Many new faces are at the helm of Warren County government.
Beginning Sept. 1, County Executive Jimmy Haley began his four-year term. Also new to the job are his executive assistant Matthew Hibdon and new finance director Justin Cotten.
Also, there are 11 new county commissioners (out of 24) plus three returning commissioner who were elected after filling out a term on the previous commission. All told, there is a lot of energy and enthusiasm being expended with this new county team. This is even more “new” when taking into account there will be a new governor for Tennessee come January 2019 with most likely all new state commissioners.
Warren County Schools comprise almost 64 percent of the county operating budget ($58 of $88 million). The school system employs 900 people while the county employs another 300, of which 75 are part-time. Employee headcount is stable.
Hibdon holds a B.A. degree in history (minor in leadership) from MTSU and a M.Ed. degree from MTSU in administration and supervision. He was attracted to work for County Executive Haley as he wanted to get involved with local government and be part of the solutions to move WC forward.
Justin Cotten holds a degree from Tennessee Tech and heads an accounting department of nine people who handle finances for schools, government and the highway department.
The first priority for Haley is budget control – understanding cost/ expense drivers and amounts, estimating revenues and evaluating new options, and implementing software-centered solutions for cost control.
Haley will seek to convert unclaimed cash and property held by the county since 2001 back into the WC general fund to address pressing needs not in the budget. There could be close to $200,000 available in this plan. Meetings of the County Commission require 30 packets with 40 pages each, on average. That is a lot of paper and labor to assemble.
As a cost-saving measure, these booklets will go paperless (e-mailed in advance) as of Jan. 1, 2019.
The second priority is to deal with the county jail and its overcrowded inmate population. It was recently reported in the Southern Standard that WC might be able to return state inmates back to the state to relieve our overcrowding issue.
That is not an easy solution. Inmates here are from WC. Some are charged with state offenses. Those pending trial must remain here as it is WC’s responsibility to bring these inmates for trial days.
The handful who are serving sentences for state crimes could possibly be transferred. That, however, would be dependent on finding room at other facilities. Jails throughout Tennessee are crowded for the same reasons. Haley is ready to begin a multi-faceted inmate jobs training program as a primary means to reduce the population over time.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology has agreed to take qualified inmates to its McMinnville campus (very close to the jail) for technical classes. TCAT is planning to place its mobile technology trailer at the jail for inmate training.
Haley is investigating the use of The Chamber Foundation’s Citizens For Progress as a means of funding the tuition cost for inmates to take classes at TCAT at McMinnville. He will consider training for inmates needing/ benefiting from a high school equivalency diploma.
Haley will consider the use of an apprenticeship training program offered by the Tennessee AFL-CIO with job placements after program completion. He has also set up a Task Force comprised of WC judges, the DA, and court attorneys to review innovative inmate sentencing, control devices such as ankle electronic bracelets, etc. as a means to reduce the overall population. The county executive advises we must address the overcrowding issue to avoid the state taking over the jail administration or decertifying the facility.
The third priority is aimed at progress with WC Schools. Bobby Ray Elementary construction is expected to be complete by September 2019. The new project at West Elementary is expected to start in spring 2019.
A priority within the education arena deals with improving reading levels from early childhood. The building programs at Bobby Ray and West Elementary will allow the county to address the safety and security needs of our students at both schools.
A fourth priority is to re-establish partnerships with WC government on a local-state-and federal level. Local connections with the Chamber, Main Street McMinnville, IDB, and BRAC are critical components to a successful formula. This team approach is viewed as critical in importance and includes dealing with a new TN governor and all new state commissioners come January. It will be necessary to build meaningful relationships with all the above. Government cannot do everything so we must depend on local partners to fill some gaps and build a better community for all.
A highlight coming in November is a new in-depth Strategic Plan developed over the last year through the Upper Cumberland Development District and funded by a grant. This plan will look at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, etc, for Warren County.
Haley and staff are planning to unveil this plan to the public on Monday, Nov. 26. This plan will provide a road map to guide WC well into the future.
The new Motlow robotics center will be completed in the first quarter of 2019. Given detailed training contracts developed with the three major robot manufacturers, the new center will be busy the day the doors open with paying students.
With TN being the biggest automotive producer in the nation, we are poised to recruit new manufacturing facilities to our expanding industrial park in Morrison. The new Chamber focus on countywide tourism initiatives has been successful with revenue from tourists now exceeding $1 million a year and more expected. Growth in retirees settling in WC is also on the increase. That should show up in the 2020 census.
Proven leadership does matter. With so many things positive with this area, the future of Warren County has never looked brighter. BRAC congratulates all involved. The new faces are welcomed!
