August 22, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
County Mayor Tim Stribling and several members of the county commission attended their last meeting together Monday night. Their terms expire next Wednesday, August 31.
Stribling recognized the outgoing members during Monday night’s monthly county commission meeting and said they would soon be receiving something either in person or by mail in recognition for their service.
Commissioners leaving office next week are Jerry Adcock, 5th district with 12 years of service; Anita Puckett, 5th district with 8 years; Julie Young, 1st district with 6 years; and Jenny Trapp, 3rd district; Janice Fish Stewart and Dr. Scott Little, 4th district; Matt Adcock, 6th district; and Bruce Malone, 7th district all with 4 years of service, and Shaee Flatt of the 1st district with 19 months of service. Both Stewart and Flatt were absent during Monday night’s meeting. Although Matt Adcock is vacating his county commission position, he will not be leaving county government as he will be taking over from Stribling as County Mayor September 1.
“I appreciate everything you (county commissioners) have done. I think we have done some good things for the county,” said County Mayor Stribling. “I want to thank this commission and the one prior as well as all county employees for their dedicated service,” he added.
County Mayor-Elect Matt Adcock presented Stribling with an “Outstanding Leadership Award” on behalf of the commission “in recognition of exceptional leadership and dedicated service to DeKalb County” over the last 8 years as county mayor.
Commissioner Jerry Adcock thanked the people of the 5th district for allowing him to serve for 12 years.
In other business, the commission voted to make part of the minutes an acknowledgment of a merger agreement between Middle Tennessee Natural Gas and the Clay Gas Utility District of Clay County. Approval was granted for a state required statutory bond for the office of Trustee, which is done every four years.
Commissioner Bruce Malone made a motion that the County Veterans Service Officer, Bill Rutherford, be given an increase in pay of $75 per month. He currently earns $1,000 per month. Commissioner Jerry Adcock offered a second to the motion. All voted in favor except 2nd district commissioner Sabrina Farler who said that “While I fully support the Veterans Services, the commission just adopted the budget in July and I felt the proper protocol would have been to bring the pay raise request before the budget committee first. We had 3 months of budget committee meetings, and this was never mentioned,” said Farler.
Commissioner Puckett asked about the status of the ARP funds.
“We received our APR money last month and have given out the employee premium pay (bonuses),” said County Mayor Stribling.
Puckett also inquired about projects to build a new fire Liberty/Dowelltown fire hall (using ARP funds) and renovations for the county complex main office (relocating it closer to the front door using ARP money) and remodeling the first-floor courtroom of the courthouse using county capital projects funds.
“On the renovations, although the money is budgeted, we will wait until the new administration and county commission comes in,” said County Mayor Stribling.
“As for the new firehall, the engineer has asked that a topographical survey be done before they get into the design of it,” Stribling continued.
Commissioner Malone asked if the proposed site for a new county health department building next to the existing one is still feasible.
“We have to see if there are any wetland issues and if existing Caney Fork Electric power lines that go across the property can be relocated,” said County Mayor Stribling.
The proposed new health department project is estimated to cost $3,915,400 but most of it would be funded from the state’s allocation of American Recovery Plan Act funding. The county will have to come up with a local match of $398,000 but the good news is that the county will be allowed to use a portion of its American Rescue Plan Act funds to meet the match.