The Bradley County Quorum Court had its regular meeting on Monday, November 20, to discuss various business. Before the regular monthly Quorum meeting, the court met as the Tax Levying Court. The rates levied are as follows:
Timber tax is at .20 cents per acre.
During Quorum court, Leslie Huitt spoke to the court about the closure of the obstetrics department at the Bradley County Medical Center stating that the decision was heartbreaking, but at the current loss of $1,000.000.000 per year, the program is unsustainable.
Next, a motion was made and seconded to accept the Treasurer’s report. All were in favor. The Sheriff’s report was also given, and a motion was made and seconded to accept it. All were in favor.
Bradley County Judge Clay McKinney then presented his report on the road work in Bradley County. Judge McKinney met with the state aid board and is hoping to receive the needed funds in order to contract an asphalt contractor as soon as possible. He is hoping that the new roadwork will be able to go all the way to Hermitage if funds allow.
“Bradley County is very blessed to have a road department,” McKinney stated. “We have the talent and expertise to be able to do work at a fraction of what it would normally cost.”
He also reported that for the last two years, the Bradley County landfill has been taking on unsustainable amounts of trash due to surrounding counties either raising rates or closing landfills with some of the trash coming from other towns as far as Portland. He said that Bradley County cannot sustain what they are currently doing as far as the landfill is concerned.
Pits that at one time lasted 12-16 months, are now lasting only 8 or 9 months. A new rate will be discussed at an upcoming meeting.
The next item of business was Resolution No. 286 which is the adoption of Bradley County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Resolution No. 286 is a way for the county to apply for federal money and has to be renewed every five years. Without the renewal of this grant, no federal money will be given. Motion made and seconded to adopt Resolution No. 286. All were in favor.
A presentation was made by Jay Holstead, a representative from McKinstry Solar, and Walter Wills who is the project director for McKinstry. They spoke on the benefits of switching to solar power and how it would improve things such as HVAC needs for places like the courthouse.
“This is a way to get on a path to levelize the budget.” Holstead said.
The next meeting will be at 6 p.m., December 18, at the Bradley County courthouse.
