The Wayne County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 with County Executive Jim Mangubat presiding over the meeting. Commissioners in attendance included Herbert Brewer, Tom Mathis, Tim Powell, Phillip Casteel, Vickie Petty, Sherrie Powers, Tim Prater, Mary Lauren Garner, Kathryn Staggs, Joe Hall, Stephen Pevahouse, and Rickey Kelley. Also present were County Clerk Stan Horton and County Attorney Andy Yarbrough. Commissioners John McDonald and David Martin were absent.
Commissioner Garner made a motion to approve the commission minutes as presented. Commissioner Brewer seconded the motion, and the minutes were approved unanimously.
Commissioner Kelley made a motion to approve all minutes from the various committee meetings as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Prater, and the committee minutes were unanimously approved.
County Clerk Horton next presented Dewey G. Harper to serve as a notary. Commissioner Powell made a motion to approve. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Staggs, and was approved unanimously.
Commissioner Powers next made a motion to get repair bids based on the County Attorney’s opinion. Commissioner Brewer seconded the motion, and the passed unanimously on roll call vote.
Solid Waste Director Robert Hayes then presented the annual progress report. Commissioner Kelley made a motion to approve the report, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Garner. The motion was passed unanimously.
Next, Commissioner Garner made a motion to approve the application for a litter grant. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Powers, and was passed unanimously.
Mr. Tyler Taylor then gave a presentation concerning the hospital. No action was required by the commission.
County Executive Mangubat stated that he had reached out to contacts at Lincoln Brass regarding the building, but they have not returned his calls as of yet.
The former Angelica building and former Wayne Care Nursing Home building were next on the agenda. County Executive Mangubat stated that the certified appraiser has given an appraised value of the properties, with the Wayne Care building assessed at a value of $175,000.00 and the Angelica building assessed at a value of $400,000.00. Commissioner Brewer made a motion that the buildings not be sold lower than their appraised values, and that any monies received would go into the building funds account and only be used for building projects. Also, Commissioner Brewer added to the motion that the funds must be approved for use by 2/3 vote of the full commission. Commissioner Mathis seconded the motion. The motion failed on roll call vote, with Commissioners Brewer, Garner, Mathis, Pevahouse, and Hall voting to approve, and Commissioners Prater, Casteel, Powell, Petty, Powers, Staggs, and Kelley voting no.
Hazard pay was next on the agenda. County Executive Mangubat stated that he was still waiting on guidelines on how to pay employees’ hazard pay.
County Executive Mangubat then informed the commission that half the money has been received from 911 on the tower property sale.
An update was given on the proposed County Ag Center. County Executive Mangubat said that he has inquired about the possibility of using inmates for labor, including electrical and plumbing, with an overseer giving guidance and instruction.
Sheriff Shane Fisher updated the commission on the need for repairs to the sallie port at the jail. The Sheriff said that the cost of the needed repairs is above the limit of spending without a bid process.
County IT Manager Clayton Cross updated the commission on the cameras at the Justice Center, stating that the project is near completion with only one camera left for installation. He said that everything is working as it should.
The commission then requested that the accountant for Boyd Cottages Assisted Living, Tommy Nichols, be present at the next meeting to answer some questions regarding cash flow. Mr. Nichols was unable to attend this meeting due to previous engagements.
Next on the agenda was surplus property. Commissioner Garner made a motion to approve the list of surplus property as presented to be listed on govdeals.com for liquidation. Commissioner Mathis seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.
Budget amendments were next on the agenda. Commissioner Kelley made a motion to approve the budget amendments as presented, with Commissioner Powers seconding the motion. The budget amendments were unanimously approved.
Next, a report was presented showing the wheel tax fees collected in 2018 and 2019.
Wayne County JECDB Executive Director Rena Purdy then made a presentation for an Industrial Park Study Grant, which would cost the county $21,900.00 in match funds. Commissioner Casteel made a motion to approve the grant application, with Commissioner Powers seconding the motion. The motion passed on roll call vote with all commissioners present voting yes.
Commissioner Kelley then called for a ten-minute recess, after which time the meeting resumed.
Immediately following the recess, Tommy Tinin gave a presentation to the commission regarding a property tax relief request for reopening the golf course in Clifton. Commissioner Casteel made a motion to approve the request. Commissioner Powers seconded the motion, and the motion was passed on roll call vote with all commissioners present voting yes.
Insurance bids were next on the agenda. County Executive Mangubat stated that no bids have been presented to the Insurance Committee.
Next, Commissioner Kelley stated that the commission needs to have a plan in place in case future businesses request relief plans for help with initial start-up.
Department reports were next on the agenda. Sheriff Shane Fisher first gave a statistical report on the Wayne County Jail.
Road Superintendent Chuck Moser addressed the commission, first asking to raise the limit for repairs needed to other government entities to under $10,000.00. Commissioner Kelley made a motion to approve, and Commissioner Powers seconded. The motion was passed unanimously.
Solid Waste Director Robert Hayes then came before the commission, first with a list of surplus property from his department. Commissioner Garner made a motion to approve the property as surplus, and Commissioner Kelley seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously passed. Director Hayes then spoke to the commission regarding the litter grant, Zoom meetings, and recycling revenues being generated from Giles County.
Road Superintendent Moser then told the commission that the county has already repaired a mercury bridge, and he has requested payback from the state. This presentation provided for a new bridge to be installed at another location for the county at no cost due to the mercury bridge plan.
Commissioner Powell next addressed the commission regarding the concerns of citizens on Highland Road about vehicles driving too fast. Commissioner Hall made a motion to table the issue until Jeff Webb from the Tennessee Highway Patrol can be in attendance, and re-visit the need of setting speed limits on some county roads. Commissioner Powers seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.
With no further business to come before the commission, Commissioner Garner made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Kelley seconded the motion, and the meeting was adjourned.
