The Wayne County Commission met in regular session on Monday, December 18, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at the County Administrative Building. County Executive Jim Mangubat called the meeting to order. Commissioners in attendance were Tom Mathis, Logan Shull, Tyler McDonald, Stephen Pevahouse, Alvin Creecy, Stan Hanback, Sherrie Powers, Colby McDonald, David Martin, Vickie Petty, Patrick Butler, Jeremy Heard, and Rickey Kelley. Also in attendance were County Clerk Stan Horton and County Attorney Andy Yarbrough. Commissioner Kathryn Staggs was absent.
County Clerk Horton offered the invocation, and the Pledge to Allegiance was recited by all.
Commissioner Kelley made a motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting as presented. Commissioner Colby McDonald seconded the motion, and the minutes were unanimously approved.
Commissioner Kelley next made a motion to approve the minutes from the various committee meetings with a correction on the November 14 Budget Committee meeting. The name of Matt McCallahan was to be corrected to the correct spelling of Matt Callahan. Commissioner Colby McDonald seconded, and the committee minutes were unanimously approved as well.
County Clerk Horton presented the following to serve as notaries: Joy Ruth S. Matanguihan, Amy Urffer, Sara Elizabeth Stricklin, Stephanie Pearson, Kathy R. Tate, Kellie Sanders, and Lisa Thompson. Commissioner Powers made a motion to approve the notaries, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Creecy. The notaries were unanimously approved.
Line-item budget amendments were next on the agenda. Commissioner Mathis made a motion to approve all amendments as presented, and Commissioner Creecy seconded. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
A water update was next on the agenda. County Executive Mangubat stated that the West Lauderdale water district, who will be taking over a water line in the southern end of the county, had requested automatic meter reader (AMR) meters, which would come at a cost of approximately $15,000. Commissioner Kelley made a motion to approve the purchase and installation of the AMRs, and Commissioner Shull seconded. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
Commissioner Kelley then made a motion to approve the resolution releasing the water line to West Lauderdale water district. Commissioner Creecy seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Next was an update on the HVAC and paving at the Administrative Building (old courthouse). County Maintenance Supervisor Casey Jones explained that an unforeseen issue had come up with the piping for the HVAC system, and a new buffer/expansion tank and new piping would be necessary. Commissioner Mathis made a motion to approve the installation of those items at a cost of $89,291. The money for this would be taken from the existing ARPA funds. Commissioner Pevahouse seconded, and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
Bids for the purchase of Boyd Cottages Assisted Living were next on the agenda. County Executive Mangubat stated that two bids were received: one from Jamie Odle in the amount of $775,000, and one from Harry Floyd in the amount of $504,000. A discussion followed, with Commissioner Colby McDonald asking Mr. Odle if he intended to keep running the facility as it has been running. Mr. Odle said that if he were to be awarded the bid, he would continue to run the facility much the same as it is now, and possibly even expanding it or adding more services. Commissioner Powers made a motion to accept the bid from Jamie Odle for the purchase of Boyd Cottages in the amount of $775,000. Commissioner Shull seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously on roll call vote. Before moving on with the meeting, Mr. Odle briefly addressed the commission and introduced his business partners, Frank Music and Marissa Casteel. Commissioner Powers asked Mr. Odle if he expected the sale to close within thirty days, and he said yes.
Commissioner Powers next requested the following current numbers from Gina Skelton, Administrator of Boyd Cottages: accounts receivable, accounts payable, and cash on hand. Commissioner Mathis then made a motion for the accounts payable at the facility up to $20,000 to be paid by the county. Commissioner Butler seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously on roll call vote.
Next, a question arose that had been discussed previously about the County Executive serving as Chairman of the Hospital Board/Negotiating Committee.. County Executive Mangubat said that he had done more research with the state, and he discovered that only one elected official may serve on the Board, and it should not be the County Executive. Mangubat said that he would step down as Chairman and suggested that Commissioner Powers take the position. County Executive Mangubat suggested that the rest of the Hospital Board/Negotiating Committee consist of Stan Bevis, Dustin Greene, and Bass, Berry, & Sims Law Firm. Commissioner Butler made a motion to approve, and Commissioner Tyler McDonald seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
County Executive Mangubat next stated that Maury Regional had agreed to extend the EMS (ambulance service) contract to coincide with the Wayne Medical Center contract, which ends in June 2024. Commissioner Mathis made a motion to approve the contract extension, and Commissioner Creecy seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Maintenance Supervisor Jones addressed the commission again, stating that the sewer pumps at the jail had “locked up,” no doubt due to unacceptable items flushed down the toilets. He said that one pump had been hard-wired in for temporary use, but new pumps would have to be purchased and installed. The cost for new replacement pumps would be $18,925, and they would be shipped within eight to ten weeks. Commissioner Mathis made a motion to approve the purchase of two sewer pumps, and Commissioner Pevahouse seconded. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
Wayne County Joint Economic Community Development Board (JECDB) Director Rena Purdy addressed the commission next, asking to officially put a price of $10,000 per acre on land at the Industrial Park. She stated that the old prices of $3,000 – $5,000 per acre were still advertised online, and the price needs to be updated. Commissioner Mathis made a motion to approve the price update, and Commissioner Heard seconded. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.
The 2024 Holiday Calendar was next on the agenda. Commissioner Kelley made a motion to approve the calendar with the removal of the Juneteenth holiday. Commissioner Colby McDonald seconded, and the calendar was unanimously approved.
Departmental reports were next. Sheriff Shane Fisher began with a brief report on statistics from the Sheriff’s Office and Workhouse. He went on to mention that Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) had been placed in all Sheriff’s Office vehicles as approved previously by the commission, and all deputies and employees had been trained on their usage.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ricky Inman gave a report on the school system, beginning with comments on the Angel Tree program facilitated by Mrs. Amy Van Fleet. Dr. Inman said that Mrs. Van Fleet and her helpers had put in countless hours on the Angel Tree program once again, and were able to buy Christmas gifts for 524 children this year. Dr. Inman also mentioned that the CTE building in Clifton for Frank Hughes School should be ready to open by April 1, 2024.
Solid Waste Director Robert Hayes gave a brief report on the Solid Waste Department, and Highway Superintendent Chuck Moser gave a brief report on the Highway Department as well.
With no further business to come before the commission, Commissioner Kelley made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Colby McDonald seconded, and the meeting was adjourned.
Following the meeting, former Commissioner John McDonald announced that the Beech Creek Volunteer Fire Department had been awarded a grant in the amount of $41,000 to be used for the purchase of new equipment. As our readers will remember, the Beech Creek Fire Hall, containing most of the equipment, was destroyed in the March 31, 2023 tornado. More on this grant to come when information becomes available.
