News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Fentress County Commission delayed the appointment of a new commissioner during its monthly meeting Tuesday.
County Executive Jimmy Johnson said one of the possible nominations had a family medical emergency and could not attend. The Commission will hold the vote next Monday. Commissioner Larry Cooper said that will be an important meeting.
“At some point, you really need to reach out to every commissioner,” Cooper said. “Everybody needs to be here for this meeting. If a commissioner can’t be here, I think we are obligated that every commissioner needs to vote one way or another. I mean everybody needs to be here to vote. I mean that’s why we are sitting in these chairs.”
Johnson said a nominee would have to receive at least five votes to be approved as a new commissioner since the county currently has nine commissioners. Johnson said if more than two people are nominated they would vote to narrow the candidates down.
“They have to be nominated by a commissioner and a commissioner can only nominate one person,” Johnson said. “Then after that, I have to ask the public if there are any more considerations or anybody else and if not then we will vote on everybody else.”
In other business, the Commission authorized the Fentress County Library to apply for the Dollar General Literacy Grant. Assistant Library Director Delana Goad said the library has applied in years past and could likely receive anywhere up to $3,000.
Midway through the meeting, the commission held a private executive session with County Attorney Leslie Ledbetter. Once the commissioners returned and reopened the commission meeting Commissioner Larry Cooper made a motion to file a countersuit against all parties involved in an ambulance accident. The commission approved to filling of the countersuit.
The commission approved the 2024 County Highway Department road list.
The commission approved to sale property of delinquent taxes from the year 2022. Ledbetter said the county still has roughly 40 to 45 parcels unpaid from 2022. Ledbetter said with the filing suits for 2023 approaching she would like to go ahead and sell the 2022 properties. The date for the sale to begin is April 25th, 2025.
