The Campbell County Commission voted to hire Bill Rutherford Jr. as the new Sanitation Director on Monday night. Rutherford will replace Walter Sutton, who was due to retire in January but stepped down last week under a cloud of controversy.  WATCH the meeting here.

The commissioners broke from the established policy of allowing the County Mayor to nominate an applicant after conducting interviews, with the commission then voting to approve or reject the mayor’s choice.

After Mayor E. L. Morton announced his choice of Andy Russell (correction – Mike King) for the job, Robert Higginbotham asked that each applicant present at the meeting be allowed to introduce themselves and tell about their qualifications.  Morton agreed, and six individuals then spoke.

Following the presentations, Mike King was nominated for the position but received only four votes. Rutherford was then nominated  and was approved by a vote of 13-1. Rutherford told commissioners that his qualifications include nine years working with the private Waste Management Company, where he rose from driving garbage trucks to a supervisory position.

The commission also unanimously approved a resolution asking Congress to extend the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which is due expire at the end of the year, leaving former coal miners suffering from the disease with decreased benefits. Kitts commended Commissioner Tyler King for his efforts by making a trip to Washington to meet with Congressmen about the extension.

Commissioners also approved the lease agreement for an antenna array on Massengill Mountain. The county is assuming responsibility for the EMS Service’s communications system after the company with the contract ceased doing business.

Commissioners also approved thirteen budget amendments, including one that was amended to include final costs for a Highway Department truck to replace one that was burned. A bid for the new truck was awarded in the amount of $167,291, with insurance providing $97,679 of the amount with the balance being split between the Highway and Capital Projects funds.

Near the end of the meeting, Ralph Davis asked for a non-binding straw vote on a motion to hold a special public referendum on increasing the county’s local option sales tax to the maximum allowed by the state.

If approved, this would cost consumers an extra fifty cents on each $100 spent, or as Davis pointed out, an increase from only 46 cents to 48 cents on a $5 purchase.

Davis proposed the sales tax increase to provide money for needed school projects such as White Oak and eventually CCHS. He told the commission that he didn’t intend to push for the referendum unless he felt he had approval from most commissioners.

Several commissioners stated that their vote on a straw vote was subject to change depending on the cost of a special election or widespread public opposition. The commission then approved Davis’ motion, with only Scott Stanfield voting “no.”

Mayor Morton pointed out that the third Monday on January falls on the M. L. King Jr. national holiday. The commission then agreed with Morton to hold the meeting instead on Tuesday, January 22. A planned dedication ceremony at the Campbell County Airport to name the field in honor of late County Executive Tom Stiner will be held as planned.   (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 12/18/2018-6AM)

One Reply to “Commission approves Bill Rutherford as new Environmental Services chief”

  1. Slight correction; I offered nominations only after each candidate addressed the Commission at the welcome suggestion of Commissioner Robert Higginbotham. The procedures are within established policies.

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