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Public commenters and a commissioner press Carter County on transparency, Tweetsie Trail and local traffic
Summary
During public comment and commissioner remarks, citizens and Commissioner Donnie Cable raised transparency concerns, urged the appointment of Shannon Burchett to the highway post, and questioned a $6.3 million Tweetsie Trail expansion and local traffic safety; Andy Hilton asked to be scheduled on the agenda about parking charges at city ballfields.
Public comment and commissioner remarks at the Aug. 21 Carter County commission meeting focused on transparency, local infrastructure and upcoming community events.
Charles Von Cannon thanked commissioners for nonprofit funding and urged the board to appoint Shannon Burchett as Road Superintendent. Andy Hilton, president of the youth baseball and softball commission, said he had responded to a request for information about charges for parking at ball games and asked to be placed on the next meeting agenda with members of his executive board to answer questions; Chair Ginger Holdren told Hilton the email that prompted his inquiry came from a single commissioner, not the commission itself.
During the commissioner comment period, Commissioner Donnie Cable raised concerns about a perceived lack of transparency, saying he believed the finance department had not been presenting copies of the monthly report to the legislative body as required by law during his year on the commission. Finance Director Carolyn Watson responded that the reports are included in the meeting packet and are provided in print and by email each month. Cable also thanked Sheriff Fraley for recent work and questioned traffic and park issues — citing Gap Creek Park and Bob Little Road — and asked about a $6.3 million allocation for the Tweetsie Trail expansion.
Commissioner Robert Acuff announced the Elizabethton/Carter County Boys & Girls Club “Great Futures Dinner” fundraiser set for Sept. 14, 2023, and Thomas Proffitt noted a bridge dedication scheduled for Aug. 26. Chair Holdren reminded commissioners that committee elections occur next month and asked requests be submitted to the clerk’s office. Several committee chairs said their September meetings would not occur.
The meeting record shows these concerns and requests were made but the transcript reflects no formal action or vote on transparency procedures, the Tweetsie Trail funding question, or the baseball parking matter; Andy Hilton was instructed to bring formal information to the next meeting for possible inclusion on a future agenda.
