Commissioner Sam Jones of Kingsport opined: "Tennessee is on the tip of the spear in this nation on nuclear energy. We have the first modular unit being build in Rome County....Clay Walker (head of Networks, which is industrial recruitment for Sullivan County), it's something that they want to start education in, K through 12, on nuclear energy, clean energy, what it can do....They can build these (SMRs) in two years....And its the type of thing that is going to be needed to, like, with these farms" (he's talking about Bitcoin mining here) "that we've had issues around to find electricity...without pulling it from the current grid." If you want to listen to his whole spiel, find it on YouTube at the 1:46:00 time mark.
Folks, this is what the giant coal barons/corporations did in the coal mining portions of Appalachia: they funded "friends of coal" and brainwashed children to vote for Trump and against Appalachia's interests, and it took less than 20 years. This is going to be a long term problem to work against. If you are willing to be a leader in a real fight, the folks at Southwest Virginia Nuclear Watch can help guide you.
That was the most concerning thing. The most unusual thing that caught my interest was the abstention vote of Commissioner Cheryl Harvey on the Committee Assignments. This was not an item but was forwarded from last month. Chair Gardner had asked everyone if they were ok with the assignments. Commissioner Jessica Means, whose children are reported to be homeschooled in Blountville, asked to be on the Education Committee. Commissioner Ward observed that the same people were on the Budget Committee that had been on it his entire three years on the Commission. Chair Gardner explained that the Budget Committee is the mayor's committee and its makeup is entirely up to the mayor. Commissioner King encourage everyone to show up for their committee meetings. The voting was 20 yes, 1 abstention, 2 absent, 1 empty. After the meeting I asked Commissioner Harvey why she had abstained. She said it was because the same people were always on the budget committee and that was the only way she could voice her objection to that. Mayor Veneble is retiring after this year, and so far Commissioner Zane Vanover and former Commissioner and current Board of Education Vice-Chair Angie Stanley have announced that they will run in 2026 for Sullivan County Mayor.
The rest of the meeting was pretty cut and dried. It was a long, busy meeting because they had not had the zoning meeting and the work session the week before, and there were a number of presentations and proclamations. Because Item 10 had to do with Ballad Health giving the county a building for a new EMS station in Kingsport, it was heard first so that Alan Levine could get on with his very important life. This building is on JB Dennis and is 6300 sq ft and valued at a million dollars. It passed 21 yes, 2 absent, 1 empty.
Sheriff Cassidy then recognized officers who had responded during Hurricane Helene.
The rezoning hearing was held, with three parcels being approved for rezoning (one from B3 to R1, and two from R1 to A1), none of which was controversial.
The presentations began with Alicia Phelps from NETTA who does a report every quarter of their activities. Clay Walker from Networks was next. He was touting the "Red Carpet Tour" which has been going on for 8 or 10 years it seems. He said they had six projects within that time directly from this tour, bringing in about 2000 jobs. I wonder if that is considered a high rate of success. Mayor Veneble read the proclamation for Sullivan County Day the third Thursday of October. Ryan McReynolds explained the expansion and status of the Justice Center in Kingsport, and gave a heads up to the Commissions that they are co-owners of the Old City Hall and a new agreement on its use would be needed. Travis Ward deferred his presentation to next month.
Minutes and Notaries were approved. Public comment was opened, with Stella Robinette of Kingsport inviting everyone to the Red Ribbon Walk on October 29 at 4:15.
Items 1,2,3,4,5,6,9,12,13,14, and 15 were placed on the consent calendar. These were primarily Items about accepting funds, or applying for grants with the exceptions of recognizing Dr. Stephan May's volunteer work as Medical Director of Branch House Family Justice Center, and allowing Recycle Services, LLC to begin recycling glass from Sullivan County (they will place and pick up containers for recycling themselves). The consent calendar was approves 21 yes, 2 absent, 1 empty.
Item 7
TCCA (Tennessee County Commissioners Association) is proposing that 50% of the tax paid to the state when property is sold come back to the county it is sold in. Right now, half goes to the Highway Department, soil reclamation, and several other projects, and the other half to the state's general fund. The counties are trying to get the state to send the half that goes to the general fund back to the counties. For Sullivan County, this is somewhere around $2 million. Waiver of rules requested, requires 15 votes. 21 yes, 2 absent, 1 empty.
Item 8
This gives $500 to promote "Project Greenlight" which advocates people to put green lights on their porches to honor veterans the week prior to Veteran's Day. Waiver of Rules. 21 yes, 2 absent, 1 empty.
Item 10 was already approved.
Item 11
Appropriating money to NETTA (NorthEast Tennessee Tourist Association) funds for first quarter of FY25-26. Waiver of rules. 21 yes, 2 absent, 1 empty.
The committee assignment discussion happened next. Then announcements, none of which were significant.
See ya next month!
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