The Emergency Services Committee and Intergovernmental CommitteeÕs vote to remove SheriffÕs Department deputies serving as security guards at Scott County Hospital.
BUILDING AND GROUNDS
COMMITTEE
Chairman Leonard Bertram called his committee to order at 5 p.m. and votes were taken to hire an architect to design a 2,900 square foot addition to the DHS building in Huntsville; allow the chairman to bring in a contract for a vote of the full commission for a planned addition to the Scott County Office Building; send out proposals for organizations interested in operating the Scott County Emergency Shelter at the old Capital Hill School building; rebid the roof replacement of the Scott County Juvenile Detention Center; solicit bids for soft drink and snack food vendors for county-owned buildings; and accepted the bid on the Scott County VisitorÕs Center to be built in Helenwood.
County Mayor Dwight Murphy told the committee members that while an architect needed to be hired to design the addition to the DHS building, the state would actually provide the specifications. He suggested that Upland Design of Crossville be given the contract, simply because Neal Richardson of that firm was the original architect on the building. But, he added, ÒWe can request proposals, if thatÕs the desire of the committee.Ó
After a brief discussion about whether or not the expansion of the Scott County Office Building could be undertaken this year, the committee voted to approve a motion by Commissioner Odeva Byrd to allow Committee Chairman Bertram to bring in a contract for a vote of the full commission at its upcoming meeting on August 18.
The committee also approved a motion by Commissioner Hertis Phillips to seek proposals from such organizations as the Scott-Morgan Project, Big Emory Baptist Association, Scott County WomenÕs Shelter and others to finish and assume operation of the Scott County Emergency Shelter (or Homeless/Help Center) at the old Capital Hill School site.
In so doing, the committee gave its approval to a proposal form worked up by County Mayor Murphy, which asks that potential service providers identify their history, programs to be provided and operational plans for the Scott County center, as well as how the building would be utilized, and the length of contract with the county. Also, the request for proposals would require a copy of the organizationÕs state charter and 501(3)(c) status, as well as a copy of an annual budget for the previous three years.
Commissioner Ernest Phillips also requested that the successful bidder be required to provide the committee with a quarterly report on its activities once it assumes control of the center.
On a motion by Commissioner Rick Russ and all aye vote, the committee voted to rebid the roof replacement of the Scott County Detention Center. Russ specified that a hip roof be built to replace the existing flat ÒrubberÓ roof.
When previously bid, the lowest bid submitted was around $29,000, it was pointed out. County Attorney John Beaty informed the committee that any work on existing buildings exceeding $25,000 required hiring an architect to inspect the facility and prepare designs for modifications and/or additions. By changing the bid specifications this time around, however, the committee hopes to avoid the need for hiring an architect on the project.
Following a round table discussion concerning soft drink and snack food vendors for county-owned buildings, the committee voted to approve a motion by Commissioner Odeva Byrd calling for bidding space for vendors in county buildings, rather than seeking a percentage of the sales from the vending machines.
Initial plans are to put two soft drink machines and one stack machine in the Scott County Office Building, Scott County Courthouse, Scott County Road Department Office, Scott County Recreation Park and Scott County Jail, and one each at the Scott County Airport and Scott County Ambulance Service.
Payments from soft drink and snack food vendors would be made on a quarterly basis, with the proceeds going into the funds of the departments in which they were generated, according to County Mayor Murphy.
Despite opposition voiced by Chairman Bertram, the committee voted to approve awarding a $366,600 bid to Brewster Builders of Oneida to construct a Scott County VisitorÕs Center on property adjacent to the Scott County School Bus Garage on U.S. 27 in Helenwood. Bids on the project were opened on July 29.
County Mayor Murphy pointed out that BrewsterÕs bid was $109,184 over the grant monies being provided by the state, but all the cuts that could be made have been made.
Bertram indicated that his opposition to the project wasnÕt because the project came in over available revenue, but because he felt there was no need for such a facility and money could be better spent on projects like replacing an old wing at Robbins Elementary School.
ÒWe donÕt need a welcome center in Scott County. I never was in favor of it from day one,Ó Bertram stated.
Ernest Phillips said that since plans were to use the staff in the Industrial Development Board/Chamber of Commerce Building in Oneida in the new VisitorÕs Center, that building could be sold (or leased), with the revenue being used to make up the difference on the new two-story log structure to be built in Helenwood.
County Mayor Murphy also said he was in favor of proceeding with the project, which would provide additional office spaces for county government needs. Murphy pointed out that the VisitorÕs Center would have two stories and a basement.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL
COMMITTEE
Commissioner Mike Slaven called the Intergovernmental Committee to order at 5:55 p.m., and the first order of business was to approve a motion to close and gate an abandoned section of old U.S. 27 near Low Gap. Slaven suggested that a gate be erected across the road and that oil companies (who have tanks and equipment in the area to be closed) be asked to share the cost of the gate with the county.
After reviewing photos of illegal dump sites provided by County Mayor Murphy, the committee voted to spend $3,750 to clean up some of the worst roadside dumps. The money to be spent on this project is equal to the amount of a fine imposed by the State Department of Environment and Conservation for the countyÕs failure to meet a deadline on its reclamation/closure of the old Scott County landfill site. The department is allowing Scott County to use the fine for an environmental project in the county. The clean up of the illegal dumps will first have to be approved by the department, however.
County Attorney Beaty discussed with the committee the status of various lawsuits, which included an offer by Campbell County Attorney Dave Dunaway of a $15,000 payment to settle his clientÕs (Erma MasseyÕs) wrongful termination suit as director of the Scott County Senior Citizens & Friends Organization.
Beaty told the committee he was not ready to make a recommendation one way or the other. He said he first needed to determine if the county has any liability, and then whether or not the countyÕs share of the settlement would be paid by the countyÕs insurance provider. Other parties named in the suit include the Town of Oneida and the board of directors for the Senior Citizens Center.
On a motion by Commissioner Slaven and all aye vote, the committee approved an annual contract between the East Tennessee Human Resources Agency, Inc. and the county to provide workforce development services for fiscal year 2003-04.
Also by unanimous vote, the committee approved a motion by Commissioner Rick Keeton to send on to the full commission a resolution to ratify a new state law giving Scott County Ògeneral policing powersÓ with regard to the regulation of Ònuisances and other practices detrimental to the inhabitants of the county,Ó
County Attorney Beaty explained that the new measure passed the Tennessee General Assembly in April and would require a two-thirds vote of the commission for ratification. He said he felt that it could be used as a vehicle to fight the establishment of Òadult entertainment issues,Ó and virtually anything else county government might consider as a nuisance.Ó
If adopted by the commission, Beaty added, a separate resolution would also have to be approved to spell out the enforcement procedures (including fines) which would be imposed against violators.
The committee then approved a motion by Commissioner Slaven to have the county attorney draft a letter to BenÕs Mobile Homes to release titles on modular homes acquired as replacement housing in a 1992-93 grant-funded housing replacement project for low income families. County Mayor Murphy said that three or four families were involved and none have ever received a title for their replacement homes. Without a title, he explained, they are unable to obtain loans for home improvements.
Commissioner Rick Russ told the committee of the need for developing an evacuation route for some 600 residents of the Helenwood community in the event of a disaster which would block their exit via the Helenwood railroad crossing. It was decided that a committee composed of Russ and fellow fourth district Commissioner Rick Keeton, along with the county attorney and the committee chairman, talk with landowners along the old Silcox Ford Road to see if a road could be opened up across New River (toward Mountain View). The motion was made by Commissioner Keeton and carried by a unanimous vote.
On a motion by Commissioner Jeff Watson, the committee voted to remove Scott County Sheriff Department deputies from acting as security guards at Scott County Hospital, after being informed by both County Attorney Beaty and County Mayor Murphy that the contract between the SheriffÕs Department and the hospital was probably illegal. A similar resolution was later approved by the Emergency Services Committee.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
Commissioner Ernest PhillipsÕ committee joined the Intergovernmental Committee in approving the low bid for the Scott County VisitorÕs Center, despite the fact that it came in more than $109,000 over grant funds being provided by the state.
In other business, the committee discussed Utility Board matters, which included plans to allow Huntsville Utility District to assume the task of billing sewer service for the county at a cost of $1 to $1.50 per customer per month. No firm decision has been reached, but committee members and County Mayor Murphy indicated that an agreement would likely be reached. It was pointed out that the utilityÕs manager, Larry Crowley, had been ill for a couple of weeks and had not yet returned to work full time.
Also discussed were the pre-construction conference on the Fairview sewer project (set for Tuesday, August 5 at the Scott County Office Building), and awaiting the preliminary design work on the Robbins sewer project.
By a unanimous vote, the committee approved County Mayor MurphyÕs recommendation that Campbell and Associates be given the contract to do the preliminary design work on an airport access road (to avoid the dangerous bridge and intersection at High Point)..
The committee also discussed a report by County Mayor Murphy on industrial recruitment efforts currently underway, which included continuing talks with a prospect for the former Wabash building in Huntsville, and granting an additional 60 days to a potential Òmedical-typeÓ manufacturing concern interested in a facility at the Airport Industrial Park which would hire up to 300 people within its first three years of operation.
The committee also discussed but took no action on developing a route around the taxiway crossing on the Airport Road. Murphy explained that the new access to the airport terminal would be routed behind existing industrial buildings to avoid crossing a sometimes gated taxiway.
Commissioner Ron Blevins had made a motion to allow the Scott County Road Department to gravel the new route, but it was later withdrawn after Commissioner Rick Keeton said he felt that the new road should be upgraded to county road standards before it was formally approved.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
COMMITTEE
The last committee meeting of the night was called to order by Chairman Hertis Phillips.
After dispensing with several matters related to the Scott County Ambulance Service, the committee joined the Intergovernmental Committee in approving the removal of deputies from acting as security officers at the hospital.
On a motion by Commissioner Rick Russ, the committee voted to pay the accumulated vacation pay of former Ambulance Service Director John Scates, a paramedic currently working part time as he continues his education.
Early on in the meeting, committee members signed a statement of confidentiality concerning patientsÕ names and records, which is required by a new federal law regarding privacy issues. It was explained that confidentiality concerning discussions about writing off debts is a particularly sensitive area. A special committee composed of one commissioner (Committee Chairman Hertis Phillips), Scott County Director of Finance Keith Jeffers, the Ambulance Service director and the serviceÕs bookkeeper would be charged with the responsibility of determining which patientsÕ debts (and the amount) that can be written off, without the name ever being made public at a committee meeting.
Jim Reed, who has been acting as interim director of the Ambulance Service in the several weeks since the resignation of John Scates, was confirmed by a vote of the committee Monday night to assume the directorship on a full-time basis.
In other business related to the Scott County Ambulance Service, County Attorney John Beaty was instructed to write a letter to Sunbridge requesting payment in the amount of $7,318.25, after the new owners of the Huntsville nursing home (now called Huntsville Manor) said it had not assumed the debt upon taking over the operations of the facility.
Beaty was also instructed to write similar letters requesting payment of overdue accounts to Big South Fork Raceway ($6,005) and Scenic Raceway ($2,299.50). It was pointed out that BSF Raceway had not made a payment on its debt since September of last year, and Scenic Raceway had made no payment since June 8, 2002.
ÒWe are not working the race tracks this year,Ó said Director Reed.
After once failing to approve a new pay scale for Ambulance Service personnel, the committee gave its approval to a plan submitted by County Mayor Murphy, who indicated that this was the first of what could be several Òstructured pay scalesÓ to be adopted for various county departments. ÒThis is a fairness issue . . . and no one gets a cut,Ó Murphy said.
The committee also voted to approve amendments to a 1994-95 resolution giving the committee and commission the authority to review the need for (and determine the qualifications of) any applicant desiring to establish a new ambulance service in the county, and named County Mayor Executive Assistant Cory Long as the director of the countyÕs Occupational Safety & Health program.
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