Lewis commissioners elect chairman, pro-tem in October meeting

Lewis County Commissioners re-elected by acclamation Jonah Keltner as chairman during the September 21, 2009 meeting but a new chairman pro-tem came on board when the votes were counted.

Nominations from the floor were accepted from Commissioner Ray Brewer who suggested then Chairman Pro-Tem Ritchie Brewer.  Commissioner Charles Talley nominated Commissioner Van Ward.  A roll call vote narrowly unseated Brewer who received seven votes. Commissioner Ward was elected chairman pro-tem when he gained eleven votes.  Voting for Ward were Commissioners Jason Fite, Jason Haygood, Twila Pigg, Brian Peery, Darrell Runions, Bobby James, Talley, Ward, Raymond Lomax, Matt Spitzer and Mark Graves.

Voting for Brewer were Commissioners Ray Brewer Jr., Keltner, Ritchie Brewer, Dave Rentschler, Joe Churchwell, Leon Hunter and John Booker.

Committee reports were presented by Commissioner Rentschler on behalf of the Budget Committee, by Commissioner Peery on behalf of the Public Safety Committee and by Commissioner Fite on behalf of the Solid Waste Committee.

Commissioner Peery reported liability issues at the Lewis County Airport had been resolved and an airplane which had been stored at the hangar without insurance was being removed by the owner.

A brief presentation by State of Tennessee Economic & Community Development Regional Economic Specialist Brooxie Carlton was heard.  Carlton informed the commissioners they did not have to fund the Economic & Community Development office in order for Lewis County to participate in the Three Star Program.  It is necessary, she said, for someone to make sure the requirements for the program are met.

In an EC&D study committee meeting held prior to the meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Carlton told Mayor Don Jones, Commissioners Ritchie Brewer and Spitzer she hoped to see the county continue to work with the City of Hohenwald toward economic development.

A report on that meeting will be published in a future edition of the Herald.

Committee appointments were made for 2009-10.  Appointed to the  Administration/Budget committee were Ritchie Brewer, Churchwell, Hunter, Keltner, Rentschler and Runions.  Appointed to the  Public Safety/Schools committee were Ray Brewer, Fite, James, Peery, Spitzer and Ward.  Appointed to the Solid Waste/Industry/Roads committee were Booker, Graves, Haygood, Lomax, Pigg and Talley.

Commissioner Ritchie Brewer was appointed to represent Lewis County on the Tennessee County Commissioners Association.

Herman Gandy Road was deleted from the county road list at the request of land owner, Paul Gandy, and the approval of the Lewis County Highway Department.

A lengthy discussion of video surveillance equipment at Lewis County Jail preceded the acceptance of a bid from Hiscall, Inc. at $51,426.63.  A bid of $38,827.00 was not accepted from the Nimmo Group.

Budget amendments for Lewis County Schools were accepted.  The allocation of 2008 Oktoberfest lot rental money was approved for use in lot rentals for the 2009 Oktoberfest.

At the suggestion of County Mayor Kenneth Turnbow who was absent from the proceedings, Danny Atkinson was appointed to the position of Emergency Management Agency director for Lewis County.  One no vote was received from Commissioner Rentschler.

David Peluso was appointed County Attorney by Mayor Turnbow.

Budget amendments were accepted to correct bookkeeping changes as described by County Mayor Assistant Cindy Ring.  Additional funding in the amount of $2,895.00 was approved for office supplies, NCIC yearly fees for the Sheriff’s Department, and a short budget for the judicial Commissioner.

A resolution to establish a competitive salary for the Lewis County Jail Director was tabled, 13 to five.  Voting against tabling the resolution were Commissioners Haygood, Ritchie Brewer, Graves, Ray Brewer Jr. and Fite.

A resolution passed in July 2007 allocating new money into designated accounts for the sheriff’s department was rescinded by a 14 to four vote.  Commissioners Peery, Haygood, Graves and Fite voted no.