Commission Approves Fee Increase; Makes Appointments to E-911 Board

The Lawrence County Commission approved a $10 increase to a General Sessions court fee during its Nov. 25 meeting. The additional revenue is expected to generate about $30,000 annually to help support the salary of the General Sessions judge. The increase applies only to individuals convicted of crimes in General Sessions Court.

The fee change was recommended by Donna Barrett of the Barrett Group, which has been working with the county to identify additional recurring revenue sources. Barrett has identified about $218,000 so far — an amount equivalent to two cents of the property tax rate.

Commissioners also confirmed three appointments to the county’s E-911 board. Lawrenceburg Police Chief Terry Beecham was reappointed, and Emergency Management Director Shelton Barnett and banker Ben Gobble were approved as new members. They join Teresa Purcell, Jay Moore, Tyler McDow, Brad Nielsen, Stephen Ellis, and John Myers on the nine-member board.

In other business, commissioners approved $12,000 to help four households connect to Summertown Utility District’s North Brace water line. The county previously agreed to contribute $3,000 per household connecting to rural water systems.

The Commission also approved the routine write-off of $211,804 in solid waste fees from 2019 that state accounting guidelines classify as uncollectible after six years. The unpaid fees represent 3,874 residential accounts and about 1.2 percent from commercial users. County officials noted that solid waste collection rates have improved from 73% to 80% in recent years, with continued gains expected as collection policies are strengthened.