County will help bring guard home for the holidays

The 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of Tennessee National Guard, which includes the guard troops based in Shelbyville and Lewisburg, will begin two months of training at Camp Shelby, Miss., on or about Dec. 5, before being deployed to Iraq in February. The guard troops can have Christmas off, but the Army won't pay for transportation home. The money contributed by the commission will help pay for bus transportation from and back to Camp Shelby for that holiday break.

"Nothing is worse than to be at some base somewhere" for the holidays, said Commissioner Joe Tillett, who made the motion to contribute the funds. Commissioners approved the measure 16-0 in combination with two other financial measures.

In other action Tuesday night:

* The commission appointed Chad Graham to fill the unexpired term of Jerry Naron representing the Seventh District on Bedford County Board of Education. The seat will be up for election next year on its regular schedule.

Graham is director of Bedford County Emergency Medical Services and a former candidate for Shelbyville City Council. He was recommended by Seventh District commission members Tony Barrett and Joyce Tune. Tune has been hospitalized and was unable to attend Tuesday's meeting.

* The commission confirmed Mayor Eugene Ray's nomination of Earl Adcock for the vacant Third District seat on Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) board. Adcock succeeds Commissioner Jimmy Patterson, who resigned from the E-911 seat.

* Commissioners approved an updated version of their own rules. The draft incorporates various measures passed by the commission over the years as well as changes in state law, including conflict-of-interest rules for commissioners who are also county employees.

* The commission approved a multi-year contract between the county and NuVox to upgrade the county's telephone system. NuVox is a voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) provider, meaning that it uses the Internet to transmit phone conversations. County Finance Director Robert Daniel said the upgraded system will not be any more expensive but will be more powerful, allowing the county to do things like set up a video link between the jail and the courthouse allowing prisoners to be arraigned without leaving the jail.

* Commissioners approved a health services contract for Bedford County Juvenile Detention Center similar to the agreement approved in recent months for Bedford County Jail and Bedford County Workhouse.

* Commissioners approved a request from Shelbyville Parks and Recreation to use some window air conditioners from the old Harris Middle School and/or the old Bedford County Medical Center. The units will be used at Central Memorial Gym, which is owned by the county but leased by the city.

The county's building consultant, Bud Melson, has approved the project so long as the units are taken from alternate windows and the windows are properly sealed up once the units have been removed.

* Commissioners approved accepting Hayfield Lane as a county road. They waived the second reading which would normally be required.