Growth Boundaries Approved
The Jefferson County Commission met for their regular voting session on Monday, September 21, 2015 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. Absent from Roll Call at the meeting were Commissioners Douglas, Turner and Tucker (Turner and Tucker were present following the election of Commission Officers).
Chairman Jim Carmichael was re elected to the Chair position via a Motion by Commissioner David Seal and 2nd by Commissioner John McGraw. No other nominations were offered and Carmichael was seated by affirmation. Also returning to serve another term as Commission officers are Vice Chair Todd Kesterson (motion Solomon, 2nd Musick), Parliamentarian John Neal Scarlett (motion McGraw, 2nd Solomon), Chaplain Donny Tabor (motion McGraw, and properly 2nd). No candidates were opposed and all were elected by affirmation.
Following the Approval of the Minutes (motion Tim Seals, 2nd Sammy Solomon), four citizens addressed the Commission, with one regarding the funding of the new fire department sub station in Strawberry Plains and three offering opposition to the proposed growth boundary extension. Notaries and Bonds were Approved by Consent.
The Commission accepted the recommendation of the Nominating Committee for the following Committee appointments-
Animal Control Oversight -McGraw, Handy
Board of Health-Swanson, Click, Cowan, Bryant
Building Inspection Board of Appeals-Carmichael, Tucker
Clinch River Library Board-Darby
Finance Committee-McGraw, Seal, Huffaker, Tucker
Contract in Lieu of Performance Bonds (Landfills) were Approved with a Motion from Commissioner Blevins and 2nd from Tim Seals. Upon a Motion from Kesterson and 2nd from Turner the Commission Approved a Intergovernmental Agreement between Jefferson County and Tennessee Risk Management for Works’ Comp and Property and Casualty Insurance. The Commission also Approved the transfer of a surplus bus from the Department of Education to the New Market VFD via a Motion from Seals and 2nd from McGraw.
Budget Committee Chairman Scarlett brought a recommendation to restore the proposed usage of the hospital fund from monies that were rolled over through a combination of increased revenue and savings totaling around $1.3 million dollars. The recommendation was Approved. He also brought five County budget amendments that were successful and three School budget amendments that found favor. One recommendation, a request from the School Board to reallocate funds that were previously designated for other Capital Projects that were either left over funds or from uncompleted projects for windows at Maury Middle School, Carpet at Dandridge Elementary Library and the remainder undesignated. Following discussion that included questions regarding the state of White Pine School and in particular the cafeteria, the Commission declined to approved the reallocation in a 10-10 split vote. (Commissioners Kesterson, Baxley, Musick, Tabor, Blevins, Eslinger, Tucker, Carmichael, Beeler and Sheets voting No).
Under New Business, the Commission, with a 13-7 vote, Approved the amendments to the Jefferson County Comprehensive Growth Plan. The Motion to Approve was offered by Commissioner Gaut and 2nd by Commissioner Tim Seals. Several Commissioners stated their positions regarding the issue, which has drawn differing views from the requesting municipalities and some communities that currently sit outside the growth boundaries, with several citing recent legislation that requires annexation to be brought before the citizens for vote. Others voiced concern regarding property owner rights and the possibility that legislation could be reversed. Commissioners voting No on the issue included Commissioner Huffaker, Musick, Blevins, Eslinger, Scarlett, Dockery and D. Seal. With a Motion from Scarlett and 2nd from Seal, the Commission Approved the rezoning request from A-1 to R-1 for property located off of Hwy 25-70 in Dandridge (owned by John Swann and Jeffrey Bishop).
After a brief discussion, the item regarding discussion of the future of the Environmental Office was rolled to the Work Session. Chairman Carmichael stated that the item was for informational purposes about the possibilities of returning to a state contract and at the request of more than one Commissioner. With a Motion from Seal and 2nd from Solomon the Commission Approved rolling the item to the Work Session. Commissioner David Seal informed the Commission that he would like to investigate the possibility of employing one or more grant writers to maximize the grants incoming to Jefferson County. Commissioner Huffaker concurred with Seal regarding the benefits to Jefferson County.
Other items of information included Commissioner Scarlett presenting information that the insurance funds had been received for Building 8 in the amount of $312,000. Commissioner McGraw expressed his disappointment that Jefferson County Mayor Palmieri was not in attendance at the meeting and requested his presence at the next meeting . His concern was 2nd by Commissioner Musick. Commissioner McGraw suggested a joint meeting of the County Commission and the School Board for the purpose of discussion regarding needs at White Pine School.
