By BRAD GASKINS

News Editor

DRESDEN – The Weakley County Commission met Tuesday for its regular scheduled meeting. Along with approving a series of appointments and budget amendments, the commission also voted to support a 4-H center in Henry County and the sale of Creative Label property.

County Mayor Houston Patrick opened the meeting with some potentially good economic news. He said he, along with six other individuals, met earlier in the day in Tiptonville with Missouri representatives who have expressed interest in joining the Ken-Tenn Regional Alliance.

The alliance is a six-county partnership between Lake, Obion and Weakley counties in Tennessee and Carlisle, Fulton and Hickman counties in Kentucky.

“Missouri is interested in coming into that and we’re exploring that possibility,” Patrick told commissioners. If that’s the case, and we re-work the coalition, then that will be extra money that we can’t get at the present time.”

4-H camp support: Commissioners approved a motion from Commissioner John Salmon to support Henry County’s bid to be the site of a 4-H camp facility and civic center.

Salmon, in bringing it to the commission’s attention, said the project would cost $35 million and requires more than 300 acres. Salmon said that to his knowledge no proposal has been made to locate the center in Weakley or Obion counties.

“I would like to see us support Henry County if we’re not going to (make a proposal to locate it in Weakley County),” he said. 

“They’ve got a perfect site,” Salmon added, referring to the old Girl Scouts camp.

He said it would be better for Weakley County’s 4-H groups to attend camps in Henry County than continue traveling to Memphis.

Creative Label lawsuit: “The county has been involved in a lawsuit with Creative Label, as all of you know, for many, years,” Commission chairman James Westbrook said.

Westbrook noted that the legal process has taken the two parties before the Board of Equalization, Chancery Courts in two counties, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

“We’re trying to get that resolved,” Westbrook said. “At this time, we’d like to go into executive session to discuss with the county attorney the legal ramifications of this.”

Back in regular session, the commission approved the sale of the property.

In other actions from the meeting, commissioners:

• Re-elected Jeff Wasburn as county attorney.

• Approved Commissioner Earl Wright to serve on the Weakley County Extension Committee for 2013-14.

• Approved a resolution authorizing budget amendments to the general fund for current fiscal year ending 2013. It covers operating expenses for the Weakley County Public Records Commission. On Jan. 1, an archive and records management fee of $2 per document went into effect, and fee collections for the current fiscal year are estimated to bring in $20,683.

• Approved a resolution authorizing budget amendments to the general fund to make available $650 to replace computer equipment used by General Sessions Court for electronic record maintenance.

• Approved a resolution to request unclaimed balance of accounts remitted to state treasurer under the unclaimed property act.

• Approved a resolution to amend the General Purpose School Fund to accommodate a $1,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield grant to Sharon School.

• Approved a resolution for Education Edge reserve money to be adjusted.

• Approved a resolution authorizing the county’s maintenance road list.

(WCP 1-31-13)