County Commission Discusses Bolivar EMS Issues, New Airport, Budget, Tax Rate, and More

The Hardeman County Commission met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

Some of the items covered include:

• Reports from Hardeman County Officials; School Board, Highway Department, and Sheriff Department (8:00 min mark)
• Committee Reports – Commissioner Mark Gilliam gave an update on the responsibilities of the audit committee. He also noted the committee has requested each county office with fiscal year 2022 audit findings submit an update describing corrective actions taken during fiscal year 2023. Hardeman County had 12 audit findings. The average audit findings for counties in Tennessee was three. {read more about the audit findings here} The audit committee is also discussing a hotline where reports of wasteful spending in county government may be reported. (17:00 min mark)
• Budget amendments presented by Commissioner Johnny Lanier (23:00 min mark)
• Resolutions for tax levy {read more about the new tax rate here}, non-profits, and appropriations. (Beginning at 35:00 min mark, revisited at 1:56:00 min mark)
• Renewal of AirMed contract (39:00 min mark)
• Bolivar Mayor Julian McTizic spoke on West TN Medical Center EMS terminating their contract to provide EMS service to Bolivar, why Bolivar separated from Hardeman County EMS one and one half years ago, the county’s need for adequate EMS service, and the cost for West TN Medical Center EMS to serve the whole county (42:00 min mark)
• Second reading and passing of the 2023-2024 County Budget (1:30:00 min mark)
• Resolution presented by Mayor Pulse – Public Comment Policy of the Hardeman County Commission (2:04:00 min mark)
• Commissioner Brad Grantham asked commission’s approval to move forward with plans to build a new airport. Grants are available which will make the expected total cost to the county just over $100,000, which will be divided over three fiscal years. (2:05:00 min mark)
• Commissioner Johnny Lanier brought attention to the debt still owed on the Criminal Justice Complex (2:15:00 min mark)
• Criminal Justice Center HVAC, one bid received (2:18:00 min mark)
• Attorney Dale Conder said the Magistrate/Judicial Commissioner that Judge Denton requested at the May meeting {Read more about the May meeting here} can not be paid for with drug fund money. (2:21:00 min mark)
• Public Forum – Two citizens addressed the County Commission (2:22:00 min mark)

Commissioners absent from the meeting included Cory Bufford, Thomas Polk, and Bobby Wright.

Watch the full meeting on the Hatchie Press YouTube channel to see all of the items covered.

The next meeting of the Hardeman County Commission will be Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 7 p.m. in the Hardeman County Courthouse.

Read more local news by clicking here.

Stay informed on what’s happening in Hardeman County by following Hatchie Press on Facebook and subscribing to Hatchie Press e-mail updates.

Do you have community news you’d like to share? E-mail us at news@hatchiepress.com.