Carter County Commission slows pace in July meeting

ELIZABETHTON — The current Carter County Commission met Monday for its next to last meeting before the body is reorganized in September with the new members elected in the Aug. 6 general election. With the budget for the new fiscal year approved, there were few items on Monday night's agenda and only a few budget amendments to approve, all of which were easily passed by the commission. It was also a time for one of the commissioners who won't be returning in September, Angie (Odom) Manning to provide a farewell address to her fellow commissioners. Carter County Finance Director Carolyn Watson provided good news that the county has received an additional $1.1 million in reimbursements for small projects of Hurricane Helene recovery. Watson said the county has also initiated amendment 3 for reimbursement of the last projects that have been obligated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the ones for debris that are over $7 million. She said that amendment should move slower because of the large amount of money in it. In one of its few actions on Monday, the commission approved the renaming of a road in the Ripshin area from Old Mountain Road/Hogum Hollow Road back to its original name of Peters Cemetery Road. In saying farewell, Commissioner Manning will be once again devoting all of her time to operating the TLC Community Center. Even while working as a commissioner last summer, Manning said her organization was still able to deliver 100,000 meals during the months of summer vacation. The meals fed children who receive most of their nourishment from school lunch programs during the rest of the year. Manning discussed several major incidents that have adversely affected the county in recent years. These include Hurricane Helene, the decision by Ballad Health to remove the intensive care unit from Sycamore Shoals Hospital, and other matters. She spoke about her disagreements with Mayor Patty Woodby. Manning said she is used to working in an environment where people can get mad but they get over it. She said in the county commission "it is more devastating. When you take sides, when you split this place down the middle, you are not hurting each other, you are hurting this town, this community." She spoke about the inability to prevent the closure of the ICU and she also spoke about the response to Hurricane Helene. "I thank you for teaching me a lot," Manning said. "Each of you have your own personality. Remember, it is not about Team A or Team B". She told the commissioners they were in a position of leadership.