Commissioner Tyler Mayes is now chairman of the Anderson County Commission. The commission voted to appoint him to the post during its Monday, Sept. 18, meeting. Mayes represents the Claxton and Bull Run areas. The chairman’s job is to preside over County Commission meetings and keep procedural rules. Mayes gave thoughts on the position in comments before the vote. He said meetings need to be “proper and professional” and to keep “decorum,” strictly following the rules. “There’s 16 of us up here with 16 different opinions, and this individual needs to express all 16,” he said. “We may vote a certain way, but we don’t project picking sides.” Mayes said the chairperson needs to let citizens express “what’s on their mind, what’s on their heart.” “But also I see the chairman as being able to protect the 16 of us from direct or any kind of inflammatory comments,” he said. He also said the chairman should represent the full commission “with dignity and with class” at events.
Read MoreThe Rocky Top City Council had high praise last week for Chief of Police James “Jim” Shetterly, who will retire as of Friday (Sept. 29) after nearly 37 years with the Police Department, the last 31 as chief. A resolution passed unanimously by the council said, in part: “The Mayor and Council wish to publicly commend and express appreciation to Police Chief James Shetterly Jr. for his more than 36 years of dedicated, loyal and committed service to the City of Rocky Top and call upon all residents to acknowledge and reflect upon the many contributions to our community by James Shetterly Jr. and wish him good health, happiness and a long life during his retirement, as well as to extend appreciation to his wife and family who shared this fine man with the City of Rocky Top for more than 36 years.” Shetterly was joined at the meeting by his wife, Pam. Also in attendance was the new police chief, John Thomas, whose first day on the job was the day of the council meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 19. The council normally meets on the third Thursday of each month, but the meeting was held two days earlier because of a “scheduling conflict” for the regular date, which would have been Sept. 21, the city recorder said in an email.
Read MoreA battery recycling company is looking to build a storage facility in Clinton. Michael Vogel, CEO of Evolve Renewable Materials, spoke at the Monday, Sept. 18, Anderson County Commission meeting about the property at 1671 Lake City Highway. The commission approved his request to rezone the tract from general commercial district to light industrial district. His company is based at 159 Mitchell Road, Oak Ridge. He said the company currently employs 10 people in Oak Ridge. He estimated adding another five to 10 employees with the Clinton facility. He said he expects the company to grow from there, creating more jobs. He described his company’s operations as “circular,” recycling old battery components into new ones.
Read MoreAt the Monday evening Clinton City Council meeting, City Manager Roger Houck informed the council of the status of some of the city’s maintenance projects and a possible change in the city’s election procedures. Houck said bids for the splash pad at Jaycee Park would be opened on Oct. 19. He said that on Sept. 21, Aspen Contracting had been awarded a $50,000 contract to repair the roof on the public works building. Houck also said Studio 4 Design was awarded $52,000 for a design service agreement on the old armory. In addition, the Police Department has been awarded a $20,953 grant to pay for 20 body cameras. Houck told the council that the Rogers Group would be paving Main Street and Clinch Avenue next week. The way Clinton citizens elect their council members could be changing under recently passed state legislation, according to Houck. Currently, city councilmen are elected at large. Under the new law, only those people living in a ward can vote for the councilman representing that ward. Houck said the new law would also affect school board elections. Houck said he was confused about how the new law would be administered. He said it was “about as clear as mud.”
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