Top Stories

HUNTSVILLE — County Commissioners, meeting in their regular monthly work session here Monday night, approved a victims’ assistance measure which could result in upwards of $100,000 annually for the Children’s Center of the Cumberlands and the Scott County Women’s Shelter.

A prepared resolution, which would tack on $45 for each criminal conviction, was introduced for the Community Development Committee’s consideration, and was explained in depth by District Attorney General William Paul Phillips, acting in his role as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Center.

Phillips said that, if approved, this provision would generate much needed funding for the Children’s Center and the Scott County Women’s Shelter.

In a “good news-bad news” style of presentation, Phillips began by stating that “federal funds are being cut” for programs such as these. That’s the bad news. The good news, he added, was that the Tennessee General Assembly has approved a Victim Assistance Assessment of $45 per conviction which, if adopted by County Commission, could result in funding to keep these programs going.

He explained that while the intent of the legislation is to designate one specific victims assistance program to receive the money, he felt Scott County would be better served to allow any funds generated from the measure to be split 50-50 between the Children’s Center and the Women’s Shelter.

As to how much money such a measure is likely to raise, Phillips said that “making the assessment is one thing; collecting it is another,” but he felt it could conceivably raise around $100,000 a year.

The request was approved by a unanimous vote of the committee and will be sent on to the full commission for approval at its April 21st meeting.

The Community Development Committee also heard a request for funding from Rick Harper, president of the newly formed Scott County Little League organization, which will include organized T-ball, softball and baseball for an estimated 350 Scott County children during the summer months.

After a round-table discussion about the organization and its plans for the season ahead, the committee approved Harper’s request for $2,500. The motion was made by Ernest Phillips and carried on an all-aye vote. That action will have to meet with the approval of the full commission before it becomes effective.

County Mayor Rick Keeton informed the committee of St. Mary’s Scott County’s planned open house, which is set for May 17 beginning at 11 a.m. at the hospital.

SHERIFF SEEKS 11 NEW JAILERS BEFORE MOVE

While no action was taken, the Emergency Services Committee Monday night heard a request from Sheriff Anthony Lay that he be granted the funds necessary to hire and train 11 new jailers and have them on the job a month before the move to the new jail facilities at the Scott County Justice Center.

Lay, citing the necessity for “up staffing” the jail because the number of inmates is likely to double, said the Tennessee Department of Corrections had done a “staffing analysis” and recommended 44 additional people be employed.

Lay said that’s what was recommended, but he felt what was needed was 11 additional people to bring to 26 the number of jailers.

Earlier, after reporting on the round-up of several narcotics dealers in the county, Sheriff Lay told the commissioners: “I have become a YouTube star.”

That was his way of informing the commission “a couple of stalkers” had video taped him in his county vehicle at the Roane State Community College in neighboring Campbell County and uploaded the video on the YouTube website.

“As sheriff, I’m on call 24-7 and have a right to use a county vehicle,” Lay explained. He went on to say that although he didn’t feel he was obligated to explain what he called “the Campbell County incident” to the commission, he felt compelled to “so you would have a better understanding” of the situation.

Lay further explained he was taking an algebra class at the college as he works toward his college degree, adding that he was on duty both before and after that one-hour class in Campbell County.

Sheriff Lay also discussed his stand on the as yet undecided location of 911 dispatching, saying that while he was not dead against a stand-alone 911 center, he was “dead set against not doing it right.”

Sheriff Lay maintains that “if we could get everybody on board” to help finance it he would be “very much in favor of seeing it go free.”

He specifically called for participation by the Oneida and Winfield police departments, the Rescue Squad and Scott County Ambulance Service.

“If you can get us all together I would be one hundred percent in favor of it,” Lay stated.

In other business by the Emergency Services Committee gave its approval to a request from Ambulance Service Director Jim Reed to purchase a heart monitor ($9,000) and a motorized cot ($9800) for a refurbished ambulance which will be put into service within the next few weeks.

Reed also informed the committee that it will be his recommendation to add a sixth ambulance the fleet in the next budget year, due to the fact that currently the service is often at “status zero” multiple times a day with all five ambulances being on runs.

By unanimous vote the committee also approved Reed’s request to send two of his emergency medical technicians to a 13-month school for paramedics. EMTs Michael Manis and Stephanie Barton will do their course work during the day and their job at night, Reed explained. Each must commit to a two-year contract with the local ambulance service upon completing their studies, as well as pay back a prorated amount of money should they drop out, or leave the services before the end of their two-year commitment.

In other committee action Monday night, the Intergovernmental Committee approved participating in a Habitat Conservation Plan development project along with Morgan, Cumberland and Fentress County, as proposed by Emily Woodle of the University of Tennessee.

By unanimous vote, the Intergovernmental Committee approved the recommendation of the 911 Board that Hertis Phillips and Robert Mehlhorn be reappointed to new four-year terms.

The Building and Grounds Committee discussed the final phase and planned summertime opening of the new Scott County Justice Center, and heard an initial proposal from Ella Smith, director of the Scott-Morgan Project, on plans to establish a homeless shelter at the old Capital Hill School facility. Smith was asked by the committee to come back with a formal proposal before a vote is taken on her request.