Giles County Commission Votes Down Reduction Plan, Approves Courthouse Commitment

GILES COUNTY, Tenn. - Giles County Commissioners met Monday morning, where they voted against a resolution that would have reduced the number of commissioners from 21 to 14. The measure failed by a vote of 12 no to 9 yes. Commissioners Curry, Woodard, Terry Jones, Wilburn, Adams, Guthrie, Carpenter, Butler, Gayle Jones, Rose Brown, Sutton and Goolsby voting no. Commissioners Lathrop, Wamble, Hopkins, Reedy, Savage, Rubelsky, Baddour, Pruett and Carman Brown voting yes.

Commissioners voted in favor of committing funds toward renovations to the Giles County Courthouse. Three renovation options have been presented, Option 1 costing $13.3 million, option 2 costing $8.5 million and option 3 costing $5.1 million. Commissioners voted to commit funds for option 2. Which allows the County Executive and Finance Director to prepare bond documents. Commissioners will need to vote on bond approval in a future meeting.  The measure passed 13-7-1 absent. Commissioners Terry Jones, Wilburn, Adams, Guthrie, Carpenter, Savage, and Gayle Jones voting no. Commissioners Curry, Lathrop, Woodard, Wamble, Hopkins, Reedy, Butler, Rubelsky, Baddour, Sutton, Goolsby, Pruett and Carman Brown voting yes. Rose Brown was absent. 

In additional action, the commission approved an increase to the county’s mineral severance tax and voted to convey county-owned property to the Industrial Development Board to support future economic development initiatives.

Barry Alsup, who will soon be retiring from Veteran's Services was recognized as the County Employee of the Quarter.

All documents related to the meeting can be found by clicking here.