Giles County commissioners approve budget amendments, contracts and fee increase; hear Extension and EMS reports

Giles County commissioners met in regular session April 20 at the Pulaski courthouse and approved a package of budget amendments, contracts and resolutions while receiving updates from the University of Tennessee Extension Office, the county EMS and the local economic development director.

Chairman David Wamble presided over the meeting. County Executive Graham Stowe announced Lt. Chad Townsend of the Giles County Sheriff’s Department as the county’s Employee of the Quarter and entered a written citation noting Townsend’s maintenance work at the county jail, which the citation described as housing about 150 inmates.

Wheeler McCulloch, representing the University of Tennessee Extension Office, told commissioners the office is state‑funded with Giles County providing about 28% of local expenses, including office space. McCulloch said Extension’s Family and Consumer Sciences program offers anger‑management and parenting classes — including sessions for inmates and court referrals — and highlighted 4‑H and Master Gardener volunteer activity. “The Agricultural Extension Office is here to provide education to our community,” McCulloch said. The report showed 146 farmers received a combined $487,000 in awards last year and Master Gardener volunteers contributed more than 800 service hours (valued at roughly $28,000).

EMS Chief Walter N. Daughtry Jr. briefed the commission on training and certification: “We have recently completed our yearly ventilator in‑service and training as required by the State of Tennessee,” he said. Daughtry reported two paramedics completed Critical Care Paramedic training as of April 17, four full‑time EMS staff and one PRN employee are in paramedic school, and an EMR class of seven students is under way. He also noted coordinated training with the sheriff’s office, local schools and STRHS Pulaski and said about 35 people completed or renewed CPR certification in recent months.

EDC Director Philip Reese provided a written project update covering local unemployment figures (Giles County 4.7% for January 2026) and several prospects in the pipeline, including a proposed $86 million battery‑assembly project (30 jobs) and larger site inquiries; Reese noted a submitted site‑development grant to fund engineering for a proposed 100,000‑square‑foot spec building.

County Executive Stowe summarized departmental reports in the commission packet, noting the county has secured more than $17.1 million in grants over the last 3½ years and that a $500,000 state appropriation will fund a countywide water assessment study; he also said the county’s 2026 ratio study produced a ratio of .7238 and that the fiscal impact will depend on next month’s penny value.

On procedural business the commission took multiple voice votes, with the minutes recording “All present voted Aye.” Actions approved included combined contracts and agreements (TN Education Broadband Consortium equipment, a Zayo USETPA agreement, a Follett Destiny resource agreement, a billing‑service amendment with Digitech Computer LLC, and an EMS equipment grant), a multi‑fund amendment to the 2025–26 budget, and routine reports from finance, the health department and the library.

The body also approved a slate of notaries public at large and appointed Josie Morgan to serve as Judicial Commissioner through July 31, 2026. Commissioners approved several resolutions by voice vote: a Community Development Block Grant application on behalf of Fairview Utility District (2026‑29); participation in the Omnia Cooperative Purchasing Agreement (2026‑30); a change to commissioner compensation to a flat monthly stipend (2026‑31); allowing partial payments for real and personal property taxes (2026‑32); and an increase to fees received under TCA 40‑39‑204(b) to $200 (2026‑33), which the minutes record as receiving the required two‑thirds majority.

A proposed motion to add a legislative committee meeting to discuss new state legislation failed for lack of a second. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.

Votes at a glance: All votes recorded in the meeting minutes were taken by voice vote with the minutes noting unanimous “Aye” from those present for each item. The minutes do not list recorded roll‑call tallies; attendance is listed in the meeting header and motions list the mover and seconder as recorded in the minutes.

What happens next: The county will proceed with the stated grant and contract steps and the water assessment funded by the state appropriation; the commission will receive penny‑value information next month to calculate the revenue impact of the ratio study.