The County Commission joined together for their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, February 23rd. County Executive Jimmy Johnson called the two-hour meeting to order. County Clerk Amanda Hicks called roll and counted all members as present for the proceedings. Topics of interest included a bevy of proposals from Road Superintendent Ryan Reed, resolutions regarding the issues surrounding Blackhouse Mountain Road, and the formation of a new committee involving Best Friend’s Sanctuary. Before they dove into their usual business, the Commission had reversed their procedure. They decided to vote on their list of budget amendments before shifting to other proposals.
Though they started with one proposal, a request from Kathy Williams to approve Wanda Hatfield as Fentress County Historian. “Wanda has spent her entire life researching, collecting, and sharing the local history and genealogy of the families of Fentress County with anyone looking for this information,” Johnson said, reading from William’s request. He provided those in attendance with Wanda’s background including her involvement with the Fentress County Historical Society. They unanimously approved the request without any discussion. The room applauded her acceptance of the position.
They breezed through approving budget amendments with minimal discussion. Subsequently, they shifted back to proposals. Steve Bradfield, on behalf of the Fentress County Ambulance Service, took the podium to speak on three of his requests: resolutions raising rates, write-offs, and storing old unit 855 in surplus. They granted Bradfield’s requests. Melynda Sullivan took Bradfield’s place, explaining her request to approve the authorization of a continuous five-year reappraisal cycle. They approved the resolution. They then tended to items from Reed.
They passed his first item, a signage improvement project following the Tennessee Highway Department of Transportation’s local government guidelines manual. Additionally, they approved the Highway Department’s 2023 road list and Highway Department’s surplus. Reed saved his most important item last. However, he yielded the podium to his Geotech Engineer Sam Vance, who works with Collier Engineering Company. Vance spoke on the worries about the state of Glenobey Road, specifically a stretch of the road two and a half miles west of the Old 127 Highway. Reed passed out packets of the results they gathered from their exploratory studies. Vance went over their findings with the Commission and answered questions.
Vance explained how the road was in dire need of proper repairs. In the past, they have only accomplished temporary, short-term fixes. The problem could affect private property owners in the event the road finally gave out. When there is dry weather, the road remains stable. When an inch or two of rain comes, the pavement shifts and begins cracking. “It will continue to fail indefinitely,” Vance said. In his estimation, they need an urgent and comprehensive repair on the side of the road’s shoulder. He and Reed have thrown around ideas, and Vance mentioned grading the road and replacing the loose material with rock. However, the process is both time-consuming and expensive.
The Commission asked if his solution would serve as a permanent fix. Vance confirmed it was a fix that could last at least fifty years. Reed, along with State Representatives Kelly Keisling and others, have long worked to address the problem. Representative Ed Butler approached the podium to say his piece. “What they are looking at doing is asking Fentress County to put some skin in the game,” Butler said. He explained, for he and Keisling to ask for funds, Fentress County will have to invest money to prove it is worthy of receiving funds for the project. Keisling could not produce an exact figure of how much the county needed to put toward the project. “The more, the better odds we have,” Keisling remarked.
Executive Director of the Tennessee County Highway Officials Association (TCHOA), Brett Howell, spoke at the meeting as well. He and the State Representatives met to figure out a solution, and he suggested the county dedicate itself to a 20 percent match. They must commit to the solution for the Representatives to go forward quickly, for the legislature is moving at a rapid pace. Even then, Keisling said there is no guarantee they can make progress on the issue. Reed said they estimated the project at $4.2 to $4.9 million. They approved the motion of committing $500,000 to the project.
The Commission directed its attention to items from County Attorney Leslie Ledbetter. Her first item would approve the creation of the Opioid Abatement Task Force. The Task Force would comply with the required settlement guidelines and criteria. They would receive direct funds from the companies mentioned in the settlement and indirect funds from the state. They must only spend the funds on social services addressing the opioid problem in the county. Ledbetter felt the idea offered great potential in alleviating the county’s drug issues. The Commission agreed to form the Task Force and approved a resolution regarding the settlement agreements. They also approved her request for a tax sale for 2020 delinquent taxes set for April 14 at 12:00 PM in the Justice Center.
The Commission went about approving resolutions connected to the situation on Blackhouse Mountain Road. Their first resolution allowed for the operation of any registered all-terrain class I or II golf carts and medium-speed ATVs in the restricted area of the Fentress County portion of the road. They passed the resolution, the following one related to Blackhouse Mountain Road and one concerning State Highways 154 and 297. Some citizens began arguing, and Johnson sounded the gavel, restoring order. Drawing to the end of the session, Todd York presented his item of approving the South Fentress Park fees and a list of new park committees. The Commission passed the item.
As their final piece of business, Sandra Hoover presented for Best Friend’s Sanctuary, which sought to assemble a committee. The committee would consider different strategies they can adopt to reduce the animal problem in the county and study the feasibility of a licensure fee. They voted in favor of establishing the committee. Hoover then looked to the Commission to see who would volunteer as board members. They required five members of the Commission to volunteer. Commissioners Justin Miller, Lester Gooding, and Kim Davidson volunteered. They could not recruit five volunteers, so they amended it to three. The Commission and the Sanctuary successfully appointed the committee. Thereafter, Johnson adjourned the meeting.
