PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
1 NOVEMBER 2022
The Chair Connie Howell opened the meeting asking Malcolm Moore to offer a prayer and lead the pledge. The minutes of 20 September were moved for approval by Commissioner Erin Curry, seconded by Commissioner Terry Jones, and were approved.
First Item for Discussion was a problem involving subdivision plats between two county offices, the Property Assessor’s Office and the Emergency Management Office. Per County Executive the problem is a communication problem and after discussions with all, the problem has been resolved.
Next Item for Discussion – Surety Bonds for roads, and a question on where those bonds are stored. The Chair referenced TCA Code 13-3-403- Section B, which reads that the County Attorney is responsible for enforcement of the bond, but the code does not address as to where the bond is held until the road is accepted into the county. There was discussion about who that is or should be, i.e. former county attorney might have initiated action and possibly has provided to the current county attorney; the Highway Road Superintendent (answered by Chair that he does not hold); provide question to last builder as to where he provided the bond; and lastly, the lending bank for the bond. The Chair asked comments be provided to the County Executive so that during some of his discussions the issues could be raised, and in addition the Chair asked that for the next meeting, each member write down things that need to be addressed in the rules/regulations. Members Commissioner Curry and Kristen Pfeiffer both noted, that prior to the election and subsequent transition of members to this Commission, effort had been started on updating the rules/regulations to make them clearer, e.g. number of copies required, among others.
Old Business – Discussion centered around previous efforts to update the rules/regulations, e.g. two or three things the county attorney was working on; and that the Financial Management Office did not hold the bonds.
The Chair asked for any other old Business and Lois Aymett, public attendee, mentioned a previous discussion within the committee on who is responsible for responding to any outside requests, in particular on what can and can’t be built within Giles County. An example being a request to build towers. And she noted that the Secretary, who signs the plats, was considered by the previous members of the Commission to be the appropriate person to respond, however that had not been approved within the meeting. Those requests typically come to the County Executive, who said he would look into that.
The Chair asked for any New Business, and there were none to be addressed. She gave 29 November as the next meeting date. Commissioner Terry Jones moved for adjournment, and with Commissioner Erin Curry providing the second, the meeting was adjourned.
ATTENDEES: Members of the Commission – Chair Connie Howell, Malcolm Moore, Kristen Pfeiffer, Tommy Pope, Bill Myers (Absent – Scott Stewart, Tamieka Russell, John Haislip) Commissioners – Terry Jones, Erin Curry, Annelle Guthrie.
Other Commissioners in attendance – Joyce Woodard, Gayle Jones, David Adams, Mathew Hopkins, Dr. James Lathrop, Matt Rubelsky
Other – County Executive Graham Stowe, and members of the public
