News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Former Jackson County Director of Schools Joe Barlow elected to serve as the county’s new commissioner for district two Monday night.
The commission held an election to fill the seat left vacant when Jim Morgan was elected County Mayor in February. Barlow said this will be a new chapter for him after thirty years with the school system and fifteen as its director.
“I’ve lived in the second district my entire life so a lot of folks there, once the seat came open solicited me, to me I guess, to (take the position),” Barlow said. “And it’s interesting, I’ve worked with the county court for fifteen years as a superintendent.”
Barlow was the only person nominated for the seat and was sworn in immediately after being elected. After that, Commissioner Joey Denson was elected as the commission’s chair since County Mayor Jim Morgan declined the position.
“I hate to call it like this, but Joey Denson’s been nominated, are there any other nominations?” Denson said. “We’re crossing new ground, y’all. I mean, we’ve never had this situation before.
Denson said he would be willing to serve the term out if the commission so desired during the nomination process. Commissioner Kevin Cummins was elected to serve as chairman pro tem to fill the vacancy left by Denson.
“I look forward to it, working with everybody to improve the county,” Barlow said.
In other business, the commission approved two budget amendments for the sheriff’s department, one spending some $5,000 to purchase thirteen tasers from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and another spending some $1,600 to pay a housing fee for an inmate held in Overton County. A budget amendment was also approved allowing the county clerk’s office to purchase a new printer that it needs to print titles.
Commissioners appointed Glen Jones as the county historian and Commissioner Doug Stafford as the county genealogist. The county also voted to approve the license required for the Granville Whiskey Festival on Friday, April 4.
