TRACY HARRIS – Staff Writer tharris@themarshallcoutnypost.com
The Marshall County Board of County Commissioners met on Sept. 25, 2023. Mike Keny, County Mayor was elected chairman by a unanimous vote. Chairman pro-tem was next for nominations. Commissioner Anna Childress was elected as chairman pro tem by roll call vote of 16 votes.
Upon motion by Commissioner Johnson and a second by Commissioner Hollingsworth, Amanda Gonzalez was appointed as Human Resources Director by a unanimous vote.
Next up was a motion to appoint Sheldon Davis as Maintenance Director. A roll call vote was taken. Those voting aye were: Anna Childress, Dean Delk, John McCullough, Ken Lee, Randy Perryman, and Terry Dunnivant. Voting nay against Davis’ appointment were: Cannon Allen, Craig Blackwell, Glen White, Jeff Poarch, Keith Hollingsworth, Mickey King, Nathan Johnson, Seth Wary, and Tony Beyer. Debbie Gilbert and Sheldon Davis abstained from the vote. Since the person being appointed did not receive 10 votes, the position will be filled at a later date.
The Board voted to approve Resolution No. 23-09-04-Resolution to Reinstate Covid Pay for County Employees. Commissioner Blackwell posed several questions about the resolution. Blackwell asked: how many times could an employee use it, what the financial impact would be, why teachers would not receive it, and were federal dollars available. Marshall County stopped offering “Covid Pay” in February of 2022 once cases declined, but there has been a recent increase in the number of cases. The Personnel and Policies Committee voted to reinstate Covid pay of 5 working days that correlate with the employee’s work schedule up to 40 hours of pay within a 5 day timeframe, retroactive to July 1st, 2023 with approved documentation. 16 were in favor so the motion passed.
Marshall County applied for and was awarded a Mental Health Transport Services grant for FY 2023-2024. The grant program assists Sheriffs required to transport persons to a hospital or treatment resource for emergency mental health transport. The grant is $53,983 and it does not require a match from Marshall County.
Resolution 23-09-01 reported the purchase of a sheriff vehicle as an emergency purchase. According to Sheriff Billy Lamb, “The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office has had two vehicles totaled in a wreck within a month. These incidents have caused the Sheriff’s Department to be short on vehicles. We have been purchasing vehicles from Columbia Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep…we have ordered two SUV’s since February 2023 and still have not received them.”
Lamb said, “I have contacted Columbia Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep to see when they would be able to get vehicles to us, but they are unsure of the date. They do have some vehicles that they stated should arrive sometime in October. The Sheriff’s Department has requested from the County Commission to purchase a Ford Explorer from Brannen Motor for $46,000. This vehicle is available for immediate possession.” The vote was unanimously in favor.
The next meeting of the Marshall County Commission Meeting will take place Monday, Oct. 23 at 6:00 p.m. at the Courthouse Annex on the second floor in room 2204.
