Commission Chairman Jim ReedDAYTON, Tenn. - Rhea County commissioners agreed Tuesday to vote on a proposed redistricting plan for the commission and school board at their regular meeting Oct. 18.
Commission Chairman Jim Reed said the proposal, developed with assistance from the County Technical Advisory Service, would modify the boundaries of five of the nine districts. The resulting districts all would be within 5 percent of the target population of just less than 3,500 people, he said.
In other matters during their workshop session, commissioners discussed the possibility of moving the Grandview convenience center from its leased site on state Highway 68 to county-owned property adjacent to the Grandview Fire Department.
Commissioner Ron Masterson said the county is paying too much compared to what it's paying other property owners for similar sites.
"That makes me think rather than paying the individual we should find a new location or shut it down completely," Masterson said.
County Executive George Thacker said he would investigate the situation and have a recommendation for commissioners next week.
Commissioners also directed Thacker and Finance Director Bill Graham to come up with a source of money to pay for a fence around a county radio repeater tower in the Grandview community. Thacker pointed out that the commission earlier agreed to fence the site to protect it from trespassers. Graham estimated the cost at about $3,300.
And Commissioner Ronnie Raper reported that former state Sen. Gene Elsea has resigned from the Rhea Medical Center board of directors, and the board has recommended Harold Fisher serve the remainder of the term. Fisher is a former board member and former county commissioner.
Contact Tom Davis at tsdavis@volstate.net.