County leaders move to solve Solid Waste overages in vote to increase fees, buy scales

After six months of wrangling, hours of committee meetings and a failed resolution, a change in funding for Lewis County's Solid Waste budget was approved Monday evening.

All 17 members of the Lewis County Board of Commissioners were in attendance.

A resolution to increase both residential and commercial solid waste fees, identified as 06-08-20, written and amended numerous times by the Solid Waste Committee and members of the Board, was presented to the full body at Lewis County Courthouse June 15, 2020.

Mayor Jonah Keltner warned the Board over the course of several months of a pending shortfall due to increased tipping and transporting fees for Lewis County's trash removal. Projected, using 2018-19 fiscal year numbers, was a shortfall of $111,500 plus additional losses due to increased fees for transport of trash to Lewisburg, resulting in a potential deficit of $168,000.

Initially, the resolution failed, then later was reconsidered and passed, amended.

One amendment to the resolution came from Lewis County Commissioner Wendell Kelley, a member of the Solid Waste Committee.

Changed was wording, "Lewis County Government after substantial research and debate has decided to increase its Residential and Commercial Solid Waste Fees in order to pay its new garbage disposal bill." (Italics added to denote changed text). Previously the italicized portion read, "has no choice but to."

That amendment was approved.

A second amendment also came from Commissioner Kelley, seconded by another member of the Solid Waste Committee, Commissioner Allison Tanner.

This amendment added a Section 12 that allowed any business making a significant effort to recycle and reduce waste to be eligible for reduced fees. The amendment was approved 16 to zero with Commissioner Connie Sharp absent for the vote as she excused herself due to illness.

As amended, the resolution failed with a vote of eight in favor: Commissioners Sharp, Tanner, Aren Ragsdale, Jim Grinder, Patrick Halfacre, Kelley, Michael King and Jerry Ashmore.

Voting against the resolution were Commissioners Robert and Ronnie Brewer, Brian Peery, Larry Hensley, Timmie Hinson, Austin Carroll, T. J. Hinson, Bill Dyer and Jason Fite.

A discussion ensued on the floor when the mayor refused to continue the meeting until the Board reached a solution to the potential shortfall.

During the discussion, Mayor Keltner left the chair asking Chairman Pro-Tem Brian Peery to assume the seat.

After much debate, including calling on State Senator Dr. Joey Hensley in the audience to join the meeting to discuss use of state funds for the purchase of scales, the mayor resumed the chair.

Commissioner Peery made a motion to reconsider the resolution, allowed as he voted no. Seconding the reconsideration was Commissioner Ronnie Brewer, who also voted no. The Board unanimously approved a reconsideration of Resolution 06-08-20.

An amendment to add a Section 13 was made by Commissioner Carroll, with a second by Commissioner Kelley.

Section 13 added verbiage to allow those with paid Solid Waste fees an allowance for extra, non-household trash, and would add a fee for non-household trash over that allowance at a rate to be determined by the Solid Waste Committee in conjunction with the Solid Waste Director within 30 days.

"The intent is to allow residents with a sticker to bring a maximum small amount of trash, brush, etc to the landfill each month at no extra charge," Commissioner Carroll wrote in a text message to this reporter Tuesday.

A roll call vote followed to amend the resolution with all 17 voting yes to amend.

Section 4, which would increase the annual Lewis County Residential Solid Waste Fee to $115 per dwelling/per year, was amended by Commissioner Timmie Hinson, with a second by Commissioner T.J. Hinson. The amendment lowered the Residential Fee to $100, beginning October 1, 2020.

An increase to $115 would bring in $125,000 for the Solid Waste Department, while the increase to $100 would result in $50,000, members of the Solid Waste Committee confirmed.

Voting no to amend Section 4 were Commissioners Ragsdale, Dyer (both members of the Solid Waste Committee) and Robert Brewer. All 14 remaining commissioners voted yes to amend.

Commercial rates will be on a scale based on type of business, beginning at $60 per quarter.

A theme throughout the hour long discussion was a perceived threat of having to raise property taxes to cover Solid Waste, an increase no commissioner wanted.

A final vote on the reconsideration of Resolution 06-08-20, as amended, yielded a vote of 14 in favor with Commissioners Ragsdale, Dyer and Carroll voting no.

Public Input

Citizen Edwin Pratt addressed the Board of Commissioners regarding his belief that the COVID-19 pandemic was a scam. He also addressed 5G technology as harmful to our health and well being.

Dr. Brent Hutchinson, newly hired as the executive director of Davis House Child Advocacy Center, was introduced to the Board by Davis House representative DeAnna Darden-Carroll. Dr. Hutchinson addressed the Board and was welcomed by its members.

Committee Reports

Committee reports were presented by Commissioner Tanner for Solid Waste, Commissioner Fite for Public Safety and Commissioner Carroll for the Budget Committee. Reports were approved unanimously with a motion by Commissioner Robert Brewer, seconded by Commissioner Ronnie Brewer.

Other business

Resolution 06-07-20, that would reduce the Lewis County Board of Commissioners from 18 to nine at the County General Election of August 2020, was presented with sponsorship by Commissioners Halfacre and Ronnie Brewer.

The resolution had been prepared by a former member of the Board, the late Landis Turner. Voting against a reduction of members of the Board were Commissioners Ashmore, King, Peery, Hensley, Timmie Hinson, Grinder, T. J. Hinson and Dyer. The resolution failed with nine yes votes and eight opposed.

Budget amendments were approved unanimously for Lewis County Schools as presented by Director of Schools Benny Pace.

Director Pace outlined concerns over the restart of school later this summer, the same concerns he shared with the School Board (see Lewis County School Board Discusses How to Reopen Schools, page B • 3).

The rules were suspended with a motion by Commissioner Ragsdale, seconded by Commissioner Fite, to hear a resolution from new business that pertained to the schools.

The resolution amended Resolution 5-11-20 and specified the .25 percent local sales tax increase will be used to fund a new high school and future school debt obligations. The resolution was unanimously approved, 16-0.

More Budget Amendments

Budget amendments for Lewis County Jail were unanimously approved. No new money, the amendments moved funds between accounts to end the fiscal year.

Budget amendments to the Sheriff's Department were also unanimously approved.

Unanimously approved were budget amendments for the Lewis County Library, in new business and to the budget of the County Clerk.

Amended was the budget of the Parks and Rec department, also unanimous.

Strategic Planning

By resolution, the county established a Strategic Planning Committee to be comprised of, in the first year, ten members appointed by the Board of Commissioners to include: three members of the Board of Commissioners, one member of the Hohenwald City Council, six Lewis County residents selected from different sectors. In subsequent years, the number of Lewis County residents would change to seven and only two members of the Board of Commissioners would be appointed.

The resolution was prepared by Commissioner Jason Fite.

"We have been reactive for so long. It's time we as a body plan to avoid being reactive. We need to look to plan beyond one year, instead of kicking the can down the road," he stated in support of the resolution.

Members of the Strategic Planning Committee would receive no compensation and could serve three consecutive one year terms.

The committee would be charged with preparation of a strategic planning document for Lewis County, development of a vision and mission statement as well as goals and initiatives. They would be charged with obtaining public input and implementation of a strategic plan as well as providing counsel to the Board of Commission and the Budget Committee in the development of Lewis County's annual budget, among other duties.

Abstaining was Commissioner King with Sharp absent for the vote; the resolution passed 15 to 0.

Sale of an additional lot at Table Rock was approved unanimously.