County Commission Holds Last Meeting of Fiscal Year
The Jefferson County Commission held their last meeting of the fiscal year on June 27, 2016 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. Absent from Roll Call was Commissioner Tabor. Following the Call to Order by Commission Chairman Carmichael and Approval of Minutes on a Motion by Commissioners Scarlett and Tim Seals, two citizens addressed the legislative body. One spoke concerning the possible development of a long range planning committee and the other on behalf of the Jefferson County Humane Society to request additional funding to meet budgetary needs.
Notaries and Bonds were approved with one addition on a motion from Commissioner Solomon and 2nd from Commissioner Scarlett. Jefferson County Mayor Palmieri brought a Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for Fire Protection Services between the Town of White Pine and Jefferson County, which was approved with motion from Commissioner Turner and Baxley. Palmieri stated that some Commissioners had received an email that indicated that Palmieri had withheld maintenance funding for current County buildings to promote and fund the proposed County Complex. He said that, during his tenure around $15 million dollars had been spent on County building needs and no funds were ever withheld to fund or promote the County Complex. The Mayor requested that the County Commission include and additional $15,000 for a vehicle for the Mayor’s office and $30,000 to replace a vehicle for the zoning office, citing the current zoning office vehicle as a safety hazard. He also requested the inclusion of one additional employee for E911 and two employees for EMS, as well as a County Human Resource person and a 2% pay increase for County employees.
Jefferson County Sheriff McCoig stated that questions had arisen concerning the Sheriff’s Department Boat, which was purchased with Drug Fund money. He said that the boat had been integral in assisting with a recent drowning on Douglas Lake and another emergency situation in the past week. The Sheriff stated that overcrowding situation at the County jail may require that the County look at additional space.
Jefferson County Finance Director Potts brought three resolutions to surplus from County Archives, County Trustee and County Juvenile Court. All three were approved with a motion from Commissioner Tucker and 2nd from Commissioner Turner.
The bulk of the County business came from Budget Committee Chair Scarlett, who brought several year end budget amendments on recommendation from the Budget Committee. Most were in the form of general housekeeping and had little or no fund balance impact. One notable item was a Motion (brought by Commissioner David Seal to the budget committee) which gave the Department of Education access to budgeted funds that remained from the Patriot Academy, Jefferson County High School and Building 8 building programs, with the caveat that a capital project plan be submitted to the County Commission for the release of funds. The Department of Education would also keep any monies that are collected due to a pending legal suit regarding the building program. Jefferson County would be returned the retainer, around $368,000 and any funds that were overpaid or refunded from the building projects. The motion found favor will all Commissioners present and passed 20-0. Later in the meeting, the rules were suspended on a motion from Scarlett and second from Solomon to allow a request from the Department of Education for immediate access to $75,000 of funds to allow critical paving at Jefferson County High School to be done while school is out of session. Scarlett/Solomon also made the motion to allow the release of the funds and it was approved. Also finding favor with the full Commission were recommendations on resolutions that cleaned up accounting issues with the White Pine School renovation and addition contribution, and the distribution of one half of the local sales tax revenue (with balance coming back to County for distribution).
Upon a motion from Commissioner Huffaker and 2nd from Commissioner Kesterson, the Commission voted 12-8 to postpone the funding of LIDAR until the current fiscal year’s accounts are settled and roll over funds have been verified. The Commission also approved on a 18-2 vote (Musick and Seals No) to approve funding for the Jefferson County High School Football Lights. Budget Chair Scarlett informed the Commission that the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2016/17 included no property tax increase. The budget proposal and accompanying resolutions were on recommendation of the Budget Committee and were approved 18-2 with Commissioner Tim Seals and David Gaut voting no. The Commission failed to approve a motion by Commissioner Tucker and 2nd by Commissioner Blevins that would have allocated $45,000 from the current fund balance to address the vehicle request of Jefferson County Mayor Palmieri. The Tucker/Blevins motion failed 15-4-1 with Commissioners Gaut, Blevins, Eslinger and Tucker voting yes. Commissioner Tim Seals abstained. Also getting the nod of approval were resolutions authorizing the lease of business machines and to adopt a continuing budget and tax rate should the Mayor exercise his veto power on the fiscal year 2016/17 budget. The continuing resolution would allow the Commission to address the veto after the July 1st date signifying the start of a new fiscal year.
The Commission, at the request of the County Regional Planning Commission, made a motion (resolution to follow) for a moratorium, which would end by the close of 2016, on RV Parks and Campgrounds, as well as Gun/Firing Ranges. The motion was offered by Scarlett, 2nd by Commissioner Baxley, and approved by the full body. They also approved a request for rezoning from A-1 to C-2 for property off Highway 25-70 owned by Dell Hawkins and Holly Long, with a motion from Solomon and 2nd from Scarlett.
Commissioner Gaut brought a Motion to proceed with the building of a County Complex and to sale the current County buildings with the exception of the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. He was 2nd by Tim Seals. Commissioner McGraw made a Motion to refer to a committee to see how the courthouse might be utilized and was 2nd by Musick. The Motion to refer Failed 17-2 with Musick and McGraw voting yes. The Gaut/Seals Motion also failed in a 17-2 vote with Gaut and Tim Seals voting yes.
