Funding rejected for tractor
The newly elected Warren County Commission flexed its legislative muscle for the first time Tuesday night by voting down a proposal to purchase a new tractor for Warren County Airport, and deferring action on the WastAway solid waste disposal agreement to give county attorney Larry Stanley time to inspect the document more thoroughly.
The resolution for the $60,000 capitol outlay note for the airport tractor, earlier approved by the Budget and Finance Committee, was amended to include the addition of a rotary cutter which had been left out of the original document, making it look as if the money was for a tractor only.
But even with that addition, some commissioners questioned the expenditure. Joe Howard appeared on behalf of the airport and explained the need for a new tractor, saying the current tractor was in need of frequent repairs due to its age.
“It’s been torn up three or four times,” Howard said.
But even with the explanation from Howard, the commissioners, after a lengthy discussion, voted down the resolution, 15-9.
Concerning the WastAway agreement, Health and Welfare Committee Chairman Wayne Pryor told the commission that further study was needed before the agreement could be signed. Pryor said to expedite the agreement and allow WastAway to begin operation by Nov. 1, something had to be decided before the next full commission meeting in October.
“What I’d like the commission to do is make the motion that this group give the Health and Welfare Committee permission to act on this agreement in two weeks, with the sanction of our county attorney,” Pryor said.
After further discussion and enthusiastic WastAway endorsements from commissioners David Grissom and Bill Zechman, the motion passed unanimously.
In further business, a resolution to increase the compensation of the commission chair from $15 to $20 per meeting was presented by Commissioner George Smartt and passed, 19-4, with one abstention, that being the chair herself, Sally Brock.
The commission also voted unanimously to provide up to $60,000 to repair persistent sewer problems at Warren County Administrative Offices.