Saturday, July 18, 2009 12:32 pm

The County Commission met Saturday, July 18 for the quarterly meeting. Present were Commissioners: Mark Barker, Nathan Nichols, Karen Ashford, Todd Hollandsworth, Kevin George, Kevin Mitchell, Joe Wimberly, Brad Hall and Bob Stoetzel.

The main item on the agenda prepared by Commission Chairman and County Executive Mike Gannon was to approve the appropriations for fiscal year 2009-2010 and to set the tax rate to finance appropriations.

Chairman Gannon recognized Budget Committee Chairman Mark Barker who briefly explained the Committee’s recommendation.

Executive Gannon said, “When we began the budget process I asked each department head or county official to hold spending. Each one did and all turned in the same budget as last year.”

“I want to thank Budget Committee members Greg Mitchell and Dr. Bill Jennings for their hard work in helping us finalize the document,” said Barker. “The Committee has gone over the entire budget several times line item by line itemand we feel this is a budget that all departments can live with.”

The Committee recommended no tax increase and asked the Commission to approve a tax rate of $2.32

A breakdown of the funding for various departments is as follows: County General $1.265, Solid Waste 14¢, Schools 87Ω¢, Debt Service 4¢ - Total $2.32 on each $100.00 of taxable property. Schools received Ω¢ more next year that they did in 2008-2009.

Through good management practices Cannon County government had an estimated beginning fund balance on July 1, 2009 of $5,822,632.00. Total estimated revenues for the fiscal year 2009-2010 $25,438,295.00; Estimated Expenditures $26,395,957.00; Total Appropriations $26,395,957.00; Estimated Fund Balance on June 30, 2010 $4,864,970.00.

Anna Pittman was named to fill a vacancy on the 911 Board replacing Kim Davenport.

Pat Simpson, Peggy Miller and Martin Daniel were named as a members of the Agriculture Committee.

Matt Bush and Wally Vernon were replaced as members on the Adams Memorial Library Board by Blanche Glimps and Mance Davis.

The Commission unanimously approved a motion to accept Lake Hollow Road to the county road.

Developer Newburn Hayes addressed the Commission and said he had met all the requirements of the County Planning Commission and the late Jackie Haley, Highway Supervisor, had signed the plat for acceptance but the document had not been officially registered.

“This should have been recorded as a county road but it simply fell through the cracks and did not get done,” said Commissioner Barker. “It’s not the developers fault, the residents of Lake Hollow Road or the Planning Commission.”

The action by the Commission will allow the Highway Department to maintain Lake Hollow Road.

Executive Gannon stated to the Commission plans to turn approximately 1,000 acres in the Short Mountain community over the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency as a natural preserve.

The land was a portion of the large tract of proprty seized by the federal government during the arrest and conviction of a Cannon County and Warren County man in 2007. Following their trial the land became property of the U.S. Marshals, TBI and Warren County Sheriff’s Department.

In other business:

- The Commission passed Resolution 2009-7 honoring Huff & Puff Trucking Company of Bradyville for transporting two pumper trucks from Wisconsin to Cannon County to be used by the Short Mountain and Mooretown Fire Departments.

- Passed Resolution 2009-8 honoring Mrs. Annie Cox, a teacher at West Side Elementary School, who passed away last week.

- Passed a speed limit of 30 mph on Peeler Hill Road recommended by Commissioner Greg Mitchell.