Correspondent

The regular meeting of the Claiborne County Commission was held on Monday, Dec. 19th, in front of a smaller than usual audience. Routine business dominated the meeting with only a few items generating active discussion.

The commission appointed Gilbert Seal to the Beer Board and Mark Thompson to the Agricultural Committee.

County Mayor Virgil Herrell told the commission that private interests are interested in purchasing certain county owned property in the second district. In order to ensure that a fair price is obtained, the mayor suggested that about 13-14 county owned properties be offered at public auction. The commission agreed to permit the mayor and County Attorney James Estep III to take necessary steps toward planning a public sale of the properties in the spring.

Commissioner Bill Keck requested that he be replaced on the Budget Committee. Commissioner Troy Poore added a similar request. Both men cited potential difficulty in attending meetings due to work conflicts. Keck will be replaced and Poore will stay on with the proviso that he may be excused from some meetings. Herrell will select two new board members.

Betsy Maples of the Economic and Community Development Board requested authorization to submit pre-applications for two grants. The first is a 50/50 matching funds grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. Maples said that she expects to obtain matching funds from sources other than county money. The second grant/loan request will be for funds to erect a new ambulance building in Harrogate. She emphasized that neither application will require county money at this time. Commissioners gave their approval for her to proceed with the pre-application process.

Commissioners approved transfer of money within the Highway Department budget from road construction funds to equipment funds for the purchase of equipment. They also voted to accept $18,000 from Tennessee Lottery funds for Springdale school. A resolution by District Four Commissioner Dennis Estes to erect a monument on the court house lawn to honor Abel Lanham and other Tazewell founding fathers was approved.

Commissioner Phillip Mabe requested $4,400 be donated toward the erection of a bronze monument in Cardwell Park. Initially it appeared that the request would be granted easily. Following further discussion the commission tabled the request pending coordination with the Town of Tazewell to ensure that the basic plan has been approved.

Transfer of money within the jail budget dominated the conclusion of the meeting. The original resolution called for $30,000 to be transferred to a salary account for a maintenance man at the new jail. The resolution was amended to transfer only $15,000 for the final half of the fiscal year. The commission agreed that finding a person qualified in heat, air, plumbing, and electrical systems for that salary was a good deal for the county. Herrell expressed the opinion that the same person could be used at the courthouse and the Senior Citizens Center as available. Several commissioners voiced the view that the maintenance person is to be hired only for the jail. No firm resolution regarding how the employee could be used was reached. However, the general feeling is that any request to divert the maintenance person from the jail would have to be coordinated through the sheriff. The resolution to transfer $15,000 within the budget finally passed by a vote of 14 for, five against, and one pass.