JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The county commission meeting Monday evening started out on an upbeat note as commissioners honored school resource officers, and especially the SRO and teacher who worked together to head off a potential crisis recently when a student brought a loaded gun to Elk Valley Elementary School.

Commissioners began by recognizing all SROs working in county schools, five of whom were in attendance, proclaiming May 16 as “Campbell County SRO Day.” The commission followed that by giving special recognition to Tyler Minton, the SRO at Elk Valley, naming May 18 as “Tyler Minton Appreciation Day.”

Elk Valley Phys Ed teacher Dorothy Osborne was then honored for her role in the gun incident, as Tuesday, May 17, was proclaimed “Dorothy Osborne Appreciation Day.” Finally, all members of the staff at Elk Valley were honored as well for “providing a safe learning environment, and given May 19 as their staff appreciation day.

The commission then moved on to approve department reports and budget amendments, including one to increase the county’s funding of the animal shelter by $75,000, to $225,000. That amount is less than the amount requested last week by the Friends of Campbell County Animals group (FCCA) if it is to renew its contract to operate the program. Related story on the commission’s counter offer.

After voting to approve a resolution approving an increase in the litigation tax to fund state mandated salary increases for the General Session Court Judge, the commission suspended the rules to again discuss the animal shelter. Animal Control Committee chairman Dewayne Baird reported that he has made a counter-offer to FCCA’s funding request that would raise the county’s total commitment to $324,000.

Baird said he has proposed an increase to $300,000 as well as another $24,000 by taking on the cost of utilities. Baird also proposed an annual three percent escalation in the county’s share, increasing the monthly funding share from $25,000 this year to $28,137 by the fifth year of a new contract. In addition, Baird proposed that the county would make a one-time appropriation of $40,000 to purchase a new animal control vehicle.

The proposal made by FCCA last week included the one time purchase of a new vehicle, as well as the three percent annual escalation, but asked for a commitment from the county of $33,333 per month for a total of $397,000.

Baird was not optimistic about the prospects of coming to an agreement, stating, “I don’t think it will be resolved. There are other things in that (FCCA) contract that I don’t see if we can agree on it.”

Numerous commissioners then expressed their opinions, mostly by asking questions. Baird said the county’s municipalities will be approached about possibly contributing to the shelter, but there are currently no commitments. He also said that Sheriff Robbie Goins will be approached about the possible use of inmates at the shelter but that also remains unknown.

Commissioner Rusty Orick said he has talked to the finance director and added “Jeff (Marlow) has stretched it out as far as this is going to be stretched.” To go beyond the offer made by Baird could only be possible with a tax increase, Orick suggested.

 “I’m going to talk to Animal Shelter Director Patricia Siwinski again, and it will take 48 hours for her board to discuss our offer,” Baird said. “If we can’t come to agree on a solution, we will have to bid it out.” The commission then voted to recess the meeting until 5 pm Wed., May 18, and come back with either an agreement with FCCA or vote on bidding the contract out. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/17/2022-6AM)

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