New sanitation director Bill Rutherford made a presentation to the commission Sanitation Committee before Monday’s regular meeting, Telling commissioners that safety will be his first priority.  WATCH HERE.

 

To that end, Rutherford asked the committee to consider finding money to buy two new trucks, claiming that the heavy rigs used for long distance hauling to landfills are in bad shape and present a hazard.

He also recommended a plan to have two portable buildings constructed by the CCHS building trades classes to be placed at White Oak and Oswego convenience centers at a cost of around $5,000 each. Later the full commission voted unanimously to approve the buildings, as well as a “statement of interest” in participating in a multi-county waste to energy program in partnership with Union County and other neighboring counties.

Union County is promoting the project by Allied Energy Services LLC to develop a waste to energy program that would convert up to 175,000 tons of household waste into bio diesel fuel. Anderson, Claiborne and Grainger counties are also being approached to determine interest.

The tipping fees would depend upon the number of participating counties, but could amount to around $10 per ton if there is enough participation. The project would greatly decrease the tonnage going into area landfills as well as eliminating the need for sorting of garbage since the sorting would be done by machine.

The commission also approved a revised personnel policy that will require all county employees to be paid by direct deposit instead of paper payroll checks. The policy will leave the county with the option of issuing paper paychecks for “non-regularly scheduled disbursements” but will be mandatory for all regular salaried and hourly employees.

The vote was far from unanimous, as several commissioners voiced doubts about forcing employees to accept direct deposit, but the motion to approve by Ralph Davis passed 9-5, with Dewayne Baird, Johnny Bruce, Scott Kitts, Robert Higginbotham and Zachary Marlow all voting “no.” Lisa Lester was not at the meeting.  CORRECTION:  Charles “Goat” Baird voted no while Dewayne Baird voted yes.

The commission also unanimously approved a resolution opposing school voucher legislation currently being pushed in Nashville. The school board has already approved the resolution.

The meeting began before a packed house, as Mayor E. L. Morton read a pair of proclamations honoring the boy’s and girl’s basketball teams at Caryville Elementary School. The team members and coaches gathered at the front of the courtroom as parents looked on while Morton honored both teams for winning the county tournament and going undefeated in county play. Tuesday, January 22 was proclaimed “Cardinal Basketball Nothing But Net” Day while Wednesday, January 23 was proclaimed “Lady Cardinals Thumbs Up” Day.

Morton invited the students and parents to stay for the rest of the meeting if they wished, as the commission paid bills and conducted other business. Not surprisingly, the courtroom quickly emptied after the proclamation ceremony.

Once again, the commission agreed to re-schedule next month’s meeting to the third Tuesday in February, since the regular Monday meeting night falls on the President’s Day holiday.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/23/2019-6AM – UPDATED 01/23/2019-10AM))