Franklin County commission approves nonpartisan-election resolution, copier leases and budget amendments

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners met March 20 in Winchester and approved a slate of administrative and budget items, including a resolution to make county elections nonpartisan and several multi‑year equipment leases.

The most politically visible action was passage of Resolution 81‑0317, to adopt nonpartisan elections for county elected offices. The measure passed by roll call vote, 10 in favor and 5 opposed. Commissioners Lisa Mason, Dave Van Buskirk, Don Cofer, Sam Hiles and Iris Rudder voted against the change; Commissioner Chuck Stines sponsored the resolution. Supporters said the change would separate local government business from party politics; opponents raised concerns about changes to ballot access and local party engagement.

Separately the commission approved a set of multi‑year lease and maintenance agreements for office copiers and printers across county departments and the school system. The package included resolutions authorizing Konica Minolta lease‑purchase agreements for four county machines and a series of board of education devices (Resolutions 8b–8e) and a related contract for online payment solutions for the Circuit Court Clerk (Resolution 8f). Those items were approved as part of the meeting’s consent actions, largely on voice or roll‑call votes recorded in the minutes.

The commission also moved a number of budget and appropriations items. Finance reports and committee minutes were received and filed; the board approved technical budget amendments for county and school funds (Resolutions 8g–8j and 8m) that update revenue and expenditure lines through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017. The Board of Education’s centralized cafeteria budget amendment and other school transfers included in the packet were approved after prior review by the finance committee and the board of education.

During a brief public‑hearing segment the commission heard no opposition to a requested rezoning by Maryellen McCone for a property on Sewanee Highway (rezoning from Commercial to R‑2, General Residential); the commission approved that rezoning on a 15–0 voice vote. Earlier planning materials in the commission packet show that the Franklin County Regional Planning Commission had recommended the McCone rezoning.

The meeting packet also included a detailed planning file and minutes from a February 28 Planning Commission hearing on a separate, more contentious proposal: a request by Peter Tinsley (agent for Tinsley Asphalt) to rezone about 99 acres on Greenhaw Road to permit quarrying operations. Chairman Eddie Clark said at the March 20 commission meeting that the Tinsley rezoning was postponed and would not be taken up at this session.

Other routine business approved by the commission included appointments to the Franklin County Board of Equalization (Bill Green and Jim Hensley), an appointment to the Franklin County Board of Zoning Appeals (Mike Holmes), the designation of a commissioner representative to the Chamber of Commerce, and the approval of 21 notary commissions. The county also authorized the mayor and county attorney to draft or pursue a resolution to respond to a funding request from CASA Works, Inc., which presented to the commission during the finance committee process.

The meeting packet included multiple supporting materials: Planning & Zoning staff reports, maps, vendor proposals for copier leases, the county finance director’s revenue and expenditure reports, and committee minutes from the Legislative and Financial Management committees. The session was adjourned after a benediction by Commissioner Lisa Mason.

What’s next: The county commission deferred the Tinsley rezoning matter; any future consideration will be publicly noticed and scheduled. The nonpartisan‑elections change will be implemented according to county procedures; county staff will circulate details on any administrative or ballot changes required.