The Chester County Commission met Monday, Jan. 12, in regular session, at the Chester County Courthouse with 16 members present, excluding Commissioners Carolyn Higgins and Ann Moore.
In a 12/4 vote, the commission voted for a reduction to a 12-member body from the current 18 members. Voting against were Mike Alexander, Jerry King, Al McKinnon and Luke Weaver. The change will be implemented following the August elections. This is the first such change since August 3, 1972 when Chester County voted to reapportion county quarterly court members from 28 to 18.
Nathan Ward will fill the District Three seat of Commissioner Carolyn Higgins who has resigned from service, for the remainder of the term.
Many items of business were addressed, with the Commission hearing from the Highway Department (road list and surplus property sales were approved), Chester County Library (noting the driver’s license kiosk has been very successful), Chester County Fire Department and EMS. The CCFD reported a total of 813 calls for the year, 73% of which were medical response. Emergency Medical Services reported that Chester County is above the national average for a return to natural pulse for a rural cardiac arrest patient (32% as opposed to 9-28% nationally) largely due to the assistance and response of the first responders program. EMS made a total of 1,635 calls in Chester County.
The County approved the following: Opioid Committee funds for opioid prevention and recovery services and personnel; resolution accepting an agreement with the City of Enville in relation to zoning regulations, building permits, etc; wording for a policy change for Solid Waste in relation to operations and procedure and signed a resolution recognizing Beene Farms in Chester County as a Tennessee Century Farm.
County Mayor Barry Hutcherson announced the county has been awarded a $481,182 historical grant for the courthouse. Roughly half must be available prior to beginning the project with the remaining half-way through. The county would be reimbursed for all funds minus a 10% match as per grant specifications.
Local resident Teresa Whited addressed the Commission requesting consideration of support in her interest to spearhead a 501(c)(3) animal shelter. The Commission was advised contact information for Whited would be available for further questions.
The County recessed to further discuss a full-time position with the CCFD which had previously been funded through a grant, and will reconvene at 7 p.m. Jan. 27.
