County Commissioners · Meeting · Jun 24, 2024

Mon, Jun 24, 2024

The elected legislative body for Hickman County. Sets county policy, adopts the budget, and represents residents across the county’s districts.

Outline

This outline was generated by an LLM from a transcript and may contain errors or inaccuracies. Prefer the original recording when available.

The meeting’s consequential business centered on adopting the county’s new fiscal-year budget package and related resolutions: a 2024–25 appropriations resolution, the tax levy, and a separate $205,000 appropriation to nonprofit charitable organizations. The tax levy passed 11–1, with one no vote, after a member of the public urged commissioners to keep cutting spending before raising property taxes. Commissioners also approved multiple budget amendments, including cleanup items, an EMS vehicle purchase from the sheriff’s department, sports-gaming transfers to highway, a health-department security purchase, and a large grant amendment.

Other notable threads included adoption of the county’s 2024 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan to preserve funding eligibility, an opioid-settlement update that opened the county application portal and set a July–November disbursement timeline for about $418,000, an animal-shelter site update awaiting engineering review, notice that the county is now administering a $50,000 ThreeStar grant, and a floor motion to suspend payments to the county economic and development line item, which passed unanimously among those present.

Call to Order and agenda business 2:02

  • 3:25 Agenda approved without recorded controversy.
  • 3:55 Public hearing/public comment included concern over the proposed property-tax increase.
    • 4:20 A citizen said the county should exhaust “every avenue” to cut replaceable/discretionary spending before increasing property taxes, citing inflation and the broader economy; no board response was taken during the comment period.
  • 5:02 May 28 meeting minutes approved without controversy.
  • 5:30 No special recognitions, memorials, recommendations, or regular county-official annual reports were presented.

Elections, Appointments, and Confirmations 5:39

  • 5:39 Five notaries were submitted and approved:
    • Suzanne Burks
    • Eric Henson
    • Morisa Neely
    • Christine Rosney
    • April Wilkerson

Department / Official Reports

County Mayor 6:10

  • 6:17 The mayor reported that administration of the ThreeStar grant is now being handled in-house by the mayor’s office and finance department.
  • 6:26 The grant amount was stated as $50,000.

Committee Reports

Planning Commission 6:41

  • 6:41 Minutes were in the packet.
  • 6:50 Report described as routine approvals/standard business; no additional floor discussion.

Solid Waste 7:00

  • 7:00 Minutes were in the packet.
  • 7:09 No substantive additional discussion beyond availability for questions.

Health, Safety, and Properties 7:09

  • 7:09 Vice chair noted the minutes were in the packet.
  • 7:17 No additional report beyond the written minutes.

Finance Committee 7:27

  • 7:33 Motion made to approve the financial reports/summaries for April and May.
  • 7:50 Financial reports for April and May approved by roll call, 11 yes, 3 absent.

Budget, Finance, and Human Resources 8:21

  • 8:29 Committee had met several times and brought forward multiple budget amendments.

Grouped cleanup and transfer amendments 8:37

  • 8:37 Amendments 24-67, 24-68, 24-69, and 24-71 were grouped and presented together.
    • 8:46 24-67: County General cleanup, $66,667.
    • 8:55 24-68: EMS purchase of a vehicle from the sheriff’s department, amount stated as 24,68 in the transcript context; discussion indicates an interdepartmental vehicle purchase for EMS.
    • 9:03 24-69: Highway cleanup, $300.
    • 9:03 24-71: Solid Waste cleanup, $15,000.
  • 9:24 Grouped amendments approved by roll call, 12 yes, 2 absent.

Health Department security purchase 9:57

  • 9:57 Amendment 24-70 presented for a Knox Box and new locks for the health department.
  • 10:06 Cost stated as $3,400, to be paid from reserves.
  • 10:15 Amendment approved by roll call, 12 yes, 2 absent.

Sports-gaming transfers to Highway 10:49

  • 10:49 Amendments 24-72 and 24-73 were grouped.
  • 10:58 Described as sports-gaming transfers to the highway department.
    • 10:58 One amount stated as $39,720.16.
    • 11:07 Second amount stated as $35,283.
  • 11:17 Both amendments approved by roll call, 12 yes, 2 absent.

Grant amendment 11:41

  • 11:41 Amendment 24-74 presented as a grant amendment.
  • 11:49 Amount stated as $739,742.
  • 11:49 Amendment approved by roll call, 12 yes, 2 absent.

Agriculture / Extension Committee 12:26

  • 12:36 Committee reported it had moved in and that operations were “going good.”
  • 12:44 Timing referenced from May 1 and June 3.
  • 12:44 A new agent had been hired as of June 3; fuller written report promised for next month.

Records Committee 12:59

  • 12:59 No meeting.

Zoning Appeals / related boards 13:06

  • 13:06 A meeting had been held and minutes were said to be in the packet.
  • 13:12 No further floor discussion captured.

Opioid Settlement Board 13:23

  • 13:31 The county’s opioid-settlement page went live on the county website, hickmancountytn.gov, with application materials and related information.
  • 13:47 The board set a formal disbursement timeline.
    • 13:47 Application window: July and August, described as 8 weeks.
    • 13:55 Funding pool referenced as about $418,000.
    • 14:04 September for selection of winners.
    • 14:04 October for presenting final candidates to the commission/board for approval.
    • 14:10 November for issuing checks.
  • 14:19 A QR code was launched to drive applicants directly to the application.
    • 14:27 Promotion planned through flyers, social media, posters, medical facilities, churches, community centers, and retail locations.
  • 14:43 Board emphasized urgency to get all funding allocated within the planned timeline.

Animal Shelter Advisory Committee 14:59

  • 14:59 Committee discussed a location for the animal shelter.
  • 15:06 Members were said to be in favor of the proposed site.
  • 15:06 The next step is waiting on an engineer to overlay/review the grounds and confirm the site is suitable.

Committee minutes consolidated 15:21

  • 15:21 Motion passed to add committee minutes to the overall minutes.

New Business / Agenda Items 16:01

16:01 Resolution 24-12 — 2024 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan

  • 16:01 Resolution to adopt the 2024 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
  • 16:17 Sponsors said the county must adopt it in order to receive funding; discussion had already occurred previously.
  • 16:33 Resolution approved by roll call, 12 yes, 2 absent.

17:04 Resolution 24-13 — nonprofit charitable organizations appropriation

  • 17:04 Resolution making appropriations to nonprofit charitable organizations for fiscal year July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
  • 17:19 The amount was stated as $205,000, consistent with prior budget-meeting discussions.
  • 17:33 Resolution approved by roll call, 12 yes, 2 absent.

18:07 Resolution 24-14 — annual county appropriations budget

  • 18:07 Resolution making appropriations for the county’s various funds, departments, institutions, offices, and agencies for fiscal year 2024–25.
  • 18:30 Sponsors said this reflected what had already been discussed in budget meetings and that nothing had changed since those discussions.
  • 18:46 Resolution approved by roll call, 12 yes, 2 absent.

19:15 Resolution 24-15 — tax levy

  • 19:15 Resolution setting the county tax levy for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024.
  • 19:31 Sponsor said the tax-rate amounts matched the figures discussed during the budget meetings.
  • 19:47 Resolution passed by roll call, 11 yes, 1 no, 2 absent.
    • 19:47 The only recorded no vote was Ricky Murray.

20:06 Resolution 24-16 — opioid settlement amendment / Kroger settlement

  • 20:06 Resolution authorizing the county to join the State of Tennessee and other local governments in amending the Tennessee subdivision opioid abatement agreement and approving related settlement agreements.
  • 20:38 Explained as a new settlement involving Kroger, to be added to state opioid funds and expected to increase local funds as well.
  • 20:52 Resolution approved by roll call, 12 yes, 2 absent.

21:15 Floor motion — suspend payment to Economic and Development line item

  • 21:22 Motion made from the floor to suspend any payment to Hickman County Economic and Development.
  • 22:08 The relevant account code was clarified on the record as 101-58120.
  • 22:15 Motion approved by roll call, 12 yes, 2 absent.
  • 22:38 No further explanation or conditions were developed on the floor beyond identifying the account to be frozen.

Announcements 15:36

  • 15:36 July meeting schedule was circulated as printed unless changes were reported to staff.

Adjournment 22:46

  • 22:46 Motion to adjourn passed without controversy.

Key figures and statistics

Figure Type Context / topic Timestamp
10 present Attendance Initial roll call count stated before later votes showed 12 voting members present 2:28
$50,000 Grant ThreeStar grant now being administered by mayor’s office and finance 6:26
April and May Reporting period Financial reports/summaries approved 7:33
11 yes, 3 absent Vote Approval of April and May financial reports 8:06
24-67 Amendment number County General cleanup amendment 8:37
24-68 Amendment number EMS vehicle purchase from sheriff’s department 8:46
24-69 Amendment number Highway cleanup amendment 9:03
24-71 Amendment number Solid Waste cleanup amendment 9:03
$66,667 Budget amendment County General cleanup 8:46
$300 Budget amendment Highway cleanup 9:03
$15,000 Budget amendment Solid Waste cleanup 9:03
12 yes, 2 absent Vote Approval of amendments 24-67, 24-68, 24-69, and 24-71 9:48
24-70 Amendment number Health department Knox Box and locks 9:57
$3,400 Expense Knox Box and new locks for health department, from reserves 10:06
12 yes, 2 absent Vote Approval of amendment 24-70 10:33
24-72 Amendment number Sports-gaming transfer to highway 10:49
24-73 Amendment number Sports-gaming transfer to highway 10:49
$39,720.16 Transfer Sports-gaming money to highway department 10:58
$35,283 Transfer Sports-gaming money to highway department 11:07
12 yes, 2 absent Vote Approval of amendments 24-72 and 24-73 11:26
24-74 Amendment number Grant amendment 11:41
$739,742 Grant / budget amendment Amendment 24-74 11:49
12 yes, 2 absent Vote Approval of amendment 24-74 12:11
May 1 Date Agriculture/Extension move-in timing reference 12:44
June 3 Date Date new agent was hired 12:44
July and August Time period Opioid-settlement application window 13:47
8 weeks Time period Length of opioid application window 13:55
$418,000 Settlement funds Opioid board funding pool referenced for applications 13:55
September Time period Opioid board winner selection 14:04
October Time period Final candidates presented for approval 14:04
November Time period Checks to be issued 14:10
24-12 Resolution number Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan adoption 16:01
2024 Plan year Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan 16:01
12 yes, 2 absent Vote Approval of Resolution 24-12 16:42
24-13 Resolution number Nonprofit charitable organizations appropriation 17:04
July 1, 2024 Effective date Start of nonprofit appropriation fiscal year 17:04
June 30, 2025 End date End of nonprofit appropriation fiscal year 17:04
$205,000 Appropriation Nonprofit charitable organizations funding 17:26
12 yes, 2 absent Vote Approval of Resolution 24-13 17:50
24-14 Resolution number County annual appropriations budget 18:07
2024–25 Fiscal year Annual county appropriations budget 18:30
12 yes, 2 absent Vote Approval of Resolution 24-14 18:58
24-15 Resolution number Tax levy 19:15
July 1, 2024 Effective date Tax levy fiscal year start 19:15
11 yes, 1 no, 2 absent Vote Approval of Resolution 24-15 tax levy 19:57
24-16 Resolution number Opioid settlement amendment / related agreements 20:06
12 yes, 2 absent Vote Approval of Resolution 24-16 20:59
101-58120 Account code Economic and Development line item ordered suspended 22:15
12 yes, 2 absent Vote Motion to suspend payment to Economic and Development account 22:30

External vendors, brands, and software

Name Type Context / topic Timestamp
Kroger Company New opioid settlement expected to increase county opioid-abatement funds 20:38
Knox Box Brand Health department security purchase along with new locks 10:06

Personnel changes

Name Role / office Change Context / topic Timestamp
[Name not stated] Agent, Agriculture / Extension Hired New agent reported hired effective June 3; fuller report promised later 12:44

Laws and policies

Citation / name Level Type Context / topic Timestamp
Resolution 24-12 County Resolution Adoption of the county’s 2024 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan to maintain eligibility for funding 16:01
2024 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan County Policy Hazard-mitigation plan adopted as a prerequisite for funding access 16:01
Resolution 24-13 County Resolution Appropriation to nonprofit charitable organizations for FY 2024–25 17:04
Resolution 24-14 County Resolution Annual appropriations for county funds, departments, institutions, offices, and agencies 18:07
Resolution 24-15 County Resolution Tax levy for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 19:15
Resolution 24-16 County Resolution Joining state and local governments in amending opioid-abatement agreement and approving related settlements 20:06
Tennessee State Subdivision Opioid Abatement Agreement State Policy Amended to incorporate additional settlement funds, including Kroger settlement 20:14