Dixon said a more recent survey had estimated the cost at $550,000 for clearing an additional eight areas of trees and debris on fifty feet on each side of creeks and streams; an additional 200 feet on each side would be cleared of wind-blown household debris such as insulation and metal.
"We still have a lot of stopped up creeks, with large trees and branches which could cause flooding with heavy rains in many of the small hollows," explained the conservationist.
Commissioners had declined to participate in the 90-10 percent matching federal grant when it was presented to them earlier. The program was estimated to cost $700,000 initially, with the county's portion being $70,000.
Several commissioners said they now supported accepting the grant "if it is in new areas."
Commissioner Benton Bartley said he could support the program so long as it was not just extending the breadth of the clean up in areas where trees and limbs had already been cleared from the creeks.
The Conservationist said the funding had recently been approved for Tennessee, but that time was short because although Macon County had been first in line for the funds several months ago, other areas were now in need of similar assistance and were also applying for the federal clean-up funding.
"I believe there was a misunderstanding among the public that this program would be to clean up general areas, or all over the county--when it is strictly limited to clearing areas where flooding could occur because of stopped up creeks and branches," said commissioner Anna Dean Carter.
A motion to accept the funding passed without objection after the discussion with the district Conservationist.
Phillip Dixon said he believed they could get the process started for accepting the funding in the two weeks before the commissioners meet again and pass the motion on a second and final reading.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, Senior Center Director Jamie Dallas informed the commissioners that the Senior Center would be moving into the old Sears building on the Hwy. 52 By-pass, east, and requested that the commissioners cover the insurance on the building under the county's policy, at an estimated cost of $500/year.
The center will then reimburse the county for the insurance coverage out of their annual allocation of local funding.
The insurance coverage will be effective immediately so that the center can move from their present, much smaller location into the new 7,000 square foot facility.
*A resolution authorizing a "tornado memorial" to be placed on the courthouse grounds was authorized, recognizing all those who came to help with the disaster aftermath and cleanup, and including a list of names of the fourteen fatalities from the storm.
"This stone will have no advertisement on it, and be at no cost to the county," explained County Mayor Shelvy Linville, who noted that money from the Jett Williams Tornado Relief Concert was being donated to cover the cost.
"We don't want this to overshadow our veterans memorial, but we do want to memorialize the victims and recognize all the help we received after the storms," continued Linville.
The resolution was unanimously authorized on a motion by Anna Dean Carter, seconded by Tony Boles.
*It was noted that the racetrack at the fairgrounds had been "abandoned," and that the county would terminate the lease and take back control of the property. This will allow the county a better and larger area on which to decide where to locate a new county dog pound.
*Tourism Committee member Carolyn Whittaker asked the commissioners support for a resolution establishing a five percent hotel/motel tax, with the proceeds to be used to promote tourism and retirement development in the county.
The commissioners were generally in favor of the measure, which would have to be presented to the state House of Representatives as a private act in 2009, and probably would not go into full effect until 2010.
It was noted that only 27 Tennessee counties do not have a hotel/motel tax, and local motel operators said they had no objection to the move, which would help promote the area for tourists and for people looking for a favorable place to retire.
*County Tax Assessor Rick Shoulders appeared to explain to commissioners that as tornado re-building proceeds, state regulations require that the property be put back on the tax rolls following completion of the new construction.
"I had thought that this property would not be put back until next year, but I've found that I'm bound by law to do it following the final electrical inspection or when the owners move back into the new house," explained Shoulders.
About $15-million in property had been temporarily removed from the county's tax rolls following the February 5 storms. This amount of property amounted to about 2.5 cents on the tax rate. Putting the property back on the tax rolls late this year means the 2008 taxes will be "pro-rated" from the time it is completed until the end of the year.
*County Trustee Diane Cook asked the commissioners to put control of her payroll back in her office, following a budget committee decision last month that consolidated that function, as with all other county offices, into the mayor's office.
The commissioners disagreed, and a vote to rescind the previous month's motion failed, leaving the Trustee's Office payroll duties in the county mayor's office.
*Commissioners will meet again on Monday night, July 21 at 7 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom at the County Courthouse.
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