County business conducted for July

Members of Lewis County’s governing body assembled Monday, July 27, conducting business and receiving quarterly reports from department heads.

Public Input

During a time of Public Input, Edwin Pratt addressed the Board alerting to a downturn in the economy of China. “We would be more than foolish to think this will not affect us,” he admonished the Board. “Evil is coming to this unwalled city...and our only defense is God,” he added. Mr. Praff urged local officials to hold a two hour prayer meeting prior to their meetings.

Scarlette Woodall, executive director of the Hohenwald Arts Council, requested the Board keep the same funding as in year’s past, $2,000, for the non-profit.

Committee Reports

Commissioner Allison Tanner presented a report on behalf of the Solid Waste Committee and Austin Carroll on behalf of the Budget Committee. Public Safety did not meet in July. A motion to approve was made by Commissioner Ronnie Brewer, seconded by Robert Brewer.

Resolutions

The Fiscal Year 2020-21 Property Tax Rate was approved unanimously at $1.8838 for an estimated collection of $4,434,012.89. Sponsors were Commissioner Patrick Halfacre and Ronnie Brewer.

Funding for non-profit organizations was approved by unanimous roll call vote to include the following,

Lewis County Volunteer Fire Department $19,000; Centerstone $4,500; Shelter, Inc. $2,500; Lewis County Senior Center $12,000; Lewis County Soil Conservation $18,000; Hohenwald/Lewis County Chamber of Commerce $18,000; South Central Human Resource Agency $1,600; American Legion Post 127 $1,500; Buffalo River Services $4,800; Hohenwald Arts Council $500; Lewis County Cancer Victims Fund $1,000; Lewis County Historical Society $3,500; Sonnenschein $500; Tennessee Department of Forestry $1,000; and War Memorial Committee $1,500.

Appropriations were made for various funds, departments, offices and agencies of Lewis County government. Sponsors were Commissioners Carroll and Halfacre, who self amended the resolution to move $52,000 from the General Fund into Solid Waste. A unanimous roll call vote approved the resolution.

Quarterly Reports

Lewis County Mayor Jonah Keltner left the chair to present his quarterly report with Chairman Pro Tem Brian Peery assuming leadership.

Mayor Keltner advised Lewis County would receive $744,000 in a state funded grant. June’s sales tax increase of 141% placed Lewis County in the second highest position in the state for growth. Deliquent Solid Waste fees were the lowest they had ever been at this time of year, $47,978.56. He also presented an airport inspection report that indicates the runway needs rehabilitation.

Expenses at the former Sentinel Trust building were at $323,469 which included the purchase price of $204,565.

A mask mandate was discussed and no member of the Board wished to mandate the wearing of masks. Commissioner Halfacre noted the recommendation of wearing a mask in groups of 10 or more.

At the time of the meeting, Lewis County had experienced its first death related to Coronavirus. A moment of silence was observed by the Board in honor of Vietnam Veteran Floyd Tubbs Sr.

The mayor’s report was accepted with a motion by Commissioner Robert Brewer, seconded by Commissioner Wendell Kelley. Mayor Keltner resumed the chair.

Director of Schools Benny Pace presented his reports and discussed details of how students would return to school. School personnel will follow CDC directives, he stated, with positive cases. The potential for going over budget for substitute teachers exists if a high number of teachers contract the virus.

Virtual lessons will be available and individual education plans for students will be implemented as needed. Teachers will not likely have duty free lunches, and students will not be exempt from testing, at this point in the process, he indicated.

Bus drivers will be accountable for cleaning and keeping children separated.

“Let’s try to knuckle up and realize this isn’t how its gonna be all the time,” Mr. Pace told the Board.

The report was accepted with a motion by Commissioner Aren Ragsdale, seconded by Commissioner Larry Hensley to precede a unanimous vote.

Emergency Management Director Daniel Atkinson reported on two missing men as well as presented a written report. A motion by Commissioner Timmie Hinson, seconded by Commissioner Tanner preceded a unanimous vote of approval.

Highway Commissioner Joyce Holt’s report met unanimous approval with a motion by Commissioner Peery, seconded by Commissioner Bill Dyer.

Paving will be done on Big Swan Creek Road, 0.7 miles, on Ridgetop Road, 1.1 miles and Indian Creek Road, 0.7 miles.

Lewis County Librarian Crystal Nash reported 48 children registered for the virtual summer reading program. A State Library grant in the amount of $8,700 was received for students and families with no match. To date, 9,943 county records have been cleaned and indexed for archives. The library continues to offer curbside service.

A motion by Commissioner Carroll was seconded by Commissioner Robert Brewer to unanimously approve her report.

Park Board Chairman Don Barber reported the park pavilion was almost complete. Few people have used the park for the summer and 16 new aluminum picnic tables were purchased.

The South Central Area Fair Board plans to host the annual fair September 1-5, 2020, he reported. “Anything could change, its fluid,” he added.

“People are hungry for events,” he continued, noting a new derby event had already sold out. The addition of hand sanitizing stations at the air was planned.

A motion to approve by Commissioner Ronnie Brewer was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale with a unanimous vote to follow.

Sheriff Dwayne Kilpatrick presented his report to include a report as to how the jail was keeping prisoners monitored for Coronavirus with daily temperature checks. Motion to approve was made by Commissioners Robert and Ronnie Brewer and the report was accepted.

Resolutions

Appointed to the Lewis County Public Library Board was Blake Farr to fill the expired term of Paul Jones. The three year term will end June 30, 2023. Also re-appointed was Glena Sikes to a three year term to end June 30, 2023.