TOP PHOTO: Commissioners briefly discussed the fact that several organizations that are receiving funding from the county are not turning in monthly reports as requested.

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County Commission met Monday evening discussing upcoming agenda items, including multiple resolutions out of the legislative affairs committee, along with the applications for several grants. These items and more will be voted on at next Monday’s Commission meeting. 

Commissioners briefly discussed the fact that several organizations that are receiving funding from the county are not turning in monthly reports as requested.

“We have rules, and they need to follow them,” Commissioner Rusty Orick said.

Several months back, commissioners had the finance department send letters out requesting monthly reports from all organizations and non-profits receiving funding from the county.

“We need written procedures to be sent to set standards. It’s tax payer dollars, and we have an obligation to be transparent to the public. If we don’t get their reports, we can’t be transparent,” Commissioner Zach Marlow said.

“Next month, I’m going to make a motion that any organization not sending in reports, their funds are going to be withheld,” Orick said.

Marlow will be carrying multiple resolutions at next week’s meeting. These resolutions all came from the legislative affairs committee with their recommendation.

“We’re trying to get some additional funding and requesting the state of Tennessee to collect all hotel/motel taxes; maybe the state will do something this year,” Marlow said.

He will also be presenting a resolution asking the state to extend the tuition fee waiver for employees to take free courses and to extend the tuition fee discount program to county employees, as well as a resolution asking the state help with funds to aid in the operation of the veterans affairs office 

Other resolutions which will be on next week’s agenda include one asking the state to establish a “full service driver center in Campbell County, because right now people have to drive 45 minutes away,” and a resolution requesting the state increase the reimbursement for prisoner housing of state inmates at the county jail to at least $47 daily per inmate. 

A resolution regarding Crypto currency mining “requesting the state general assembly for a private act with regulatory authority for crypto currency similar to that of a landfill” will be voted on next week as well.

Marlow also said next month commissioners will be restructuring committees and “will need to have a meeting on that.”

Also on next week’s agenda will be a vote to apply for an election commission grant and a vote on a resolution to abandon a small section of unimproved right of way on Mt. View Estates. 

Commissioner Tyler King said he would be carrying a resolution in support of the Cherokee Indians and their efforts to restore the original name to Clingman’s dome.

Commissioner Scott Stanfield will be carrying several resolutions for grants for the sheriff’s office, including an equipment grant, along with a school resource officer grant, and several others.

They all came out of the jail committee, and according to the sheriff, all these grants are 100 percent funded, requiring no matching funds from the county.

In other business, the surplus of a 2009 Ford Crown Vic for the Property Assessor’s office will be voted on. 

Before the meeting’s close, Chairman Johnny Bruce read a letter from the state comptroller’s office saying the county’s 2024 budget “had passed with the state.”

County Mayor Jack Lynch reported the county’s litter grant program was going quite well and that litter patrol deputy Glennis Monday would be the keynote speaker at the Keep Tennessee Beautiful conference in Chattanooga in September. 

The commission will vote on these issues at its next meeting on Aug. 21st at 6pm at the county courthouse. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/15/2023-6AM)

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