Senator Hensley addressed Commissioners

Senator Joey Hensley addressed the commission during the alloted time for public input, offering a different solution for lowering the amount of commissioners. All Commissioners were present except for Commissioners Ronnie Brewer and T.J. Hinson.

Last year, the County Commission voted to lower the number of commissioners from eighteen to nine. This would mean that there would only be one commissioner per district.

Senator Hensley proposed that instead of lowering the amount of commissioners per district, the County could lower the amount of districts.

“I personally think eighteen commissioners for this size county is too many. That’s just my personal opinion. But I think nine is too few,” said Hensley. “If you decrease it to nine, you’ll have an equal amount of school board members to county commissioners. I don’t know of any county that has that scenario.”

He then listed surrounding counties and their number of commissioners compared to their population. Perry County has 12,000 people with twelve commissioners, Wayne County has 17,000 people and fourteen commissioners, Lawrence County has 25,000 with 18 commissioners, and Maury County has around 100,000 people with 22 commissioners, said Hensley.

“I know you have been wrestling with the number of commissioners,” said Hensley, “The state allows the county to have anywhere between nine and twenty-five [commissioners]... This is the perfect time to change, whether you cut it, decrease it or don’t change it because you’re going to have to re-district in the coming months for the next election. You’re going to have to change the [district] lines somewhat according to the population.”

Senator Hensley concluded, “This is just something to think about as another option. I’m not speaking to you as your senator, but as a public citizen... I think it’s a good idea to have multiple commissioners per district to represent many.”

Heated Debate Over Masks Ensued

A resolution was put before the Commission requesting the Tennessee General Assembly immediately convene a special session to “Protect the Freedom, Liberty and Individual Rights of Tennesseans.”

The resolution specifically asked the state of Tennessee to protect the rights of children to choose whether or not to wear a mask in schools and thereby protect the right of their parents to “manage the health and wellbeing of their children.”

It also sought to “protect all people of Tennessee from quarantine facilities, and from forced vaccinations, whether by government or businesses (as consumers and employees),” as a call to residents of Tennessee to “stand up and resist that which they surmise is authoritarian and in violation of their unalienable rights, and therefore, arbitrary power.”

The resolution came about after County Mayor Jonah Keltner received several calls from concerned citizens requesting a resolution similar to one that the Maury County Mayor had released earlier this month.

“I felt that [Maury County] Mayor Andy Ogles was pretty harsh towards Gov. Lee, so I scaled back some of the language that he used to put together this resolution. We can get the point across without insulting the Governor,” said Mayor Keltner.

Commissioner Brian Peery pointed to the language of Section 1 of the resolution which read, “Limit the power of the Governor of Tennessee to issue any Executive Orders that are unconstitutional and infringe on the rights and liberties of the citizens in our great state.” Commissioner Peery stated that he believed the language to be strong in suggesting that we were going to limit the power of the governor.

The focus of the discussion then changed from asking the state to call a special meeting to the commissioners’ beliefs about Covid-19 and whether or not masks should be worn.

“Their [the State Government] job is not to mandate our health and our children’s health. We should fight back and stand up for our rights! Look at the situation we’re in where people are trying to set up quarantine camps. What’s that going to turn into in 10 years? We have to stand up,” said Commissioner Allison Tanner.

Commissioner Timmie Hinson rebutted and said, “I have children and grandchildren, and if [wearing a mask] would save one of their lives, then I’d be for it.”

Commissioner Larry Pigg said, “In the 60s we had very serious breakouts of chicken pox and measles. They have now mandated that all kids have to have shots for that so what’s the difference?” Commissioner Robert Brewer responded by saying, “Those shots were also FDA approved and those Covid shots are not.”

In an effort to keep the peace, Commissioner Austin Carroll reminded the Commission what the original discussion was about. “As I see it, we’re asking the General Assembly to call a special session and look into it. We’re not telling the Governor what to do,” said Commissioner Carroll.

Commissioner Doug Jobbitt then asked Senator Hensley’s opinion. “There was some misinformation about the Governor setting up quarantine camps and using the National Guard to force the vaccine. That wasn’t going to happen. But I do support the resolution and still support having a special called session.” said Senator Hensley. “I believe it should be up to the parents, and Gov. Lee has made it optional. I don’t agree with everything he has done, but he is a good Governor.”

Commissioner Peery asked County Attorney, Jack Heath, his opinion. “I believe it is within your rights to pass this or not pass it,” said Heath.

The resolution was put to a roll call vote. Commissioners Timmie Hinson, Aren Ragsdale, Bill Dyer, Larry Hensley and Patrick Halfacre voted against the resolution, while Commissioners Jerry Ashmore, Pigg, Robert Brewer, Peery, Wendell Kelley, Kyle Bobo, Austin Carroll, Tanner, Jobbitt, Jim Grinder and Caleb Feichtinger voted yes. The resolution passed with eleven commissioners voting yes and five voting against the resolution.

County Approved the Purchase of Land

A resolution came before the commission to move $26,000 out of the General Fund Balance and into an expenditure line in order to purchase the property located at 407 North Oak Street for the purpose of future park expansion.

The property is owned by Commissioner Grinder, so he abstained from voting and only participated in the discussion when asked a question concerning the property.

Commissioner Kelley suggested that the County should ask the City if they would like to be involved in the purchase. The Commission agreed but put the resolution to a vote, saying it could be changed later if the City decided they would like to be involved.

Commissioners Jobbitt and Peery sponsored the resolution and all commissioners voted in favor except for Commissioner Ragsdale. Ragsdale said he voted against the resolution because the Park Board was not made aware of the planned purchase.

Budget Amendment

A resolution was put before the Commission to move $4,050,400 from the Fund Balance and Interest Income into the following balances with the accompanying amount: $400 into Trustee Commission, $50,000 into Architect Fees, $3,800,000 into Building Construction, and $200,000 into Construction-Retainage.

Mayor Keltner informed the Commission that the money was being moved to set up the revenues and expenditures from the Capital Projects Fund, specifically for the Jail Addition and Renovation project.

The resolution was sponsored by Commissioners Bobo and Carroll, and was put to a roll call vote where all sixteen commissioners voted in favor.