MINUTES
STATE
OF
The Henderson County
Board of Commissioners met for a special called meeting at
Those present were: Chairman Bill Moyer, Vice-Chairman Charlie
Messer, Commissioner Larry Young, Commissioner
Also present were:
Budget and Management Director Selena Coffey, Finance Director J. Carey
McLelland, Fire Marshal Rocky Hyder and Public Information Officer Chris S.
Coulson.
CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME
Chairman Moyer called
the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.
FIRE AND RESCUE
DEPARTMENTS
LeRoy
Nicholson, Chairman of the Fire and Rescue Advisory Committee, presented the
Fire and Rescue Department budgets. He reminded the Board that there are 13
Fire Departments in the County, plus the Rescue Squad. Two Departments, Edneyville
and Etowah-Horse Shoe had requested increase in their tax rate. The Committee was
in support of those requests, and recommended the rate increase.
There
was some discussion about the split insurance rates for Mountain Home and
Fletcher. It was explained that the lower ratings were considered fire hydrant
districts, while the higher ratings used portable water. Properties within
1,000 feet of a hydrant had an ISO rating of 5 in Mountain Home and a 4 in
Fletcher. Properties farther than 1,000 feet from a hydrant had an ISO rating
of 9 in both districts.
The Board will take formal action on the fire
tax rates at a future meeting. Chairman
Moyer made the motion to approve the recommended tax rates as recommended by
the Fire and Rescue Advisory Committee. All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
SHERIFF AND
Sheriff
George Erwin introduced the following Staff: Major Varnadore – Support
Services, Captain Davis – Administrative Services, Captain McDonald –
Detention, Captain Edney – Criminal Investigations, Captain Baker – Patrol,
Lieutenant Carter – Drug Enforcement. Sheriff Erwin stated that last year the
Patrol Division handled 20,427 more calls than in the previous year. In the
past five years they had written 9,372 citations. The Patrol Division served
4,888 warrants in the past year, 1,639 more than in the previous year. The jump
in calls invariably trickles down, affecting workloads in each division. The
Sheriff continued to discuss specific concerns due to personnel shortages,
particularly with respect to Courthouse Security, Criminal Investigations, 911
Communications, Professional Standards, Data Information and Middle School
Resource Officers.
Chairman
Moyer commended Sheriff Erwin on the initiative being taken in the mental
health arena. There was discussion about possible positive impacts that might
come from a proactive approach to mental health. There was also additional
discussion about the need for personnel in the detention center and 911 Center,
and the amount of time patrol officers spend out on calls. There was discussion
about the vehicle fleet. The consensus of the Sheriff’s Staff was that the
primary concern was ensuring safe vehicles were out on the roads, and the
vehicle leasing program worked very well in that regard. There followed much
additional discussion on finding a balance between the need for additional
personnel versus the need to better compensate existing personnel, the County’s
commitment to maintaining vehicles, the role of the Sheriff with respect to
illegal immigrants, the rise in methamphetamine use and the tracking of sex
offenders.
RECREATION
Corum
Smith, Chairman of the Recreation Advisory Committee, introduced the following
members of the Committee: Ralph King, Gary Eblen, Virgil McClure, Roy Huntley
and Wally Sneed. Gary Eblen stated that in the Sheriff’s budget presentation,
there was discussion of mental health. He noted that recreation is a big part
of mental health, and thanked the Board for the addition of four tennis courts
in Jackson Park.
Mr.
Smith then discussed the Committee’s priority list. One item on that list was
the
Adjourn
Commissioner McGrady
made the motion to adjourn the meeting at
Attest:
Elizabeth
Corn, Clerk to the Board William L. Moyer, Chairman