Obion County Commission re-elects Puckett Chair, provides funding for Union City Middle School SRO

The election of a Chairman and Chairman Pro-Tem, consideration to approve a recessed and reconvened commission meeting’s minutes and whether to approve a one-time $15,000 contribution toward furnishing a School Resource Officer for Union City Middle School were among items to come before the Obion County Commission during regular session Sept. 19.

Longtime Chair Ralph Puckett of South Fulton was re-elected to the Chair’s position, by acclamation, and Allen Nohsey, Chair Pro-Tem.

Prior to the election, discussion was initiated by Commissioner Jim Bondurant, regarding a review of minutes from the Sept. 6 commission meeting, a re-convening of the body, following a recess from regular commission session Aug. 19. (See related story here)

Bondurant contended the minutes of the Sept. 6 meeting reflected a designation of “discussion” and requested the term “discussion” be removed from the recorded minutes.

“”It was my understanding that meeting was to be a time of discussion. I came to discuss. I must have missed the meeting before the meeting,” Bondurant said adding the meeting, in his view could be considered as “compromised” and “orchestrated.”

Bondurant went on to say he had nothing against Casey Hood, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Rep. Bill Sanderson, but he had voted nay on the appointment, as discussion should have been held.

Commissioner Ricky Boyd also questioned the procedure used on the Sept. 6 date, regarding the roll call to establish a quorum. He noted a roll call of commissioners present was not taken until after the motion to appoint Hood had been made, seconded and approved by acclamation. Boyd said to his understanding a vote by acclamation would require two-thirds vote, and that minutes of the meeting should be a reflection of what did occur at the meeting.

In a review of a request from Union City Schools, presented to the commission by Sam Sinclair, Budget Committee Chairman, Sinclair explained the request was received from Wes Kennedy, Superintendent of Union City Schools, regarding a one-time funding of $15,000 from the county commission, for start up expenses associated with the acquisition of a School Resource Officer for Union City Middle School, such as a computer, monitor, camera, vest, tazer and other needs.

“I wonder why they can’t find $15,000 and do what we have done for our five SROs,” Commissioner Boyd said, adding that the county may pull funding from property tax, however the city may pull funding from city tax, as well as other sources such as he hotel/motel tax. He questioned whether the SRO would be at UCMS all of the time, and noted that the requested funds were to be directed to the Union City Police Department, not the school.

It was noted the UCPD would be able to best determine what type of equipment would be needed for the SRO, not the school system.

“It would have to be part of the Union City Police Department,” said Commissioner Andy Crocker, in agreement of the UCPD being more knowledgeable as to what the needs were for the SRO.

“But, I have questions,” Crocker continued, adding his concerns as to whether or not the provision of the $15,000 would result in the SRO being paid more money.

“We are not here to raise his salary,” Crocker said.

“We have a county school system and a municipal school system....is having an SRO still an option or is it mandated by the state?” Commissioner Boyd asked.

Obion County Sheriff Karl Jackson, present for the meeting responded that the placement of an SRO officer is an option, and the request from the Union City School system was for a one time funding for start up.

“We give money all the time. This is real simple. It is for teachers and students. It would be a terrible injustice not to do this,” Jackson said.

“We are county legislators, for the whole county. Any time we give money, Union City will get a percentage. Many times it is said we should do it for the good of a group. Don’t use kids or older people....we have a budget. We put money in the Sheriff’s budget. He takes care of it. Is he going to be obligated to give some to South Fulton, or to Troy, or to Samburg? We would have to be fair to all of them,” Commissioner Donnie Braswell said.

Commissioner Nohsey noted to his understanding, each county in the state of Tennessee is charged to educate the children in that county.

“Some have special districts,” Nohsey said, adding “the county has an underlying obligation. The city would have to do this if we did not give them the $15,000, or they could pass the whole project over to us.”

“For Union City to go out of the school business, there would have to be a referendum, then the county would take over (the district),” said Commissioner Boyd.

“We would have to decide whether we would fund the municipal school system through the police department or not. Kenton has a special school district. Do they see the county to fund that SRO...is that OK?” Boyd said.

“I can’t believe we are talking about this for $15,000.....if 10 lives could be saved instead of five, to protect these students. If something were to happen, I would feel like I would have blood on my hands,” Commissioner Donnie Walton said, expressing his support to provide the funding.

When the matter was brought to a vote, Commissioners Sinclair, Walton, Nohsey, Puckett, Boyd, Bondurant, Ryan Ellegood, Steve Goodrich, Rob Holman, James Gray, Jerry Lamastus, Paul Albright and Eugene Hudgens voted yes to provide the $15,000 funding, with Commissioners Crocker, Braswell, Kenneth Barnes, James Beasley and Terry Roberts voting no.

In other items brought before the officials by Budget Committee Chair Sinclair, approved was the County Clerk budget transfer in the amount of $7,060, for updated credit card machines and data processing; a Local Health Services Grant Budget Amendment in the amount of $1,600 and $400; and the Mitigation Plan Resolution, a housekeeping measure required by the commission annually. All budget amendments were approved.

Appointments to the Finance Committee were approved, for Bondurant, Goodrich, Ellegood, Nohsey and Crocker; to the Legislative Committee for Nohsey, Roberts, Boyd, Puckett and Richard Arnold were recommended and approved. Commissioner James Gray was appointed as an Alternate Budget Committee member for District 4.

In relation to the determination to be made, regarding minutes from the Sept. 6 re-convened meeting from Aug. 19, County Attorney Steve Conley, who was not present for the discussion of the matter earlier in the meeting, arrived for the remainder of the meeting, and was asked to establishment whether the requested revisions to the minutes would be required.

Conley said the minutes of a meeting are not required to be verbatim nor were they required to be in chronological order, noting the minutes were to summarize actions taken at the meeting.

Commissioner Boyd also asked Conley whether a motion made by acclamation was required to be a two-thirds vote, with Conley responding he could find no such requirement when researching the matter. He did add that even in the event of a motion made by acclamation, no votes could be taken.

Also relative to the Sept. 6 meeting when Casey Hood was appointed to the seat vacated by Rep. Sanderson, Conley said while it “was not wrong” to allow Hood to speak at that meeting, as he was appointed and was present, it would be better to invite all candidates to the next meeting, giving them all an opportunity to speak.

Conley reported, after being asked by Commissioner Bondurant, that there were “no new developments, no settlements” in a discrimination suit filed against the county, and that following the results of an autopsy the death of a county inmate was determined to be a result of a drug overdose, with no fault to the Union City Police Department or the Obion County Sheriff’s Department, as far as the state is concerned.

Conley further reported regarding opiod litigation, he understood a $10 billion class action had been reached and currently the county had hired a Memphis, Tenn. law firm for their representation, with a decision to be made in November as to whether the county would opt in as to the negotiation of the class action.