County Commission to meet Jan. 29 after weather postponements
Anderson County Commission Chairman Tyler Mayes talks to Commissioners Phil Yager and Denise Palmer at an earli- er meeting. (photo:Ben Pounds )
Presentations will start at 6 p.m., and the regular session will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The county had scheduled the meeting for Jan. 16 and later Jan. 22 before finally rescheduling it for Jan. 29.
Annette Prewitt, chief deputy to the commission, said continued freezing temperatures and conditions of “secondary and tertiary roads” led to the delays.
“I have lived in Anderson County my entire life, and don’t recall a winter storm like this between the snow accumulations, ice, and below-freezing temperatures,” commission Chairman Tyler Mayes told The Courier News.
“The only one I can think of that compares to this is February 1996,” he said.
While delayed, the meeting will include important items.
County Mayor Terry Frank plans to give an update on work to bring broadband internet to areas in the county that currently lack it.
The commission also will be discussing and possibly voting on adding a reporting structure to the Human Resources Department and establishing a director of technology.
The agenda also includes a letter Frank plans to submit to U.S. Reps. Tim Burchett, Chuck Fleischmann and Diana Harshbarger.
The commission plans to vote on changing speed limits on Mountain Vista Road, High View Lane and Gray Horse Lane, all to 15 mph.
It will also discuss a new agreement with local governments for libraries.
The regular agenda, including supporting documents, is on the Anderson County website, although it still lists the meeting as taking place Jan. 16.
“The decision to postpone the County Commission meeting was not taken lightly,” Mayes said. “Our monthly agenda consists of many things including budget appropriations, amendments, and contracts that impact the daily operations of our government.
“However, as chairman, I have a responsibility to ensure [that] the citizens of Anderson County, our commissioners, department heads, and elected officials can safely attend our meetings,” he said.
“After speaking to our EMA director, Brice Kidwell, and seeing the road conditions across the county, I felt that moving forward with a meeting on the 15th and 22nd would put some, if not all, of those folks in a situation that would jeopardize their safety.
“fter conferring with the mayor, county clerk, and commissioners, it was in the best interest of the citizens and county to move the meeting to Jan. 29,” Mayes said. “This gives us a full week of warmer temperatures, which should help the road conditions across the county.”
He thanked the Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Management, various volunteer fire departments, and the
county Highway Department crew “for their tireless, selfless work keeping us safe.”
“I especially want to thank the citizens across the county who volunteered their time and service to their neighborhoods and communities,” he said.
“From shoveling driveways and roadways to picking up prescriptions for elderly neighbors, their spirit of community is what makes Anderson County the greatest place to live, work and raise a family.”