South Fulton’s funding request removed from County’s agenda

While the Obion County Commission’s Budget Committee, on Jan. 3, approved forwarding a request from South Fulton City Manager Joyce Gray to the full County Commission on Jan. 18, that item was not included on the Commission’s agenda Monday morning.

The Obion County Commission’s agenda forwarded to The Current on Jan. 10 did include the request from Gray, which she made to the Budget Committee, asking for ARPA funds from the county to assist with more than one city project.

Gray had cited a wastewater treatment plant bar screen replacement and a sewer pumping station, as well as the need to repair a caved in portion of Harris Road as projects for which the city had some financial resources, however the county’s funding could allow for the immediate need of the Harris Road repairs.

Following discussion Budget Committee members Sam Sinclair, Allen Nohsey, James Gray, Ralph Puckett and Terry Roberts voted to move the request forward to the full Commission, with committee member Ricky Boyd voting against the motion.
At 9 a.m. on Jan. 18, when the Obion County Commission convened, a revised agenda was provided, with the request by Gray no longer included.

Obion County Mayor Benny McGuire said in the Budget Committee meeting held at 8:30 a.m. Monday morning, prior to the Commission meeting, that committee had revisited the request and chosen to not forward it to the commission.

McGuire said he had visited the Harris Road cave-in, taken photographs and in his opinion, the repairs could be made utilizing the city’s employees and equipment.

Although action approved by members of the Obion County Commission’s Budget Committee Jan. 3 would have moved a request from South Fulton City Manager Joyce Gray to be considered by the full County Commission Jan. 18, that item was removed from the commission’s agenda, prior to the 9 a.m. convening.

County Commissioners present included Ralph Puckett, Donnie Braswell, Kenneth Barnes, Dale Frazier, Terry Roberts, Ricky Boyd, Allen Nohsey, Steve Goodrich, Jim Bondurant, James Gray, Paul Albright, Rob Holman, Ryan Ellegood, Larry Sherwood, Sam Sinclair, James Beasley, Donnie Walton and Eugene Hudgins. Commissioners Jerry Lamastus, Dwayne Hensley and Paul Albright were absent.

Four budget amendments for the Sheriff’s Department were approved by the Commission, at the recommendation of the budget committee, as presented by Budget Committee Chair Sam Sinclair: $6,400 for reimbursement from Red River Waste for deputies providing security at their business for two weeks, for overtime; $47,716 from the Obion County School System receiving additional funding to add an SRO officer to oversee the SROs and provide wellness checks for students not attending school; $20,000 for reimbursement from Williams Sausage for paying salary for one correctional officer on site at the plant while inmates are working through the work-release program; and $1,440 for reimbursement from Walmart for deputies providing security for Black Friday events.

The Agreement to Provide Rural Fire Service to Properties Owned by Obion County Outside the Corporate Limits of the City/Towns of Obion County, was reviewed and approved by the full commission, for a term of five years, to be entered into between the county and the cities of Union City, Rives, Kenton, Obion, Troy, Samburg, South Fulton and Hornbeak.

In consideration of each city or town to receive the sum of $1,500 annually, the signing parties would provide fire service to all county owned properties and rights of way within the boundaries of their Fire Department Rural Fire District. Mayor McGuire reminded the officials only those cities’ departments which signed the agreement would be eligible to receive the $1,500, a portion of which would be forwarded now, and a portion after the commencement of the new fiscal year budget.

The Obion County Farm Land Property Farm Lease Contract, at $226 per acre, all county land including the airport, between the county and the lessor, B&G partnership, Doug Goodman, was approved as was the Obion County Nursing Home Property Farm Lease Contract, with the same lessor named. The Everett-Stewart Airport Farm Lease Agreement, between the Obion County Legislative Body, for the purpose of operating in all respects, Everett-Stewart Regional Airport, the lessor and Waldrop Dowdy, the Lessee regarding a total of 16.05 acres, was approved, with yearly rent to be paid at $226 per acre to Everett-Stewart Regional Airport.

Mayor McGuire provided the officials with the Three Star Confirmation letter to be provided to the Chamber of Commerce. He explained the document was to confirm that Obion County had taken the necessary steps in accordance with the ThreeStar Program, to include the County Mayor’s review with the Commission of the debt management policy required on file with the Comptroller of the Treasury Office, and the review had been offically documented in the minutes of the meeting.

A budget amendment was approved for the commission’s contribution to the May 23-27 State County Trustees’ annual conference, this year scheduled to be held at Discovery Park of America. The Budget Committee had recommended a contribution in the amount of $5,000, to help sponsor the event, following a presentation by Obion County Trustee Tracey Westbrooks.

Budget Chair Sam Sinclair explained the annual conference is generally held in larger cities such as Nashville or Memphis, so the decision to locate the conference in Obion County this year is a great opportunity to promote the area. The commission approved the contribution, in Tourism funds, for the conference.

A recommendation from the Obion County Highway Commission, signed by Highway Superintendent Gary Lofton, to recommend a portion of Yellowstone Road, 0.14 miles, be added to the County Road List. The roadway, at the intersection of the Troy and Hickman road, off old Hwy. 51, was approved to be added to the county road list.
Two resolutions received approval from officials present, one to approve a change in a payment in lieu of taxes agreement with Tyson Farms and one for the same purpose, with Institutional Casework, Incorporated.

The Tyson resolution stipulates the Industrial Development Board is authorized to amend the PILOT incentive with Tyson, that Tyson will sell or otherwise transfer to the IDB real property improvements, in this case an expansion, used at the site at fair market value not to exceed $125 million and the IDB shall lease or otherwise grant to Tyson the use of the real property improvements and industrial equipment.

As to the resolution involving Institutional Casework, Incorporated, the PILOT incentive was amended, that ICI will sell or otherwise transfer to the IDB, the same improvments and equipment used at the site, in an amount not to exceed $10 million.

Solid waste contracts with ECM of Ridgely, LLC & Obion County, as well as Northwest Disposal Corporation & Obion County were approved, effective Jan. 1, 2022.

A contribution to Discovery Park of America, previously approved by the full commission, was revisited, with two actions resulting.

Budget Committee Chair Sam Sinclair said since the previous approval of a $60,000 contribution to DPA, discussion had occurred to consider taking the funds from the ARPA monies received by the County instead of Tourism funds. On a 14-4 vote to revise the source of the contribution, from Tourism funds to ARPA funds, the revision was approved. Following that approval, the previously made motion which passed, to provide the $60,000 to DPA from Tourism money, was rescinded.
Board Appointments included, now serving, Ken-Tenn Railroad (4 year term) - Ricky Boyd and Allen Nohsey; County Board of Health (4 year term) – Benny McGuire, Dr. John Cummings, Tim Watkins, Terri Prather, Dr. Kirk Stone, Dr. Mark Fowler, Dr. Franklin Clark, Dr. Leland Davis, and Tressa Ervin ;Ag Committee (2 year term) – Ethan

Tanner and Bill Sellers ; Budget Committee (1 year term) –Sam Sinclair, James Gray, Ricky Boyd, Allen Nohsey, Terry Roberts, Ralph Puckett, and Paul Albright; Appointments to Tourism Committee, a newly formed paid committee, Sam Sinclair, Chair, Lindsey Frilling, Chamber of Commerce, Ed Mayberry, Samburg Tourism, John Ed Powers, Final Flight, Katrina Greer, Lake County Tourism, Bill Sanderson, White Squirrel Winery, Rodney Underwood, city mayors and Scott Williams, Discovery Park of America. Paid committee members receive $100 per meeting’s attendance.

Prior to the commencement of the county’s business, Mayor McGuire presented certificates of recognition to Obion County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Moore, honoring his award for West Tennessee Deputy of the Year; and Sherry Hannah, for her 25 years of service with the county’s 911 operations.

Those commissioners present approved the refund to Albright Trucking for overpayment of taxes to the county, in the amount of $18,536 and heard an update from Commissioner Rob Holman and Cates Landing Board member Ed Sims regarding a Silicon plant planned at the site, with an approximate $150 million investment, construction to occur over a two year period, and hiring of 140 workers as well as approximately 400 individuals for the construction.

The silicon metal, they said, is used in batteries as well as solar panels.