The Lewis County Board of Commissioners met in regular session Monday, February 26th. All Commissioners were present.

Once the floor was opened to public input, Highway Commissioner Kerry Cagle took the podium with the intention to clarify his decision to place the bridge project on hold was due to the letter he received from Collier Engineering, whom he has now fired, "due to costing us three years, and misinformation from the firm". Kerry informed that he has hired a new firm to satisfy FEMA's flood issues, and their plan is expected to be approved by June and will then be put out for bid. Addressing the misinformation, there has been confusion on whether Texas Bottom Bridge was on the State's list to be replaced. After it was discovered Kerry did not present all options to the Commission regarding the bridge project (he presented only "repair or remove"), Mayor Keltner and Commissioners asked Kerry at the Oak Grove meeting if he minded if they did some research to find out more information on the years-long project separately, to which he responded "I don't mind at all."

Keltner spent the week emailing TDOT Bureau of Planning Transportation Manager Ms. Lisa Dunn to clarify aspects of the project. Ms. Dunn confirmed the following through email:

* The State never denied any of Collier Engineering's plans for this bridge, and the corrections that were made have met the needs of the State.

* The Texas Bottom project has a good chance of getting approved and receiving such funding in the upcoming Fiscal Year July 1st, and Lewis County shouldn't have to spend any local dollars on the project from neither the County nor the Highway Department fund balances.

* This fund will not exhaust all of Lewis County's bridge repair funds and will leave money available at the State level to make typical repairs to other bridges next Fiscal Year.

* As of Friday, February 23rd, Lewis County is now placed on the list to seek funding from the State in the 23-25 TDOT budget to REPLACE the Sickler Road bridge. She reconfirmed on a Tuesday morning, February 27th, phone call that the project was not on the State's list until Mayor Keltner spoke with her Friday. Since this is the opposite of what has repeatedly been said from the Highway Commissioner Cagle, she has agreed to attend the Commission Committee meeting on Monday, March 4th at 5:30 p.m. to clarify the details of the bridge project.

The Commission Meeting moved on to discuss the Keg Springs Road project, which has been in the works for well over five years due to difficulty with paperwork and requirements associated with the FLAP grant it is funneled through, due to the road's proximity to the Natchez Trace Parkway. Cagle confirmed the paving of the road should begin early this summer.

Commissioner Feichtinger gave the report of the Homeless Study Committee. "Everyone has a right to be homeless, and we are concentrating our efforts on those who desire not to be. He gave the committee's recommendation to seek out grants, resources, and other counties to help. Chief Deputy Matt Tiller commended the work the group is doing, "when we get a call, this group goes to work, finding a way to help."

All Commissioners approved Wendell Kelley's resolution to name the Arkansas Road over Trace Creek the "Wylie and Bettie Sue Carroll Commemorative Bridge" due to their years of dedicated service to the Lewis County Community through the Nursing Home, Highway Department, and Transfer Station.

The Commission also unanimously passed the resolution to request the Tennessee General Assembly to amend the County Powers Relief Act. Despite its rapid growth, Lewis County has been prohibited by State Law to enact an adequate facilities tax on new development because it did not meet the mandated threshold of at least a 20% growth in population over 10 years, or a 9% growth over 4 years. The Commission is requesting the Tennessee General Assembly to "amend the County Powers Relief Act to merely allow the counties of Tennessee to be placed on a level playing field with the municipalities in our great state, so that they may determine the most conservative way to establish a means for funding the accelerated growth Lewis County is experiencing without burdening our residents with increased property taxes.

Commissioner Loveless was the only "no" in a vote to accept the bid of $42,500 from Summertown Metals to construct a new 16x16 scale house with concrete slab and hook-ups at the L.C. Transfer Station. The current one is believed to be originally purchased by Van Ward. The new build will be paid for by using half ARPA funds, and the other half will be paid for from the Transfer Solid Waste Fund.

NEW BUSINESS consisted of a new recycling option. Lewis County Government has been pursuing an affordable option to recycle glass at the Transfer Station for several years. Currently, L.C. pays $54.50 per ton to Cedar Ridge/Waste Haulers to remove all regular household trash. With the contract/partnership with SMI, Lewis County will separate the glass out and recycle it for $22 per ton, saving over $30 per ton for the removal. With the exception of Loveless, the Commissioners approved to enter into the three-year contract with SMI to pay no more than $22 per ton, nor pay any fuel surcharges or other fees associated with the partnership with SMI, the company used by Hickman and Maury counties.