Takeaway: Charlie Kirk has become their religion, and they are just fine with Joe Carr making horrid comments to people he doesn't know. Unfortunately, that's the summary. They also veered pretty far out of bounds on parliamentary procedure at the end of the meeting.
The regular business of the meeting was mostly cut and dried. They re-elected Gardner as Chair of the Commission, Vanover as Chair Pro-Tem, and Hunter Locke in the new position as Deputy Chair (explaining that there were a few times that they had needed a third), all unanimously.
Hannah Taylor, Director of the Health Department, Dr. Steven May, Medical Director, and Captain James Hubbard from EMS explained a hands-only CPR initiative that they have going to train thousands in CPR in a short period of time by going to where the people are (in this case, high school football games) and doing the training then and there.
Becky McKinney was appointed to the library board. A bond extension, minutes, and notaries were approved.
Victoria Hunt was back again for public comment after several months' absence, and once again, I have no idea what her ideas were. She seemed to be against Item 8 and tourism in general, wants her son to have a good-paying job, and credits private property owners running off waders with the improvement of fish size in the river below the dam.
The consent calendar of Items 1-7 was approved unanimously. See previous post for summary of those items.
Because they knew there would be dissension about Item 8, they moved new Item 10 to the fore here so the judges who were present wouldn't have to sit through that discussion. Item 10 creates a Mental Health Court with no local funding. The judges saw the need, found the funding, and have come to the commission to implement it. Commissioner Means was concerned that the definition of “mental health” was a slippery slope (yes, Jessica, we'd hate for regular folks to get treatment rather than incarceration, EVEN THO that is LOTS more cost-effective and humane). The judges explained that they dealt with different demographics, including the diagnosed, the undiagnosed, and the co-occurring (mental health and substance abuse), and that the program had definitions and screening criteria. This is separate from Recovery Court, which deals with addiction. Other commissioners praised their efforts, and Item 10 was passed unanimously.
The agenda then returned to Item 8, which is a resolution to advertise for Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) to provide tourism marketing on a contractual basis. One person has been handling archives and tourism; those are strange bedfellows, and tourism is often outsourced. The Item sponsor, Vanover, acknowledged there was a fear of losing local control and explicitly stated that they would look for local firms, but the purpose was to market to outside folks. Ireson had been to the Governor's tourism event at Meadowview and spoke about how Kingsport and Bristol were #1 and #2 in sales tax growth, and getting folks not living here to pay sales taxes was how to reduce property taxes.
Cole, Cross, Glover, King, Leonard, and Slagle ultimately voted against the resolution. Cole asked if it would split departments and the answer was yes. King didn't think tourism would help the rural parts of the county as much as the Dollar General Stores that have popped up everywhere. Glover said that NETTA already does this, which was countered by Vanover saying that this already collected money can ONLY (by statute) be spent on tourism, which is defined as bringing in visitors from 50+ miles away. Glover also seems convinced that there is some group in Kingsport “foaming at the mouth to get this money.” Slagle offered an amendment that was accepted, stating that no contract would be awarded without commission approval. He still voted against it.
Means asked if the person who was hired could be fired, and the benefits of contractual workers were briefly explained. She also said that she had calculated that if the sales tax were increased by 4% (and Sullivan County got all of that increase), “we could do away with property tax, and I hate property tax.” Imagine paying 15% sales tax on milk for your baby, or a car!
Item 8, to advertise for RFQs for providing tourism marketing, was passed on waiver of rules requiring 16 votes to pass; 16 yes, 6 no.
Item 9, which increased the Employee Share of premium participation in the state insurance plan for the 2026 Calendar year, because it basically had to be as the state sets that, and Sullivan County's budget is already set. Not to worry, ALL premium increases were less than $20/month.
Then chaos erupted. Announcements were called. Chair Gardner passed out committee assignments and asked if any changes were wanted.
Then, in the middle of that, Larry Bailey, deputy mayor, presented the new employee handbook and asked that it be approved. Hunter Locke rather angrily made a motion to defer it until the Commissioners have a chance to review it.
They then went back to committee assignments and decided to defer that to next month also.
Finally, back to announcements, the Bluff City Mayor and a person from the Holston Heritage Museum thanked the county for the sale of equipment, and are hopeful that the museum can be marketed more effectively.
Then it devolved into the All Charlie Kirk Channel All The Time show. Jessica Means had organized the candlelight vigil in Blountville to him the night before. Means and then Harvey went on and on about what a great Christian guy he was (using examples I can prove false, like that CK didn't interrupt people rudely, or that he was for free speech) and how we should be more like him.
So much for not having a point of view in this reporting, but imagine if Edward R. Murrow hadn't had a point of view. The truth is what is important, not giving lies and falsehoods the same respect as good-faith mistakes. I think most of these commissioners actually attempt to govern in good faith, for the good of the county, but this performance was far beyond the pale of the exclusive prayers they always open with. And if you want me to pledge to anything, it will be to uphold the Constitution.
