the magistrates are a bad idea. I just think that as we go into it, like those two things I said, we need to have a checks and balance. Uh, maybe every 90 days or so that we all get together and there needs to be a safety battle just in case, you know, is that ankle monitors that's or whatever it might be will be up to the judges. You agree with that, judge? I do. I'm not. Yes. I'm not sure exactly what you mean by safety or safety valve being able to put more people on or even I I would even like to look into

and I hold your ears a day reporting system anything that that keeps her ahead countdown how long is that average stay on those films from in it just I can tell you the average throughout the year is that we stay above of half of the population are pre-trial felons. The sessions court judges, they're every Monday, I know we slam them, they're good about getting everybody out there that can. And you'll see the headcount up on Monday morning and then it'll drop down. It's it's the people that get get in by brought in by, you know, weekend, whatever goes on. So, but those are my two things that you asked me. So, that's my my opinion. Any other questions? Thank you. Thank you. Clerk D's here to speak with us as well. Sorry. We appreciate her coming tonight. I know this is going to be a real change for her. Well, to be honest with you, commissioners, I really don't have anything to add to this. This is the judges. I just know that I think a lot of you know me by now. My number one priority is my employees. It's all I care about. Um, that's pretty much the one thing I've ever asked for in more money is always for employees because without good employees, they make me look good. And these five night clerks are phenomenal. I've been very fortunate to inherit two of them. Um, we've had some retired and we've hired some new ones and they've just been phenomenal. It's a tough job. Um, some people might think it's easy, but being awake for 15 hours at night is not very fun. So, I hope these current night clerks

are considered highly considered for the master jobs. I would hate to see someone lose a job. The current salary is yes. um 140 if Minga had it right 140 158 with a 3% raise it would be 144 363 questions and if you guys have any questions I'm happy to answer but yeah do you think we can we can keep the current five uh uh night clerks at at the same salary and and turn them into uh judicial magistrates and assistant. That's what Judge Minga is striving very very hard for. Just to help me understand. So currently they work how many hours per week. It it ranges. Commissioner Madly if there's holidays, if someone's out sick, if there's a snow day, there's a flood in the office. You know, anytime we have to close our We did have a flood, guys. Anytime we have to close our office at a moment's notice, I call the chief deputy night clerk. She kind of oversees the rest of them and she gets plans scheduled. So sometimes it's more than 30, sometimes less, but they are paid 30 hours a week. Now, but if we're using the same salary and we're going to ask them to work more time, Judge, we're going to ask them to work 40 hours a week. I just want to clear this up before we get any surprises. I'm honestly not sure and haven't actually spoke with county attorney about this. Not sure exactly why it says for full time because I've sat down with the schedule several times and I can't get them to 37 hours unless

it's like Christmas where there's a two or three day closure of the courthouse. So, I don't know that they would be working more hours. Whatever you call that HR-wise, I don't know, but I don't know that they would be working more hours. Yeah. I just because if you're working 30 and you get paid this amount and and they say, "Hey, you going to work 40, we're going to pay you the same amount." You know, it may just not come out right for them. You know, would the benefits be different? Right now they are not entitled to any kind of Tennessee consolidated retirement at all. Um they are offered health benefits. Commissioner Wexler to my knowledge. Bless you. There's um my tell I'm not sure about the newest one. I know for a fact there are three of them that take the health insurance. Yes sir. So the benefits would be the same for a night clerk as it would be for the new position of the magistrate. Correct me that they would be offered health insurance. Correct. And I'm sorry, will they be offered TCS as well? The current night clerks, Commissioner Madly are not are not. They have no sick. They don't occur sick time, vacation time, just the health insurance benefits. And I would imagine back in the day, Don Squib and my predecessor Karen Gwen um probably establish that because it's extremely hard because it goes a long long way back. It it does for someone that's going to work Saturdays and Sundays and midnight shift. I remember when that happened. We're Sheriff Phillips working through that here. So we know we're telling our age. Yes, I know we are. So, all right. Let one more question for you and I I hate I hate to keep asking.

So, so will this affect your staffing any at all? Are these folks doing some things that that to help you as well that that that won't get done in your office anymore? No. Okay. To be honest with you, Commissioner, when I first became clerk, I had this vision of having them do entering warrants. And a lot of the current clerks in the office whose opinion matters to me greatly. They were against it. They were like, "No." But when the night clerks move over to the justice center, I have given them tasks that are just mindless, tedious. But no, it's not going to affect me at all. It's basically the money I have in my budget for the night is just going to move right over for the judges. But that's a good question. No one's ever even asked if if I'm going to be out any extra help. You know, we want to make sure that because, you know, That's something they need to go ahead and address if he wants. Yeah. Thank you. All right, Commissioner Jones. Call for question. Question's been called. We have a motion and second to approve the resolution. All in favor cast your vote. cler vote 11 yes three no one absent and resolution basis all right we're going to move on to the next resolution commissioner thank you I think you took up more time than I did

public safety does apologize for that um next we have resolution number 256 612 that is resolution ratifying the acceptance and execution of the amended hiring retention and recruitment grant. That comes to you in the form of a motion and I move for motion made by commissioner to approve the resolution. Second by second by commissioner question or discussion questions been called by the clerk. Switch the voting screen. Please go ahead and cast your vote. Not clerk, if you announce the vote. 14 yes, one absent and the resolution passes. Commission. Last, we have resolution number 25613. That's resolution approving and authorizing the disposition of Washington County Sheriff's Office surplus property on govills.com. Comes to you from the public as a recommendation. Can I move for approve? Motion made by Commissioner, second by Commissioner Wexler to approve the resolution. Question. Madam Clerk, if you'll switch the vote screen, go ahead and cast your vote. Lock it in. Mad clerk, if you announce the vote 14 yes, one absent. Resolution passes. Miss Green. That is thankfully all we have for the evening, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. All right. Public works committee. Commissioner Davenport. Yes. You'll find our minutes of our June 5th meeting on page 112. We had three resolutions coming all the form of the motion. Um first is u resolution 256 resolution resolution setting speed limit on Tweed Storms and Charles Humphre Road. Motion made by commissioner Davenport to

approve the resolution. Second by commissioner Wexler. Question or discussion. Question been called by the clerk. Switch the voting screen. Please go and cast your vote. Lock it in. Hold on. She said that's not good. All right, madam cl. Yes. What? Absent. The resolution passes. Commissioner Dport. Our next resolution is resolution number 25615 resolution approving and authorizing a member random of understanding between the Washington County and ATS operating LLC EVA America's Thrift Store. Motion made to approve by Commissioner Davenport but seconded by Commissioner Wexler. Question or discussion? Questions been called. Mad clerk will switch the voting screen please and cast your vote. Lock it in. Madam clerk doubts vote 14. Yes. One absent resolution passes. Commission. Our last resolution resolution number 256. Resolution adopting to the Watson County Road. Motion make approved. Resolution by Commissioner Davenport. Second by Commissioner A. Question or discussion. All the questions. Questions been called. Madam clerk switches the voting screen. Cast your vote. Lock it in. Madam clerk, if you announce the vote 14 yes, one absent, and the resolution passes. Commissioner Davenport, if you'll march us on into the budget committee report.

Yes, sir. You'll find our minutes of our June 11th meeting. Uh I think 172 have uh five resolutions for you tonight. Our first resolution, the first two resolutions uh are were passed through the budget committee. They come with no recommendation uh for us to talk. So our first resolution is 25617 a resolution amending fiscal year budget 20 2425 uh county clerk bonus payments have a motion. No sir. Do we have a motion? See no motion lack motion commission. Our next resolution is resolution 25618 resolution of ending physical year budget 2024 2025 library bonus payments. Do we have a motion up? Have a motion to like the motion. Our next resolution is resolution uh 2569 resolution amended physical year budget uh 2024 2025 Washington County schools nutrition budget. It's in the form of motion. Motion made by Commissioner was approved by the budget. Have a second. Second by Commissioner Edens to approve the resolution. Question or discussion? Question. Question been called by the park. Fuel switch is the voting screen.

Please cast your vote. Lock it in. Mad clerk announce 14. Yes, one absent for passes. Our next resolution is resolution 25620 resolution any fiscal year budget 2024 2025 Washington County schools budget amendments that comes before you in the form of motion and a recommendation from budget motion made to approve resolution by commissioner DO second by commissioner question or discussion All questions been called. Madam clerk, if you'll switch the voting screen, please cast your vote. Lock it in. Clounce the 14. Yes. One absent. The resolution passes. Our last resolution resolution 25622 resolution amending fiscal year budget 2024 2025 final budget amendment fiscal year 2024 2025 that form of the motion and recommendation budget motion made by commissioner Dav second second by commissioner Wler for the question questions been called by the clerk If you switches to the voting screen, please click cast your vote. Lock it in. Clerk, if you announce 14 absent resolution passes, anything else, Commissioner D? That's all I have.

We don't have any old business to report. We do have noties. Resolution 25621 is a resolution approving the election of voters public reappoint for Washington County, Tennessee. Motion made by Commissioner to second by Commissioner Malone to approve resolution. Question or discussion clerk, you'll switch us to the voting screen. Please cast your vote not to announce the 14 absent resolution passes. We have no new business. Uh remember our announcement. If you signed up for the um for the uh Chamber of Commerce legislative breakfast, that's this Wednesday at 7 a.m. And u does anybody need a ticket or anything, Sherry, that that signed up to go? If they've already signed up to go, they should have their ticket. They do. Okay. All right. So, you should have got that by email. Okay. So, that'll be Wednesday at 7 a.m. All right. Just remind you that the cut off date and time for next month's county commission agenda is July 17th. Welcome. Have a motion to adjourn. Motion by Commissioner, a second by Commissioner Wex. Yes, sir. All in favor? Good night. break it