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Carter County commission approves $174,809 for outside agencies, appoints two constables and restores 35 mph speed limit
Summary
At its July 17 meeting the Carter County Board of Commissioners approved $174,809 for outside agencies, appointed two constables to fill 2nd District vacancies, contracted HR services with OneDigital, and voted to reduce the Old Bristol Highway speed limit to 35 mph; the mayor reported state-funded projects coming to the county.
The Carter County Board of Commissioners on July 17 approved $174,809 in funding for outside agencies, appointed two constables to fill vacancies in the 2nd District, and voted to change an Old Bristol Highway speed limit back to 35 miles per hour.
The funding vote, moved by Commissioner Aaron Frazier and seconded by Nancy Brown, allocates $174,809 for numerous nonprofit and community organizations including Elizabethton Parks & Rec ($25,000), Elizabethton/Carter County Senior Citizens ($26,500) and a $27,809 allocation to the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center (Vocational Rehabilitation). The motion passed by electronic vote, recorded as 22 yes votes.
Why it matters: the allocations come from the county’s budget process and will support local social services and recreation programs for the coming fiscal year. The commission also approved a separate County General Fund budget amendment (#101-1) for $50,313.46 and accepted monetary and nonmonetary donations for the county animal shelter totaling $2,850.46.
Appointments and personnel: The nominating committee filled two vacant constable positions in the 2nd District. After roll-call voting, Michael Mason and Samuel Pearce were appointed to the posts; vote totals were recorded in the minutes. Separately, the board approved a contract with OneDigital/Sequoyah for human resources services on a motion by Danny Deal; that motion carried by recorded vote.
Road safety: The commission set aside rules to take up a Highway Department item and then approved a motion to reduce the speed limit on Old Bristol Highway (from Slagles Road to the Sullivan County line) from 45 mph to 35 mph. The record lists two commissioners, Robert Acuff and Jerry Proffitt, as voting no, while the motion carried with 22 yes votes.
Public comment and follow-up: During public comment Mike Melton of the Parks & Rec Board raised a potential ethics concern about Commissioner Aaron Frazier serving as the board’s liaison while also chairing the board, saying it “should be looked at and could be an ethics violation; Mr. Frazier is the liaison for the commission and should not be the chair.” Commissioner Frazier later told the commission he believed the situation was fine and said he would address the issue at the next meeting.
Other business: Mayor Patty Woodby reported several state-funded projects and local updates, including the Northeast Tennessee Regional Recovery Center, described in meeting materials as a $25 million state-funded project expected to house about 45 residents by December 2023; an anticipated $6.3 million grant for the Tweetsie Trail; and plans for a $40 million state-funded higher education center. County Attorney Josh Hardin summarized his written report as recorded in the meeting packet.
What’s next: The minutes record that the board adjourned at 7:45 PM. Commissioner Frazier said he will follow up on the Parks & Rec ethics concern at the next commission meeting.
Sources: meeting minutes and motions as read into the record by the Clerk and included in the July 17, 2023 regular session packet.
