The Bradley County Commission recently discussed the potential for Bradley County becoming a special school district. If this happens, Commissioner Lisa Stanbery explained, the county’s board of education would have the right to set the county’s tax rate in order to fund education. However, as members of the commission and Bradley County Board of Education Member Terry McGuire stated, there are too many unanswered questions to move forward.

Commissioner Mel Griffith said a few of the special school districts have been set up across the state, most of them instituted in the 1980s. He said the state stopped creating the special districts “because they created financial chaos.”

Also during the meeting, Bradley County was recognized for excellent budgeting process, gaining the approval of the Government Finance Officer’s Association, an award that requires a “spirit of full disclosure.” According to a press release, Bradley County is one of only 17 local governments in Tennessee to receive the award for 2009.

“I didn’t do this alone,” County Finance Director Lynn Burns said when Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis presented the award to her. “It takes a lot of cooperation. When I first came here, I was told I wouldn’t get a lot of that. They were wrong.”

Cheryl Dunson of Santek Environmental then gave a presentation about the county’s landfill. In 2009, 160,800 tons of refuse came into landfill, a 1,000-ton increase from last year. Ms. Dunson explained that the county has increased its recycling efforts. As a result, the county has gained six years of life in the landfill, and currently has approximately 60 years of life. In other good news at the landfill, the county received more than $240,000 of landfill funds in 2009. Ms. Dunson also announced that the county’s household hazard waste day is set for April 17 and will take place at the Bradley County Landfill.

Commissioner Ed Elkins mentioned that the McDonald Ruritan Club has questions about the lease on the old McDonald school building. When they began leasing the building, the Ruritans spent approximately $35,000 to rewire the building. Now they’re considering getting the building up to par for a pre-kindergarten program, but with talk of the county building a new elementary school in the area, the club is concerned about spending more money on repairs. After substantial discussion, the issue was referred to the county’s building and land committee.

While discussing new business, the commission approved a resolution to send to Congressman Zach Wamp stating the county’s top priorities. At the request of Commissioner Brian Smith, the county’s veteran’s home was placed on the list, along with three road-focused needs. The commission also had approval of a motion to move forward with a three-year contract with Quality Correctional Health Care to continue providing inmate health care at the Bradley County Justice Center, pending approval by the county’s finance committee.

The commission also approved the consent agenda, which included a budget amendment from the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office; a recommendation to spend up to $1,000 for paint and supplies for courtrooms, hallways and a restroom at the Bradley County Justice Center; and to continue leasing lighting equipment at the Bradley North Baseball Field until the balance can be budgeted for in the next fiscal year.

daniel@danielkbrantley.com