Commissioners move August meeting -- again

The Cannon County Board of Commissioners met for its regular monthly session on Saturday, July 14 at the Cannon County Courthouse.

The only significant action taken by the commissioners was the rescheduling of the date of their August meeting.

The original date for the meeting was Thursday, Aug. 2. Back during its February meeting, the commission moved the date of the August meeting to July 26.

However, on July 14, they moved the date to Thursday, August 16.

Commissioners have expressed two reasons for changing the date from the original one of Aug. 2.

One, Aug. 2 is the date of the County General Election and State Primary, and they did not want to distract from the voting process.

Two, the commission has not yet been presented with a proposed budget by the Budget Committee. The county has been operating under its FY2017-2018 budget since July 1, when the 2018-2019 fiscal year began.

According to state law, counties must have their fiscal year budget presented to the Comptroller of the Treasury no later than Aug. 31.

In other business the commission:

• Heard from State Sen. Mark Pody, who said he wanted to address the body at least twice a year to get a feel for what the county's needs are and also to fill them in on any new state laws or regulations which might impact county operations.

One of the things Pody mentioned was mandatory training provided free by the state for new commissioners. As many as 10 new commissioners could be in place following the Aug. 2 election.

Pody also talked about a new law which provides free license plates to emergency medical service, fire and rescue squad members who qualify.

A member of the audience, Ronnie Mahaffey, who serves on the Budget Committee, asked Pody to see if it were possible to change the way county officials are paid, particularly new ones. Currently they are paid on a scale set by the state based on county population. Every time state employees receive a raise, county officials do as well.

Mahaffey said those new to the office should start out at less than those who have served for a number of years. He also believes there is too much disparity between what the average Cannon County worker earns and how much the county officials are compensated.

• Delayed taking action on purchasing a new fire truck for the Bradyville Volunteer Fire Department until after County Fire Chief Michael Underhill has a chance to see what is available in the way of used trucks. There is also the concern as to whether the Comptroller will allow the county to issue a capital outlay note at this time to make the purchase.

Back in January the Comptroller denied the commission's plan to purchase a new ambulance because the county has not made sufficient progress in building its reserve funds for County General, Solid Waste and the Ambulance Service. The Comptroller wants 25 percent of yearly operating funds maintained in those accounts at all times.

County General is about halfway toward that goal. The Budget Committee has been looking at moving money going to General Debt Service to Solid Waste and Ambulance in the budget they are working on for the current fiscal year. Additionally, the Comptroller wants 50 percent of yearly expenditures allotted for General Debt Service.

• Tabled until the August meeting a request made by the coach of the Cannon County High School baseball team, Colin Jones, to lease land adjacent to the baseball field on which to build a hitting and dressing room facility. The lease would be for 99 years at $1 per year. Part of he project is contingent on the commission approving the school's budget for this fiscal year, which has not been done.

• Decided to seek additional proposals for the hauling of the county's trash from the Cannon County Convenience Center to the landfill in Murfreesboro. The first time it was advertised the county received three inquires and one proposal. The current contract to do the hauling with Pemberton Trucking expires as of Sept. 1. Pemberton did not make a proposal to continuing providing the service. The number of businesses in or near Cannon County with the equipment, insurance and manpower to perform the service is unknown.