By Paul Leach
Correspondent
DUCKTOWN, Tenn. -- Polk County commissioners voted not to receive pay for recessed meetings after Chairman John Pippenger asked them to decide whether they should be paid separately for such meetings.
"In the past, as far as I know, the commission has never been paid for a recessed meeting because it goes by the same agenda as the original meeting," Pippenger said.
The commission met Dec. 2 in a recessed meeting to complete the agenda set for its Nov. 18 meeting. Pippenger said he had been asked if he would submit a time sheet so commissioners could be paid for the second meeting.
Pippenger said state law isn't clear -- it states only that commissioners will be paid for each meeting. He said the Polk County Commission traditionally has treated recessed meetings as continuations, not separate events.
Pippenger abstained because he turns in the commission's time sheets. Commissioners earn $100 per meeting and $50 per special called meeting.
The commission also voted to approve bidding requests for baseball field lights at the East Polk Recreation Area. The Tennessee Valley Authority has provided light poles, but lights need to be purchased and installed.
District 3 commissioners Sheena Gaddis, Daren Waters and Randy Collins agreed to address proposal specifications to solicit 60-day bids for the project in whole and in part.
The commission also discussed the possible enlistment of volunteers and the use of reconditioned lighting. Gaddis, Waters and Collins are scheduled to report their findings in February.
Commissioners approved a $35,000 budget amendment to replace heating equipment in the courthouse, including the boiler and some pipes and radiators. The new components may use a natural gas heat exchange if it will be more energy efficient, officials said.
Also, Commissioner Greg Brooks said a meeting with rafting outfitters is set for Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Polk County Courthouse.
Brooks and Commissioner Isaac "Buster" Bramlett repeatedly have called for opening a dialogue with outfitters in recent months. The county and outfitters have battled for years over attempts to tax rafting operators to reimburse the county for emergency, fire and rescue and other services.
Last month Keith Jenkins, president of the Ocoee River Outfitters Association, also said talks would be a good idea.
The commission also confirmed the nominations of Brian Fields and Feron Turner to the county's industrial development board.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. E-mail him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.