Commission withdraws two ethics nominees and defers land-use appeal; budget item on Edge funds moved for clerk follow-up

During its Feb. 10 meeting, the Shelby County Commission took several procedural actions on the regular agenda: it withdrew nominations to the Ethics Commission, deferred a land-use appeal to allow more neighborhood meetings, and moved a budget allocation item for additional administrative input.

Item 27, the county mayor's nomination of Yolanda Artaway and Dwayne Thompson to the Shelby County Ethics Commission, was read and then reported withdrawn at the administration's request; the chair recorded the withdrawal on the floor.

Item 28, an appeal by Veil Kebede of a Land Use Control Board rejection for a proposed convenience store with fuel pumps at 4670 Hacks Cross Road (case MJR2025-019CO), was presented by Brett Ragsdale of the Division of Planning and Development. Ragsdale said the applicant has been holding additional neighborhood meetings and requested the commission defer the item to the March 30 meeting for further neighborhood engagement. Commissioner Bradford moved to defer; the motion carried without objection.

Item 29 concerns a resolution amending Res. No. 4 (adopted Feb. 24, 2025) to direct Edge to remit unspent funds tied to the Greater Whitehaven Economic Redevelopment Corporation and allocate them to local schools. Commissioners questioned Edge's role as fiscal agent and agreed to move the item to allow Clerk Eddie Jones to appear and provide clarification in committee.

These actions were procedural: the ethics nominations were withdrawn, the land-use appeal deferred for additional community meetings, and the Edge funds item moved to allow further administrative input and clarification.