By Gary Lee Stuber
The Clay County Commission met in regular session at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, and the first item of the day was to recognize Charles Bird, the WWII veteran who got his Clay County High School diploma this past May, on his 100th birthday. Mr. Bird turned 100 years old on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2025. Charles is a Clay County icon whose memories of the Battle of the Bulge are legendary.
All three commissioners were in attendance. In regular business the commission approved bills, purchase orders, appointments, waivers and final settlements, erroneous assessments, and set a schedule of meeting dates and time for the 2025 Board of Review and Equalization. They approved the minutes of the previous meeting and made Dustin a three year appointment to the Board of the Clay County Business Development Authority. By his own admission this was the first time in the many years he has worked there that he was officially appointed. They approved a request by the Circuit Clerk to increase the pay for Aubrey Thomas and Michelle Bodkins working there from the Clerks budget.
The commission approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Clay County Middle School and the Clay County Commission that in the event of an emergency at the Middle School that the courthouse will serve as their emergency shelter.
If there was one detracting moment at the meeting it was that the Chief Deputy R.H. Thomas’ request for funds to finish outfitting the new F-150 cruiser in the amount of $8,300 was declined. Commissioner Schoolcraft cited that money was already spent out of the Sheriff’s budget and that there were no more funds available. Deputy Thomas, who was present, noted that in the next couple of months that they would be getting another grant for another cruiser and that they would need money to outfit that cruiser as well.
Melissa O’Brien, the External Affairs Manager of Citinet, gave an update on the Broadband Project from Roane County through Clay County. She passed out a map showing the area affected, which begins in Clay County at Wallback, moves down Route 36 up Route 4 at Maysel and down Route 16 from Two Run to Dixie. Customers living within 1,000 feet of that route should be able to sign up on broadband. Her report included that bids were going out and should be back by April. By early summer, construction could begin.
Tonya Morris, the Director of Compliance for Jan-Care Diversified, gave a pitch to the commission to take over medical billing for the Clay County Ambulance authority, detailing how they could increase revenue by doing proper and thorough billing for the service. The commission listened and told her they would get back to her.
The commission approved a letter of support for Clay County Health Department and Clay CERT. The Director noting that the spring soccer league was now accepting applications for the spring season which can be found on the soccer website or just by making contact with the Clay Health Department.
The next regular meeting of the Clay County Commission is 5 p.m. on Feb. 24.
