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Claiborne County Commission tables ARC grant, rejects joint ECD board and approves several budget amendments
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Summary
At its March 15 meeting the Claiborne County Commission tabled an Appalachian Regional Commission grant application 14-7, defeated a measure to create a joint Economic & Community Development board, reappointed Robert Cobb to the Solid Waste Regional Planning Board, approved two Board of Education budget amendments and a highway department budget amendment, and heard a county COVID-19 update.
The Claiborne County Commission on March 15 voted on several resolutions, took action on appointments and heard a COVID-19 update from County Mayor Joe Brooks.
A contentious item on the agenda was Resolution 2021-017, an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant application. Commissioner Nathan Epperson moved to approve the application contingent on a definitive $100,000 commitment from the TWRA; Commissioner James Hatmaker then moved to table the item for further information, seconded by Commissioner David Mundy. The motion to table carried 14-7. Commissioners voting for the table motion were Brent Clark, Mike Campbell, Stacey Crawford, Zach Mullins, Anthony Rowe, Mitchell Cosby, Rosemary Barnett, Commissioner Carolyn Brooks, Steve Mason, Steve Brogan, Sherry McCreary, David Mundy, Steve Murphy and James Hatmaker. Those voting against tabling were Whitt Shuford, Charlton Vass, Nathan Epperson, Juanita Honeycutt, Kim Large, Nicholas Epperson and Shawn Peters.
Separately, Resolution 2021-018 — to join or appoint members to a joint Economic & Community Development (ECD) board — was defeated. Commissioner Charlton Vass's motion to approve the ECD board item was followed by a motion from Commissioner Whitt Shuford to table it until after an April ECD Board meeting; that tabling motion failed 2-19. After further debate, a roll-call vote on the original motion to approve the ECD board failed 1-20 (only Commissioner Vass voted in favor).
The commission approved Resolution 2021-019 by roll call (21-0), reappointing Robert Cobb to the Solid Waste Regional Planning Board for a four-year term.
Two Board of Education budget amendments (Resolutions 2021-020 and 2021-021) were combined for consideration. Resolution 2021-020 adds a $7,500 carryover for a safety grant into the General Purpose Budget; Resolution 2021-021 adjusts federal project lines to match the state CTE Perkins Grant, shifting $6,433.78 between account lines. Commissioner Shawn Peters moved to combine and approve the items, seconded by Commissioner Charlton Vass; the motion carried by voice vote.
Resolution 2021-022, a Highway Department budget amendment, was approved by roll call (21-0). The resolution adds proceeds from sales to the Highway Department budget (revenues: $16,687.66 for sale of equipment and $4,029.81 for sale of materials; expense: $20,717.47 to parts), with the total transaction recorded as $20,717.47.
The commission also approved notary public appointments (Melissa A. House; Jessica M. Smith; Sebrina L. Elliott; Thelma Keck) by voice vote.
In a final announcement, County Mayor Joe Brooks reported the county saw a substantial drop in documented COVID-19 cases during the previous month but recorded seven additional deaths, bringing the county total to 71; the hospital had no COVID-19 in-patients and 9,708 vaccinations were reported. Brooks said the mask mandate was scheduled to expire March 31. Commissioner Carolyn Brooks moved to adjourn; Commissioner Zach Mullins seconded and the meeting adjourned.
The commission did not adopt an immediate spending plan for the state recovery funds during the meeting; several items were tabled or referred for more information.