More discussion than action in committees
HUNTSVILLE — County Commission’s regular monthly meeting of its standing committees here Monday evening saw a lot more talk than action, due, at least in part, to the approach of budget-making time in the midst of an economic slow-down.
Of the four committees that conducted meetings at the Scott County Office Building, the most productive was the Intergovernmental Committee, which: 1) approved Mayor Rick Keeton’s appointment of a seven-member Vehicle Study Committee; 2) approved the allocation of matching (from 5% to 10%) of all FEMA/Homeland Security grants to the county’s nine volunteer fire departments; and, 3) voted to ask the Tennessee General Assembly to support legislation aimed at extending the road life of school buses.
The Intergovermental Committee also held a lengthy discussion with Road Superintendent Dick Sexton and Smokey Creek resident Delford Lowe on the condition of the Norma to Smokey Creek Road due to damage caused by coal trucks.
Sexton and Lowe talked about working with National Coal on a plan to asphalt the road again once the mines play out. Lowe also presented a petition to the committee signed by 81 residents along the road asking for the county’s help toward making the road repairs.
The committee also discussed pending legislation that would affect Scott County, including such matters as a proposed increase in the coal severance tax from the present 26¢ per ton to $1.00 per ton within the span of a few years.
Other pending bills that could have an impact on Scott County were discussed with Ambulance Service Director Jim Reed, who expressed concern about two measures; one, which would make it a requirement for paramedics to administer drug/alcohol tests at the scene of an accident at the request of the investigating officer (which he opposes on moral and ethical grounds), and two, a bill mandating the repayment to ambulance services the “crossover” Medicaid payments stricken from the state’s budget last year.
The Community Development Committee voted to approve budgeted donations to local charitable organizations, and sent to the Finance Committee a plan to retire two long-standing financial obligations of the Scott County Airport Authority (totally some $475,000), through proceeds from a proposed long-term lease of hangar space at the airport.
Charities singled out for funding were the annual walk to benefit the Children’s Center of the Cumberlands and the Scott County Women’s Shelter; the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life event; the annual Auction/Telethon, which will this year benefit the Boys & Girls Club; and the Little League program, now in its second year.
The committee delayed action on a request for a donation from the county for the “People to People” student ambassador program, since no funds had been budgeted for it.
In other business:
• The Emergency Services Committee heard from Sheriff Anthony Lay on a variety of subjects including an explanation of how the jail commissary works, a proposed co-pay plan for inmates needeing medical or dental work, and a proposal to utilize used rather than new vehicles to update the fleet of patrol cars; and,
• The Building and Grounds Committee discussed the relocation of county offices; problems which have been (or are being) corrected at the Scott County Justice Center; the Appalachian Service Project’s use of the old Winfield Elementary School facility for a 10-week period again this summer; and plans to development a memorial plaque or monument at the Justice Center to honor the memory of the late Sheriff’s Deputy John-John Yancey.
During the course of Monday night’s meetings, the commissioners went into a closed door session with County Attorney John Beaty to discuss a lawsuit filed against the county. That meeting adjourned after about 30 minutes, but no action was taken with regard to the matters discussed.