Mayor discusses survey, financing with commission

CELINA-Commissioners discussed a recently-completed survey of the county’s property where a new jail could be built, among other business at their March meeting last week.

Mayor Dale Reagan spoke about the survey and the next steps of the new jail project.

“Right here is a copy of the survey, I believe I got it Friday,” he said. “If anyone wants to look at it, here is the topo and the map.

“Cope (architect) and them got it too,” Reagan continued.  “I talked to Casey and she said they are going to start working on it (the contract).

“She would be sending us down another copy of the contract, because we will have to do another contract with them. The other contract consisted of the other site down there (by the industrial park).”

Reagan explained the survey was a vital step towards moving forward with the project.

“This will give us an idea what we are looking at and see if it is going to work for us to do it right there (near the current courthouse),” he said.  “We are slowly getting started back in the right direction.”

The mayor then spoke about the loan process going forward.

“I did talk to USDA and Alice will be coming down in a couple of weeks,” he said.  “She wants to look at the site and do another model.  We will have to do some interim financing.

“I did talk with Marty Spears, he is with the Tennessee Loan Pool,” Reagan continued.  “When we get to that point we have to make a decision, do we want to offer it to—if our local banks want to do it.

“We will see what they have to offer us.”

Reagan also offered additional details about the financing.

“Once we get that in place, I think the loan pool does (financing) up to three years,” he said.  “Once the project is over with, they will be paid off.

“The USDA will step in and pay off the interim financing and our payments will begin a year from the time we get the keys.  So hopefully, this (new site outside the courthouse) will work here.  I think most of you all like the idea of doing it out there.”

After Reagan spoke, commissioner Jerry Rhoton asked, “What will we do with the old jail?”

“Well you have your dispatchers,” Reagan replied.  “They won’t be able to come over to the new facility, because they (the regulators) won’t allow that.”

“Yes,” Clay County Sheriff Brandon Boone said in agreement.  “There has been some discussion at the 911 board about coming to the commission and starting some talks about separating the two.”

Boone also explained regulators weren’t the only factor regarding the separation of dispatcher and corrections officers.

“I can’t find people now that want to do both jobs,” he said.  “There are people who want to be dispatchers, but want nothing to do with the jail.”

“Well that is too much, too many duties for one person,” Rhoton said.

“911 is still going to have to operate and maintain what is happening now, which is currently nine full time positions,” Boone said.  “Part of the discussion at the (911) board is are they going to want to move?

“There is state money available to upgrade the 911 center.  There will have to be some upgrades at that (old jail) building, no matter what happens,” Boone continued.  “The server room is too small, and the floor going into the kitchen area—there is some serious work that needs to be done there.”

There was also some discussion about possibly having dispatchers in a separate building near the current courthouse.

Reagan concluded by explaining the 911 board will be meeting in the next few months to discuss their future status.

Other business

In other business, commissioners approved two budget amendments and Kristie Dawn Maxwell as a public notary.

Commissioner Jennifer Ritter made a motion to approve a budget resolution for the Clay County general fund.  Commissioner Dorothy Forney seconded the motion, and it passed 10-0.

Commissioner Bryan Coons made a motion to approve a budget amendment for the 2024-2025 fiscal year for the Clay County Highway Department.  Rhoton seconded the motion, and it passed 10-0.