[0:00] All right.

[0:05] [laughter]

[0:08] » I was already

[0:17] county.

[0:22] » Mr. King, would you give our invitation? >> I will. Let us pray. Lord, we come to

[0:26] you tonight. We just want to give you thanks for the many blessings that you

[0:29] give us. We thank you for this opportunity that you allow us to come

[0:31] together to do the business of this county. We pray, Father, that you would

[0:35] just keep your hand upon us, each and every one here as we do that tonight.

[0:38] That we would find ourselves doing it in honor and glory to you. Father, we thank

[0:42] you for this land that you've allowed us to live in. We pray that you would just

[0:46] continue to bless this land, bless our people, Lord. Let us just remember you

[0:50] and all things that we do and say. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.

[0:55] Commissioner Frost, would you please um

[0:59] » I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic

[1:05] for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[1:12] justice for all.

[1:23] I don't know.

[1:51] That ain't working.

[2:38] Well, they run

[2:43] all the way through there. So,

[2:56] It's only about 28

[3:11] [clears throat]

[3:14] creek.

[3:25] call, please.

[3:30] » If you're here uh tonight, please press present on your tablets.

[3:51] Next is the approval of the agenda. I have a motion by Commissioner Bane and a

[3:56] second by Commissioner Arnold. All in favor say I.

[4:02] » Anyone opposed? Number two is a citizens forum and we

[4:07] did not have anybody sign up to speak tonight. Number three is the

[4:11] commissioner's quum. Commissioners, any commissioner want to

[4:15] talk tonight.

[4:20] Number four is a county mayor, attorney, and finance advisor or proclamations. I

[4:25] think the mayor has something he wants to read.

[4:29] Uh I just want to thank all the commissioners that are leaving us for

[4:32] their service for the last four years. We really appreciate your dedication to

[4:36] Bon County and the job that you've uh done. Um, we do have something that I

[4:41] was wanting to read. U,

[4:48] I would like for Jeff Murphy to stand up if you don't mind.

[4:55] So, I'd like to recognize uh, Commissioner Jeff Murphy. He has been

[4:58] appointed by Governor Bill Lee to serve on the Tennessee Board of Funeral

[5:02] Directors and Inbombers. That That's a big deal. Um, the board regulated

[5:12] This board regulates the death care profession in our state. This is a

[5:16] significant honor for Jeff and Forbidden County, reflecting his experience,

[5:20] knowledge, and leadership found within our community. Governor Lee noted in his

[5:25] appointment letter that among many nominees, Jeff's qualifications and

[5:29] professional characteristics were exceptional and expressed confidence in

[5:34] his positive impact for this board. this appointment also something that we can

[5:39] be proud of as a commission and a county and I just congratulate you on that and

[5:45] thank you for being willing to serve. I I understand you got a call from the

[5:49] governor about this. >> Yeah,

[5:53] pretty pretty humbling and overwhelming. I appreciate

[5:58] » we're really proud of you and and and want to celebrate with you. Thank you.

[6:04] We need you to be the last. [applause]

[6:13] » Mr. King, do you have anything to say to the commission?

[6:16] » Okay. Number five is the airport grant

[6:20] presentation.

[6:36] Tonight I wanted to present um on our next uh large project at the airport and

[6:42] that's going to be our perimeter fence grant. U that's something that uh all

[6:47] commission members should have been seeing on their minutes for a while

[6:50] since we've worked through phase one and phase two. We've now been awarded and

[6:56] working on the construction portion of it.

[7:00] Second. So, as we see increased traffic, we're also seeing considerable increase

[7:08] in the size of traffic that we're having. So, it's imperative that we take

[7:13] these measures to make sure that we can secure our runway and taxi way to make

[7:17] sure that everyone sees safe travels. So, in May of 2025, we conducted a

[7:25] wildlife hazard site study. Um that's where we did

[7:30] um surveillance for two and a half weeks looking at the um biggest threats to our

[7:36] runway and taxiway and to the grounds themselves.

[7:40] So um you can see a list the of um the the traffic that we captured on camera

[7:48] and um an abundance of white tail deer cattle is a great threat for us. Um we

[7:55] see in that 2 and 1/2 weeks occasional coyote, armadillo.

[8:00] Um the domestic dog we see quite frequently.

[8:06] These are just some shots that we captured. It shows [clears throat]

[8:11] some of the the areas the AOA. So we're talking about the aircraft operations

[8:15] area. How detrimental that could be with that wildlife moving, especially at

[8:19] night when our pilots cannot see it. Uh we see a lot of activity during the day,

[8:24] but um there's far more activity at night. Um we have um we have had cattle

[8:30] free on airport property. Um that's not thankfully a common occurrence, but we

[8:35] have had that happen. Um as you can see in some of these photos, um especially

[8:41] one or two slides back, you can see that um the fencing that we have currently is

[8:46] not mitigating much at all. We have a lot of openings. Um the picture on the

[8:52] left is on our property line that's not mitigating anything. That's a lot of our

[8:57] fence row that we currently have four strand bob wire. That particular

[9:01] location is located on the east side. [clears throat]

[9:05] Our property line for the east side is well within the trees. Uh there's not

[9:09] been a lot of maintenance in that area over the years. So we have lost those

[9:14] property lines and lost the fencing in that area. Um, even though it was just

[9:18] barb wire, there was no wildlife mitigation. You can see several openings

[9:24] um where the biologist is crawling under the fence. Um, our dog the dogs are

[9:29] crossing through that area. And then on the left on the right side where the

[9:34] fence posts were just put back up and left giant openings.

[9:41] This is the analysis of the two and a half weeks. As you can see, um, on the

[9:44] east side where all the pink hoops are, that's where a lot of our deer traffic

[9:49] comes from. Um, as my lineman and I are trying to mitigate this, that's where we

[9:55] do see the traffic coming from. That tree line is full of tree stands, um,

[10:01] deer [clears throat] trails, and they are crossing the runway and taxiway. We

[10:06] do see a lot of burrowing. The the half moon shapes are where burrows are

[10:11] underneath the fence row. So [clears throat] we do see quite a bit

[10:14] of that as well.

[10:21] So the project will be done in two phases. Uh the bottom portion that you

[10:25] see in light green is the east side. That's the side that we will start with

[10:30] seeing as that is the area needing the the most mitigation.

[10:35] Um we will capture the end of the runway uh during this first phase as well. Uh

[10:41] you can see how the light green line is removed off of the existing property

[10:47] line. In a lot of the area, actually most of the area on the east side, we

[10:52] are leaving the original fence in place because as I mentioned, it is well

[10:57] within the trees. We do not have the funds and would never get funding to

[11:02] approve cleaning that property line back up like it used to be. So, we have

[11:07] offset that fence off of the property line because our goal is not to secure

[11:12] the airport property so much as it is to secure the runway and taxi way. So, a

[11:18] couple of the inlets uh that you see that they have just been capped off

[11:23] straight across that is to save funds um and and also um it is an area that would

[11:30] be difficult to maintain behind the new fence. So, it was advantageous just to

[11:35] move that out. Um um set that fence out. Saved quite a bit of funds and quite a

[11:41] bit of work.

[11:45] This is the engineered diagram of what we're looking uh what we'll be

[11:50] installing. The top is 20 foot gates. Those will allow easy access for in and

[11:57] out with the the maintenance tractor and batwing mower. It'll be an 8 foot tall

[12:01] fence with a a one- foot outrigger to prevent the deer from jumping over. Um

[12:07] the ditch crossings, as you can see, um on the right, will have the strand bob

[12:12] wire. Right now, our ditch crossings have nothing

[12:16] mitigating the wildlife from going underneath the fence. um it will create

[12:21] uh some maintenance uh to um maintain those and keep those drainage ditches

[12:26] open but um obviously mitigating the wildlife is far more important.

[12:33] Um the east side will also include um mitigating the burrowing underneath. Uh

[12:40] this will be done with a dig defense. So, the dig defense will be entwined

[12:45] into the chain link and then drove into the ground approximately a foot and a

[12:49] half. This will keep the deer and the coyote uh from burrowing under and

[12:54] entering the airport property. We will only install that on the east side seeen

[12:59] as we don't have that traffic uh so much on the west side.

[13:05] And this is the funding breakdown. Um we we were able to secure this grant at a

[13:10] 2.5% local share. We did qualify um Mayor Ward and I presented to TAC uh

[13:17] several months ago. TAC is the Tennessee Aviation Commission um on this grant on

[13:23] the construction phase. We did qualify for tier 2 funding which meant that we

[13:28] got a considerable amount more in state funding than we would on a typical

[13:32] project. uh state funding only um is required to match local share of two and

[13:37] a half percent. But we do qualify for tier 2 which brought the state funding

[13:41] up considerably and allowed us to fence in the entire um airport property in one

[13:48] year rather than having to split this into a two or three-year project. So

[13:53] federal funding came in at 48.1 with state funding 49.8 and the local share

[13:58] at 2.5%. So, a total of a $850,000 project for a local share of 17,500.

[14:08] [snorts] >> Yeah. Does anyone have any questions?

[14:13] [clears throat] >> Can can local fencing companies like CT

[14:17] fencing they bid on this or is this got to have

[14:21] a a particular license or >> It doesn't need a particular license.

[14:25] This went to bid. It was placed in the paper and advertised and went to did. I

[14:30] don't know if they bid on the project or not. Um but um it was awarded to um it's

[14:37] not a company in Camden obviously, but um it it was a localized a local

[14:42] company. >> We had eight or 10 people to bid on

[14:46] that. >> We did. We had a really good turnout. Um

[14:50] we had a really good turnout. Um, and we were very fortunate that that quote fell

[14:54] within our grant guidelines to allow us to to capture the entire property

[14:58] because the last thing that we wanted to do was just focus on the east side and

[15:03] do the ends of the runway because that would have been a capture effect. Uh,

[15:07] any wildlife that we had come from the west side would have been captured on

[15:12] that east side. So, we would have constantly been mitigating trying to get

[15:15] them out of that. Uh, and it would have been a back and forth. So, um, we were

[15:21] fortunate to have that come in at a a price that fit within our awarded grant.

[15:28] » I have a question. Have we talked to TWWR, US Fish and Wildlife Service about

[15:34] mitigating goose problems all over the country obviously and had a lot of

[15:39] encounters, bird strikes. So, have we got a plan in place to mitate?

[15:44] » Well, um, they've talked about giving me a cannon. Uh I don't I don't think

[15:50] that's a good option for my neighbors. Um um we have a a great rapport with our

[15:58] neighbors. Um we are looking at we were advised by the biologist during this

[16:04] wildlife height uh site visit study to have a lot of coverage. So they said

[16:10] that that was the most advantageous way to mitigate geese that they will

[16:13] acclimate to anything. They also acclimate to the um they will acclimate

[16:19] to the canyon even. So our issue is the ponds. Uh we have a pond at the north

[16:28] end of the runway. 22 is our busiest runway. Uh and we have a large pond at

[16:32] the north end. So when we when we have a a radio call come in over the unicom and

[16:40] we have high um goose population, my lineman goes to the south end, I go to

[16:46] the north end and we flush them off the runway. We have to be very cautious when

[16:52] we do that because you cannot you you do not flush uh when an aircraft is near

[16:58] approach. Um you would never want to do that. So you have to be uh diligent in

[17:05] making sure that we're having the safest facility that we can have. But until

[17:09] something is done with those ponds, this will be I think a continuing

[17:13] problem. Uh TWW talked about trapping them. But um they said no matter how far

[17:19] they took them away. So we we have worked on trying to

[17:24] mitigate those as best we can, but the the issue is cons.

[17:30] Will the fence cover 100% of the perimeter? I know

[17:34] » it will. Would you go back, please? >> I know at one time they talked about

[17:38] some wet land. >> Well, the wetland discussion was a

[17:43] little confusing to me, but um down into the tree line where the where you have

[17:49] the two parcels that the c it's captain green down in that back area, there's a

[17:55] little bit of a wet um where the drainage pools. That's because of poor

[18:00] ditching, but we don't have the funding to go cleaning up ditches. So, what

[18:05] we've done again is just pull that out of that wetter area. It's not designated

[18:10] a wetland um because it's not protected and obviously if it was designated

[18:15] wetland, it would be. So, uh we pulled that fence out. This uh this fence is

[18:20] offset, like I said, it's offset off of our original fence because um Yes. And

[18:27] so that way we can also still get behind it and keep it all well maintained.

[18:34] » You're welcome. And the red area um that fence will be removed entirely because

[18:42] it is not overgrown. There's not been a lack of maintenance in that area. So um

[18:47] just to not have the old fence and the new fence and an area that is most

[18:52] visual um that the red fence will be removed. Now, um up around the terminal

[18:58] building, um just a short distance kind of on the entry drive, um I did not

[19:06] um um I'm not having that fence removed. I'm just having it rem meshed because it

[19:12] saves funds and our fence posts are fine. So, we're just remshing it and

[19:18] making sure that that mesh goes down to ground level and doesn't leave those

[19:21] openings. But those fence posts will remain

[19:27] » [clears throat] >> the north end of this runway where the

[19:31] red line is at. >> Does the airport own that property up to

[19:36] airport road? >> But the red line the airport owns

[19:41] everything that you see is airport property. The the even even the two

[19:47] parcels that um we obtained last year, you can see those are also included. Um,

[19:53] Mayor Ward and I also had those captured in this new project. So, uh, all all

[19:58] that you see is airport property and it was surveyed.

[20:02] » Okay, another question. >> Going down airport road. I'm familiar

[20:07] with that pretty good, but there's a pond right off of our boat, couple

[20:13] hundred yards, >> and I'm thinking that built up a right

[20:19] or wrong. I I have no paperwork on that.

[20:23] » It's the Broadway north side. >> It is. I've I've had several people tell

[20:27] me that, but um I'm assuming he did because it is on his property.

[20:32] » Well, if that's the case, then airport property does not come to airport road.

[20:39] » Well, it actually does. You can see a little

[20:43] bit of the pond in the photo under that top white square. You can see the edge

[20:48] of it. Um, but we go to Airport Road where you

[20:53] see the red line turn and go northwest just a bit.

[20:59] » Yeah, that that is Airport Road frontage right there.

[21:03] » That's the RPZ, the runway protection zone.

[21:20] I can use a shotgun. Um, we've been allowed, I mean, we've been told that we

[21:26] can use a shotgun to mitigate them. Um, we have not chosen to go that route.

[21:32] We're just doing the best we can to be as um, accommodating to our neighbors as

[21:38] we can be, but also have the safest facility that we can have.

[21:42] » I haven't I haven't seen

[21:46] This is not a new problem. They were there when I came.

[21:52] » Yeah, this is not new. >> Anyone else?

[22:01] » Thank you.

[22:05] » Number six is the approval of our minutes from the last meeting. I need a

[22:09] motion and a second, please. Have a motion by Commissioner Horton and

[22:15] a second by Commissioner Arnold. All in favor say I.

[22:18] » Anyone oppose.

[22:22] Number seven is the report of the public utilities.

[22:26] We have a motion by Commissioner Arnold and a second by Commissioner Douglas.

[22:31] All in favor say I. >> Any oppose it.

[22:36] Number eight is our first resolution. And it is by the director of schools,

[22:40] Mark Florence, to budget funds in the amount of 51,267.82

[22:46] from a public s school construction and maintenance grant received at the end of

[22:51] last fiscal year. Have a motion, a second by Arnold and Horton.

[22:58] Any questions?

[23:01] Okay, I see none. So, everyone, please vote.

[23:13] motion.

[23:16] Number nine is a resolution by director of schools Mark Florence to move funds

[23:20] in the amount of $9,300 within the school's budget. I have a motion by

[23:26] Commissioner Fowler and a second by Commissioner Key. Any questions?

[23:33] There are none. So, please vote. Anyone

[23:40] change their vote? Motion carries. 17.

[23:45] Number 10 is a resolution by director of schools Mark Florence to budget funds

[23:49] received from the West Tennessee Healthcare in the amount of $47,440

[23:55] to property line items in the school's budget for expenditure. Have a motion by

[24:00] Commissioner Fowler and a second by Commissioner Price. Any questions about

[24:04] it?

[24:07] Ra. So please vote.

[24:26] Anyone

[24:36] want to change your vote?

[24:42] Number 11 is a resolution by director of schools Mark Florence to budget funds in

[24:46] the amount of $81255 received from the state for early

[24:51] childhood education voluntary prek to the school's budget.

[24:58] Excuse me. Motion by Commissioner Arnold and a second by Horton. Any questions?

[25:06] There are none. Please vote.

[25:16] » [clears throat]

[25:22] » to change your vote. Motion carries 17.

[25:28] » Number 12 is a resolution by the director of schools, Mark Florence, to

[25:32] appropriate and budget funds in the amount of $217.

[25:37] $217.

[25:41] 200,17

[25:45] » $217,500. >> Thank you. [laughter]

[25:49] I had a moment there. Um to the school's nutrition budget.

[25:55] Have a motion by Fowler and a second by Douglas.

[25:58] Any questions?

[26:02] Okay, there are none. So, please vote.

[26:14] motion car.

[26:18] Number 13 is a resolution by the sheriff to appropriate and budget funds in the

[26:23] amount of $21,783.33

[26:28] to the proper expenditure line items within the sheriff's budget to fund an

[26:33] in to fund installing a video workstation for the sheriff's office due

[26:38] to the expiration of BBMS maintenance coverage and licensing fees up to date

[26:44] with the securities technology.

[26:49] We have a motion and a second by Commissioner Bane and F.

[26:54] Any questions for the sheriff?

[27:00] Okay, there are none. So, please vote.

[27:09] Motion carries.

[27:12] Number 14 is a resolution by the sheriff to budget funds in the amount of $150

[27:18] received from the sex offenders registry to appropriate line items in the

[27:22] sheriff's budget for expenditure. Motion by Arnold and second by Fowler.

[27:30] Any questions?

[27:34] There are none. So please vote.

[27:45] to change.

[27:50] » Number 15 is a resolution by Sheriff Christopher to budget funds in the

[27:54] amount of $12,500 received from TLA cost sharing grant to

[28:00] an expenditure line item to allow for proper expenditure. This resolution is

[28:06] um needing a an amendment and it's uh the wording in the

[28:12] resolution. If you'll notice where it said

[28:17] u from TLEA cost sharing grant, we need to amend this and change it to the TLEA

[28:24] retention and recruitment grant.

[28:30] by Arnold and second by [clears throat]

[28:55] » the amendment. >> Okay. before the amendment. Please vote.

[28:58] If you're not, vote. [clears throat]

[29:16] [snorts] >> Now we will vote on the resolution as we

[29:19] just amended it. Any questions?

[29:25] Okay. Anyone?

[29:49] Number 16 is a resolution by the sheriff to budget funds in the amount of 1,3245

[29:57] received from insurance payments on damaged sheriff department vehicles to

[30:01] an expenditure line item to allow for proper expenditure.

[30:06] Have a motion by Commissioner Bane and a second by Milton. Any questions?

[30:13] Okay, please vote. Anyone?

[30:23] Motion carrying. 17. >> Number 17 is a resolution

[30:29] by Sheriff Christopher to budget funds in the amount of $375

[30:34] received from miscellaneous sources to proper line items for expenditure.

[30:39] Have a motion by Commissioner Horton and Melton.

[30:44] Any questions?

[30:49] There are none. So, everyone please vote.

[31:00] Number 18 is a resolution by Sheriff Tristopher to budget funds in the amount

[31:05] of $200 received from damages recovered from individuals.

[31:14] Any questions? We have a motion by Commissioner Douglas

[31:18] and a second by Horton. Okay, there are no questions. Everyone,

[31:22] please vote.

[31:28] Vote. Motion carries. 17.

[31:32] Number 19 is a resolution by Sheriff Ken Christopher to budget funds in the

[31:36] amount of $775 received from miscellaneous sources to

[31:40] proper line items for expenditure. We have a motion by Commissioner Price

[31:46] and a second by Commissioner Bane. Any questions?

[31:52] Are none? So, please vote.

[32:09] Miss Davy

[32:22] carries 17. Number 20 is a resolution appointing

[32:27] Angie Hearn as commissioner for the North Utility District of Decar and

[32:32] Bittton County, Tennessee to serve a 4-year term expiring April 23rd. Have a

[32:38] motion by Arnold and a second by Murphy. Any questions about the appointment?

[32:45] Okay, there are none. So, please vote.

[32:54] Vote. Motion carries. 17. >> Number 21 is a resolution by Mayor Mark

[33:00] Ward to reappoint Mr. Ray Wilson to the Bent County Electric System Board for a

[33:05] 4-year term. I have a motion by Commissioner Melton and a second by

[33:09] Commissioner Nry. Any questions?

[33:14] There are none. So, please vote.

[33:23] motion carry 17. >> Number 22 is a resolution by Mayor Mark

[33:28] Ford to budget funds received from the airport grants in the amount of $257

[33:35] $257,86951

[33:39] to the airport's budget. Have a motion by Arnold and a second by

[33:44] Holland. Any questions?

[33:49] There are none. So everyone please vote.

[33:58] Motion carries.

[34:03] Number 23 is a resolution by Mayor Ward to appoint Heather Drexler to the Benton

[34:09] County Animal Shelter Board for three-year term. Motion by Fowler and a

[34:13] second by Arnold. Any questions?

[34:20] There are none. So please vote.

[34:30] You can change your vote. Motion carries 17.

[34:39] Number 24 is a resolution authorizing the return of unexpended school resource

[34:45] officers SRO grant funds in the amount of $30,117.76

[34:53] to the state of Tennessee by appropriating funds for the same

[34:58] motion by Fowler and a second by Melton. Anyone have any questions about this?

[35:07] Okay, there are none. So, please vote.

[35:15] Anyone? Motion carries. 17.

[35:22] Number 25 is a resolution by mayor board to declare one county owned vehicle in

[35:28] possession of the animal shelter as surplus property for the purpose of

[35:32] public sale. Motion by Commissioner Fowler and a second by Commissioner

[35:36] Horton. >> Anyone have any questions?

[35:42] » Mr. Price, you're recognized. >> Um, yes. I was want to know we at one

[35:47] time we had discussed getting them a transport thing

[35:52] and I didn't know if there been any further discussion. I hadn't heard any

[35:56] for them so they can transport animals their locations. I know they really

[36:02] worked hard and taking place in different places with animals.

[36:06] So I didn't know we have we got any options on that opinion?

[36:11] » Um no we're looking into getting a grant for that a transport van but this past

[36:16] year we did get them a truck and have it outfitted and uh Tad Fuller donated an

[36:22] air conditioner to the back of the truck that feeds in and keeps the animals cool

[36:27] that we're transporting. So that's met the need right now. They still need a a

[36:31] transport van. So when I'm able to acquire a grant for that, I'll be asking

[36:35] y'all to allow me to do that. >> Anyone else?

[36:43] Okay, everyone please vote. [clears throat]

[36:54] hear that he has number 26 is a resolution

[36:59] by Mayor Ward to budget funds in the amount of $1,582

[37:04] received from courtroom security fees to proper expenditure line items within the

[37:10] sheriff's budget in order to fund required training for bailis and

[37:14] courtroom security. A motion by Commissioner Melton and a

[37:18] second by Bane. Any questions for the sheriff?

[37:25] There are none. So please vote. [snorts]

[37:40] Anyone

[37:44] car 17. Number 27 is a resolution by Mayor Ward

[37:49] to appoint Sam Jones to the Benton County Civil Service Board for a 4-year

[37:54] term beginning September 1, 2026 and ending September 1, 2030. A motion by

[38:00] Commissioner Mountain and a second by Commissioner Keane.

[38:05] Questions? >> Who are we replacing?

[38:08] » Actually, we're replacing Mr. Jones. >> Okay. uh he stepped down uh about a year

[38:13] ago, maybe longer than that, and I had never put anybody else on there. He was

[38:18] such an asset and the sheriff agreed that uh we we would like to have him

[38:22] back on there. So, I talked to him and he said that he would serve another

[38:25] term. >> Any other questions?

[38:30] » Thank everyone, please. >> Do we need to This doesn't actually say

[38:36] four years. It says four.

[38:43] down in the whereas it says for your turn.

[38:45] » Okay. >> So, I think we're okay.

[38:47] » Okay. I just want to make sure.

[38:51] » Yeah. Are you all okay with that? >> Yeah.

[38:57] » Okay. Um, everyone please vote.

[39:11] Motion carries 178

[39:16] is a resolution

[39:19] by Mayor Mark Ward to increase the compensation for the Benton County

[39:23] Commissioners for attendance at scheduled commission meetings and

[39:27] standing committees.

[39:40] I mean, it was in the packet.

[39:47] » You want to hand it to

[40:03] » [snorts]

[40:27] » and the budget committee voted on it. So it was in it was in the agenda.

[40:37] » Okay. >> Okay.

[40:40] » As long as your procedure was correct. >> Yeah. It it was on the agenda and the

[40:45] budget committee. It went through budget committee and everything. So it's we

[40:48] don't have to suspend the rules. But okay, the floor is open if there are any

[40:52] discussions about this resolution.

[40:57] Do we have any?

[41:00] Okay, there are none. So, everyone please

[41:04] vote.

[41:14] » [laughter]

[41:25] » Next on the agenda is the appointment of notaries.

[41:29] We have Tammy Sher, Michelle Wright, Karen Scott, Hunter Collinssworth, and

[41:35] Kayla Joe Smothers. Need a motion and a second. We have a motion by Kenneth

[41:41] Miller and a second by Arnold. Everyone vote, please.

[41:48] Everyone voice vote, please. If in favor say I. I.

[41:51] » Anyone opposed?

[41:55] Okay, now we're down to any other business.

[41:59] Does anybody have any other business? Commissioner Mark, you're recognized.

[42:04] [snorts]

[42:07] [clears throat]

[42:09] » Um, Madam Chair, you were pleased to appoint about a year ago the private act

[42:15] committee to look into the Benton County private act of 1939 and report

[42:20] recommendations to the full body. Uh, the committee did that. Uh the chair was

[42:26] pleased to appoint commissioners Kenneth Miller, uh Phil Melton, Keith Arnold,

[42:31] Terry Keane, and myself to this committee, and we were all honored to

[42:35] serve on it. Uh we met numerous times over the course of a year. Amendments

[42:39] were recommended and adopted by the full commission. The private act is amended,

[42:43] was sponsored in the Tennessee House by Representative Jay Rei, where it passed

[42:48] and it was sponsored in the state senate by Senator J. John Stevens. passed there

[42:54] and it was signed into law by the governor. Um certain formatting changes

[42:58] were made by the legal department of the state legislature. The private act then

[43:03] was as amended was adopted by the resolution of the event county

[43:07] commission. Uh now, madam chair, as chairman of the private act committee, I

[43:12] report that our work has been completed and I would like to publicly and

[43:16] formally thank the members of the committee for their work and studious

[43:19] deliberations resulted in important needed updates to many of our financial

[43:25] laws of the private act. With no further duties left our charge, I respectfully

[43:30] move that the private act committee of Benton County Commission be discharged

[43:33] and dissolved effective immediately. >> But may I speak?

[43:37] » Yes. >> Uh Mr. Murphy, I think something come up

[43:39] during the budget last a few weeks ago that maybe we need to revisit that and

[43:45] make some other changes to that private act and we also have a private act

[43:50] that's needing to be passed a change to it on the severance tax. So, would that

[43:55] committee be open to continuing this year to take care of those two issues?

[44:02] Uh, I would love that if you would. I think y'all did an outstanding job on

[44:06] what we did, but I think your work's not finished yet.

[44:10] » Well, our work not being completed, I'll withdraw my motion and we'll go back to

[44:14] the drawing board with my abled body fellow committee members. I

[44:18] » I think that we do need to make a few more amendments to the original private

[44:23] act, but we definitely need to follow up because we did send the private act uh

[44:28] change on the severance tax to them, >> but they're not going to take it up

[44:31] until this session. So, I think we'll probably have to that and resend it to

[44:35] them just as it was a new one since it uh it didn't make that. But I would

[44:40] really appreciate it if y'all would. >> All right, I'll draw my motion.

[44:44] » All right. Thank you. I appreciate each one of y'all that will keep serving.

[44:49] » Mr. Murphy, >> before you sat down, were you going to

[44:54] say something to the commission about the um Savannah Grace

[45:00] organization? U Madam Chair, I think we'll have a uh a

[45:06] resolution to bring to the full commission next month.

[45:09] » Okay. >> All right. Thank you.

[45:13] » I'll be glad to talk speak if you like to.

[45:17] » Well, you can and then that way um everyone will know when they get the

[45:21] resolution, they'll know what it's all about.

[45:23] » All right. Um, Savannah's Grace is a all abilities daycare and um Amy Kates

[45:31] founded that and it's named in honor of her daughter Savannah and the the

[45:36] commission uh traditionally has funded a lot of nonprofits and this one was

[45:42] brought to our attention after the budget was well underway and uh we um

[45:49] the budget committee has uh kind of informally said we'll take up next

[45:54] month. But what we propose to do is to add them to the list of nonprofits that

[46:00] we support and try to get them some funding. They have bought a property and

[46:06] they're remodeling now a home, a house that will be their uh base of operations

[46:13] and but we'll be bringing a little more information to the commission next

[46:19] month. >> Okay. Thank you.

[46:21] » Thank you. Anyone else have any other business you want to

[46:26] say? Anyone want to speak? Um, I have one thing and I'm mention it

[46:34] now because it happens before our September meeting. Um, some of you are

[46:40] aware of the regional meetings that we have every fall. Last year we had it

[46:44] here in Camden at the Apex Bank building. This year the meeting will be

[46:50] held in Weekley County in Martin at the Martin Gateway Center. It's on September

[46:56] the 17th at 5:30. And if you attend that meeting,

[47:02] especially the new commissioners, you will get two hours worth credit toward

[47:08] your annual training credit hours that you're supposed to have. So, and anybody

[47:13] that shows up, even uh the ones that are already elected and have already done

[47:18] your training, you still get the two hours. You get a meal. Also, there'll be

[47:22] people there from CATAZ and Mr. Charlie Curtis, our county commissioner

[47:27] executive. He will be there to talk to us, too. So, it's a good meeting to go

[47:32] to where you always get a good meal and learn some information. So that you is

[47:37] on September the 17th at uh the Martin Gateway Center. If any of you have the

[47:44] email from Mr. Curtis, if you don't have it, you need to sign up for it because

[47:49] that's where he puts out all his information to us. So if you are not

[47:54] signed up for TCCA um with Mr. Curtis, you need to do that.

[48:01] So, but um the the only other thing I have is I would like to to say a special

[48:07] thank you to Debbie Bane and Kenneth Miller, Sunny Hall, Dwayne Fowler, Marty

[48:13] Douglas, Frank Lashley Jr. and tell thank you for your service and we

[48:18] appreciate that you have served. I know sometimes it's not easy, but um it's not

[48:24] easy to be a public servant sometimes. But we do thank you and I'm sure the

[48:28] citizens thank you for the four years that you have given us and we will miss

[48:32] you.

[48:50] any of you guys like to say anything or Debbie, would you like to say anything?

[48:58] » Okay, >> I appreciate [laughter]

[49:03] Thank you for all that y'all help me do. It's been good working with all of you.

[49:08] » Thank you. >> Okay, that's all we have. You need a

[49:13] motion to adjurnn. Motion by Arnold, second by Fer. All in

[49:19] favor say I. >> We are journed.

[49:45] How you doing everybody?

County Commission Meeting 8/17/26

Transcript