JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – County commissioners met Monday night approving budget resolutions and amendments, including one for an emergency contribution needed for the senior center.

The senior center is having plumbing issues. According to Commissioner Scotty Kitts, the old galvanized pipes are stopped up and there are issues with the grease trap. Kitts sponsored the budget amendment resolution.

Commissioners approved $7,000 to be contributed, which will come out of the capital projects fund. The senior center will kick in additional funds needed, according to officials. The resolution passed unanimously. 

Commissioners gave the green light to apply for fiscal year 2022 TDOT Litter grant funds.

Commissioners approved for six copy machines at the highway department to be declared dilapidated, giving permission to dispose of them. 

Also approved was the 2020/2021 Campbell County road list for the Highway and road department. 

Commissioners said yes to the sheriff’s department to surplus seized firearms and trade them for additional firearms with a police distributor. According to Commissioner Rusty Orick, “They can’t sell guns at auction anymore due to laws but can trade through a police distributor.”

Mayor E.L. Morton read into the record that he no longer supported the bill regarding the request that two additional seats be added to the Powell Clinch Utility District due to it causing a possible rate increase on those customers. Orick said he was retracting his support as well due to the bill submitted to Nashville not reflecting what the commission had intended and talked about initially. Commissioners voted to retract the request. It is being taken off notice this year and will be looked at again next year.

The commission will send a letter to the county’s state representatives asking it to be retracted. “I don’t want us to be a scapegoat for rates going up,” Orick said, adding that he would bring it up next year.

Commissioner Zach Marlow made a motion asking committees to submit infrastructure project proposals by June.

Commissioner Robert Higginbotham brought up a letter written by Road Superintendent Ron Dilbeck about problems at Highway 63 (the four lane) and Hunters Branch Road. He asked commissioners to sign the letter before sending it on to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. 

Commissioner Ralph Davis made a motion to put aside $65,000 to pay for trash compactors to be put out to bid for six to 12 units. His motion passed. The county will also place concrete pads for the trash compactors out for bid, as well as the trash compactors themselves. “This will solve a lot of problems, even in White Oak and with the bears,” Commissioner Scott Stanfield said. County sanitation uniforms are going back out to bid due to the previous supplier changing things in the contract. 

Commissioners approved for MBI to do a structural study on the old Board of Education building to see if it could be updated to hold county records. 

It was also announced a recreation committee meeting has been set for Mon., March 22 at 5 pm at the county courthouse. 

Commissioners declared Mon., March 15 as a day to honor health care officials providing vaccinations.   Commissioners unanimously approved a proclamation to thank the health care officials who have been vaccinating citizens against COVID-19. Orick read a proclamation to honor Terry’s Pharmacy, Tennova and the Campbell County Health Department and all they have done to vaccinate the citizens in our county. “We wish to thank and honor you,” Orick said.

As of Saturday, the health department has administered over 6,000 vaccinations. Morton reiterated that the county was in Phase 1c of the COVID-19 vaccination schedule and it was still “mask wearing season in Campbell County.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/16/2021-6AM)