Commission honors Wells, discusses playground closure
Anderson County Commissioner Aaron Wells addresses the commission at the Aug. 19 meeting. Ebony Capshaw defeated him in the Aug. 1 election and will take his place on the commission. (photo:Ben Pounds )
Democrat Ebony Capshaw defeated Wells, a Republican, in the August election for the district serving Oak Ridge City Hall, Robertsville, and West Hills voting districts.
During the meeting Monday (Aug. 19) at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.the commission passed a resolution recognizing Wells for his service, highlighting his work securing funding for the Scarboro 85 Project, a future monument in Oak Ridge’s A.K. Bissell Park.
“During his tenure, Commissioner Wells has been a tireless advocate for effective governance, transparency, and inclusivity, consistently working to improve the quality of life for all residents of Anderson County,” the resolution stated.
“Ebony, I’m hopeful and confident you’ll do a good job,” Wells said to his successor, who was in the audience.
He expressed gratitude for his time as a public servant and encouraged support for Mayor Terry Frank.
“Please work with her, help her, and I’ll be right behind her as well,” he told the other commissioners.
Law Director
The commission delayed voting on a resolution honoring Law Director Jay Yeager after his recent death due to family members not being able to attend. Instead, it will vote on that resolution in September. However, commissioners and citizens spoke about Yeager at the meeting.
“He was a good friend of mine,” Commissioner Anthony Allen said, adding that he knew him not as “mister” or “law director” but as “Jay.”
The law director’s position is currently vacant, Frank stated, and the county will need to go through a selection process.
Rachel Wallace, the county’s assistant attorney, attended the meeting and will continue her work.
The commissioners, however, voted to have Jamie Brooks serve a 90-day contract effective Sept. 1 as the county’s legal advisor. Brooks is currently the chancellor in charge of the Anderson County Chancery Court. This contract starts after Daniel Forrester, who defeated Brooks in a recent election, takes office as chancellor.
Claxton Playground
The commission voted to end the Conservation Board’s responsibility for the Claxton Community Park effective Dec. 1, 2025.
This decision followed recommendations from the Conservation Board and the Operations Committee.
The Tennessee Valley Authority will pay for the playground’s removal. Commissioner Tracy Wandell said Frank and others were working on finding a new location for the park, and he hoped TVA would assist with a new park.
The playground is near the Bull Run Fossil Plant, which TVA has closed, and near the plant’s ash storage area.
Studies by Duke University, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Tennessee Department of Health confirmed the presence of coal ash in the playground’s soil, although the TDEC study stated that the risk to children was low.
However, Commissioner Joshua Anderson, who is also on the Conservation Board, told The Courier News:
“The decision was really the Conservation Board’s alone and independent of TVA.”
He said the board approached TVA for the agreement because of the wooden playground’s age and not being “up to modern codes any longer.”
Cemetery
The commission approved making the gate TVA installed at the Historic Black Cemetery the Conservation Board’s responsibility.
emergency operations
The commission approved a Basic Emergency Operations Plan for the county.
Claxton School
The commission voted to appropriate $1.4 million for anticipated costs related to building a new elementary school for Claxton.
It also designated $195,642.60 for special education psychologists and behavioral personnel for the school system.
Senior Center Tables
Commissioners approved $5,750 for new tables and benches at the senior center to replace the current crumbling ones.
EMS Training Facility
The commission approved reserving $857,841 for a new Emergency Medical Services training center.
The funds are tied to an Appalachian Regional Commission grant for the same project.
Commissioners also approved property at 3065 Norris Freeway near Glen Alpine Convenience Center as the new EMS training facility location.
Employees
The commission approved a new handbook for Anderson County employees.
Text of the document is available in the commission agenda online.
It addresses issues like harassment, consensual romantic relationships, violence, discrimination, guarding of confidential information, lunch break periods, and more.