The Wayne County Commission met in regular session on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. County Executive Jim Mangubat called the meeting to order, and County Clerk Stan Horton called the roll. All commissioners were present, including Herbert Brewer, Logan Shull, Tom Mathis, Stephen Pevahouse, Colby McDonald, Tyler McDonald, Jeremy Heard, Stan Hanback, Vickie Petty, Sherry Powers, Kathryn Staggs, David Martin, Alvin Creecy, and Rickey Kelley. Also in attendance were County Clerk Stan Horton and County Attorney Andy Yarbrough.
Commissioner Kelley first made a motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting as presented. Commissioner Creecy seconded, and the minutes were approved. Commissioner Kelley then made a motion to approve the minutes from the various committee meetings. Commissioner Staggs seconded, and the committee minutes were approved as well.
County Clerk Horton presented the following to be approved as notaries: W. Andrew Yarbrough, Kim Wallace, Stephen Stults, Sada Lowery, Kimberly Wright, William H. Calton, Melissa Gail Ruth, Chassity Martin, and Bonnie Butler. Commissioner Powers made a motion to approve the list of notaries, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Martin. The notaries were unanimously approved.
Commissioner Mathis made a motion to approve budget amendments as presented by the Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner Brewer seconded the motion, and the amendments were unanimously approved.
A water update was the next item on the agenda. County Executive Mangubat stated that special meetings will be convened in the coming weeks to discuss the water situation at Boyd Cottages, along with water issues in the City of Clifton and at Harry Floyd’s business.
Mr. Mangubat went on to state that he and all of the commissioners need to do a walk-through of the Ag Center in order to sign off on completion of the project before final payment is made.
County Executive Mangubat then said that the bylaws of the Industrial Development Board will be presented at the next regular County Commission meeting.
HVAC and paving projects at the courthouse were next on the agenda. County Executive Mangubat said that Perfection Group would be starting on the HVAC the following Friday.
Next, Commissioner Mathis made a motion to approve the purchase of iPads for each commissioner, the County Attorney, the County Executive, and the County Clerk. Commissioner Kelley seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Mathis next made a motion to approve the request to apply for a $35,000 grant to be used for training equipment at the forestry classroom. Commissioner Powers seconded the motion, and it passed on roll call vote with Commissioners Brewer and Kelley voting no, and all other commissioners voting yes.
UT Extension Agricultural Committee re-appointments were next. Commissioner Staggs made a motion to appoint Stephen Holt to his third two-year term, Abby Martin to her second two-year term, and Tom Mathis to his second two-year term. Commissioner Creecy seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Next was a discussion of Private Acts regarding the assisted living facility. Commissioner Powers will be gathering information from the commissioners concerning some of the language in the Private Acts, and she will forward the information to the County Attorney with suggestions to be written and approved by the commission before sending for state approval.
Highway Department road adoptions were next on the agenda. Commissioner Kelley made a motion to approve the addition of the following roads to the County Road List: Cecil Dodd Road, .20 miles with a 30-foot right-of-way; Lee Lane, .12 miles with a 30-foot right-of-way; and Raymond Pulley Road, .20 miles with a 30-foot right-of-way. Commissioner Colby McDonald seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.
Commissioner Kelley next made a motion to approve the closing of Hughes Farm Lane. Commissioner Hanback seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Powers then made a motion to approve the County Road List as presented, seconded by Commissioner Kelley. The motion carried unanimously.
Lindsay Ross with the Solid Waste Department next gave a brief report. She said that bids for a packer truck will be in upcoming issues of The Wayne County News. She also stated that a request was made at the Solid Waste Committee meeting that mileage reports be submitted to the commission for each solid waste vehicle.
Sheriff Shane Fisher then gave a brief report on the jail and on the Sheriff’s Office. He also stated that the salary study report should be received by the end of February.
Commissioner Kelley made a motion to approve the Sheriff’s Office request to declare three lawnmowers as surplus. Commissioner Creecy seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Wayne County Commissioner of Elections Lillie Ruth Brewer addressed the commission next regarding the purchase of two new voting machines. The County Commission approved the purchase in a previous meeting, and the Election Commission has recommended that the purchase be made through the company MicroVote. Commissioner Powers made a motion to approve the recommendation, and Commissioner Staggs seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Tyler Taylor, outgoing CEO of Wayne Medical Center, introduced Martin Franks of Wold Engineering to the commission, and Franks spoke briefly about the grounds survey for the proposed new hospital site. Commissioner Mathis requested that a special meeting be held to focus on hospital planning, and requested that representatives from the cities of Waynesboro, Collinwood, and Clifton attend the meeting as well. (Note: the Special Session regarding the hospital has been scheduled for Thursday, February 2 at 6:00 p.m.)
With no further business to come before the commission, Commissioner Brewer made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kelley, and the meeting was adjourned.
