6 MARCH 2026
Chair Commissioner Evan Baddour opened the meeting asking for approval of the 5 December 2025 minutes, noting prayer and pledge offered in same day meeting. Minutes were moved for approval by Commissioner Caleb Savage, seconded by Commissioner Erin Curry, and were approved unanimously.
Revisit Commissioners Pay – The Chair noted that previously the commission had approved Resolution No. 2024-22, which revised commissioner compensation to a flat monthly stipend. Included in that resolution were a penalty clause for non-attendance and for automatic annual indexing to 1/21th of the County Executive’s salary .. Commissioner Gayle Jones in contact through an email with Melisa Kelton, UT County Technical Assistance Service, provided TN Code Ann. 5-5-107 which states there are two options, pay per meeting, or pay lower salary and then an additional per diem for meeting attendance (no option to reduce pay due to missed meetings). Additionally, per the TN code there can be no automatic pay increases. Based on Ms. Kelton’s information a motion was discussed to remove Section 2 of the resolution (the penalty section) and to index to time of approval (resolution originally states July 1st of each year). Per guidance from Ms. Kelton the salary can only be based on the mayor’s salary (County Executive) at the time the resolution is passed and would take effect for the next election term which in this case would be 2026-2030 (formula being County Executive Annual Salary divided by number of commissioners divided by 12 months). A motion to take out Section 2 (penalties) and Section 3 (automatic increases) was made by Commissioner Gayle Jones, seconded by Commissioner Carman Brown. Commissioner David Wamble noted the raise would be effect for four years and with the removal of Section 2 and 3, Commissioner Gayle Jones commented could be placed in the new Section 2 (in approved Resolution verbiage from Section 4) and add “in effect for four years”. Commissioner David Adams commented that if you don’t attend meetings, the public notices and you don’t get reelected. Commissioner Tracy Wilburn questioned on pay raises for county mayors whether they are annually or every four years determined with Commissioner Caleb Savage commenting that the full-time salary is based annually by the state on population. Commissioner Terry Jones commented on total pay for previous commissioners being around $3800 annually, now closer to $3K, and Commissioner Gayle Jones commented on total time involved in being a commissioner, i.e., time on phone and in other conversations, and research. Commissioner Tracy Wilburn encouraged the use of “pay schedule” term as opposed to “pay raises”. Commissioner Ricky Carpenter said commissioners are not put in here for the money, with Commissioner Terry Jones commenting on those who have jobs have time conflicts and lose more lucrative funding from those jobs. Commissioner Caleb Savage agreed noting he loses around $10K-$15K a year while attending commission meetings. The Chair asked if there were any public comments and there being none, he did a roll call vote on the above motion, i.e., remove Section 2 and 3 and add to what was Section 4 “to remain in effect for four years”, with motion approved unanimously.
Unfinished Business – Commissioner Shelly Goolsby commented on a state bill being pursued which would assess property based on bank or purchase price. She said that would hurt the community since their property taxes would increase and obviously county revenue would also increase. She suggested commissioners keep watch on the bill’s progress and weigh in if desired. Commissioner Gayle Jones suggested could do digital recording of minutes for committees.
Motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Annelle Guthrie, seconded by Commissioner Caleb Savage, and was approved unanimously.
ATTENDEES: Chair Evan Baddour, Commissioners Erin Curry, Terry Jones, Annelle Guthrie, Caleb Savage, Gayle Jones, Carman Brown other commissioners in attendance David Wamble, David Adams, Matthew Hopkins, Judy Pruett, Matt Rubelsky, Tracy Wilburn, Shelly Goolsby, Ricky Carpenter, Roger reedy, James Lathrop, Rose Brown, Joyce Woodard Other Members of the public