11 July 24
PROPERTY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
11 JULY 2024
Chair Commissioner Tracy Wilburn opened the meeting in the county annex by asking for a motion to approve the 23 April 2024 minutes (previous same day meeting had led with prayer and pledge.) A motion to approve was made by Commissioner Gayle Jones, seconded by Commissioner Joyce Woodard, and was unanimously approved. County Executive (CE) Graham Stowe answered a question that came from the Legislative Committee about the initiative to reduce the commission to 14 members; he said there were two potential courses of action. One would be to receive an AG opinion, the other would be to pursue a Private Act.
The CE then addressed two decisions needed in this meeting. Those being the preferred option the E-911 Dispatch Center, whether to collocate with EMS’ new facility vs renovate their existing building. Other decisions needed are on the county morgue siting, and an approval on a Resolution on Courthouse Scope of Work. He noted the EMS design is on hold until that decision is reached at the 15 July full commission meeting. Several commissioners initiated discussion on “hardening” the EMS building as well as any other function located in same building since the “hardening” cost is significant compared to other type construction. Hardened facilities can continue critical services through natural disasters and man-made threats. Questions raised were: what building(s) requires hardening under Tennessee codes; since E911 building is a county building, and E-911 is a separate entity, how will this be funded; does a county morgue have to be in a hardened facility; are previously developed plans still useable; is currently planned ambulance location large enough to accommodate the additional function; does the county have to include a morgue; was there an agreement that after leasing the E-911 building for $1 a year for a set number of years the building would revert to E-911 ownership. The questions were answered respectively in the following manner:
The E-911 Center is considered an essential category IV structure (which according to TN Code requires hardening) per a myriad of state agencies and engineering consultants familiar with the TN codes. Mr. Bill Myers, EMS Director, described the E-911 funding as derived from state taxes assessed to cell phone usage except that part of the service for dispatching which is funded by Giles County and county city/owns. E-911 also has $2M funding in reserve which is restricted for building or upgrades to equipment. That reserve could be applied toward a new facility, but the dispatching service, which is increasing in calls, and will probably result in future associated need for additional county funding. Dr. Fite, county medical examiner, discussed the “morgue” noting that is somewhat a restricted definition. In TM the medical examiner, beside the morgue function, is involved in any suspicious death, e.g., homicides, suicides, children’s deaths, and EMS personnel are also involved in this process. Currently the county is using a temporary location to do post-mortem investigations. Per OHM, the county’s contractor for engineering and architecture design for the courthouse and the EMS functions, some of the morgue functions such as administrative could be placed outside of a hardened structure. An early proposal by Brindley Construction had resulted in an estimate to construct an unspecified “hardened” addition to existing facility; that estimate of $544K assumed construction standards would be similar to existing facility, without consideration of code requirements. Consultation with engineers and architects on the codes thus override that earlier estimate. Re the ownership of the E-911 building the CE said exhaustive research of county records had been done and there is nothing in the minutes or other county documents that mention ownership transfer. Commissioner Gayle Jones asked if there is a conflict of members on the E-911 board, given that the EMS Director, the Ambulance Service Director and a relationship to the director as another serve on the board. In particular she asked if their vote to collocate should be considered.
A motion by Commissioner Shelly Goolsby, seconded by Commissioner Joyce Woodard, was made to recommend E-911 renovate its existing structure, install a new adjoining building, or pursue another option, but not to collocate within the Giles County EMS building. Motion approved unanimously. There was some later discussion about the cost savings that would have occurred with collocating and with the CE noting all the information would be provided during the Monday full commission.
The Chair asked for any unfinished business, re the Resolution of the Commission to determine future uses of the Giles County Courthouse and establish Phase I Scope of Courthouse Renovations. Motion to approve was made by Commissioner Joyce Woodard, seconded by Commissioner Shelly Goolsby and after the following discussion was approved unanimously. Concerns were raised about the 50% rule, where TN standards become more robust if more than a 50% refurbishment takes place. Commissioner Matthew Hopkins asked for clarification on planned changes and how impacted by such a rule. OHM Harvey Schwager stated that the Phase I would be to do mechanical as well as structural repairs and would not exceed the 50%. Commissioner David Adams asked about replacing windows, all or just some that might need more repair than others. OHM replied they will recommend replacing all windows, keeping in mind energy savings, and appreciation for maintaining the historical appearance. Mr. Schwager also mentioned consideration of the HVAC equipment choices if only replace some windows, with no energy application installed on others. Additional questions addressed the following: should there be a separate Criminal Court adjacent to the Giles County jail facility; would the county annex be a less costly location; is OHM paid by phase only; if criminal court remains in courthouse would another elevator be required. Concern was raised by Commissioner Terry Jones over the overall county building needs and the resultant costs associated with each of those. Another Commissioner, Shelly Goolsby, said she had learned from the school needs being delayed and now the cost associated with those needs is significantly higher. After discussion the above motion was approved unanimously to approve the resolution and send to the full commission.
With no new business a motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Joyce Woodard, Seconded by Commissioner Gayle Jones, and was approved unanimously.
ATTENDEES: Members of the Committee Chair Commissioner Tracy Wilburn, Other Commissioners Shelly Goolsby, Joyce Woodard, Annelle Guthrie, Gayle Jones, Matthew Hopkins, Rose Brown (for Evan Baddour absent) Other Commissioners attending Matt Rubelsky, Terry Jones, Judy Pruett, Joseph Sutton, James Lathrop, David Adams Other County Executive Graham Stowe, EMS Director Bill Myers, Josh Young, Medical Examiner Dr. Joe Fite, E-911 Director Gwen Gracy and David Rackley, and public citizens; Mr Harvey Schwager and Jason Griffin of OHM Advisors.
