County Commissioners Orick, Marlow, Stanfield, Gibson and Baird, left to right, are among the commissioners attending Monday’s workshop.

By Charlotte Underwood 

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County Commission held its monthly workshop on Monday, discussing upcoming agenda items, including the Jellico annex building and other projects.

Also briefly discussed was the 2023 County road list, which will need to be approved at next week’s meeting. 

Commissioner Rusty Orick asked for any new roads to be highlighted.

Left to right are Commissioners Nance, Adkins, Kitts, King and Sharp.

County Mayor Jack Lynch discussed the upcoming Veterans breakfast, which will be held Saturday, March 4 at First Baptist Church of Jacksboro at 8 am. 

This will become a monthly occurrence with sponsors. The first breakfast is being sponsored by Classy Threads and Catering and Romac storage. 

He reported on the Cincinnati Boat Show, which he attended last week. According to Lynch, 12 businesses attended from Campbell County and it “went well and was very successful.” 

Mayor Lynch also announced that on Friday, March 24 at 10 am, a portion of old Highway 63 will be dedicated to Whit Goins in honor of his many years of service to the county.

A $4.6 million airport runway project was discussed. The project was recommended and passed through the airport committee. The majority of the project will be covered by grants, with the county being responsible for around $230,000.

According to county officials, this runway airport project is something the federal government has wanted the county to do. Once construction is started, the project will take 30 to 60 days. 

County Mayor Jack Lynch and Commission Chairman Johnny Bruce.

County Commissioner Rusty Orick discussed repairs needed at the PTF building due to roof leaks. 

He also discussed the Jellico Annex, which was approved by the building and grounds committee. 

“We need to approve the scope of work for the Jellico annex building,” Orick said, adding that the building would have a drive through and the inside of the lobby also needed refurbished.

Orick also addressed that the side entrance of the courthouse was not up to ADA standards. He said the building and grounds committee came up with the plan to make it an employee only entrance, and that citizens would use the ADA entrance on the other side of the building.

According to Orick, the plan would be to tear out the ramp on the side entrance and redo it at a later date to bring it up to ADA standard. 

Commissioner Zach Marlow reported that the county had requested more funds per prisoner from the prison board to offset the burden on taxpayers. 

Commissioner Dewayne Kitts asked that the commission honor the LaFollette Middle School Basketball team for their amazing basketball season.

A proclamation for the Jellico Boys and Girls basketball will also be on the agenda for next week.

During the public input portion of the commission’s workshop, representatives from the Campbell County Dolly Parton Imagination Library approached the commission to say “thank you.”

“February is Love to Read month; we wanted to come say thank you for keeping us in your budget,” Nelsie Wooden said.  Wooden is the Campbell County Imagination Library Coordinator.

“The children appreciate it. This past year, Campbell County’s Imagination Library was 20 years old,” Wooden said. 

Representatives from the Campbell County Imagination Library approached the commission on Monday evening. Left to right are Sharon Schmittmatzen, Nelsie Wooden, Pam Jefferies and Vickie Huddleston.

She and other Imagination Library representatives spoke on the importance of children having books in the home.

“A successful education begins with reading at home,” Wooden said. 

The ladies said they hoped the commission would continue to support the “important program.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 02/14/2023-6AM)