Shelbyville Times-Gazette: News : Bedford County Government

Bedford County Government

Stories related to Bedford County government

Cobb completes state leadership program (11/08/09)
Bedford County Clerk and Master Curt Cobb is one of 16 local government leaders who successfully completed the 17th annual Local Government Leadership Program last month at the Jimmy Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership, part of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service...

Tight funding prevented school system bonuses, says superintendent (10/28/09)
Bedford County School Superintendent Ed Gray told members of Bedford County Financial Management Committee Tuesday night that it would have been "fiscally irresponsible" to give school system employees the same $400 bonus received by other county employees, because of the school system's extremely tight fund balance...

Committee approves liability insurance plan (10/22/09)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee, at a special called meeting Tuesday night, approved purchase of five years of trailing liability coverage for the former Bedford County Nursing Home, acting on recommendation from their insurance agent, Joe Hunt of H.B. Cowan Insurance, and attorney John T. Bobo...

Full commission to review proposed rules changes (10/22/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee has completed a long-delayed review of the commission's rules, and voted Tuesday night to send a revised draft to the full commission for consideration next month. The draft brings the rules up to date with various commission actions over the years as well as with new state laws. ...

Physician suggests local drug court (10/21/09)
Dr. Joseph Rupard suggested to Bedford County Board of Commissioners' law enforcement committee on Tuesday that the county consider starting a drug court, a judicial initiative that diverts some drug-related offenders from jail or prison into a court-supervised rehab program...

Local agencies get highway safety grants (10/16/09)
Three Bedford County agencies have been awarded highway safety grants totaling $60,260, state officials announced this week. Agencies receiving the grants are: Funding for the Governor's Highway Safety Office grants were provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Sen. Jim Tracy worked to secure these funds for Bedford County...

Commission approves budget amendments (10/15/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved budget amendments for the school system and the county general budget during a relatively short and uneventful meeting on Tuesday night. County Mayor Eugene Ray, who provided details of the meeting to the Times-Gazette, said that he emphasized the importance of new rules governing disclosure statements as they apply to the commission. ...

Bridge dedication honors long-time commissioner, former POW Helton (10/13/09)
Friends, family, and a host of county commissoners and other elected officials gathered on a bridge on U.S. 231 North near Deason on a wet, windy Monday morning to talk about the late John C. "Junior" Helton. It wasn't an odd place to reminisce at all -- the spot was less than a mile from the home which he loved for more than 50 years, as well as the garage he owned and operated for more than 40 years. ...

SWA votes to resume accepting pay (10/11/09)
The county's solid waste authority voted Thursday to reinstate compensation for attending meetings, including back pay, after other county committees refused the authority's earlier example of refusing it. But that move did not sit well with one of the authority's members...

Planners approve site plan for Dollar General in Deason (10/07/09)
Bedford County Planning Commission approved a site plan for the planned Dollar General store at 3225 U.S. 231 North in Deason, and also approved a change in the county's subdivision regulations which was proposed several months ago as a result of the development...

Sheriff wins appeal; judge orders certification (10/04/09)
Sheriff Randall Boyce has won a court appeal against the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (POST), which had sought to deny him certification -- a status which made him ineligible for re-election and slashed his pay. POST had denied Boyce peace officer certification on the grounds that he had not completed basic recruit training when he became sheriff in 2006...

County works to improve web site, but watchdog group gives poor grades (09/27/09)
Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray said the county is working to improve the amount and quality of the information offered on its web site, and just this month started publishing county commission minutes on the site. However, the web site Sunshine Review, a project of the Chicago-based Sam Adams Alliance, gives most Tennessee counties poor grades for their web site content, giving Bedford, Coffee and Rutherford counties D-minus grades for their web sites while Marshall and Lincoln counties received a grade of F. ...

Committee leaves compensation up to individual members (09/23/09)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee members said Tuesday night that it should be an individual decision, not a county policy, if members of county boards and committees want to give up their pay. Earlier this month, Bill Lewis of Bedford County Solid Waste Authority repeated his challenge to members of county boards and committees to give up their compensation due to the tight economy and its effect on county budgets...

Road, bridge naming guidelines proposed (09/18/09)
Who deserves to have a road or bridge named after them? That's the question still being studied by Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, which on Tuesday deferred action on a draft of guidelines for naming roads and bridges...

Committee members challenged to give up compensation (09/17/09)
A member of the county's solid waste authority is once again challenging other committees to forgo the monthly payments they receive for attending meetings. Several months ago, member Bill Lewis made the suggestion that the authority stop accepting the $50 per month they receive for attending meetings to help out the county with its tight financial situation...

Smokers: keep your butts off the courthouse grounds (09/16/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' law enforcement, workhouse and fire committee decided Tuesday night that stricter enforcement will be more effective than signs in discouraging people from dropping cigarette butts on the courthouse lawn. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the courthouse lawn except for a designated smoking area (with a waste receptacle) on the west lawn. ...

County uses 'recovery zone' to woo new industry (09/09/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to designate the entire county as a "recovery zone," which could serve as a recruiting tool by making any new industry locating here eligible for a discounted interest rate on its industrial bond financing...

Commission to consider rezoning, Voter Confidence Act (09/08/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners will consider a rezoning for the proposed Dollar General Store in Deason and a resolution asking the state to delay implementing the Voter Confidence Act. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the second floor courtroom at the county courthouse...

County finances may prevent buying, leasing bank building (08/27/09)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee chairman Joe Tillett said Tuesday night that the county isn't in a position to either buy or lease the Regions Bank building on the square, which has been proposed as a location for new courtroom and court clerk space...

Parents voice objection to tuck-in rule (08/23/09)
Bedford County Board of Education heard Thursday night from parents upset about the rule requiring shirts to be tucked in, and school board chairman Barry Cooper said the comments would be taken under advisement; the school board didn't act on or discuss the issue on Thursday...

Gray says new schools needed at Cascade, Liberty (08/23/09)
Ed Gray, as a member of Bedford County Financial Management Committee, knows that the county is at the limits of its borrowing capacity. But as Bedford County School Superintendent, he believes that the school system needs a new high school at Cascade and a new middle school at Liberty...

Rezoning recommended for Deason store (08/20/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday night, recommended a zoning change from A-1 (agriculture) to C-1 (commercial) for a site at 3225 U.S. 231 North in Deason which has been proposed for a Dollar General Store, according to County Mayor Eugene Ray...

State official says library grant available (08/16/09)
Tennessee's Secretary of State said he wants to help the Argie Cooper Memorial Library grow with a substantial state grant. Tre Hargett paid a visit to the library Wednesday, taking a brief tour of the facility with local leaders and hearing about expansion plans...

County turns up heat on scrap dealers' $18K bill (08/16/09)
The county's Solid Waste Authority has asked the county attorney to write a letter to two scrap metal dealers in an effort to collect some $18,000 owed Bedford County. Last month, Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman, who manages waste disposal for the authority, told the board that South East Recovery Group was still some $10,000 behind in payments for scrap metal recycling...

Four-year-old honored for preventing fire (08/14/09)
Four-year-old Alexa Powers, whose keen eye and determination may have saved a Bedford County landmark from fire, was named an honorary "junior deputy state fire marshal" and presented with everything from proclamations to stuffed animals during Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners....

Proposed 'bottle bill' backed by commission (08/12/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners gave its endorsement Tuesday night to a state "bottle bill" which would add a 5-cent deposit to the cost of all soft drink, beer, energy drink or water cans and bottles, redeemable when the containers were turned in for recycling...

New operator begins leasing nursing home (08/04/09)
Christian Care Center of Shelbyville, a subsidiary of Johnson City-based Care Centers Management Consultants, took over operations of Bedford County Nursing Home on Saturday. The county commission met Monday night in a special called meeting to finalize the paperwork...

Boys & Girls Club proposes Harris lease (07/23/09)
Bedford County may have found someone to lease the old Harris Middle School, but there are a lot of ifs, ands, or buts along the way. Johnny Donegan approached the Courthouse and Property Committee at the meeting Tuesday night and asked -- if all things work out -- the county would be willing to lease the old school for $1 per year...

Nichols receives nine-year sentence (07/21/09)
The former deputy director of the Bedford County Emergency Management Agency was sentenced to nine years in prison on embezzlement charges, but not before making some accusations of his own. And before Eugene Nichols was taken into custody, a judge had already revoked his bond and issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for his sentencing hearing...

Bad debts to be written off before nursing home lease (07/15/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted to write off $279,782 in bad debts at Bedford County Nursing Home in preparation for leasing the nursing home to Johnson City-based Care Centers Management Consulting. Financial Management Committee chairman Joe Tillett said it's possible a few more bad debts might turn up as the county and CCMC work towards finalizing their lease agreement, which was approved in principle on June 30...

BCEMS ends fiscal year better than projections (07/15/09)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services ended the 2008-2009 fiscal year above projected revenue and below projected expenses, although director Chad Graham told BCEMS board members Monday night that the under-spending was partly the result of personnel factors that are difficult to control from year to year...

Site requests show signs of city growth (07/12/09)
While the economy still appears to be struggling along, both Shelbyville and Bedford County are beginning to see the start of some commercial growth. The city's planning and codes director, Kip Green, said that recent planning commission meetings have been limited to rezoning requests and other similar items, but very few new site plans...

SWA demands $10K payment from scrap recycler (07/12/09)
A scrap metal recycler has until July 15 to pay the Solid Waste Authority about $10,000 he owes or the agency has threatened to take legal action and look for another firm with which to do business. Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman, who manages waste disposal for the authority, told the board that South East Recovery Group was still some $10,000 behind in payments for scrap metal recycling...

$50 deed is a bad deal, says register (07/12/09)
According to figures released by Bedford County Register of Deeds Johnny Reed, an offer being received by Bedford County property owners offering to sell them a certified copy of their deed for $49.50 is a bad deal. Reed said anyone can get such a deed directly from his office for $1 per page, and most deeds are three pages or shorter. Reed also implied that the need for a certified copy is overstated by the solicitation letter...

Dollar General request leads to rules change (07/09/09)
A proposal to build a Dollar General Store in Deason created a thorny situation for Bedford County Planning Commission, but planners eventually decided to grant a variance for the project and to change subdivision regulations so that future projects of its type would be permitted...

Nursing home lease, county budget approved (07/01/09)
Within 30 days, Bedford County Nursing Home will be under new management. In a special called meeting Tuesday evening, the county commission passed a resolution approving a lease agreement with Christian Care Center of Shelbyville, a subsidiary of Johnson City-based Care Centers Management Consultants...

Pat Finney ready to retire after long career in the legal world (06/30/09)
Pat Finney ends a 38-year career in the legal community today, the last 12 of those years as Clerk and Master, the term used for the Chancery Court clerk. "It's been a very difficult decision," she told the Times-Gazette, "because I love my job." But she cited Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven," noting that her first grandchild is due in September and that she and her husband Bob would like to travel...

Commissioners hope for budget passage Tuesday (06/28/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners will hold a budget meeting Tuesday night to consider last minute amendments to the current fiscal year's budget, and -- barring any problems -- to approve a new budget for the new fiscal year which begins Wednesday...

No tax hike in county funding (06/24/09)
Bedford County will hold the line on county property tax rates, and employee salaries, this year, according to the budgets recommended Tuesday night by the Financial Management Committee. The budgets will now go to Bedford County Board of Commissioners for approval. ...

School budget gets board approval (06/23/09)
Bedford County Board of Education voted Thursday night to approve the school system budget for 2009-2010. The budget will now be submitted to the county's Financial Management Committee and ultimately the County Commission for approval. The general fund budget includes $49,685,766 in expenses; the child nutrition fund will spend $4,097,235; and the school-age care program will spend $491,122. No property tax increase is being requested...

Schools' dress code loosened slightly (06/21/09)
Bedford County Board of Education approved alterations to the student dress code Thursday night, eliminating color restrictions on shirts and strict guidelines requiring in-school suspension for repeated violations. Starting this fall, any solid-color shirt will be acceptable; in the school year just completed, each school had a specific list of acceptable colors...

CORRECTED: Nursing home board recommends lease (06/19/09)
Bedford County Nursing Home Board of Trustees voted Thursday night to recommend that the county enter a five-year lease of the nursing home to a subsidiary of Johnson City-based Care Centers Management Consulting Inc. (CCMC). The lease would have to be approved by Bedford County Board of Commissioners in order to take effect...

Consultant: old hospital a bad idea as jail (06/17/09)
A consultant from the University of Tennessee's County Technical Assistance Service told Bedford County commission members on Tuesday that moving prisoners into the old Bedford County Medical Center building on Union Street would not be the financial boon that had been informally projected last month...

Nursing home lease offer to be studied by board (06/17/09)
Bedford County Nursing Home's board of directors will discuss a lease proposal from Care Centers Management Group at its meeting 5 p.m. Thursday night at the county courthouse. Any lease agreement would ultimately have to be approved or denied by Bedford County Board of Commissioners...

Sludge tank to be removed (06/12/09)
A dispute over a storage tank that was built to store agricultural sludge on U.S. 41-A South was resolved after an agreement was made to purchase the land and dismantle the structure. During Tuesday's Bedford County Board of Commissioners meeting, a group of citizens that were concerned about the tank owned by Wayne Simons were directed to the Solid Waste Authority board to express their views...

Concerned citizens referred to SWA (06/11/09)
At the end of the Bedford County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday night, County Mayor Eugene Ray acknowledged the presence of citizens in the crowd wishing to address the commission. But the issue was not on the agenda, and Ray announced that it would take 10 commissioners to vote for a rules suspension to discuss any new issue...

School budget ready for board vote (06/11/09)
Bedford County Board of Education reviewed a draft 2009-10 budget, which will be voted on next week during the board's regular monthly meeting, at a special called meeting Tuesday night. School Superintendent Ed Gray said the budget as proposed would not require any property tax increase or reduction in fund balances, even though the system is opening two new facilities this fall...

EMS budget healthy in spending, revenue (06/09/09)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services is still on track to do better than its budget, both in spending and revenue, board members heard Monday night. Bedford County government has cut off budget amendment requests as of May 15 and is only allowing emergency or essential deviations from budgeted spending...

Commissioners to consider zoning changes (06/04/09)
Two rezoning requests and some routine annual allocations are the highlights of a relatively-slim agenda for Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners, perhaps marking the calm before the storm as the commission braces itself for what is expected to be a difficult budget year...

County may place VFSI under EMA (05/27/09)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee, meeting Tuesday night, discussed the idea of placing the paid employees of Volunteer Fire Services Inc. under the budget of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency, a system used by some other counties to legally fund rural fire protection...

EMA embezzlement trial delayed until June (05/26/09)
The trial for a former deputy director of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency accused of embezzlement has been moved ahead to the second week of June. A scheduling conflict with a drug-related trial means that the charges against Eugene Nichols, who was named in a 70-count indictment last November, will be heard on June 8 and 9...

Officials seek solutions to VFSI funding issues (05/22/09)
County Mayor Eugene Ray said that discussions about the future of Volunteer Fire Services Inc. are still preliminary at this stage, but the issue may be discussed at Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Financial Management Committee. "We are just talking at this point," said Ray...

'Five-year fix' would cost $8.5M (05/20/09)
An architectural firm and an engineering firm have studied the proposal to convert the old Bedford County Medical Center building into a sheriff's office and auxiliary jail, and estimate that it would cost about $8.5 million, which is about half the cost of a brand-new 300-bed jail...

Rezoning requests get rules committee nod (05/20/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee recommended two rezoning requests on U.S. 41-A (Unionville Highway) during its meeting Tuesday night. Jamie Garrett has requested that his property at 2686 U.S. 41-A (Hen House Restaurant) and his property at 2678 U.S. 41-A (Garrett's Automotive) both be re-zoned from A-1 (agriculture) to C-2 (commercial)...

Animal control needs livestock shelter (05/14/09)
Bedford County Animal Control has reported an increase in problems with large animals, such as horses and livestock, which leaves the agency in a bind when it comes to transportation and housing. BCAC Director Michael Gregory made his quarterly report during Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners. He said BCAC has no livestock trailer and no place to house livestock that can't be identified...

New EMS chassis backed by committee (05/12/09)
A change in environmental standards for diesel engines may make the kind of truck chassis used for ambulances hard to come by during 2010, and so Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted last month to recommend that Bedford County Emergency Medical Services purchase a new chassis now, even if it can't be used right away...

Area growth gets closer look (05/10/09)
Shelbyville's city council will vote this week on expanding the city's Urban Growth Boundary to the north and to create a new planning authority. City manager Ed Craig said county mayor Eugene Ray has asked that each of Bedford's municipalities submit a request to them to have their planning commissions become regional planning commissions...

New ambulance chassis request backed by committee (05/03/09)
A change in environmental standards for diesel engines may make the kind of truck chassis used for ambulances hard to come by during 2010, and so Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted Tuesday night to recommend that Bedford County Emergency Medical Services purchase a new chassis now, even if it can't be used right away...

County looks at Regions Bank building for courtroom space (04/29/09)
Bedford County court officials are interested in purchasing the Regions Bank building on the square and converting it into courtrooms and court offices, according to discussion at Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Financial Management Committee...

Local schools to gain $37,000 for technology (04/26/09)
Bedford County Schools is scheduled to receive $37,341 in Title II-D technology funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), an economic stimulus package. Gov. Phil Bredesen and Commissioner of Education Dr. Timothy Webb announced statewide grants this week, saying they represent funding that will be available for districts to effectively integrate technology into the classroom...

Sheriff asks to use old hospital building (04/22/09)
Bedford County Sheriff Randall Boyce has proposed moving his department's offices to the former Bedford County Medical Center building on Union Street, with the possibility of eventually using the upper floors of the building to house non-violent inmates...

Re-zoning recommended for property (04/22/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee recommended a re-zoning at 3164 U.S. 231 North from A-1 (agriculture) to C-1 (commercial). William Ty Irby Sr. is requesting the rezoning; the rules committee agenda stated that Irby wants to put a real estate services office at the site...

County finds new outlet for recyclables (04/15/09)
Bedford County's recycling problem appears to be over, as a local company has stepped up to keep the material from going into local landfills. The best thing about the new arrangement is that people will not have drive to a different location to get rid of their recyclables, because the new place is right next to the old one...

Paint recycling approved for city transfer station (04/15/09)
Not only has the county's recycling problem been solved, (see related story) but cooperation between Shelbyville and Bedford County Solid Waste Authority has now resulted in locating a place to recycle paint. On Thursday, Shelbyville's city council approved placing items used for the recycling process at the city's transfer station...

County to take over Nestledown road work (04/15/09)
Bedford County will be taking care of roads at Nestledown Crossing Subdivision following the signing of an agreed order between a homeowners association and the county. In February, the county commission authorized the county attorney, Ginger Shofner, to negotiate a settlement in the lawsuit filed by attorney Jeff Seckler, his wife, Gina, and the Nestledown Crossing Homeowners Association...

Heart patients to benefit from new Internet technology (04/14/09)
A partnership between Bedford County Emergency Medical Services and Heritage Medical Center could make more and better cardiac information available to doctors while a patient is en route to the hospital. Over the past several years, BCEMS has been upgrading its cardiac monitors from older "three-lead" models to "12-lead" models, which use more electrodes to produce a much more detailed analysis of heart rhythms and function...

Commission to consider budget amendments (04/12/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners will consider various county and school system budget amendments at the commission's regular monthly meeting on Tuesday. Budget amendments are used by a government to bring the budget in line with actual spending, accounting for unexpected revenues or expenses, as required by state auditors...

Nursing home lease too short, say bidders (03/25/09)
Companies interested in leasing Bedford County Nursing Home have indicated that a two-year agreement may be too short, County Finance Director Robert Daniel told Bedford County Financial Management Committee during the committee's regular meeting Tuesday night...

Gray warns of tighter budget (03/20/09)
Although conservative revenue estimates have kept this year's school budget from going out of kilter in a bad economy, School Superintendent Ed Gray told Bedford County Board of Education Thursday night that the cost of opening two new facilities will require a close look at cuts in school spending...

Central heating unit may move from old hospital to jail (03/19/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee recommended Tuesday night that Bedford County Jail be allowed to take and use a compatible central heat and air conditioning unit from the unused building that formerly housed Bedford County Medical Center...

Fox calls for traffic light on 231 (03/18/09)
Bobby Fox says a traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. 231 and State Route 82 (Webb Road) south of Deason would save lives, and wants his fellow members of Bedford County Board of Commissioners to pass a resolution asking the state for one. But commissioners were evenly divided in January over the issue of lowering the speed limit on U.S. 231, and it's not clear whether they'd approve a traffic light request by the needed two-thirds majority...

Sheriff's office adding crime tip link to web site (03/13/09)
The Bedford County Sheriff's Department wants to enlist the public's help in finding who may be responsible for crimes on their books. Many incidents can be solved with a tip, authorities say. Detective Brian Farris said the department is currently using an anonymous tip phone line, but soon, the sheriff's department's web site, bedfordcountyso.net, will be updated to allow tips to be submitted online...

County budget looks OK despite lower collections (03/12/09)
The bad news, deputy trustee Cindy Ray told county commissioners, is that county tax collections are down compared to last year. The good news is that the county had budgeted for a decrease and the revenues look like they'll be enough to meet what was projected for the current fiscal year...

County moves toward leasing nursing home (03/11/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to issue a request for proposals (RFP) from companies interested in a two-year lease of Bedford County Nursing Home. At the end of the two years, both parties would decide what to do next -- which could mean continuing the lease, selling the facility outright to the leaseholder, or returning it to county control...

County, city get $70K in enforcement funds (03/11/09)
Bedford County and the city of Shelbyville will receive a total of nearly $70,000 in federal law enforcement funding, the White House announced Friday. The funding comes from $2 billion in Recovery Act 2009 funding allocations for state and local law enforcement assistance available through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, which includes over $50.3 million for the state of Tennessee...

BCEMS budget options compared (03/10/09)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services board approved three separate budget proposals Monday night, as requested by the county's finance department. It was the first board meeting held at BCEMS's new operations center at Airport Industrial Park. The center is still unoccupied; BCEMS office staff will move in soon, after telephone lines have been connected...

Tags still beat technology for finding pets (03/05/09)
Despite the efficiency of microchips, good old fashioned tags are still the most reliable method to ensure your lost pet will make it home safely. Just ask Tammy Bynum. Upon adopting a dog from Bedford County Animal Control, Bynum opted to register it with BCAC, for a minimal fee, and put tags on her new friend...

Bill would let county upgrade Three-Star staus (03/03/09)
Last year, the county's interest in qualifying for a higher level of the Governor's Three-Star Award program -- which could save money in grant-matching funds -- clashed with the Town of Normandy's wish to avoid adopting a zoning plan. But a new bill could create a loophole to satisfy both sides...

County finance department moves to MAB (02/26/09)
Bedford County Finance Department relocated this month to new offices in the Medical Arts Building. "We're still unpacking," said County Finance Director Robert Daniel. The department, which now has a staff of eight, had previously been based in the school system central offices on Madison Street...

Nursing home not profitable, committee told (02/25/09)
Bedford County Nursing Home's January financial report shows a profit of $31,123 for the month, and a profit of $52,888 for the fiscal year so far -- but county Finance Director Robert Daniel told members of Bedford County Financial Management Committee those figures are misleading...

School board sticks by upcoming ban on non-local students (02/22/09)
The Bedford County Board of Education revisited its policy Thursday night on whether students living outside the county should be allowed to attend county schools. If so, the board discussed whether those students should be charged tuition. Some students living outside the county receive waivers to attend county schools, but next year, according to the board's current policy, they won't be allowed in class...

Rules committee views growth plan proposal (02/18/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee got its first look at proposed revisions to the county's growth plan on Tuesday night, along with a report by Charles Goforth of Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon. In the late 1990s, a new state law, Public Chapter 1101, required every county in Tennessee to develop a 20-year growth plan. ...

Naming policy will be considered (02/18/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday night, discussed possible guidelines for naming roads and bridges, and will ask the full commission to consider them next month. Rules committee chairman P.T. "Biff" Farrar presented some proposed rules arising from conversations he's had with Phillip Gentry, of Wartrace, who had been requesting that two bridges in the area be named for Civil War figures...

No local Household Hazardous Waste event this year (02/16/09)
Bedford County will not have a household hazardous waste collection event this year, the county's solid waste authority learned Thursday. Instead, residents will have to travel to Marshall or Coffee counties in April to dispose of household chemicals and products considered inappropriate for regular landfill disposal...

Voting paper-trail requirement may not occur (02/13/09)
The state had been promising to buy new paper-trail voting machines for all 95 Tennessee counties, but a bill introduced this week in the state legislature would repeal the requirement for the machines -- and local supervisor of elections Summer Leverette said that's a good thing, since the new machines would have been much more expensive to operate...

County to settle Nestledown suit if funds available (02/12/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners authorized the county attorney to negotiate a settlement in a lawsuit against the county by residents of Nestledown Crossing subdivision east of Bell Buckle, contingent on the county being able to get funds from the developer of the project...

BCEMS board resists cutting supervisors (02/11/09)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services board of directors resolved Monday night to tell county finance officials that the board can't support any budget plan that would require putting shift supervisors back on ambulances on a regular basis. The resolution was specifically prompted by the recent discussion of how to open BCEMS's new Airport Industrial Park station. But it also reflects concerns about how BCEMS will be funded in the next fiscal year...

Spending cut as revenue lags (01/29/09)
Bedford County's sales tax revenues this year are running below last year's, according to figures presented Tuesday night to the Financial Management Committee. Property tax revenues this year are above last year's, but Finance Director Robert Daniel said the true picture of property tax revenue won't be apparent until January and February figures are in. February is the deadline for paying property tax bills...

Asbestos risk at old hospital to be studied (01/22/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee voted Tuesday night to take bids on an asbestos assessment of the old Bedford County General Hospital building. An assessment, a study of whether or not the building contains asbestos, is considered essential if the county hopes to sell or demolish the building and sell the property...

What's in a name - on a bridge? (01/21/09)
For the second month in a row, William J. Hardee and Andrew Erwin were the objects of considerable discussion by Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee. Neither man attended Tuesday night's committee meeting, which is not surprising, inasmuch as each has been dead for more than a century...

Ray breaks tie, backs 55 mph limit on 231 North (01/16/09)
County Mayor Eugene Ray broke a 9-9 tie of Bedford County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night in favor of asking the state to lower the speed limit on U.S. 231 North to 55 miles per hour between Shelbyville and Deason. State highway patrol officers are not allowed to actively engage in politics but had, according to some commissioners, privately told county officials that a lower speed limit would be safer on that stretch of highway and might help reduce accidents. ...

Business near subdivision denied rezoning request (01/15/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, voted not to grant a rezoning requested by the operator of an office supply business, despite his insistence that he will have to move the business, and the tax revenue it generates, elsewhere...

Quarry zoning change denied by commissioners (01/14/09)
A sharply-divided Bedford County Board of Commissioners, by an 8-8 vote with two members abstaining, failed to pass changes in the county zoning resolution that would have made it possible to develop quarries in rural parts of the county. The proposed rules changes had already been rejected once before by the county commission, but Bedford County Planning Commission asked for them to be reconsidered...

New EMS building idle due to budget contraints (01/13/09)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services' new headquarters and ambulance station sits idle next door to Heritage Medical Center, but Director Chad Graham hopes to talk to the county's Financial Management Committee about options for opening it. Graham reported on the issue to the BCEMS board, which met Monday night...

County recycling program in transition (01/12/09)
Recycling will continue after the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority voted to enter into a contract to have paper and cardboard taken with no tipping fee. However, the authority is still on the hunt for a firm to take plastic after the early closing of the county's only recycling center...

Ranch permits yanked over legal questions (01/08/09)
Building permits for three structures at a planned boys' ranch near Normandy have been revoked while the county studies the legal ramifications, according to discussion at Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Planning Commission. Neighbors of the proposed ranch attended the meeting, and planners held an informal discussion with them following the official adjournment of the meeting...

Washed-out road is safe, says official (UPDATED VIDEO) (01/06/09)
A county road that appears to be washed out is safe, according to Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman. A section of Ben Williams Road, 0.2 miles from Halls Mill Road, was covered with a 30-foot wide body of moving water about two feet deep Friday, and there were no warning signs to advise drivers of the road's condition...

County tax revenues fall by nearly $300K (12/29/08)
Bedford County's property tax, sales tax and mineral severance tax revenues were down by nearly $300,000 between July and November compared to the same five months in 2007, according to figures presented last week to Bedford County Financial Management Committee...

County to defend Nestledown lawsuit (12/26/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted 11-4 Tuesday night to defend a lawsuit filed against the county over road conditions in the Nestledown Crossing subdivision east of Bell Buckle. On Monday night, Bedford County Road Board had also voted to defend the lawsuit...

Zoning board approves two home applications (12/19/08)
Bedford County Board of Zoning Appeals granted permission Thursday night for two home occupations -- a day care center and an embroidery and print shop. Both were granted as so-called "special exceptions," as provided for under the county's zoning document. The embroidery and print shop was also granted a variance to post a larger sign than normally allowed in its zone...

Lower speed limit urged for 231 North (12/18/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee voted Tuesday night to recommend lowering the speed limit on U.S. 231 from 65 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour between Shelbyville and Deason. State troopers and other law enforcement personnel had told county officials such a change would increase safety and reduce accidents, although troopers can't formally recommend the change because they are prohibited from engaging in political activity. ...

Boys' ranch developer describes facility as asset (12/18/08)
The developer of a planned boys' ranch near Normandy says his facility will be an asset to the community and an assistance to boys from troubled homes. Preston Sweeney, executive director of Health Service Management Inc., a Murfreesboro-based nursing home operator, said Wednesday that the not-for-profit ranch has been a dream of his for 15 years and will serve young men from broken homes...

Tow operator sues county, city (12/17/08)
A Shelbyville tow operator has filed a federal lawsuit against Bedford County, the city of Shelbyville, its police department and a competing wrecker service, alleging that towing and repair jobs were steered toward one business. Robert L. Bushnell, of Shelbyville, owner of Quality Collision and Towing, is asking for $300,000 in compensatory damages, plus an unknown amount of punitive damages, as well as a jury trial...

Quarry proposal sent to county commission (12/17/08)
A proposed change in county zoning rules to make it possible to locate quarries in rural areas continues to draw discussion and debate, as evidenced by Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee...

Nursing home discussed in two county committees (12/17/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee discussed the makeup of the Bedford County Nursing Home board while, at the same time two floors down, the commission's courthouse and county property committee heard a proposal to lease the nursing home...

Falling prices lead to new metal contract (12/14/08)
A new scrap metal contract was awarded by the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority after the previous contract had to be voided due to plummeting metal prices. The low bid was from South East Recovery Group at 65 percent of the average of the first and third Friday's price of metal on the New York Stock Exchange, but it will not be awarded until there is a satisfactory inspection of the facility...

Commissioners defer action on rezoning request (12/12/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, narrowly voted to postpone action for a month on a zoning request for an office supply store on U.S. 231 North, at the request of property owner Grady Cunningham. Cunningham has requested a zoning change from R-1 (residential) to C-2 (commercial) at his property, 2506 U.S. ...

Commission approves tax relief for hospital (12/11/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to create a Health Facilities Board, made up of the same members as the local Industrial Development Board, so that Heritage Medical Center can be taken off the county's property tax rolls. Commissioners, County Mayor Eugene Ray and County Attorney John T. ...

Funds sought for spay-neuter clinic (12/11/08)
For months now, committee members have been striving to raise $20,000 to open a spay-neuter clinic to help with the county's overwhelming stray dog and cat population. Approximately 75 to 80 percent of dogs and cats are euthanized locally as a result of this overpopulation, said Bedford County Animal Control Director Michael Gregory...

Commission delays demolition plans (12/10/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to conduct environmental studies of the old Harris Middle School building on Elm Street and the old Bedford County Medical Center on Union Street, but put off their demolition pending further study...

Heritage may be taken off tax rolls (12/01/08)
A resolution to be considered at this month's Bedford County Board of Commissioners meeting may make it possible for Heritage Medical Center to be given an in-lieu-of-tax agreement and taken off the city and county's property tax rolls. Bedrod County Mayor Eugene Ray said this morning the in-lieu-of-tax agreement was agreed upon when the county sold what was then called Bedford County Medical Center to Brentwood-based Community Health Systems in 2005. ...

Committee recommends zoning fee hike (11/26/08)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted Tuesday evening to recommend sharp increases in various county zoning fees. Members of the County Commission's Rules and Legislative Committee, meeting last week, had criticized the increases as being too steep, especially in a time of economic distress, and said they might hinder growth and development in the county...

Thomas selected as magnet school (11/21/08)
Bedford County Board of Education voted Thursday night to make what is now Thomas Intermediate School a magnet school for grades K-5 beginning this fall. The board's motion directs the school system to ensure that admission criteria for the school are fair, impartial and objective. Betty Farrar, supervisor of elementary education, assured board members that would be the case. She said the local program will be modeled in part on Discovery School in Murfreesboro...

Sheriff's office thanked for cutting vehicle costs (11/21/08)
Bedford County Sheriff's Department was praised by members of the county commission's courthouse and law enforcement committees Tuesday night for its cost-saving measures related to vehicle use. The changes affect 12 vehicles, including transport officers, jail vans and other vehicles that were formerly taken home at night by officers...

Proposed zoning fees concern commissioners (11/20/08)
Bedford County Planning Commission has proposed increases -- in some cases, steep ones -- in county zoning fees, but members of the Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee seemed skeptical Tuesday night. The rules committee passed the proposal along to the county's Financial Management Committee, which will meet next week, but suggested that the finance committee look at scaling back the increases...

Committee defers action on quarries (11/19/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee deferred action Tuesday night on a proposal to change the rules governing where quarries can be located, but then allowed members of an overflow crowd to speak about the issue. The audience for the meeting exceeded the capacity of the third floor courtroom, and several people had to stand and sit in the corridor and listen to the proceedings through the open doorway. ...

Old SCHS building may be demolished (11/19/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted earlier this month to board up the old Harris Middle School/Central High School building on Elm Street, but the commission's courthouse and property committee is now talking about tearing it down altogether...

Zoning change denied for proposed car lot (11/13/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Monday night to deny a zoning change from A-1 (agriculture) to C-2 (commercial) at 2225 U.S. 41-A North. Bedford County Planing Commission and the county commission's own rules and legislative committee had both recommended against the change, after residents of the area objected to it...

Commission votes to retain nursing home (11/11/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners rejected a proposal to sell Bedford County Nursing Home on Tuesday night. The motion failed 3-11, with one commissioner abstaining and three others absent. "The old folks out there, that's their home -- the only home they've got," said Commissioner Joyce Tune, who said newspaper reports of a possible sale have disturbed some of the residents...

Brothers elected to late husband's commission seat (11/05/08)
"I feel like I'm finishing what he wanted us to finish," said Janice Brothers late Tuesday night, after the results of her race for the two-year unexpired term for County Commissioner District 3. The special election was to replace the former holder of that district seat -- her husband, Roger Brothers -- who passed away in July after holding that seat for more than 30 years...

Proposal to study privatizing EMS, fire fails (11/02/08)
A proposal to look into privatizing local ambulance and rural fire protection services died Tuesday night in Bedford County Financial Management Committee due to lack of a second. Commissioner J.D. "Bo" Wilson had invited representatives of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Rural/Metro Corp. to appear before the committee...

Old Harris, hospital buildings to be boarded up (10/30/08)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted Tuesday night to board up the windows and doors and turn off the utilities at the vacant Bedford County Medical Center and the main building at the old Harris Middle School/Central High School on Elm Street...

More tests on tap for students (10/28/08)
Bedford County students took their first assessment tests this month under the Discovery Education Assessment test format, Schools Superintendent Ed Gray said Monday. "This is a formative assessment test that gives more specific feedback," Gray said. The system failed to make state performance goals last year under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Additionally, two schools -- Harris Middle and Central High -- were placed on the state's high priority list...

BCNH decision needed now, committee says (10/27/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee agreed Tuesday night that the full commission needs to make up its mind about Bedford County Nursing Home so that it can move on to the issue of what to do about the vacant hospital building which adjoins it...

Committee discusses sheriff's vehicles (10/23/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' law enforcement and workhouse committee discussed the use of sheriff's department vehicles on Tuesday. In an area of tight budgets and a struggling economy, some county commissioners have been fielding questions from constituents about sheriff's department vehicles being taken home by deputies, including some who live outside Bedford County...

Rules committee defers action on quarry zoning (10/23/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee deferred action for one month on a proposed change to the county zoning resolution affecting where quarries can be located. Commissioners have already rejected the proposed change once, in September, but Bedford County Planning Commission asked for it to be reconsidered. ...

County approves voluntary freeze (10/15/08)
Municipalities across Tennessee are reacting to the nation's economic crisis, as well as a recent report from the governor's office that projected a 3 percent decrease in sales tax revenue. At the Bedford County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday night, County Mayor Eugene Ray proposed fiscal caution to "buying things we don't need, until the first of the year... This means no raises, no promotions."...

Planning commission denies used car lot (10/10/08)
Bedford County Planning Commission voted Tuesday night to recommend against a zoning change for a car lot at 2225 U.S. 41-A North after receiving a petition and comments from neighbors of the site. Robert Eaton had asked for the site to be rezoned from A-1 (agriculture) to C-2 (commercial) so that he could open a small car lot, which he said would have about 15-20 cars for sale. He noted the presence of other car lots and car-related businesses in the area...

Planners to ask again for quarry rule change (10/09/08)
Bedford County Planning Commission decided Tuesday night that it will try again to ask Bedford County Board of Commissioners to change the rules for placing rock quarries. The county commission rejected that proposed change on Sept. 10, but planning commission members claim the county commission's action was more focused on a specific possible quarry than on the merits of the rule change...

Committee softens direct deposit proposal (09/25/08)
A proposal which would have forced all county employees to be paid by direct deposit was softened Tuesday night by Bedford County Financial Management Committee to require only those employed from this point forward to be paid that way. County finance director Robert Daniel had presented a proposed policy which would have required direct deposit immediately for new hires and would have forced all current employees to begin using direct deposit within the next year. ...

Firing range approved by zoning appeals board (09/22/08)
Bedford County Board of Zoning Appeals, meeting Thursday night, granted a special exception to allow Erick Waldron to add a firing range to his existing gunsmith business at 795 Fosterville Road near the county's northern border. Waldron said the range will be used for handgun safety training and permit classes...

School board looks at building program (09/21/08)
Bedford County Board of Education met Thursday evening at the Shelbyville Central High School library, following a reception for new teachers, to discuss a hefty agenda that was highlighted by building program updates and school test scores. Prior to addressing those issues, the meeting opened with the board unanimously re-electing Barry Cooper to serve another term as board chairman. Ron Adcock was nominated and also elected unanimously to serve as vice-chair...

County to buy 5 new police cruisers (09/19/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' law enforcement and workhouse committee voted to purchase five new sheriff's department cruisers from Russell Barnett Dodge at a cost of $28,284 each. Russell Barnett Dodge was the next-to-lowest bid, but sheriff's department officials said it was the best bid because the dealership offers pickup and delivery on service calls, eliminating the need for a sheriff's officer to be taken away from regular duties...

Nursing home bids recommended (09/17/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee voted Tuesday night to ask the Financial Management Committee to take bids on Bedford County Nursing Home and on the vacant former home of Bedford County Medical Center...

Rules committee accepts vacation policy change (09/17/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee voted Tuesday night to accept a vacation policy change for the Clerk and Master's office. The commission does not have the authority to approve or deny the change, according to county finance director Robert Daniel; the clerk's office is simply required by state law to notify the county. The rules committee voted to include the policy change in its minutes as a formal record...

Normandy rebels against town zoning (09/10/08)
County Mayor Eugene Ray and Bedford County Planning Commission members say that Normandy's refusal to adopt land use regulations will cost the entire county, but Normandy Mayor Larry Nee says the town doesn't want or need such restrictions. The Planning Commission held a special called meeting Monday night. ...

Commission rejects quarry zoning request (09/10/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners has rejected a proposed change to the county zoning resolution which would have permitted quarries in rural areas. Although what was being considered Tuesday night was a rule change, not any specific quarry proposal, it was prompted by an informal proposal by Chuck Hawkins for a quarry between State Route 64 and Kellertown Road. Commissioner Phillip Vincent, whose district includes that site, said people living in the area of that site object...

Commission to address quarry zoning changes (09/08/08)
A proposed change to Bedford County zoning regulations would allow quarries to be located in the rural portion of the county, away from the city. It changes the regulatory requirements on such quarries, but the developer of, and the engineer for, the proposed quarry which prompted the change say the public's interests would still be protected...

Employees denied raise for extra work (08/31/08)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee split on whether or not to approve a salary supplement for two sheriff's department employees who have added dispatching to their secretarial duties. A motion to recommend the supplement and pass it on to Bedford County Board of Commissioners for approval failed 3-1-2, with Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman, Bobby Vannatta and Janice Brothers voting in favor; J.D. ...

Quarry zoning change backed by committee (08/22/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee added its endorsement to a change in the county zoning resolution regarding the placement of quarries. Earlier this year, Chuck Hawkins, son of Bedford County Planning Commission member Venson Hawkins, appeared before the planners to discuss his plans for a rock quarry on Kellertown Road. He has not yet submitted any formal rerquest or application...

Clerk says she was unaware of election law change (08/21/08)
Bedford County's clerk said a change in state election law resulted in a long standing practice in her office becoming illegal without her knowledge. County Clerk Kathy Prater told the T-G this week she was unaware that allowing candidates -- including one of her own employees -- to leave business cards in the office's public area was illegal until she was informed by Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette the day before the Aug. 7 election...

Jail possibilities shown to county committee (08/21/08)
Two different construction management firms offered very preliminary presentations Tuesday night about how Bedford County might be able to construct a new jail and justice center, with one firm suggesting the use of the former Wal-Mart facility on Madison Street...

EMS approves use of car for hauling (08/20/08)
In the county's current tight budget situation, every expenditure is a potential topic for scrutiny and discussion, and Bedford County Emergency Medical Services board members spent much of Monday night's meeting talking about the use of a vehicle for hauling supplies...

Water use survey urged near landfill (08/17/08)
Groundwater monitoring by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) continues to show impacts from the closed Quail Hollow Landfill, the Solid Waste Authority was told Thursday. A letter from geologist James T. Clark, of the Division of Solid Waste Management at TDEC's Columbia field office, to Waste Management in Lewisburg said the division has reviewed the semi-annual groundwater monitoring reports dated July 3 of this year and "is requiring that a water use survey be conducted around this facility.". ...

Water use survey urged near landfill (08/16/08)
Groundwater monitoring by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) continues to show impacts from the closed Quail Hollow Landfill, the Solid Waste Authority was told Thursday. A letter from geologist James T. Clark, of the Division of Solid Waste Management at TDEC's Columbia field office, to Waste Management in Lewisburg said the division has reviewed the semi-annual groundwater monitoring reports dated July 3 of this year and "is requiring that a water use survey be conducted around this facility.". ...

Brothers to fill late husband's commission seat (08/13/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, appointed Janice Brothers to fill her late husband Roger's Third District commission seat. Roger Brothers, 61, died July 19. Janice Brothers was sworn in by County Attorney John T. Bobo immediately after her appointment. She will serve at least until November, when the Third District vacancy will be filled by a special election...

Vacation homes proposed for area (08/07/08)
Architect Martin Shofner presented a proposal to Bedford County Planning Commission on Tuesday night for a private recreational compound he wants to develop on New Tullahoma Highway (U.S. 41-A) between Rowesville Road and Thompson Creek Road. The 170-acre tract would be used for vacation homes. ...

Quarry zoning change approved by planners (08/06/08)
Bedford County Planning Commission approved an amendment to the county zoning resolution Tuesday night which would change the regulations for placing quarries. The change must next be approved by Bedford County Board of Commissioners in order to take effect...

Six county bridges rated 'deficient' (08/05/08)
A total of six bridges in Bedford County, five that are locally maintained and one maintained by the state, have been classified as "structurally deficient" by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. But according to the county's Highway Superintendent, there is only one bridge that would cause any concern...

Property tax stays at same level (07/29/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners passed budget and property tax rates Monday night, holding the county property tax rate at its current figure of $2.27 per $100 assessed value. Monday night's special called meeting of the commission had been postponed by a week due to the death of Commissioner Roger Brothers. Brothers' seat will be filled at the regular commission meeting in August...

Future uncertain for BCNH (07/23/08)
Heritage Medical Center may have settled into its new location on U.S. 231 North, but the skeleton of Bedford County Medical Center remains on Union Street in Shelbyville, and right next door sits its sister, Bedford County Nursing Home. Over the last several months, questions have been raised at county meetings and around town, as well as comments being posted on the Times-Gazette web site, as to what's next for the county-owned buildings...

County commissioner Brothers dies (07/21/08)
Roger Brothers, one of the most powerful and longest-serving members of Bedford County Board of Commissioners, died Saturday morning in Nashville at the age of 61. Tonight's special called meeting of the county commission has been cancelled due to Brothers' death and will be rescheduled July 28 at 6 p.m., according to County Mayor Eugene Ray...

County fires convenience center operator (07/14/08)
A verbal altercation with a county resident and a deputy's written report about the incident has resulted in the firing of a convenience center operator. Ethel Gardella was terminated from her position at the Highway 64 West Convenience Center Thursday evening, according to Stanley Smotherman, after Gardella repeatedly called Tammy Cunningham and her 14-year-old son "ignorant."...

Commission postpones budget vote (07/09/08)
A state law requiring basic budget numbers to be published in a newspaper prevented the Bedford County Board of Commissioners from voting on the 2008-09 proposed budget Tuesday night as originally planned. The law requires budgetary comparison numbers for general, highway/public works, general purpose school, and debt service funds to be published in the newspaper, as an advertisement, at least 10 days prior to the vote...

County budget matters complicated (07/07/08)
ANALYSIS A story published in the Times-Gazette last week about the county budget listed various county funds and how they were projected in the new fiscal year compared to the 2007-08 fiscal year. The story discussed the county's tight financial situation, and how the finance committee has requested cuts from county departments. Yet some of the expenditure funds showed increases, raising comments and questions...

Cuts fuel budget proposal (07/01/08)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee recommended a budget Monday evening that will be considered by the Bedford County Board of Commissioners at its regular monthly meeting July 8. The county's tax rate would remain at its current rate of $2.27 per $100 of assessed value if the finance committee's recommendation is adopted...

Nursing home admissions suspended (06/27/08)
Tennessee Commissioner of Health Susan Cooper on Wednesday suspended new admissions to Bedford County Nursing Home and fined the nursing home $3,000 following the death last month of a resident. The resident had been taken in for a bath on May 25. The technician did not have her properly restrained, according to BCNH Director Wayne Schumann, and she fell out of her lift chair onto a tile floor and hit her head. ...

Deputies tempted by higher-paying jobs (06/27/08)
Holding the line on salary increases sounds like a cost-saving measure, but for the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, it can be a costly proposition, according to administrator Larry Lowman. For example, one officer recently left the local department for a job with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department that paid $8,000 more...

No tax increase, committee says (06/25/08)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee has recommended budgets that would keep from increasing property tax rates. "It's no time for a tax raise," County Mayor Eugene Ray said after the meeting. The finance committee approved a school system budget, and tentatively approved a county general fund budget, pending resolution of an issue about depreciation for Volunteer Fire Services Inc. Those budgets will now go to the county commission for final approval...

Zoning exceptions granted (06/23/08)
Bedford County Board of Zoning Appeals granted special exceptions for a dry marina and a guest house on Thursday, but denied an appeal of fines assessed to a senior citizen in poor health. County Commissioner and Bedford County Planning Commission member Linda Yockey appeared before the zoning appeals board on behalf of her constituent, Bert Cathey, whom she said could not attend due to his wife's poor health. ...

County mayor studies options for new jail (06/20/08)
County Mayor Eugene Ray told Bedford County Board of Commissioners' law enforcement and workhouse committee on Thursday that he has been to see the new jail in Franklin County, and that Franklin County plans to add a justice center to the facility as well...

CROSS proposes North Main homeless shelter (06/19/08)
A house and lot at 262 North Main St., jointly owned by the city and county, may become a volunteer-run homeless shelter and child care center, using surplus Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers which have been cleared following a recent formaldehyde scare...

Committee discusses old hospital site (06/19/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee on Tuesday discussed issues related to the closure of Bedford County Medical Center. The hospital, which was sold by the county several years ago, will move out this summer, leaving its current, county-owned building vacant. Community Health Systems, which owns the hospital, is working with the county on a checklist for securing the building...

Bedford EMA commended on bird flu plan (06/18/08)
A bird flu pandemic could create disastrous consequences, not only in the potential loss of life but in the devastating economic impact, according to Carl Bailey of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency. Bailey spoke to Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee Tuesday night; the committee asked that he make a presentation to the full commission in the near future...

Money added for Community project (06/12/08)
In a 15-0 vote, Bedford County Board of Commissioners passed a $700,000 addition to the $4 million outlay note to cover the higher-than-expected cost of building a new Community High School. The money will come from the school budget and will be repaid from funds that will be received from the state for increased student enrollment...

School Board expects tight budget year (06/10/08)
Bedford County Board of Education reviewed preliminary budget figures Monday evening, and the school system -- like other government agencies -- is bracing for a drop in sales tax revenue and sharply higher energy costs in the new fiscal year. "It's a pinch," said member Ron Adcock...

Governor signs voting record law (06/09/08)
Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed into law a measure to require a paper record for voters' ballots in Tennessee. It's not clear yet what financial effect the measure will have on Bedford County, said Bedford County Supervisor of Elections Summer Leverette...

'Kitten season' snarls local animal shelters (06/09/08)
An influx of stray cats and kittens this spring has filled Bedford County Animal Control and other agencies to capacity. "This is kitten season," said Michael Gregory of BCAC. "This last month we've had so many cats come in that have since had litters. We have about 15 to 17 cats that are adaptable and more who are feral. We are full."...

State says lot change would hurt county zoning (06/06/08)
According to state planners, Bedford County's rules allowing additional houses on farm lots are already more permissive than other counties', and weakening them further -- as suggested by some county commissioners -- would cripple the county's zoning resolution...

Planners hear Nestledown road issue (06/05/08)
Residents of Nestledown Crossing appeared Tuesday before Bedford County Planning Commission to discuss road problems in their subdivision, but planners say the dispute is between the homeowners and developer Marvin Parker Jr., not the county. In many large subdivisions, the developer intentionally waits to complete street paving until about 80 percent of the homes have been built. ...

County considers fire tax district (06/05/08)
The unusually tight county budget year may cause a renewed push to shift more of the funding burden for Volunteer Fire Services Inc. onto rural taxpayers by creating a fire tax district. The subject was raised Wednesday during a study session of Bedford County Financial Management Committee. Commissioner Joe Tillett said he would favor enacting a fire tax district right away, for the 2008-09 fiscal year, while Commissioner J.D. "Bo" Wilson said that was too sudden...

County may change quarry zoning rules (06/04/08)
A proposed change to the county zoning resolution might make it easier to locate quarries in rural areas -- but one neighbor of a proposed quarry on Kellertown Road, being developed by the son of a planning commission member, opposed having the project in her neighborhood...

Finance panel bypasses local agent (05/28/08)
Faced with what looks to be a tight budget year ahead, Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted Tuesday night to recommend a bid for liability and worker's compensation insurance directly from Tennessee Risk Management Pool, bypassing a local insurance agent...

Animal rule proposals gain support (05/21/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday evening, added its endorsement to some proposed additions to the county's animal control rules. The proposed rules require that dogs or cats kept as pets must be adequately sheltered and kept in disease-free conditions...

Old Harris, hospital properties attract interest (05/21/08)
Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray reported to the county commission's courthouse and property committee Tuesday night that there has been some interest from potential bidders for the vacant Harris Middle School and the soon-to-be-vacant Bedford County Medical Center...

Commission approves one rezoning, not the other (05/15/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissoners approved one rezoning request Tuesday night but, after hearing complaints from neighbors, denied another. Approved was a rezoning request from Nancy Barton, who wanted property on Huffman Road rezoned from R-1 (residential) to A-1 (agriculture)...

Commission seeks bids on hospital, school buildings (05/14/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to put out a request for proposals from parties interested in buying the old Harris Middle School building and from those interested in buying the soon-to-be-vacant Bedford County Medical Center...

New ambulance station may go unstaffed (05/13/08)
The alternative austerity budget proposals being asked for by county officials, if adopted, could mean that a brand new BCEMS station now under construction in Airport Industrial Park, behind the new Heritage Medical Center, would go unstaffed. BCEMS board member Whitney Neeley, at the board's regular monthly meeting Monday night, said that the budget would be a step backwards from BCEMS's efforts to reduce response time in rapidly-growing or heavily-populated rural areas...

Proposed SWA budgets would have shortfalls (05/12/08)
With county departments asked to tighten their belts, the Solid Waste Authority voted to submit two different budget requests to the county's Financial Management Committee. Budget "A" covers what the county's sanitation department will need, while Budget "B" contained a five percent cut. The request to submit two different budgets came from the finance committee last month, and applies to all county agencies...

Committees consider county buildings' futures (05/02/08)
Members of the county's finance and courthouse and property committees met Thursday night to discuss future plans for county buildings, as well as financial issues with Heritage Medical Center as the hospital nears its opening date. "We have been in negotiations with Heritage to where this transition will be smooth," said County Mayor Eugene Ray....

New EMS hall rises near new hospital (04/28/08)
Walls have risen at the new Bedford County Emergency Medical Services station in Airport Industrial Park. The station, built on land donated by Wal-Mart Distribution Center, will become the new headquarters and administrative offices of BCEMS, a short distance away from the new Heritage Medical Center which opens this summer. BCEMS's existing headquarters on Union Street will remain open as an ambulance station...

Utility plan for BCNH will cut costs (04/24/08)
Bedford County Nursing Home presented a plan Tuesday night to the county's Financial Management Committee which will allow it to separate its utility services from the Bedford County Medical Center building. Earlier this year, some county officials, hearing that it would cost up to $50,000 per month to operate the boiler which serves both buildings, were concerned that the nursing home would become a drain on county finances once the hospital moves to a new location this summer. ...

County wants austerity budgets (04/24/08)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee is asking each county agency to submit two budgets for the 2008-09 fiscal year -- one based on what the agency's management thinks it needs, and another based on a 5 percent reduction from what the agency received in 2007-08...

Rising gas costs impact schools budget (04/19/08)
The rising cost of gasoline has already had an impact in Bedford County Schools. "We've used 100 percent of the gas (funds budgeted)," said Robert Daniel, chief financial officer for Bedford County. "But we budgeted for an increase, so we aren't as bad off as some other counties."...

SWA struggles with fuel costs (04/14/08)
Rising fuel prices are causing the Solid Waste Authority to shift funds within its budget to compensate for the extra costs. Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman, who manages waste disposal for SWA, briefed the board about the situation, saying that no additional funds would be needed yet to pay for the diesel fuel that drives their trucks...

Commission considers budget issues (04/11/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday passed amendments to the current year's budget, including $45,000 for increased food costs at Bedford County Jail and money for a new vehicle for the county probation office. They also unanimously approved a spending freeze to prohibit new hiring or additional spending except in cases of emergency...

One-structure-per-lot rule discussed (04/10/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners cast a meaningless vote Tuesday night on preserving an existing provision of the zoning resolution before deciding to send the issue back to Bedford County Planning Commission. Ever since county zoning was first put into place, it has included a "one principal structure per lot" rule, which is more or less standard for zoning resolutions anywhere...

Commissioners call nursing home survey too hasty (04/09/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night against a public opinion survey to determine the fate of Bedford County Nursing Home, saying it is premature until the county has more facts about the situation. The county Financial Management Committee had recommended the survey after an unscientific Times-Gazette web poll showed a majority of participants in favor of selling the nursing home. ...

Parker seeks re-election (04/09/08)
Dixie Parker has announced that she will run for re-election to the Bedford County School Board in District 1. Parker, a Bedford County native, has lived in Bell Buckle all her life. She is a 1963 graduate of Bell Buckle High School, completed LPN training through the Bedford County school system in 1967 and later attended Middle Tennessee State University...

County deals with hard times (04/05/08)
Smart business sense is what will be needed to get the county through times of a tight budget, according to Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray. Ray spoke Thursday at the Rotary Club of Shelbyville about the state of the county and said that rising expenses and lower revenue will present some challenges during the coming year...

Finance committee recommends spending freeze (04/04/08)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted Tuesday night to recommend a freeze on new hiring and new un-budgeted spending by county department, except in cases of emergency. County tax collections are lagging, presumably due to the economy. ...

County panel wants survey on nursing home issue (04/02/08)
Inspired in part by the results of an unscientific Times-Gazette web poll, Bedford County Financial Management Committee said Tuesday night it would like to conduct a more scientific poll of local attitudes towards selling Bedford County Nursing Home...

Poll respondents split on selling nursing home (03/25/08)
Participants in a non-scientific poll on the Times-Gazette web site are divided on the issue of whether the county should sell Bedford County Nursing Home, but a majority support the idea. The question was worded simply: "Should Bedford County sell Bedford County Nursing Home?"...

Cost control emphasized to county officials (03/21/08)
Cost control and record-keeping were stressed during a meeting Thursday of the county's department heads. The quarterly luncheon meeting was held Thursday at the Bedford County Emergency Management Agency building on Railroad Avenue. It included the presentation of bonus checks to the staff of Bedford County Zoning Office for their cost-saving measures...

MTSU satellite discussions continue (03/21/08)
During a meeting Thursday of county employees, County Mayor Eugene Ray said discussions are continuing with Middle Tennessee State University over the possibility of MTSU holding satellite classes in the old Central High School / Harris Middle School building on Elm Street...

E-911 board can't be reorganized for four years (03/20/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee heard Tuesday night that the county can't reorganize the Emergency Communications District (E-911) board for four years, due to a contractual agreement between the district and the county...

Interest shown in nursing home (03/19/08)
A representative of a company which might be interested in buying Bedford County Nursing Home appeared Tuesday night before Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee. County commissioners are deeply divided on the issue of selling the home. ...

Vannatta resigns as SWA chair (03/14/08)
Bobby Vannatta stepped down as chairman of the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority Thursday night, citing health and other reasons. Vannatta said he was stepping down for "the betterment of the board and for me personally." He also stated he could not remember exactly how long he had served as chairman...

Hardin suspended from judicial commissioner post (03/13/08)
The Bedford County judicial commissioner accused of soliciting sex while on duty has been removed from his position pending outcome of the case. Billy Hardin, 59, of Shelbyville has been suspended without pay, General Sessions Judge Charles Rich said Wednesday...

Increasing costs hit county budget hard (03/13/08)
This year's Bedford County general fund budget was originally projected to spend $2 million more than the county brings in -- and with food and gasoline costs rising, the deficit may turn out to be even greater. That was the report from finance director Robert Daniel during Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners. The deficit will continue next year unless spending is brought under control or additional tax revenue is brought in...

Commission gets update on new hospital (03/13/08)
Dan Buckner, CEO of Bedford County Medical Center and its replacement hospital, Heritage Medical Center, briefed Bedford County Board of Commissioners on the progress being made towards opening the new hospital on July 12. Commissioners voted several years ago to sell the county-owned hospital to Brentwood-based Community Health Systems, with one of the conditions being that a new facility, considered essential for the hospital's survival, be constructed. ...

Normandy flow limit urged by commission (03/12/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday night calling on Tennessee Valley Authority to "limit the flow of water from Normandy Lake with emphasis on human consumption." The original document read "...emphasis on human consumption rather than aquatic life," but Doug Murphy of the Shelbyville-based Tennessee Duck River Agency told commissioners that the two are not necessarily at odds, and that it might be counterproductive to antagonize environmental groups...

Judicial commissioner faces charges (03/11/08)
A Bedford County judicial commissioner faces charges including official misconduct after allegedly requesting sex from a person seeking a warrant last weekend. Billy Hardin, 59, of Shelbyville is also charged with solicitation of prostitution and sexual battery...

Water tops commission agenda (03/10/08)
Presentations on the county's water supply and on the new Heritage Medical Center will highlight Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners. Commissioners will also consider the possibility of refinancing some of the county's bonds if they can get a more favorable interest rate. ...

Nursing home loss explained (02/28/08)
Bedford County Nursing Home had an operating loss in the 2006-2007 fiscal year which ended last June, but non-operating income made up the difference and kept taxpayers from having to foot the bill. That was the report during discussion of the nursing home's 2006-2007 audit at Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Financial Management Committee...

County could save on medications (02/28/08)
Bedford County may consider participating in a new program which would let county agencies like the jail and EMS buy medications at a greatly reduced cost -- but the county must find a local pharmacist who is willing to serve as a contact point. The program was discussed Tuesday evening by Bedford County Financial Management Committee...

300 vehicles is too many, says Wilson (02/27/08)
Bedford County Commissioner J.D. "Bo" Wilson said that the county owns too many cars, presenting his department-by-department breakdown of more than 300 vehicles during a meeting Tuesday night of Bedford County Financial Management Committee. The committee deferred action on a request from the county probation department for a new vehicle, even though the department has enough money to buy the vehicle from its own fee income, because of Wilson's remarks. ...

Plastic recycling to become available (02/22/08)
Starting March 1, plastic recycling will be available in Bedford County thanks to the Solid Waste Authority accepting an offer from a local company. The authority agreed to work with the Shelbyville Recycled Fiber Company Division of RockTenn on Cedar King Road, which will begin to accept plastic from the public at the site at the first of the month...

Verdict's still out on space crunch (02/20/08)
Local court officials are still considering their space problems, and haven't yet made a request to the county about how to solve them. County Mayor Eugene Ray told the county commission's courthouse and property committee Tuesday night that the court system will probably propose both a temporary and a long-term solution to the problem. ...

County alters zoning rules (02/14/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, approved a change to county zoning resolutions which will allow accessory buildings to be located in front of the main building in cases where the buildings are a great distance from the road...

1997 deal covers CDC maintenance (01/26/08)
A 1997 agreement between the Child Development Center / Community Development Center, Bedford County and the City of Shelbyville does make the city and county responsible for exterior maintenance at CDC's site on Eaglette Way, according to director Sarah Hunt...

Committee defers action on CDC work (01/23/08)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee deferred action Tuesday night on paying for exterior maintenance costs at the Community Development Center on Eaglette Way. The site is jointly owned by the city and county. CDC failed to budget for or to get advance approval for sealing its parking lot, pressure washing its sidewalks, and mowing its lawn, and is now asking the city and county to cover those costs. The total cost is $7,162, which would be $3,581 each from the city and county...

Mathis says dispatch meetings have been positive (01/17/08)
Bedford County Communications Center officials said Wednesday night that recent meetings with local emergency departments to discuss dispatch procedures have been productive, but that the center needs additional dispatchers to function more effectively...

City, county could sell unused house (01/16/08)
A local real estate agent has expressed interest in an unused building on North Main Street jointly owned by the city and county, according to discussion Tuesday night by Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property committee. The house, which at one time was used as a secure and private site for interviewing victims of alleged child sexual abuse, is currently unused, and Wayne Neese of Wayne Neese Realty & Auction Co. ...

Committee appointments considered (01/16/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday night, placed several committee appointments on the full commission's February agenda. In all of the cases, County Mayor Eugene Ray will make appointments, which the full commission will have to either confirm or decline...

County growth plans presented to public (01/15/08)
"Is this the right direction?" That was the question posed to interested citizens during the first of three public meetings dealing with Bedford County's revised master growth plan. With large graphics of the different proposed plans displayed, Charles Goforth of the design firm Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon (BWSC) explained to the crowd of about 50 where the county should plan for its growth over the next 20 years...

SWA to take scrap metal bids (01/11/08)
Bedford County Solid Waste Authority will open sealed bids at its next meeting for a scrap metal recycling contract. The authority had formed a committee last month to examine the bids, which will require that the scrap be sold by the ton and that the bidder have a $1,000 security bond...

Commissioners hear report on radio system (01/10/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, heard quarterly reports from various county departments. Here are some of the highlights: Eugene Nichols of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency noted that the county's new emergency radio system was scheduled to go online last June but has been delayed by three different lightning strikes. He said proper lightning protection is in place and the system is finally ready to go live next week...

Zoning relaxed for 'guest houses' (01/09/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a change Tuesday night which was designed to loosen the zoning regulations slightly, to make it easier for families to have a guest house on their property. But some commissioners want the county to study completely eliminating the rule that was being loosened...

Community note gets commission approval (01/09/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted 17-0 Tuesday night to approve a capital outlay note of up to $4 million, to be added to money already approved for the construction of a new Community High School. The county school system will repay the county from its capital outlay line item...

Commission will consider building program money (01/07/08)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday, following a zoning public hearing, in the second floor courtroom at the county courthouse. Here are some items on the agenda: School building program: Commissioners will consider a capital outlay note of up to $4 million to make sure the school system can pay for a new Community High School. The school system will reimburse the county to repay the bond from its capital outlay line item...

Most counties haven't adopted tax break (01/04/08)
Only seven of Tennessee's 95 counties have enacted a property tax freeze for elderly homeowners that was authorized by voters last year -- and Bedford is not one of them. A constitutional amendment to allow the freeze was easily approved at the polls last year and the Legislature crafted guidelines for the tax break last session. But only Blount, Bradley, Davidson, Hamblen, Knox, Roane and Wilson counties have approved the freeze...

Caller, employee may share blame for dispatch (12/26/07)
The director of Bedford County Communications Center stated that the discrepancy over the location of a fire in Unionville Friday was due to confusion over the name of a road, both by a 911 caller and a dispatcher. Firefighters were called to the blaze, allegedly caused by arson, Friday morning. Outraged neighbors told the T-G at the scene that the home could have been saved if personnel were sent to the correct location...

School's cost to be cut $400K (12/22/07)
American Constructors, the construction management firm for the planned new elementary school on Learning Way, proposed a guaranteed maximum price higher than local officials were willing to pay, so the school will be redesigned to cut costs. In addition, the School Board and the county's Financial Management Committee have approved a plan by which the school system can put money into the building program to fund a capital outlay note of up to $4 million towards the current building program, in part because it looks like a new Community High School will also cost more than originally planned.. ...

Crimestoppers needs funding (12/21/07)
The Crimestoppers program has been the key to solving a number of criminal cases thanks to tips from people in Shelbyville and Bedford County, say law enforcement officials. But now funding is urgently needed to keep the program going and crooks off the streets...

City may lease old Harris gymnasium from county (12/19/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee voted Tuesday night to recommend leasing the old Harris Middle School gymnasium to the City of Shelbyville for $1 per year, with the city to be responsible for maintaining it...

Rules change would allow outbuildings in front of homes (12/19/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee added its recommendation Tuesday night to two proposed changes to the county zoning resolution. One of the changes would allow accessory buildings (such as a garage or shed) to be placed in front of a home in the A-1(agriculture) zone, provided the home is more than three times the required minimum setback from the highway. ...

SWA bids out scrap metal contract (12/14/07)
The county's solid waste authority will soon advertise to bid out its scrap metal recycling contract. The authority also formed a committee to examine the bids, which will be made available at the first of February and opened on the 14th of that month...

County employee insurance will be funded (12/12/07)
Bedford County departments have managed to tighten their belts by the $61,000 needed to fund an increase in individual health insurance premiums for the second half of the county's fiscal year. Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a plan Tuesday night to allow $61,779 from existing department budgets to be used to cover the increase, which will cost $61,380...

Hearings set on growth plan (12/05/07)
Bedford County's Joint Economic Development Board [JEDB] will hold a series of public hearings next month on the topic of the comprehensive master plan to be used as an update to the county's growth plan. The series of public hearings are tentatively scheduled to be held Jan. 14 at Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, Jan. 15 at Cascade School and Jan. 17 at Community School. All of the meetings will start at 6 p.m...

'Fashion show' leads to jail firings (12/01/07)
Three jailers have been dismissed and one suspended following a mock "fashion show," including a bikini made from a sweatshirt, put on by women in Bedford County Jail. The trusties involved have had their privileges revoked. "Obviously, they exercised very poor judgment," District Attorney Chuck Crawford said Friday night, but he referred further questions about the matter to Sheriff Randall Boyce and his department administrator, Larry Lowman. ...

Zoning Appeals grants exception for cabinet shop (11/30/07)
After hearing conflicting reports from neighbors, Bedford County Board of Zoning Appeals decided Thursday night to approve a special exception for a cabinet shop at 164 Big Springs Road. Ken Remfert has an existing cabinet shop but wanted to move it to a building he has purchased nearby. ...

County offices warned of tough times ahead (11/28/07)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee warned representatives of county departments that lean times may be coming for the county, and finance committee member Joe Tillett said the county needs to cure itself of deficit spending, which could mean cutbacks in spending or tax increases...

Permanent yard sales to be halted (11/24/07)
Rather than adopt a new regulation on yard sales, Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee recommended Tuesday night using existing business license requirements to catch those who have crossed the line from occasional yard sale to full-time flea market...

Committee hears about judicial space needs (11/23/07)
If you thought it was easy to be an elected official, think again. Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee is beset on all sides: The problem was highlighted Tuesday night as the committee continued its discussion of space needs. ...

Clanton seeks re-election (11/23/07)
Ronda Helton Clanton of Shelbyville has announced her candidacy for re-election as Assessor of Property beginning with the Feb. 5, 2008, Democratic primary. Clanton, a graduate of Cascade High School, has lived in Bedford County for the past 33 years. She was a teaching assistant at Cascade School for seven years and also worked in the credit department of Bedford County Medical Center. She is married to Randy Clanton. They have four children: Ryan and Randy Helton and Casey and Drew Clanton...

County recalculates tax revenue for schools (11/15/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a number of minor housekeeping issues during their meeting on Tuesday night: The state requires that a county spend at least as much on schools each year as it spent the year before, in order to prevent counties from using increases in state funding as an excuse to drop their local funding. ...

Simons did report promptly after all (11/14/07)
Miscommunication was apparently the culprit behind the county's solid waste authority not being aware that information describing the source of sludge brought into the county had already been submitted. Last month, the authority heard from Wayne Simons of Simons Farm Trucking, LLC about material he is injecting into fields in various parts of the county...

County to retain nursing home for now (11/14/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, in a narrow 8-9 vote, chose Tuesday night not to seek proposals from companies interested in buying the county-owned Bedford County Nursing Home. The commissioners who supported the measure said it was just a first step which would have given the county an idea of what the nursing home is worth, and that it is only financially prudent for the county to explore its options considering existing debt and capital expenses looming in the future...

Flag placed in jury room (11/12/07)
The jury room at the Bedford County Courthouse has a new historic decoration -- a flag flown during World War II. On Friday, members of Bedford County Bar Association presented a flag flown during that conflict on the USS LCI (G) 458, commanded by Chancellor John D. Templeton, to County Mayor Eugene Ray...

Waste info sought by SWA members (11/09/07)
Bedford County Solid Waste Authority continues to request information on the types of waste that are brought into the county. Last month, the authority heard from Wayne Simons of Simons Farms about material he is injecting into fields in various parts of the county. Concerns had been brought to SWA's attention by citizens about sludge dumping in various parts of the county...

Grants address courthouse security concerns (11/06/07)
Courthouse security grants announced Monday by Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts renew the debate in Bedford County over whether the judicial system should be relocated away from the county courthouse. Marshall County is to receive up to $26,000, and Bedford County is to get up to $6,000 as their parts of a $2 million appropriation from the Tennessee General Assembly to the state court system's budget for this fiscal year, according to Elizabeth Sykes, administrative director of the courts.. ...

Utilities baffled by state info (11/03/07)
Transportation, water and wastewater are two of the top infrastructure needs of Bedford County, according to a report released by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR). But while TACIR corrected figures for Bedford County schools, other amounts remain unchanged. Local officials are still scratching their heads, wondering where TACIR got its data...

Courts could move from courthouse (10/31/07)
During a study session Tuesday night, members of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee discussed the idea of moving courts and judicial offices out of the county courthouse -- and moving the non-judicial fee offices back in...

Road superintendent seeks re-election (10/31/07)
Stanley Smotherman has announced his candidacy for re-election as Bedford County Road Superintendent as a candidate in the Feb. 5, 2008, Democratic primary. A Bedford County native, Smotherman is a 29-year employee of Bedford County Highway Department and has served as superintendent since 2000. He is vice-president of Tennessee County Highway Officials Association...

Employee insurance taxes county budget (10/24/07)
The cost of health insurance is rising �" but some members of the county’s Financial Management Committee told representatives of county employees Tuesday night that departments need to find a way to pay for it if they want the county to cover an increase in premiums effective January 1, 2008...

School work, planning advance (10/20/07)
The expansion and renovation of Central High School is still on schedule, Tom Grott of American Constructors told Bedford County Board of Education Thursday night. The next landmark for the project will be the opening of the newly-expanded gym lobby and restrooms in time for basketball season, and Grott said that portion of the project is in “very good” shape...

New policy on cell phone use in schools (10/19/07)
On the one hand, cell phones are a way for teens and pre-teens to keep in touch with their parents. For example, students and parents can call each other if there’s a change in after-school plans. On the other hand, they can be disruptive if used during school hours, and can even be used to cheat on exams, with one student text-messaging answers to another on the sly...

Draft school attire policy issued (10/19/07)
Bedford County Board of Education has taken the first steps towards adopting Standardized School Attire, by releasing a draft policy which will serve as a basis of debate and discussion between now and February, when the board hopes to adopt a final policy...

Committee downplays limits on board service (10/17/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday night, recommended against a rule which would have limited the number of outside boards on which county commissioners could serve, saying there's no problem with the existing system...

'Operation Payback' puts inmates to work (10/13/07)
When a person is sentenced to do time at the Bedford County Jail, the popular misconception is that he or she wastes the days away sitting around watching television. But some of those who have ended up as long term guests of the county have talents and skills which Sheriff Randall Boyce and his staff are putting to good use...

Sludge dumping is legal, waste board told (10/12/07)
Members of Bedford County Solid Waste Authority board of directors were told Thursday night that the sludge dumping reported to them last month was perfectly legal. The authority heard from Wayne Simons of Simons Farm about material he is injecting into fields in various parts of the county. ...

Commission approves rezoning, tables com center lease (10/11/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a re-zoning request from Ralph Whitfield for property at 2134 State Route 64 West from A-1 (agriculture) to C-1 (commercial). The site already has a convenience store; Whitfield asked for the rezoning so that he can add mini-warehouse space behind the market. Bedford County Planning Commission recommended the change...

Emergencies, football keep EMS busy (10/09/07)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services, after a record month of 509 calls in August, had another busy month in September with 27 calls for service in one day, Sept. 27, and 26 calls on Sept. 29. The BCEMS board met Monday evening. Assistant Director Michael Clements reported that BCEMS will soon need to add a fifth ambulance crew during peak hours. ...

Shelter pets waiting for adoption (10/04/07)
With October designated as National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Bedford County Animal Control director Michael Gregory and his staff are hoping people around the county will find it in their heart to adopt one of the many dogs they have in their care...

Funds could be holdup on immigration enforcement (10/02/07)
While one of Bedford County's chief law officers says that the county "desperately" needs a federal database sharing program used to identify and deport illegal immigrants, getting it funded locally will be the biggest roadblock. The program in question is called 287(g), named after a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) passed in 1996, which permits the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies to allow them full federal authority to enforce immigration laws.. ...

Com center buys new dispatch equipment (09/22/07)
Bedford County Emergency Communications District board voted Wednesday night to purchase new radio, telephone and computer-aided dispatch equipment. The new system brings state-of-the-art improvements and should also remedy some telephone system problems experienced by the com center...

School plans revised to save money (09/21/07)
Bedford County school officials have made changes in the plans for two upcoming schools in hopes of saving money. The changes were discussed Thursday night at the monthly meeting of Bedford County Board of Education. The new elementary school planned for Learning Way has been reduced by eight classrooms, which would reduce its capacity from 750 students to 550. ...

Prank calls plague E-911 centers (09/20/07)
Communications centers across the country continue to be plagued by prank calls from decommissioned cell phones, according to discussion at Wednesday night's meeting of the Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) board. Com center director Cathey Mathis said that the local center had a recent problem with a young child who had three such phones and was making numerous prank calls, calling up to 30 times at a sitting, giving false information, and using foul language. ...

Committees favor grouping helipad with com center (09/19/07)
The helipad at Bedford County Medical Center is important and should be preserved even after the hospital relocates, said two county committees meeting Tuesday night. At issue was whether or not the helipad should be added to the county's lease agreement with Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911). ...

Where should county offices be? (09/19/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee continues to look at what to do about county offices, and Tuesday night it had two visitors with an interest in that decision: Cindy Drake and Janet Cavna of the local Main Street organization, which is now in the process of organizing...

SWA studies recycling, hears dumping complaint (09/14/07)
Recycling in neighboring Coffee County and a complaint about sludge dumping were the topics of discussion for the county's Solid Waste Authority Thursday afternoon. Last month, Chairman Bobby Vannatta asked recycling coordinator Gay Ervin and Stanley Smotherman contact the Coffee County Recycling Center to see how it is done after receiving calls and letters from citizens concerned about the lack of plastic recycling in the county...

Samuel David Riddle (09/13/07)
Masonic services for Samuel David Riddle, 49, of Shelbyville, who died Tuesday at Bedford County Medical Center, will be 7 p.m. Friday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Per his request, his remains were cremated. Visitation with the family will be 6 p.m. Friday until service time...

Ray re-elected commission chairman (09/13/07)
County Mayor Eugene Ray was re-elected by acclamation Tuesday night as chair of Bedford County Board of Commissioners, with Commissioner Roger Brothers re-elected by acclamation as chairman pro-tem. Ray held the chairman's post for years while he was a county commissioner, and kept it last year after being elected county mayor. State law permits a county mayor to either chair the county commission or have veto power over the commission's actions, but not both...

Utilities to give water to those with dry wells (09/05/07)
County Mayor Eugene Ray signed a proclamation on Tuesday declaring Bedford County "drought-ridden" and authorizing local water plants to make water available to those who don't have "city water" and whose wells or springs have gone dry as a result of the recent hot, dry weather...

Melson reports on building projects (08/29/07)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee heard its first report Tuesday night from Bud Melson, who has been hired as a consultant to represent the county's interests on building projects. Melson has hit the ground running. He met with Bedford County Emergency Medical Services officials to discuss the bids on their new headquarters in Airport Industrial Park and a new station in the Cascade School area. ...

Assistance available for heat wave (08/24/07)
County Mayor Eugene Ray said Thursday that assistance is available for those who need, but cannot afford, fans or air conditioners to cope with the ongoing heat wave. Ray said the assistance is available through Tennessee Department of Health and Environment and that persons who need help can call his office, 684-7944, or Melissa Staley at the Health Department office in Columbia, (931) 490-8348, for more information...

County rule suspensions draw criticism (08/22/07)
Commissioner P.T. "Biff" Farrar told Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee on Tuesday that the full commission is too frequently using suspension of rules to consider items at the last minute without putting them through the normal committee process...

Committee considers county's office needs (08/22/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee continued to discuss the county's space needs Tuesday night, including such ideas as building a new jail behind the old Bedford County Medical Center and turning the existing hospital building or the Medical Arts Building into a judicial building with offices and courthouses...

Land deal will change Unionville intersection (08/16/07)
The intersection of U.S. 41-A with Unionville-Deason Road will be altered as a result of a deal approved Tuesday night by Bedford County Board of Commissioners. Currently, the roads do not meet at a 90-degree angle; right angle intersections are considered the safest from a traffic standpoint. The heavily-traveled intersection is right next to the Community School property, and a new high school will soon be built nearby...

County will lease houses to The Next Step Home (08/16/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted in principle Tuesday night to lease two vacant homes on Union Street to The Next Step Home, a transitional program for women who have been incarcerated or in substance abuse rehabilitation. County Mayor Eugene Ray and County Attorney John T. Bobo were directed to negotiate a lease agreement and bring it back to the commission for final approval...

Leverette selected as election administrator (08/16/07)
Deputy Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette was chosen Wednesday by Bedford County Election Commission to succeed Administrator of Elections Anna Clanton when Clanton retires at the end of September. Leverette is a seven-year employee of the county election office...

Growth plan revision work continues (08/16/07)
County and city officials will have choices to make as it applies to planning for future growth, according to a consultant hired to assist in updating the county urban growth plan. Members of the Bedford County Planning Commission recently heard a presentation from Charles Goforth of the Nashville planning and engineering firm Barge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon...

County property tax unchanged (08/15/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a 2007-2008 budget and property tax rates on Tuesday, staying within the same property tax rate as in 2006-2007. Not everyone was happy with the process. Commissioners P.T. "Biff" Farrar and Linda Yockey wanted a separate vote on a portion of the budget which gives 40 percent raises to county commissioners; Farrar said that since the measure changes the commission's pay, it should have gone before the rules and legislative committee, especially since the resolution as originally proposed gave the rules committee responsibility for enforcing commissioner attendance.. ...

Clanton to retire from election post (08/14/07)
Bedford County Election Registrar Anna Clanton has decided to retire effective Sept. 30, after 27 1/2 years in office. Bedford County Election Commission discussed the vacancy last week and will meet again 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at the courthouse to discuss filling the position...

Poll responders support consolidating VFSI (08/13/07)
The largest single group of respondents to a non-scientific poll on the Times-Gazette web site support leaving Volunteer Fire Services Inc. as is. However, if you add those who favor combining VFSI with the county ambulance service and those who support combining it with the Shelbyville Fire Department, you would find a majority of respondents in favor of some sort of change...

Solid Waste Authority explores plastic recycling (08/10/07)
The county's Solid Waste Authority will be looking into the idea of opening a location where plastic could be dropped off to be recycled. Chairman Bobby Vannatta asked recycling coordinator Gay Ervin and Stanley Smotherman contact the Coffee County Recycling Center to see how it is done...

Ray outlines county progress (08/09/07)
"Bedford County is moving." That was the message County Mayor Eugene Ray gave the Exchange Club of Bedford County Wednesday. "We're the fifth fastest growing county in the state," Ray said, which is why the city of Shelbyville and the county are working together with a long term growth plan. He invited the public to participate in the process, which will determine the course taken over the next 15 to 20 years...

Six local bridges structurally deficient (08/07/07)
A total of six bridges in Bedford County have been classified as "structurally deficient" by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. (TDOT) TDOT states that while they track deficiencies in state bridges, the list released "by no means indicates a safety issue with the bridges."...

Mayor for a Day (08/04/07)
Savannah DaCosta was "Mayor for a Day" at the offices of County Mayor Eugene Ray Thursday. The 10-year-old is a fifth grader at Liberty School and the child of Amanda DaCosta and the grandchild of Allan and Dolores DaCosta, who said that Savannah had "a wonderful time" at her temporary job. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)...

Smotherman says local bridges are safe (08/03/07)
With collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis on Wednesday, residents may have concerns about the safety of Bedford County bridges. Divers continue to check submerged cars in the Mississippi River following the collapse. Five people are confirmed dead, though authorities lowered the number of missing, once feared as many as 30, to eight...

Finance panel OKs school budget (08/01/07)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee recommended passage of the county school budget and the Bedford County Nursing Home budget Tuesday night, meaning that all of the county's budgets and tax rates are ready for final approval Aug. 14 by Bedford County Board of Commissioners...

American Constructors hired for new school projects (07/28/07)
Bedford County Board of Education has awarded American Constructors the contract to serve as construction manager for a new Community High School and for the new elementary school which will be located on Learning Way. The new elementary school has no official name yet, although it is frequently referred to as "Central Elementary" for the sake of convenience...

School budget stays within same tax rate (07/28/07)
Bedford County Board of Education approved a $42.6 million general purpose school system budget Thursday night within the current county property tax rate. The school budget will go to the County Financial Management Committee on Tuesday night and then to the full county commission in August. Combined with the budgets and tax rates approved so far, the school budget would not require any increase in the overall county property tax rate for 2007-2008...

County tax rate likely to remain steady (07/25/07)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted to recommend the county general fund, highway department and debt service budgets and property tax rates Tuesday night, along with several smaller budgets which aren't funded by property tax. That leaves the school budget and property tax rate, which will be considered by Bedford County Board of Education Thursday night, and the Bedford County Nursing Home budget, which requires no property tax revenue. ...

Courthouse sewage problem could be expensive (07/18/07)
Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray said Tuesday night he is using emergency purchase powers to repair drainage problems which caused sewage to back up into the basement of the courthouse several times in the past two weeks. Ray warned the county commission's courthouse and county property committee that the project could be "quite expensive" and that he doesn't yet have an idea how much it will cost...

Yard sale restrictions proposed (07/18/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee deferred action for a month on a proposal to limit the number of yard sales a rural resident can hold each year. The City of Shelbyville already has such a rule in place. It's designed to prevent someone in a residential zone from having a permanent, year-round yard sale, while still allowing the occasional clean-out-your-garage sale...

Funding plea becomes issue at SWA meeting (07/14/07)
Heated words arose between the county mayor and a Bedford County Solid Waste Authority member over a funding request that didn't pass the county finance committee. At the end of Thursday's meeting, authority member Bill Lewis questioned why the recommendation he made for $15,000 to go to the Cedar Ridge Landfill in case something occurred, such as a leak reported in 2003, did not make it to the full commission...

Questions delay com center lease (07/11/07)
A lease agreement between the county's communication center and the county was deferred Tuesday evening after questions were raised about the length of the lease. The request had been made by chairman Charles McDonald of the communications center for the lease so that the current facilities used by the center would still be available should the county eventually sell the current Bedford County Medical Center property...

Legal opinion sought on sheriff's pay (06/28/07)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee is asking for a legal opinion due to two conflicting passages of state law governing the salaries for county sheriffs. The committee, meeting Tuesday evening, heard that one passage of state law (Tennessee Code Annotated 8-8-102) specified sheriff's salaries depending on whether or not the sheriff is a certified law enforcement officer. ...

County makes end-of-year budget adjustments (06/27/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved end-of-year budget amendments Tuesday night, along with a "continuing resolution" which will allow county departments to continue to operate at 2006-2007 spending levels until a 2007-2008 budget has been passed...

Teacher salaries could require tax hike (06/27/07)
Unless money were saved elsewhere in the county's budget, it would take an increase of four cents per $100 assessed value on the county property tax rate to fund the proposed school system budget, which includes money for higher teacher salaries. A proposed draft budget was handed out to school board members during a called meeting Tuesday at the school system central offices on Madison Street. ...

Officials say higher teacher salaries needed (06/22/07)
Bedford County school officials will ask for an increase in teacher salaries and insurance benefits for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, but that won't close the gap between Bedford County and some of the neighbors to whom it is losing experienced teachers...

Familiar bidders compete for school construction (06/22/07)
Bedford County Board of Education has two bids for construction management services for a new elementary school on Learning Way in Shelbyville and a replacement building for Community High School in Unionville. Both bids are from companies which are already working for the school system:...

E-911 pays off debts but may borrow again soon (06/21/07)
Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) board of directors, thanks to increases in state funding, voted Wednesday evening to pay off more than $130,000 in leases and debts -- but Bedford County Communications Center's debt-free status will be short-lived...

Courthouse smoking ban considered (06/20/07)
Smoking is already prohibited inside Bedford County Courthouse, which is why the courthouse steps and exterior balconies can sometimes be clogged with smokers. On at least five recent occasions, said County Mayor Eugene Ray, smokers in those locations have set mulch around the courthouse on fire. Courthouse maintenance personnel put out four such fires, but in one case a city fire truck had to be called...

Alternative school gains committee backing (06/20/07)
Bedford County School System has repeated its request to use the old Harris Middle School annex as an alternative school, and the county commission's courthouse and county property committee has recommended that the request be granted. School Superintendent Ed Gray told the committee on Tuesday that there are state funds available for at-risk education. Currently, the alternative school operates out of four portable classrooms on the campus of Central High School...

Discussions proceed on MTSU project (06/19/07)
The first preliminary meeting about the possibility of Middle Tennessee State University opening an extension campus in the old Harris Middle School building on Elm Street was a positive one, according to County Mayor Eugene Ray. Ray said he is pleased with the response of MTSU officials to the project so far...

Commission prepares for end of fiscal year (06/14/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners passed several budget amendments Tuesday night and set a special called meeting for June 26 to handle further end-of-fiscal-year business. The new fiscal year starts July 1, but the county never has a budget in place by that time. The budget process has been delayed even further this year by uncertainty about the state's education funding, which has now been resolved, and by the process of switching to the county's new financial management system...

Rezoning request denied for business (06/13/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to deny a rezoning at 2506 U.S. 231 North which had been requested by Celebration 2000, an office supply business now located on Madison Street in Shelbyville. Grady Cunningham, who owns the business, had wanted to move from its current leased space to a site that he would own outright. He was asking the county to rezone the site from R-1 (residential) to C-2 (commercial)...

Unionville station helps EMS response time (06/12/07)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Service is already seeing some benefit from its new Unionville station, reducing emergency response time in the fast-growing Unionville area. BCEMS Director Chad Graham told the service's board on Monday night that in May, the first full month of operation for the new station, response time within the Unionville area averaged six minutes. That is within the American Heart Association's recommended 4-6 minute response guideline for cardiac emergencies...

Sheriff's Department needs more money, officers (05/23/07)
Bedford County Sheriff's Department officials say the county must hire new officers to keep up with rapid growth; members of the county Financial Management Committee didn't argue the point but said the sheriff's department may have to convince taxpayers...

E-911 may create advisory council (05/17/07)
When Bedford County first started a 9-1-1 dispatch center in the 1980s, the two boards that controlled it were composed primarily of the heads of the local emergency departments which rely on the center. Some of those department heads were more active in attending board meetings than others, which led to problems when the boards didn't have the quorum they needed to conduct business. ...

Rezoning will be considered (05/16/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing and then consider a controversial rezoning request on U.S. 231 North during their June meeting. The commission's rules and legislative committee voted Tuesday night to place the item on the commission's June 12 agenda without any recommendation...

Courthouse sidewalks may match square (05/16/07)
Deteriorating curbs around the county courthouse led to a committee discussion Tuesday night of whether to re-do the courthouse sidewalks completely, perhaps in brick with granite curbs to match the city sidewalks on the square. Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee heard a report from County Mayor Eugene Ray that the concrete curbs around the courthouse are starting to deteriorate and need to be repaired or replaced. ...

EMS seeks agreement with TennCare MCOs (05/15/07)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Service (BCEMS) officials believe new county standards for non-emergency ambulance service passed earlier this month will force the insurance companies that manage TennCare to negotiate a contract with BCEMS and help eliminate long waits for non-emergency ambulance transfers...

Animal control rules adopted (05/10/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved animal control regulations on Tuesday which keep enforcement of stray animal laws on a complaint-driven basis except in cases where public safety is at risk. Commissioner Roger Brothers tried to amend the motion to also allow animal control to enforce state animal regulations, but other commissioners said that was already implied by the resolutions as written...

County borrows $44M over 30 years (05/09/07)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted Tuesday night to use a fixed-rate 30-year bond issue to borrow the $44 million in school construction funds approved last month by Bedford County Board of Commissioners. The money will fund renovation and expansion of Central High School, which is already underway, as well as construction of a new elementary school on Learning Way in Shelbyville and a new building for Community High School which will allow Community's middle school and elementary grades to expand into the current high school facility.. ...

Strategic plan helps keep Three-Star status (05/01/07)
It was only a few weeks ago, in late March, that Gov. Phil Bredesen formally recognized Bedford County for being re-certified under the Governor's Three-Star Award program. That's because circumstances last fall prevented the Governor from presenting the award at the usual time of year...

BREAKING: County Clerk's office closed (04/27/07)
Due to unexpected problems with a computer upgrade, the office of County Clerk Kathy Prater closed at noon today (Friday) and was to remain closed on Saturday. The office will re-open Monday morning.

Ray suggests old school building for MTSU branch (04/25/07)
County Mayor Eugene Ray has suggested to Middle Tennessee State University that the former Harris Middle School building on Elm Street be used as an extension campus, and MTSU President Sidney McPhee is interested enough to discuss the proposal further, according to Ray...

Celebration makes massive financial impact (04/20/07)
Like an old family friend, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration (TWHNC) has been with Shelbyville since 1939, so long that many can't remember there being a time when there wasn't a horse show. The longevity of the show makes it difficult to determine the exact tax impact that the annual event has on this community, according to Shelbyville Mayor Geneva Smith...

Home Health won't move (04/19/07)
The new Bedford County Medical Center will apparently not include space for Bedford Home Health, members of the county commission's courthouse and county property learned Tuesday night. County Mayor Eugene Ray discussed details of the meeting with the Times-Gazette on Wednesday...

Industries dragging feet on recycling report (04/13/07)
The county's report on recycling to the state will not be as robust as in previous years, according to Gay Ervin, who handles the county's recycling program. Last month, Ervin noted that only about half of the county's industries had responded to her request for recycling numbers to turn into the state. She told the Solid Waste Authority Thursday that not all industries had reported in with recycling numbers as they had in previous years...

County will give $25K to Celebration (04/12/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted 17-1 Tuesday night to give $25,000 to the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration as a show of support for the walking horse industry. The county's contribution follows a $25,000 contribution by the City of Shelbyville to the Walking Horse Trainers Association for its annual spring show...

Daniel hired as county budget director (04/11/07)
Robert Daniel, who has been the business manager for the county school system, was approved by Bedford County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night to be the county's new budget director. Daniel will officially change jobs on April 15 -- but for the time being, he and his staff will continue to work out of the school system central offices on Madison Street. ...

County will borrow $44M for schools (04/11/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted 16-1-1 Tuesday night to approve borrowing $44 million toward renovation and expansion of Central High School, construction of a new elementary school on Learning Way south of Harris Middle School, and construction of a new building for Community High School...

EMS income cut feared (04/10/07)
A change in the Managed Care Organization which handles TennCare claims threatens to cut the amount that county-owned Bedford County Emergency Medical Services is paid for transporting TennCare patients. Under the state's old MCO, TennCare Select, BCEMS was paid about $140 for a basic life support ambulance run, plus $4 per mile. ...

County may borrow $44M for school projects (03/28/07)
Instead of borrowing $20.8 million for the expansion of Central High School, Bedford County may try to lock in current favorable interest rates by borrowing up to $44 million -- enough to fund the SCHS project plus a new Community High School and a new elementary school in Shelbyville....

Daniel recommended as budget director (03/28/07)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted Tuesday night to recommend Robert Daniel as the county's first-ever budget director. Daniel currently serves as the school system's business manager. He was recommended to the financial management committee from among six applicants by a search committee. Former commissioner Virgil Johnson, who chaired the search committee, presented Daniel's name Tuesday night....

HealthSpring seeks contract with BCNH (03/26/07)
Bedford County Nursing Home is one of three facilities in Tennessee approached by a company that hopes to succeed Medicare as the health care underwriter for residents at the home, officials have explained. Wayne Schumann, administrator of the county-owned medical residence on Union Street, advised the nursing home's trustees late last week that recently he'd been approached by a representative of HealthSpring...

Cancer-stricken family can live together (03/24/07)
A Farmington-area family wracked with cancer received unanimous support from a Bedford County zoning panel on Thursday for another house trailer behind their modest home, allowing more relatives to be close for mutual support. "God bless you," George Mitchell said after permission was granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals for a "temporary dwelling unit in cases of medical emergency" so his mobile home can be towed from Chestnut Ridge to his father's six acres just east of the Marshall County line.. ...

Committee backs animal control rules (03/21/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday evening, endorsed passage of the latest draft of animal control regulations. Earlier this month, county commissioners passed one article of the regulations -- the one dealing with dangerous dogs -- but referred the rest of the document back for study...

Health Department needs space again (03/21/07)
The State of Tennessee has required Bedford County Health Department, like other local health departments, to provide primary care services for the uninsured. The state provides funding for personnel and equipment, but not space, for this relatively new program. The state now wants to add two nurse-practitioners to the local department's staff, and that means that its offices on Dover Street -- which were expanded just a few years ago -- are once again bursting at the seams...

Board wants high school, not elementary, at Unionville (03/16/07)
Bedford County Board of Education has revised its 10-year master plan to include a new high school, instead of a new elementary school, in the Unionville area. Unionville's current Community School complex includes connected buildings, built at various times, housing grades K through 12. ...

Family struggles used to justify land use request (03/15/07)
Struggling with cancer, other maladies and disabilities, a Bedford County family has requested a second exception from strict enforcement of the zoning code for a third mobile home behind their modest frame house. County zoning regulations require permission from the Board of Zoning Appeals for a "temporary dwelling unit in cases of medical hardship," and the BZA is scheduled to meet on March 22 at 5:30 p.m. ...

Dogs to have day in court (03/15/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to adopt Article X of the proposed animal control regulations -- the part dealing specifically with dangerous dogs -- but to defer action on the rest of the document pending further study and public input...

Commission approves SCHS expansion (03/14/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved the $20.8 million expansion and renovation of Shelbyville Central High School on Tuesday night. The vote was unanimous among the 17 commissioners in attendance; commissioner Roger Brothers was unable to attend due to illness. ...

What will county look like in 2027? (03/12/07)
Residents from all parts of Bedford County are invited to express their opinions on how they think their community should grow during the next 20 years. The public hearing scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on March 27 is in conjunction with discussions started this winter by an advisory panel with a consultant from a Nashville planning and engineering firm...

Open records aren't always seen by public (03/10/07)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- If a local or state official in Tennessee refuses to release a public document, the only recourse is to file an expensive civil lawsuit. But there are some efforts to change that this year. Gov. Phil Bredesen has said he will put money in the budget to create an open records ombudsman, someone to help people who are refused access to public records...

Bid accepted for roll-off truck (03/10/07)
Bedford County's Solid Waste Authority accepted a bid Thursday for a roll-off truck for the department. The bid from Cumberland International was accepted for a cost of $104,491, but is subject to availability. If the desired model is not available, then a similar model can be obtained for $2,000 more...

Committee backs SCHS expansion (03/07/07)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee gave its recommendation Tuesday night to the $20.8 million expansion and renovation of Central High School. "I think we're behind now, and ... we've got to move on," said Commissioner J.D. "Bo" Wilson. But committee members said the project could mean a tight year or two for the county, and stressed that new revenue will be needed for future school building projects...

'False statement' leads to probation for Schumann (03/07/07)
Bedford County Nursing Home's administrator has been placed on probation for this year by the Tennessee Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators. Wayne Schumann made a "false statement" in 2003 when he applied for a state license to be a nursing home administrator by not disclosing that he'd pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while impaired in 1994, according to the board's order...

Library asks city for $1 million (03/02/07)
A request for funding for a new library was made to the Shelbyville City Council Tuesday, with representatives pointing out the shrinking space in the current facility. In December, the Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding setting conditions on when and how Argie Cooper Public Library can receive the $1 million contribution approved by commissioners back in April of 2006...

Finance committee will wait a week on SCHS bid (02/28/07)
Members of Bedford County Financial Management Committee, meeting Tuesday night, decided they wanted another week to consider the request for $20.8 million for renovation and expansion of Shelbyville Central High School. The committee will hold a special called meeting next Tuesday at 5 p.m. ...

VFSI equipment benefits many agencies (02/23/07)
Volunteer Fire Services Inc. has two recent additions to its equipment roster which have benefited not only VFSI but other agencies as well, according to Chief Mark Thomas. A Cub Cadet four-wheel-drive vehicle can be used in situations like grass fires. But it's also been used by the Shelbyville Police Department when trying to locate a fugitive robbery suspect...

Committee explains dog rules (02/23/07)
Bedford County doesn't have the resources to have a dog catcher out on patrol, so officials at the county commission's Law Enforcement Committee agreed new regulations should be seen as "complaint-driven" enforcement. That, however, would not prevent an animal control officer from responding to a vicious dog situation if it's witnessed by the officer, Commissioner Bobby Fox conceded as he pressed for a program that he repeatedly called "complaint-driven."...

Fire, EMS may share Flat Creek hall (02/22/07)
Flat Creek Volunteer Fire Department, which is outgrowing its current fire hall, wants to build on to the Bedford County Emergency Medical Services first responder hall in Flat Creek and share it with BCEMS. The proposal was considered Tuesday night by the BCEMS board, which approved an informal agreement and will send it to attorneys to draw up a more formal contract...

SCHS price tag is $20.8 million (02/21/07)
An expanded and renovated Shelbyville Central High School will cost $20.8 million, according to figures revealed at Tuesday night's special called meeting of Bedford County Board of Education. American Constructors Inc. announced its guaranteed maximum price for the SCHS project, $20.1 million, during the meeting. ...

Big improvements, small cost (02/19/07)
The Bedford County Sheriff's Department is getting surplus military equipment for practically nothing through a program explained last week to the county commission's Law Enforcement Committee. "To date, we have acquired approximately $40,000 worth of material at a total cost to the department of $68 in shipping charges," Larry Lowman, chief administrator for the department told commissioners on Thursday...

SCHS bid expected Tuesday (02/16/07)
Bedford County Board of Education will have to wait until Tuesday to find out the guaranteed maximum price (G-MAX) for the expansion and renovation of Central High School. School board chairman Barry Cooper told the board Thursday night that it just wasn't possible for American Constructors, the school system's construction management firm, to get all the figures together in time for Thursday's regular monthly meeting. ...

Restaurant approved, tire shop delayed (02/16/07)
A family restaurant planned on Unionville Highway has received the approval it needed for construction to continue, but there's another delay for the family's tire and repair business; it needs a special exception before the shop can be built. That's the split decision Thursday night from Bedford County Board of Zoning Appeals, which considered information presented by Zoning Compliance Officer Kay Demonbren. ...

DA to be consulted on dog issue (02/16/07)
The District Attorney General's Office is to be consulted before Bedford County Board of Commissioners' Law Enforcement Committee proceeds with new regulations on how to deal with vicious dogs. That consultation might be as soon as Tuesday (Monday is Presidents Day, a government holiday) and so the committee recessed its session Thursday night in order to reconvene for an extensive reorganization of the animal control service...

Fees waived when disaster strikes (02/14/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to waive building permit fees for someone rebuilding the same size structure if it is destroyed by a fire or natural disaster. But they deferred action on a proposal to waive subdivision plat requirements for a parent giving land to a child while investigating whether such an exception would be legal...

Construction began before permit (02/13/07)
UNIONVILLE -- A Bedford County businessman wants to move his auto shop to Unionville Highway near Columbia Road and build a restaurant to be run by his mother. However, Jamie Garrett started construction before obtaining a special exception from the Bedford County Board of Zoning Appeals which is scheduled to consider the situation on Thursday...

Animal control rules will be presented (02/05/07)
New rules and regulations for Bedford County Animal Control are to be presented to the county commissioners' Law Enforcement Committee 10 days from tonight. And that's just a couple days after Shelbyville's City Council confronts the same question. Both city and county governments are trying to decide what to do about vicious dogs...

Deputies may help deport illegals (02/03/07)
Five illegal immigrants' arrest at a Shelbyville construction site last week raised more questions than answers, but steps being taken by the Bedford County Sheriff's Department provide understanding and the prospect of relief for other county departments...

Officials in Bedford, Marshall prepare for growth (01/29/07)
LEWISBURG -- Opposition to the perceived prospect of annexation in Marshall County is so great that it's attracted a third crowd to a public meeting on growth plans and prompted Chapel Hill's town board to sign a resolution saying it won't annex farm land unless there's a request from the owner...

County moves toward financial management (01/24/07)
Bedford County is making progress towards implementing its new financial management system, members of the Financial Management Committee heard Tuesday night. County Mayor Eugene Ray began advertising Monday for the position of county finance director. ...

Creating growth, or managing it? (01/23/07)
A special advisory panel on growth in Bedford County has indicated its preferences to a consultant who interpreted them Monday afternoon during a meeting at the Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce. "Do we want to create or manage growth?" consultant Doug Tennant asked during introductory remarks for the panel's second meeting. "Some communities just want to manage it. I think you are about creating and developing growth."...

Controversy arises over big garage (01/22/07)
A Bedford County man given permission to build a garage larger than normally allowed says he changed plans, made it bigger with what he assumed was approval from an official, and is now frustrated since it appears demolition may be required. That's Frank Bohanek's dilemma on Redbud Road, in the subdivision across from the sod farm along Lewisburg Highway. ...

Video cameras go back in time (01/20/07)
BRENTWOOD -- Digital video cameras in police cars here have a feature that's sort of like the time travel aspect of the recent movie "Deja Vu." Instead of starting a recording when the officer presses a button to simultaneously activate the car's blue lights and the camera, as many older analog models did, a digital unit records constantly. It keeps the past three minutes of recordings in its memory before recording over them...

Cameras suggested again for sheriff's cars (01/20/07)
Video cameras in patrol cars driven by Bedford County sheriff's deputies were suggested last year and deferred by then-Sheriff Clay Parker, but Thursday night the idea resurfaced to a warm welcome. "We talked about putting cameras in the cars," commissioner Bobby Fox said at the Bedford County Board of Commissioners' law enforcement and workhouse committee meeting...

Com center gets aerial photo maps (01/18/07)
Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) board approved the contract Wednesday night for a new system which will provide aerial photography maps to com center dispatchers, allowing them to give even more information to emergency crews...

Committee endorses Wal-Mart site for EMS station (01/17/07)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services would like to locate its new headquarters and station on property which would be donated to the county by Wal-Mart Distribution Center, and the county commission's courthouse and county property committee added its endorsement to the proposal Tuesday night...

Animal control needs ticketing powers (01/17/07)
Commissioner Tony Barrett told Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee on Tuesday night that the county's animal control department needs to be given citation power -- not the power to make arrests, but the power to issue tickets for those who violate animal-related laws...

Growth planning process continues (01/13/07)
Leaders from various aspects of Bedford County and its municipalities will gather again soon as an advisory panel to help a consultant develop a growth plan for local governments. The consultant, Doug Tennant of Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon Inc., Nashville, has planned another meeting of the panel he's calling the "PC 1101 Plan Advisory Committee" to help local governments respond to a law requiring urban growth plans...

State supplies documents to T-G -- but not SWA (01/13/07)
The county's solid waste coordinator now has documents pertaining to a 2003 leak at the Quail Hollow landfill, but still does not have a tape or minutes of a hearing held in 2004. However the documents in question were not sent to coordinator Linda Gay Ervin, who has been attempting to get a response from the state for the past two months, but were instead e-mailed to this reporter...

Commission increases insurance benefits (01/11/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to increase the county's contribution to health insurance for general fund and highway department employees by $30 per month per person, covering this year's increase in individual insurance premiums...

Waiver proposed for fire victims (01/10/07)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners has proposed waiving county permit fees for persons rebuilding after a fire or other natural disaster; the fees will be waived in the specific case of Bain Williams while the commission studies how to implement the change on a permanent basis...

Committee wants more power for animal control (01/04/07)
Bedford County Animal Control officers should have more authority so they can enforce existing state laws, according to discussion among members of a study group established by the county commission's law enforcement committee. While it's been suggested that animal control officers be made reserve deputies, Animal Control Director Michael Gregory does not want his department to become a part of the sheriff's department...

Dog panel could be hindered by horse law (01/03/07)
A panel created by Bedford County commissioners to study vicious dog problems and recommend solutions has confronted an expensive issue for animal control departments across the nation. It's what to do if Congress enacts a law to prevent unwanted horses from being sent to slaughter houses to become feed for other animals or steaks in France where horse meat is considered a delicacy...

Sheriff's department spends less than budgeted (01/02/07)
Spending by the Bedford County Sheriff's Department is 5 percent less than planned, according to a year-end report from the sheriff's chief administrator who projected that position to county commissioners. "There's been some talk floating around the county about us spending a lot of money, but we're 5 percent under budget," Chief Administrator Larry Lowman reported to the Bedford County Commission's Law Enforcement Committee...

Chair donated to nursing home (12/27/06)
Bedford County Nursing Home has received a chair that can double as a stretcher if an emergency requiring evacuation occurs. It will help staffers move residents down stairs which are otherwise difficult to negotiate, but along the required evacuation route, according to BCNH Administrator Wayne Schumann...

County appoints dog study committee (12/22/06)
A seven-member study committee was appointed Thursday night by the Bedford County Law Enforcement Committee to examine and recommend ways to deal with vicious dogs. The panel's creation comes as Animal Control Director Michael Gregory reports an increase in complaints about dogs and Shelbyville's City Council is doing much the same, considering the imposition of more control over dogs...

County may pay employees' insurance (12/21/06)
The county's new financial management committee held its first meeting Tuesday night, recommending that the county cover the increase in individual health insurance premiums for county employees for the rest of this fiscal year and study whether or not to cover the entire cost of individual insurance...

Dog proposal unleashes mixed reaction (12/21/06)
Various people attending Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee meeting disagreed about how to handle the county's vicious dog problem Tuesday night. Michael Gregory of Bedford County Animal Control echoed what the committee has been told in the past -- that so-called "breed-specific legislation," such as outlawing pit bulldogs, is legally questionable and would put the county at risk. ...

Extension campus proposed for old HMS (12/20/06)
A non-profit foundation has proposed marketing the vacant Harris Middle School / Central High School facility on Elm Street as an extension campus for a major state university. Glen Tilton of Brentwood-based Community Initiative appeared Tuesday night before Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee. ...

SWA member wants missing state minutes (12/15/06)
A member of the county's Solid Waste Authority says he believes that a recording of a 2004 state hearing has been erased that concerned a leak at the Quail Hollow Landfill. Last month, Bill Lewis, the newest member of the authority, asked what happened to the minutes of a hearing held by the state over a leak at the landfill nearly three years ago...

County hires law firm for Medicare case (12/13/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to hire specialized legal counsel to investigate claims of Medicare overpayment for which the county may owe nearly a million dollars. The claims related to money paid by Medicare to Bedford County Medical Center. Since that time, the county sold the hospital to Brentwood-based Community Health Systems (CHS) while retaining ownership of the nursing home...

Commisson sets conditions for library funding (12/13/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, approved a memorandum of understanding setting conditions on when and how Argie Cooper Public Library can receive the $1 million contribution approved by commissioners back in April. Library officials say they have outgrown the current location and are trying to raise money for a new $3 million facility. In April, commissioners agreed in principle to give $1 million to the project...

County earns best-ever bond rating (12/09/06)
Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray says the county's new A2 bond rating from Moody's Investors Service is the best it has ever had and has resulted in a low 3.75 percent interest rate for $6.5 million in bonds which will close on Thursday. "Overall, the county's looking real good," said Ray, praising county commissioners and the commission's budget and finance committee for their work...

Growth plan being reviewed (12/04/06)
Bedford County leaders have begun a series of meetings to reconsider their urban growth plan which was adopted several years ago and their approach is with the help of a professional planner. The consultant, Doug Tennant of Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon Inc., Nashville, met with a panel he's calling the "PC 1101 Plan Advisory Committee." They're members of the community's Joint Economic Development Committee...

County needs help with surplus space (12/02/06)
County commissioners have an interesting problem. The county has, at its disposal, the vacant Harris Middle School on Elm Street. In a few years, when a new Bedford County Medical Center is built, the building which now houses BCMC will revert to county control. Once that happens, it's almost a given that tenants will move out of the nearby Medical Arts Building in favor of new digs closer to the new hospital...

Chancery Court orders placed on microfilm (12/02/06)
Chancery Court orders from 1965 up to just a few months ago have been microfilmed by the Tennessee State Library and Archives, and a copy will be placed in Argie Cooper Public Library for public access, according to Clerk and Master Pat Finney. The microfilm was delivered Friday by Carol Roberts, director of Preservation Services for Tennessee State University and Archives...

Growth area designations often political (12/02/06)
There's a difference between the way state law on urban growth areas is written and how the law has been used by town and county officials across Tennessee. "Most of them were political plans," according to Phil Maples, the regional director of the Local Planning Office in the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development...

$2M road plan requested (11/29/06)
Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman requested a $2 million road resurfacing program during a presentation Tuesday night to Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee. It's common practice for the highway department to request such a large road program every few years; it allows the department to lock in prices for paving work and materials. ...

Rules change at county workhouse (11/28/06)
Personal contact visits at the Bedford County Workhouse are ending within several weeks and one of the inmates can explain the reason as well as the sheriff. "It's not hard to figure out," said William Andrew Richards Jr., 28, of Dover Street. "Some people don't know how to abide by the rules. Two or three people were doing bad things and now the whole workhouse has to suffer for their bad habits."...

State money available for home rehab (11/27/06)
Bedford County recently received a half million dollars that will go toward the rehabilitation of homes and you may qualify for the program. A public meeting is set for Monday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Bedford County Courthouse to discuss the $500,000 HOME grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency...

County to sell surplus items (11/24/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee, meeting Tuesday night, approved requests from Bedford County Highway Department and Bedford County Nursing Home to declare various items as surplus. The nursing home will sell five plastic drug carts at the web site govdeals.com and will offer the iron as scrap metal to be removed at no cost to the county. ...

Rules panel wants different makeup for finance board (11/24/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee recommended Tuesday night that the membership of a new county financial management board not be based on the commission's existing budget and finance committee. The commission voted earlier this month to place the county under the state's consolidated financial management plan of 1981. ...

Commission to study electronic voting (11/20/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize its courthouse and county property committee to investigate the cost and feasibility of an electronic voting device for commission meetings. Such a device, like the ones used by both houses of the state legislature, would permit all commissioners to vote at the same time and give an immediate record of their votes, easily viewable by those in attendance at commission meetings as well as those watching on cable television...

E-911 gets new state funding (11/20/06)
Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) will receive $104,081 annually from the state under a new operational funding program approved Oct. 31. The new allocation was discussed Wednesday night by the E-911 board, which manages Bedford County Communications Center...

Commission approves 1981 budgeting plan (11/17/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to place the county under a consolidated budgeting system as provided for by the state's County Financial Management Act of 1981. "The way that we're doing things right now works fine," said County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman, echoing the remarks he made earlier this month at the commission's budget and finance committee. He urged commissioners to move slowly at adopting a county-wide plan...

Landfill minutes sought by SWA member (11/13/06)
A member of the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority wants to know what happened to the minutes of a hearing held by the state over a leak at the Quail Hollow Landfill nearly three years ago. Bill Lewis, the newest member of the Authority and who lives near the landfill, has requested information about what was done by the state regarding the case...

The other amendment on Tuesday's ballot (11/04/06)
It's proposed constitutional amendment #1 -- the definition of marriage -- that's getting all the attention, but the other amendment on Tuesday's general election ballot could have an impact on senior citizens, and on local governments. Amendment #2 would allow counties and cities to grant property tax relief to senior citizens by, in effect, freezing the property tax bill on their primary residence at the time they turn 65. ...

Finance panel recommends 1981 budget plan (11/03/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee recommended Thursday night that the county place itself under the state's 1981 financial management plan, but tried to assure school and highway officials that transitioning to such a system will be a slow and careful process...

Finance panel takes up centralized budgeting (10/25/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee began discussing the possibility of a centralized county financial management system on Tuesday, and will meet again 5 p.m. Nov. 2 in hopes of deciding on a recommendation to the full commission...

SCHS expansion moving forward (10/20/06)
Bedford County Board of Education is moving ahead with preparations for the expansion of Shelbyville Central High School and will hold a special called meeting 5 p.m. Oct. 26 to consider what construction method to use. The school system already has a proposed contract in hand from American Constructors, which built the new Harris Middle School, for a construction management program similar to the one used for HMS. ...

County looks at budgeting system (10/19/06)
Each year, Bedford County government receives its audit report from the state. And one audit finding has appeared, year after year, without being corrected: "County officials have not adopted a central system of accounting, budgeting and purchasing." Various departments and courthouse offices handle some or all of their own finances...

Changes will be considered to nursing home board (10/18/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee has asked the full commission to discuss whether or not the Bedford County Nursing Home board of directors should be changed to a nine-member system, with one member representing each commission district...

Waiting inmates won't stay in courtroom (10/13/06)
An experiment to try an old system of having defendants in custody seated on courtroom benches instead of a holding room behind locked or guarded doors has been stopped. "We didn't like it," Bedford County Sheriff Randall Boyce said Thursday afternoon when asked about the change in the General Sessions Courtroom that was revealed Tuesday when Judge Charles Rich heard city police cases...

Road segments closed by commission (10/12/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to close a half-mile section of Shofner Bridge Road and an 0.2-mile section of Womack Road, taking them off the county maintenance list and returning them to control of the adjoining property owner...

Commissioners approve construction tax (10/11/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, approved on first reading a tax on new residential construction that they thought they approved months ago. Several counties had asked the state legislature in recent years for permission to enact a tax on new residential construction in order to pay for the costs it creates, such as the burden placed on the local school system. ...

County gets delayed disaster funding (10/05/06)
Gov. Phil Bredesen has announced that the state is providing $3.6 million in disaster assistance funding to many Tennessee communities, including Bedford County, that suffered damages due to thunderstorms, flooding, and high winds and tornadoes in 2003...

Collection of impact fee delayed (09/27/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved an adequate facilities tax on new residential construction at its June and July meetings, but there are a few more details to be addressed before the tax can actually be collected, according to discussion at Tuesday night's meeting of the commission's budget and finance committee...

City defers action on lawsuit (09/27/06)
Shelbyville City Council deferred any action on a possible lawsuit against the county concerning the funding of Volunteer Fire Services Inc. in violation of state law. Mayor Geneva Smith asked for the deferral because the city and county had met this past Saturday and both government bodies were to submit proposals to each other and then meet to work out the matter...

City to meet on lawsuit (09/25/06)
Shelbyville's city council will meet in special session Tuesday to discuss proceedings concerning the funding of Volunteer Fire Services Inc. in violation of state law. The possible action comes despite a meeting Saturday between members of both the city and county government in which some officials urged the city not to file a suit over the issue...

Officials to study budget proposals (09/23/06)
County Mayor Eugene Ray will hold an informative study session for county officials Oct. 9 on the issue of setting up a county budget director and bringing the county under one or another of the state's financial management plans. That sounds simple enough, but the idea of centralized budgeting, payroll and purchasing can be a controversial on in the arena of county government, where some departments and courthouse offices are used to doing things their own way...

City, county hope to avoid tax lawsuit (09/23/06)
"Let's get something done." Those were the words of Shelbyville Mayor Geneva Smith as county and city leaders sat down for the third time Saturday to discuss conflicting tax issues between the two government bodies. While no decisions were made during the joint meeting, all of those that spoke were against the idea of a lawsuit being filed by the city against the county over taxation issues involving volunteer fire services...

Contract awarded for Cascade Elementary expansion (09/22/06)
Bedford County Board of Education awarded a contract Thursday night for expansion of Cascade Elementary School to Sain Construction of Manchester, and discussed plans for expansion of Central High School and for a new elementary school in Shelbyville...

Parker, Milner to serve as judicial commissioners (09/21/06)
Bedford County Sessions Court Judge Charles Rich has named former Sheriff Clay Parker and Parker's former department administrator, John Milner, as additional judicial commissioners here. Naming Parker and Milner will double the number of judicial commissioners employed by Bedford County. Judge Rich cited a lawsuit against Wilson County and advice from one of his current two judicial commissioners as explanation for the need of additional commissioners here...

Shofner Bridge Road closing requested (09/20/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners will consider whether to close a dead-end portion of Shofner Bridge Road at the request of the Cooper family. John Cooper, son of the late Gov. Prentice Cooper and brother of U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, appeared with Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman and with Sammy Coates, who leases the property, before the commission's rules and legislative committee on Tuesday night. A home the Cooper family owns at the end of the road has been the target of vandalism...

Ray will continue to chair commission (09/13/06)
County Mayor Eugene Ray was elected by acclamation Tuesday night to remain as chair of Bedford County Board of Commissioners, the position he held for so many years while he was a member of the body. The county mayor can be elected to chair the commission, but if he agrees to do so he loses his veto power over the commission's actions. Ray had been a commissioner before taking office Sept. 1 as the county's chief executive...

Radio improvement project approved (09/13/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to spend more than $2 million on improvements to the radio system for the county's emergency departments. In separate agenda items which were voted on together, commissioners spent $1.9 million on general upgrades to the radio system and $284,000 for purchase of a tower site and adjoining buildings on Hawthorne Hill Road...

EMS prepares for Unionville renovation (09/12/06)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services board approved a bid document Monday night for renovation of the old Unionville fire hall as an EMS station, as provided for in BCEMS's growth plan. The new Unionville station will, in effect, take the place of the station currently located on the grounds of the Clarence "Pete" Phillips Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy. ...

City will vote on whether to file suit (09/06/06)
The Shelbyville City Council will vote next Thursday whether or not to file suit against the county over a "double taxation" issue that the county has yet to respond to. The issue refers to lawsuits settled in 1996 which alleged that Shelbyville taxpayers were taxed illegally to pay for fire and sanitation services provided to only county residents outside the city...

New sheriff takes office (09/05/06)
Bedford County Sheriff Randall Boyce took office just after midnight Friday morning with new assignments, goals and three former sheriffs, two joining his team and one leaving the building. Former Bedford County Sheriff David Williams Sr. and former Coffee County Sheriff Ronnie Gault are among Boyce's top officers...

Ray honored at Friday reception (09/05/06)
A standing-room-only crowd, including U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, gathered in the second floor courtroom of Bedford County Courthouse on Friday for a reception to honor County Mayor Eugene Ray on his first day in office. Ray has been the long-time chair of Bedford County Board of Commissioners. ...

No bids received on health department (08/31/06)
Bedford County Health Department official Amy Mitchell says the department needs major renovations to be able to provide newly-required state pre-natal and primary care programs. But, for the second time, Mitchell has failed to get even a single bid on the renovation project...

County approves budget, tax rates (08/31/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, in a special meeting Tuesday night, approved final budgets and tax rates for the new county fiscal year which began July 1, according to County Mayor Jimmy Woodson. The county property tax rate was set at $2.27 per $100 assessed value. ...

E-911 to upgrade call recording system (08/19/06)
Bedford County's E-911 Emergency Communications Board voted to purchase a voice recording system that will archive emergency calls and radio traffic for up to five years. The system itself will cost $21,053, to be paid 30 days after installation. The board also agreed to a prepaid five-year assured performance plan at a cost of $15,534, which will be paid in four equal payments...

Need for committees debated (08/16/06)
The need for committees was disputed at Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Commission's rules committee. Commissioner Billy King, who is not a member of the rules committee, said the upcoming hiring of a budget director will take a lot of "stress, time and effort" off the commission's finance committee...

Commissioners gain county insurance (08/12/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to allow commissioners to voluntarily participate in the county's health insurance plan, entirely at their own expense. Proponents said this would not cost the county anything, but opponents said it sent a bad message to constituents who might not have access to health insurance...

Entire Harris campus up for sale (08/12/06)
Two of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' standing committees, which have been in sharp disagreement about the disposition of the old Harris Middle School property on Elm Street, brought their viewpoints to the full commission on Tuesday night. The motion eventually passed by the full commission is closer to what was sought by the commission's courthouse and county property committee...

Proposed budget change helps schools (08/09/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners will meet Aug. 29 to pass final budgets and tax rates, in order to have time to review and digest some changes proposed Tuesday night by the commission's budget and finance committee. The changes will not require a property tax increase. ...

County's state funding totals $63.2M (08/03/06)
State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) has received the annual budget data containing state funding broken down by county and has announced that during the new state fiscal year that began July 1, Bedford County is now projected to receive approximately $63.2 million of state appropriations. Also, Bedford County will receive a portion of the $9.3 billion of federal funds included in Tennessee's $26.4 billion budget as adopted by the 104th General Assembly...

Committees disagree over old HMS annex (07/27/06)
Two committees from Bedford County Board of Commissioners are taking different positions on whether the school system should be allowed to keep the former Harris Middle School annex. The commission's budget and finance committee had previously recommended that the school system be allowed to keep only the annex, which it would like to use for the alternative school program. ...

Arguments rage over nursing home (07/27/06)
The battle among county commissioners and Bedford County Nursing Home chief executive Wayne Schumann heated up Tuesday night, with raised voices and accusations during the meeting of the commission's budget and finance committee. At one point, the committee deadlocked 2-2 on a proposal that the county take bids on selling the nursing home. Commissioner J.D. "Bo" Wilson threatened to seek an injunction against the county for mismanagement of the facility...

County probably won't raise property tax (07/26/06)
Although Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee still has some tweaking to do to the county budget, it appears that there will not be a county property tax increase this year. This is a reappraisal year for county property owners. ...

State studies bike track situation (07/24/06)
Because of a neighbor's complaint, the state is investigating a grandfather's transformation of a Duck River flood plain into a place for his grandson to jump motorcycles from hill to hill. It's an investigation that's been going on for nearly three months, and late last week a Bedford County panel reached its own consensus on the matter. Its members don't see it as something they want to stop. Nor do they want to take official steps on the matter...

Communications board discusses budget (07/20/06)

Communications board discusses budget (07/20/06)
Budgetary issues were on the minds of the board of directors of Bedford County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District at their meeting Tuesday afternoon. A resolution to allow 9-1-1 Center director Cathy Mathis to explore the possibility of investing up to $25,000 of the center's money in a "money market CD account" passed 5-0...

Health plan may include commissioners (07/19/06)
A Bedford County commissioner has suggested that commissioners be allowed to buy health insurance from the plan available to county employees, and Tuesday a commission committee forwarded the idea without a recommendation. "Participation in this plan for county commissioners is to be at no cost to the citizens of Bedford County," Commissioner Joe Tillett wrote to the county commissioners' Rules Committee, explaining he couldn't be at yesterday's meeting because he was out of town...

New police radio system proposed (07/19/06)
Nearly $2 million -- much of it from a federal grant -- is being sought to upgrade radio communications equipment serving city and county law enforcement agencies. A total of $1,921,000 was requested from Bedford County Commission's finance committee at a meeting Tuesday night. Members Roger Brothers, Bobby Vannatta and Bo Wilson voted to send the request on to the full commission. Committee member Joe Tillett was out of town...

Three-Star upgrade is certain for county (07/15/06)
It's all over but the shouting. According to a review team which visited Shelbyville on Friday, Bedford County's upgrade to a Level III certification in the Governor's Three-Star Award program is, while not yet official, a foregone conclusion. "The points are here," said Renee Winchester of the review team. "You are being certified, so let me congratulate you."...

Cascade Elementary expansion nears (07/14/06)
Bids on the expansion of Cascade Elementary School could be ready to let by September, with school officials hoping site work can begin in late September or early October. But the 10 new classrooms being added to the school will merely replace 10 existing portables, according to discussion at Thursday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Education. ...

Commissioners turn up heat on Schumann (07/13/06)
Some county commissioners, during their meeting Tuesday night, increased their criticism of Bedford County Nursing Home director Wayne Schumann for hiring his wife Iris as a consultant, especially since Wayne Schumann indicated that Iris Schumann might stay on after her contract runs out at the end of this month...

Finance panel hears school request (07/12/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee heard a page-by-page breakdown of the proposed school system budget Tuesday night. That leaves only a few more budget requests for the committee to hear before it begins working on its budget and tax rate recommendations...

Commission adopts adequate facilities tax (07/12/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night on second and final reading to approve a $1 per square foot "adequate facilities tax" on new residential construction. The tax will take effect immediately. It will be assessed when a building permit is obtained but won't be collected until a purchaser closes on a house. It's intended to make new construction bear some of the tax burden for the impact the county's growth has had on infrastructure...

EMS makes budget in both directions (07/11/06)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services made its projected revenue for the 2005-2006 fiscal year which ended June 30, with $47,000 to spare, and stayed within its budgeted expenses by $13,000, BCEMS Director Chad Graham reported Monday night to the ambulance service's board...

Sheriff's department time off being studied (07/11/06)
Bedford County Mayor Jimmy Woodson is organizing a conference between state and county officials to resolve a salary issue raised at the sheriff's department over paid time off, and discussion on the topic has re-opened consideration on central accounting for most of the county departments...

County tax base grows, so tax rate is adjusted (07/07/06)
Bedford County's property tax base has grown by more than $532 million, but the exact figure can't be stated yet, according to the county property assessor, Ronda Helton. Growth in the tax base is examined closely each summer as county commissioners assemble their next budget because property taxes are a significant portion of the revenue side of a budget which is, after all, a spending plan...

Commission approves budget amendments (06/28/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved last-minute budget amendments Tuesday night and heard a report that the county will receive about $900,000 more from the sale last year of Bedford County Medical Center. In a special called meeting, commissioners approved end-of-year amendments to the 2005-2006 budgets for a variety of county agencies. ...

Schools may keep old Harris annex after all (06/28/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee has recommended tempering the commission's all-or-nothing stance on the sale of the former Harris Middle School property, saying the county might be willing to let the school system keep the old HMS annex for use as an alternative school...

Bids to be sought on Elm and Union properties (06/27/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property committee has recommended that the county take bids on the old Harris Middle School property and on four lots on Union Street, even though commissioners aren't in complete agreement about whether to sell either site...

Action on codes recommended for deferral (06/21/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee recommended Tuesday night that the full commission defer action on changes to county building codes for another month. Commissioners approved adoption of the International Building Code and the International Residential Code late last year. ...

Schumann defends hiring wife (06/16/06)
Bedford County Nursing Home administrator Wayne Schumann, making his monthly report to Bedford County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night, defended his decision to hire his wife Iris as a contract employee, saying he consulted an attorney and that her $1,320 per week salary is in line with other consultants...

Commission deals with budget issues (06/16/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' passed several end-of-fiscal-year budget amendments Tuesday night as well as the "continuing resolution" which will allow county departments to continue to operate at 2005-2006 spending levels until a 2006-2007 budget can be passed...

Commission approves fire trucks, ambulance halls (06/15/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a $4.2 million bond issue Tuesday night to purchase new tanker trucks for Volunteer Fire Services Inc. and new stations for Bedford County Emergency Medical Services, one of which will also house VFSI trucks...

Commission approves tax on new construction (06/14/06)
In a surprise vote, Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved on first reading an adequate facilities tax of $1 per square foot on new residential construction Tuesday night. The tax was approved unanimously by the 17 commissioners in attendance. Commissioner Phillip Vincent was absent...

Solid Waste lawsuits may be settled (06/13/06)
Settlements totaling nearly a half million dollars may be made in a long standing lawsuit against the county, members of the solid waste authority learned last Thursday. Laidlaw and Batesville Casket were the last two plaintiffs in the case and the matter will have to go before the full county commission for approval. The final settlement to the companies total $482,000, which would go to the two firms if given the green light by the commission...

Motocross area nearer to approval (06/10/06)
A 15-year-old Horse Mountain Road boy and two of his friends may ride motorcycles on 44 acres between the Duck River and Wartrace Pike just west of the golf driving range, according to an agreement reached Friday at Bedford County Chancery Court. However, that's not all it will take for Matthew Smith and his friends to use the motocross track his grandfather, Reggie Smith, built for Matthew on land that Reggie says can be used for hardly anything else since it's been dug up for years as a dirt pit to provide fill dirt.. ...

Facilities tax rate won't be set yet (06/06/06)
Bedford County must get a handle on growth and make sure that all rural construction is going through the proper permit process before it can decide a proper rate for the adequate facilities tax, say members of the county commission's budget and finance committee...

Committee receives non-profit requests (06/03/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee began work last month on the 2006-2007 budget by hearing requests from various non-profit agencies to which the county contributes. Here's a rundown of what is being requested: ...

Lawmakers approve adequate facilities tax (06/01/06)
State lawmakers have provided a way for Bedford County to increase revenue and, in a state budget development, shared state revenue has been restored for cities and counties. A state-wide system of adequate facilities taxes can now be used by Bedford, Rutherford, Williamson and other designated fast-growing counties, according to state Sen. Jim Tracy and state Rep. Curt Cobb...

New Community High School proposed, but challenged (05/27/06)
Some Bedford County Board of Education members believe that classroom needs in the Community School area might best be served by building a new high school instead of the planned new elementary school, but that would be more expensive -- and other members say the current, $80 million school building program is already more than the county can afford...

Hospital proceeds may be used for fire trucks (05/24/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee recommended Tuesday night that the interest on the proceeds from the sale of Bedford County Medical Center be used to help finance new fire trucks for Volunteer Fire Services Inc. and an expansion program for Bedford County Emergency Medical Services...

New courtroom space needed, say officials (05/23/06)
Bedford County's court system has outgrown the county courthouse, according to General Sessions Judge Charles Rich and Circuit Court Clerk Thomas Smith, who appeared Monday before Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee...

Parker: 'I'm ... satisfied to let history judge me.' (05/22/06)
Bedford County's Law Enforcement Committee is recommending plaques for departing county leaders after the Aug. 3 election, including one for the sheriff who reflected on his record late last week. "I'm perfectly satisfied to let history judge me," outgoing Sheriff Clay Parker said in the courthouse during the committee meeting which concluded with Commissioner John Brown's comment to Parker; "God's speed to you."...

Two grants help back up radio signals (05/17/06)
Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) Board of Directors voted last week to use $24,000 from a state 9-1-1 grant, in combination with $54,000 from a homeland security grant received by Bedford County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), to build a new radio tower at the EMA headquarters on Railroad Avenue...

It's time again to dump hazardous household waste (05/17/06)
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's mobile household hazardous waste (HHW) collection service will be in Bedford County on Saturday. The event will take place at the Big Springs Shopping Center in Shelbyville from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m...

Big spenders win two of three races (05/16/06)
In two out of three of Bedford County's contested primaries this month, the old adage about money being the mother's milk of politics proved true again. Campaign financial disclosure statements at the Bedford County election office show that the nominees for sheriff and county mayor outspent their opponents by margins wider than the difference between their votes...

Tire disposal costs rise, state grant falls (05/13/06)
Action was deferred on the budget for the Bedford County Solid Waste/Sanitation Fund by the county's solid waste authority. Road Superintendent Stanley Smotherman passed out the numbers Thursday, which showed estimated revenue of $945,000 and projected expenditures of $995,475...

Attorney joins county in feud with city (05/13/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to hire attorney John Bumpus to advise them on whether money can be spent on new fire trucks and to represent the county in its legal dispute with the City of Shelbyville over tax issues. The county's normal attorney, John T. Bobo, can't represent the county in the city / county matter because another attorney in his firm also represents the city...

Metro isn't the answer, council told (05/11/06)
Don Darden of the University of Tennessee's Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) told Shelbyville City Council members on Tuesday that consolidated city-county government, called metropolitan or metro government, is not the windfall that some people assume...

Commission allocates $3.2M for school plans (05/10/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to allocate $3.2 million for plans for expansion of Central High School and Cascade Elementary School, a replacement elementary school in Unionville and a new elementary school next door to Harris Middle School in Shelbyville...

EMS seeks budget amendment (05/09/06)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services board of directors approved a $98,400 budget amendment request on Monday. The amendment, which must be approved by the county commission, won't require any new money -- it just shifts funds between accounts to cover unexpected expenses...

Taxing authority proposal still in dispute (05/09/06)
Bedford County commissioners' request for more taxing authority from the state Legislature is facing a double-edged sword used in political warfare on Capitol Hill and across the state. Commissioners here and in other counties want to be able to tax each new square foot of heated and cooled living space built in their jurisdiction and, separately, their panels have voted to request a private act by the General Assembly to let them do it, largely so they'll have money for school budgets...

BCEMS plan calls for three halls (05/06/06)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services' revised growth plan, presented last month to the county commission's budget and finance committee, calls for three new stations to keep up with growth in the northern third of the county. Currently, average ambulance response times in those areas exceed 11 minutes. ...

City to discuss metro government (05/04/06)
Shelbyville's city council will meet Tuesday to discuss the concept of a consolidated city-county government, also known as metro. The council will hear from Don Darden of the Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service on the topic when they meet at 6 p.m. in the courtroom at the city's police department...

County faces continued growth, says planner (05/03/06)
Bedford County is "in the path of growth" that will "continue unabated," according to a professional planner that addressed the Shelbyville City Council Tuesday. The city has been asked by the Joint Economic Development Board [JEDB] to split the costs for a comprehensive master plan as an update to the area's overall growth plan...

EMA cuts ribbon on new facility (05/01/06)
State and local dignitaries cut the ribbon Friday on the new Bedford County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) / Tennessee Department of Safety building on Railroad Avenue. The building houses EMA headquarters and an emergency command post; a driver's license testing station; a Tennessee Highway Patrol station; and a branch office for the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross...

Commissioners unsure about fire truck funds (04/28/06)
The dispute between the city and county over taxation issues leaves Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee unsure of its options for funding a request for new fire trucks for Volunteer Fire Services Inc. Finance committee members had hoped they could make a down payment on the trucks from the proceeds from sale of Bedford County Medical Center. ...

Clearer view of memorial sought (04/28/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee, meeting Monday night, heard a request from the United Veterans Council to close two parking spaces in front of the new Bedford County Veterans Memorial. According to Roy Bartlette, the change is being requested so that vehicles driving by can get an unobstructed view of the monument. Another parking space next to the two closed spaces would be realigned slightly and marked as handicapped parking...

Handicap-accessible voting machines purchased (04/27/06)
Bedford County officials signed documents Wednesday for the purchase of handicap-accessible voting machines that will cost $108,800. Meanwhile, today is the last day to vote early in the May 2 primaries to nominate candidates in contested races for sheriff, county mayor and trustee. The election office in the county courthouse will be open until 5 p.m...

School financing 'tough, but doable,' says consultant (04/26/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee voted Tuesday night to recommend that the county spend up to $3.2 million for plans, specifications and construction documents for the first phase of a proposed school building program, including expansion of Central High School...

Growth plan to include public input (04/26/06)
If the county and Shelbyville choose to split the costs of a comprehensive master plan updating the area's growth plan, a complicated seven-month process would get underway that will make sure everyone has a voice. Barge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon, Inc. [BWSC] recently submitted a proposal to provide professional planning services at a cost of $82,110...

County, city asked to fund growth plan (04/25/06)
Bedford County's Joint Economic Development Board [JEDB] is requesting that the county and Shelbyville split the costs for a comprehensive master plan as an update to the area's growth plan. A proposal has been submitted by Barge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon, Inc. [BWSC] to provide professional planning services for the county at a cost of $82,110...

Vacant buildings cause county problems (04/25/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property committee, during a study session attended by numerous other commissioners, has recommended that if the school system isn't interested in keeping the entire old Harris Middle School property on Elm Street, the county should ask for bids from potential buyers...

Nursing home turning a modest profit (04/22/06)
Bedford County Nursing Home is generating more revenue than costs this spring, according to administrator, who reported to the facility's Board of Trustees late last week. Meanwhile, administrator Wayne Schumann said Thursday that he'd speak with the activity director about scheduling a program so that the residents, more than 100 of them, could hear what county-wide candidates have to say before election day May 2...

Reappraisal notices are in the mail (04/21/06)
Nearly 20,100 owners of property in Bedford County will start receiving notices today or tomorrow from the county's property assessor who has figures indicating the average increase for property values is 30 percent within five years. That growth is revealed by the reappraisal of property values conduced by Property Appraiser Ronda Helton and her staff. ...

Local regulation of tobacco use requested (04/20/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee has endorsed a resolution asking the state to give local governments the right to make tobacco use regulations. Harriett Stewart of the American Cancer Society, speaking on behalf of Bedford County Health Council, appeared before the committee Tuesday night. ...

Tire disposal to remain free (04/15/06)
Disposing of old tires will continue to be at no charge, the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority decided Thursday. Last year, the authority voted to suspend a $1 recycling charge per tire due to the number found dumped throughout the county. It was hoped that lifting the fee would discourage the dumping...

Deason-area property rezoned (04/14/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a rezoning Tuesday night for 4.16 acres of property at 3331 U.S. 231 North from A-1 (agriculture) to C-1 (commercial). The stated purpose of the rezoning is for mini-storage units, although a rezoning isn't tied to one use and opens the door for any use allowed by the rules of the new zone. Current property owner George Hofstetter said Tuesday night his intent is to sell the property...

City wants new tax agreement with county (04/14/06)
Shelbyville's city council voted to enter into discussions on a new agreement with the county over tax issues after passing a resolution to that effect Thursday. The two issues involve a sales tax agreement made with the county in 1974 -- which was apparently approved in violation of Tennessee's Sunshine Law -- and Bedford County's compliance with a 1996 court injunction for the funding of Volunteer Fire Services Inc...

City proposes dual-tier tax (04/12/06)
Shelbyville City Council reached a general consensus Tuesday night that it's time to move on to avoid an impasse with Bedford County over two taxing issues. However, the solution appears to be a suggestion from the city that the county have two property tax rates: One for residents who don't live in a city, and one for those who do...

Commission approves $1M for library (04/12/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners were in apparent agreement Tuesday night over the idea of committing $1 million towards construction of a new library, but disagreed sharply over how to pay for it. Library officials say that their fund-raising has hit a wall and that a definite commitment from the county to support the facility would help get things started again...

City study session will be held on tax issues (04/05/06)
A special study session will be held Tuesday by the Shelbyville City Council to discuss two tax issues with the county. The council met already last week to talk about the issue; however, the discussion was deferred until all members could attend. The meeting will be in the courtroom of the police department starting at 6 p.m...

Internet no threat to library, say stats (04/04/06)
Are libraries becoming less relevant in the age of the Internet? No, says Argie Cooper Public Library director Pat Hastings, pointing to the 101,722 items checked out by her facility in the 2004-2005 fiscal year. "Last year was our highest circulation of books and materials," said Hastings...

Counties may get more taxing authority (03/31/06)
MURFREESBORO -- Bedford County may soon have the new source of revenue it sought last year when its commissioners asked state lawmakers to grant it the authority to tax construction. That's according to a panel discussion Thursday evening including state Rep. Curt Cobb (D-Shelbyville) and state Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shebyville) who attended a meeting in the Rutherford County Courthouse...

Future of local impact fee is unclear (03/30/06)
NASHVILLE -- Bedford County's delegation to the state Legislature is split on whether their county commissioners' request for authority to impose a tax on new construction will be granted by the General Assembly this year. State Rep. Curt Cobb (D-Shebyville) isn't hopeful about the prospects for an adequate facilities tax, but state Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shebyville) says, "I think there will be something to give them the authority" to tax new construction...

Howard H. Barton (03/30/06)
Longtime Bedford County Clerk and Master Howard H. Barton, 74, of Shelbyville died Wednesday at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Gowen-Smith Chapel with H.A. Beasley officiating. Burial will follow at Willow Mount Cemetery.

County panel recommends $1M for library (03/29/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee recommended Tuesday night that the county commit to $1 million in funding for a new Shelbyville library -- provided that library begins construction and is ready for the money within three years...

Council puts off tax decision (03/29/06)
With two members absent, Shelbyville's city council deferred discussion and possible action of two tax issues with the county. Councilmen Wallace Cartwright and Robert Frazier were not present at the meeting. City Manager Ed Craig said there were big issues involved and that there was no rush...

County considers property needs (03/28/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property is moving towards organizing a study session of the full commission to discuss what to do with the county's excess property. But the situation seems to get more and more complex as time goes by. ...

Nursing home reduces staffing by attrition (03/27/06)
Bedford County Nursing Home is reducing the number of staffers assigned to care for residents as it brings their number closer to what was budgeted last summer, according to the director of the county-owned facility. "We have been at 53 and we're at 50," BCNH Wayne Schumann said Friday about the number of nurses, aides and other caregivers for nursing home residents on duty during a 24-hour period. "We'll probably cut that to 47."...

EMS Challenge combines fun with skills training (03/27/06)
Emergency medical personnel from all over Middle Tennessee will compete in a first-ever "combat challenge" -- a combination of fun events and serious skills competition -- April 22 at Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill. The event was conceived by Chad Graham of Bedford County Emergency Medical Services...

Council will meet to discuss city / county tax dispute (03/25/06)
Shelbyville City Council will hold a special called meeting Tuesday to consider its position and any possible action on a sales tax agreement made with the county in 1974, which was apparently approved in violation of Tennessee's Sunshine Law. The council will also consider their position and any action regarding Bedford County's compliance with a 1996 court injunction for the funding of Volunteer Fire Services Inc...

Rules committee considers open container law, pit bulls (03/23/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee heard proposals from commissioner Bobby Vannatta Tuesday night for a county open container law and for regulation of pit bulls. The rules committee referred both proposals to the county attorney for study and then to the law enforcement and workhouse committee...

Metro to be discussed (03/22/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee voted to send the issue of metropolitan government to the county attorney for study, a first step towards possibly presenting the idea to the full county commission. "I'd like to see it studied, see the pros and cons about it," said commissioner Bobby Vannatta, who appeared before the rules committee to present the metro government proposal and two other issues...

Commission approves school portables (03/16/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to purchase 12 portable classroom buildings (a total of 24 classrooms) at a cost of $720,000, and to fund the purchase on a five-year capital outlay note. The vote came after considerable discussion of why the county would want to borrow the money when there were sufficient funds in the debt service fund balance which could be used for the project. ...

State won't appeal election case (03/16/06)
Tennessee won't ask the state Supreme Court to review Bedford County Sheriff Clay Parker's victory at the Court of Appeals this week so he may run for re-election despite missing a state deadline when qualifying as a candidate. That announcement came late Wednesday from Sharon Curtis-Flair, spokeswoman for State Attorney General Paul Summers' office with the explanation that the case here is different from three others across the state as other would-be candidates missed the same deadline...

EMS wants to increase staff (03/16/06)
If a proposed budget is approved next month by board members, Bedford County Emergency Medical Services will be asking the county for three more employees. BCEMS Director Chad Graham, who presented his draft budget request to the BCEMS board on Monday night, said the new employees would allow better supervision of BCEMS operations. ...

Commission opposes strengthened Sunshine Law (03/15/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to pass a resolution opposing the Sunshine in Government Improvement Act of 2006, claiming it would place "an unworkable and untenable burden" on local governments. "This bill creates tremendous potential for harassment of public officials and nuisance suits," said Commissioner Joe Tillett...

Parker wins appeal, will appear on ballot (03/15/06)
Bedford County Sheriff Clay Parker has won his appeal for a court order so he may be named on the May 2 Democratic Party's primary ballot. "The people get to decide," Parker said while reflecting on Tuesday's order from the Tennessee Court of Appeals, "and that's the American way."...

Will Appeals Court put Parker on ballot? (03/14/06)
NASHVILLE -- Case law collided with the organization of state courts Monday morning at the Tennessee Court of Appeals where Bedford County Sheriff Clay Parker sought to persuade a three-judge panel that he shouldn't be kept from the May 2 primary ballot because he missed a state deadline...

Rapid ruling expected in sheriff's case (03/14/06)
NASHVILLE -- Four state officials said Monday that Bedford County Sheriff Clay Parker will get a ruling "soon" in his appeal for an order to stop state and county officials from keeping his name from the May 2 Democratic primary ballot. Three of those officials at the Tennessee Court of Appeals yesterday said that probably means a decision no later than the end of business hours today. ...

Judge's questions give Parker hope (03/13/06)
Questions from state appeals court judges seemed to give Bedford County Sheriff Clay Parker hope this morning as his attorney replied to keep state and county officials from preventing his name from being listed on the May 2 Democratic Primary ballot...

Hearing could decide candidate's fate (03/11/06)
Bedford County's Election Commission and the county's election administrator have told the Tennessee Court of Appeals they have until noon Saturday to mail ballots to voters overseas, implying that they need a quick decision in Sheriff Clay Parker's case because the printer needs time to finish the ballots...

Anti-Sunshine Law proposal is 'hogwash' (03/04/06)
"Hogwash." That's the word county commissioner Roger Brothers used to describe the proposed Sunshine in Government Improvement Act of 2006, which is before the Tennessee Legislature this session. The proposed law looks to beef up provisions of Tennessee's existing Open Meetings Act [more popularly known as the "Sunshine Law"]. ...

Tucker drops out of commission race (03/03/06)
County commission member Wayne Tucker, a candidate for county mayor, has withdrawn from the race for re-election to his Fifth District county commission seat following a new legal opinion that said he could not run for both the mayor's office and the county commission seat at the same time...

Committee considers portables, fire trucks, schools (03/01/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee voted Tuesday night to spend $720,000 on new portable classrooms for the county school system and asked for financing options for nearly $3 million in new fire trucks -- and discussed the much-larger expenses looming for a school building program...

Committee opposes strengthening Sunshine Law (03/01/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee voted Tuesday night to place on the full commission's agenda a resolution opposing the Sunshine in Government Improvement Act of 2006. "I think that's the biggest bunch of hogwash that ever was," said Commissioner Roger Brothers of the act. He claimed it would prevent two commissioners from attending church together lest they be accused of discussing public business...

Candidates qualify for May, August elections (02/28/06)
Sheriff candidate Carl Bailey and Seventh District County Commission candidate Mike Bone withdrew their petitions by the noon deadline on Thursday; incumbent County Mayor Jimmy Woodson withdrew his petition for re-election, as announced earlier this week, but will still run for a Fourth District commission seat...

Official: E-911 tariff proposal unfeasible (02/25/06)
The executive director of the Tennessee Emergency Communications Division, a part of Tennessee Department of Commerce, says Bedford County can't use a proposed rate increase in its E-911 tariff to reduce the amount of communications center operations funded by Bedford County government...

BREAKING NEWS: Parker, Stacy kept off ballot (02/24/06)
Judge J.S. "Steve" Daniel, sitting in Bedford County Chancery Court, ruled Friday that incumbent Sheriff Clay Parker and independent candidate Rod Stacy cannot be included on their respective election ballots because they missed a deadline for filing papers with the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Commission...

Woodson will not seek third term (02/23/06)
Bedford County Mayor Jimmy Woodson announced Wednesday that he does not intend to seek a third term and planned to withdraw his name from the ballot by the noon deadline today. Instead, Woodson will run for a county commission seat from the Fourth District, which he represented from 1984 to 1990...

Judges recused from sheriff election case (02/23/06)
Chancellor J.B. Cox, and Circuit Judges Robert Crigler and Lee Russell won't hear Sheriff Clay Parker's request for a permanent order regarding his ineligibility for the May 2 primary since he missed a Feb. 2 deadline to have information about himself filed with a state office...

Upgrades sought for dog pound (02/23/06)
A new roof and new telephones are needed at the Bedford County Animal Control offices on Lane Parkway, according to County Mayor Jimmy Woodson. County Architect John Davis is to draft specifications to be included in a bid call for the replacement of the roof over the 40-year-old building, Woodson said after the monthly meeting of the County Commission's Law Enforcement Committee...

Metro government process outlined (02/22/06)
The city-county dispute over taxes has led some officials to wonder out loud about the process for adopting "metropolitan" government, which would combine city and county governments. Tennessee Code Annotated 7-2-101 and following sections lay out the process for proposing and adopting a metro charter. ...

City, county still at odds (02/22/06)
At their second meeting to discuss tax issues, Shelbyville city officials and Bedford County officials found a little common ground but remained separated on the issue of whether the sales tax distribution between city and county should be changed. City officials also said the county doomed its last wheel tax proposal to failure by not tying it to schools...

Presidents Day closings announced (02/17/06)
A variety of offices and agencies will close Monday for the federal Presidents' Day holiday. Here are some schedules of broad interest: Bedford County Courthouse and courthouse annex offices will close Monday and (where applicable) Saturday....

Increase proposed in 9-1-1 tariff (02/16/06)
Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) board is proposing an increase in the 9-1-1 tariff charged on land-line telephone bills, and hopes to use the proceeds to take some of the funding burden for its services off the county. The rate increase request was discussed during the board's regular monthly meeting Wednesday night...

Parker misses deadline but gets temporary injunction (02/15/06)
Bedford County Sheriff Clay Parker missed a deadline set by the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission which certifies candidates for his office, but Parker says the POST Commission moved the deadline earlier and that's subject to court action he's started...

Commission says there's not enough money for new schools (02/15/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners heard the school board's proposal for $21 million in new construction Tuesday night but said it would take an unlikely increase of 40 or 50 cents (per $100 assessed value) on the county property tax rate to fund it...

Solid waste grant accepted -- at lower amount (02/14/06)
The Bedford County Solid Waste Authority approved accepting a state recycling grant and the county's solid waste coordinator explained why the figure is much lower than reported last month. Coordinator Linda Gay Ervin told the authority about the miscommunication surrounding the nature of the rebate and that an amount of $600,000, not $500,000, was actually to be split between the 11 counties, leaving Bedford County with $19,824...

City hires law firm for dispute with county (02/10/06)
Shelbyville's city council voted Thursday to employ the law firm Boult, Cummings, Conners and Berry to work with City Manager Ed Craig to give advice on legal issues regarding a 31-year-old sales tax agreement and double taxation issues with Bedford County...

Adventists propose $20 million camp here (02/08/06)
The South Central Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church is developing a master plan for a $20 million camp and conference center in Bedford County, to be located on Gant Hollow Road just off state Route 130 in the southern end of the county...

Lot size increase discussed (02/08/06)
Bedford County Planning Commission discussed ways to control the county's rapid growth during a meeting Tuesday night but stopped short of recommending a proposal to increase the minimum lot size in the A-1 (agriculture) zone, a solution which real estate agents said would cause a hardship to young families buying their first homes...

Commissioner resigns due to moving from district (02/01/06)
A Bedford County commissioner has resigned his seat and at the last meeting possible, commissioners will decide whether they will elect his successor in time for that person to run as an incumbent. While officials in various offices have known for about a year that Commissioner Kevin A. Caldwell had moved from the 6th District which he represented -- and where he says he was house hunting -- Caldwell notified County Mayor Jimmy Woodson on Jan. 13 that he must resign from the commission...

Nashville firms propose to represent city (02/01/06)
Shelbyville's city council heard the results of a search for possible legal representation over taxation issues between the city and the county. City Manager Ed Craig said he has spoken to two different Nashville law firms about the two matters; one pertaining to a 31-year-old sales tax agreement between the city and county that was approved in violation of Tennessee's Open Meetings Act while the other deals with "double taxation," a matter that was the subject of litigation between the city and county in the 1990s.. ...

Election rule clarified for commissioners (01/26/06)
Even though a first-ever party primary for county commission seats has changed the deadline for county commission races, county commissioners who plan to run for county mayor will still be able to run for re-election to their commission seats as a fall-back position...

Oversight helps prevent traffic school fraud (01/26/06)
Two Bedford County officials' comments about an East Tennessee judge's indictment on charges that he received kickbacks from a driving school have indicated that the system is different here and under closer state scrutiny. Roane County General Sessions Court Judge Thomas A. Austin, 57, was arraigned Monday on federal charges alleging he received more than $13,000 in kickbacks from a privately operated school for drivers referred to the school by Judge Austin...

City, county hold summit (01/25/06)
Shelbyville and Bedford County officials met Tuesday night to try to clear the air over disagreements regarding taxation. Both governments claim to have severe fiscal needs, and Shelbyville officials have hinted in recent weeks at possible court action to nullify a 30-year-old agreement for dividing up sales tax revenue...

EMA seeks parking for DL testing station (01/25/06)
Bedford County Emergency Management Agency expects that the new driver's license testing station opening next month will draw a crowd to the EMA headquarters on Eagle Boulevard, so EMA wants to buy a small lot next door in order to expand its parking capacity...

Waste grant not as large as first reported (01/20/06)
The recycling rebate awarded to Bedford County for being ranked one of the top 11 generators of solid waste in the state is quite a bit lower than the $500,000 that was reported to the Solid Waste Authority last Thursday -- more than $480,000 less, in fact...

Four-tower system could improve coverage (01/19/06)
Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) board of directors, meeting Wednesday night, heard a report on a system which would improve radio coverage for emergency departments by using four different smaller towers instead of relying on the current tower site on Horse Mountain...

Bedford gets $440K in TVA funds (01/17/06)
Bedford County and its local governments recieved $440,410 in Tennessee Valley Authority tax equivalent payments in 2005, according to a TVA news release. Statewide, more than $218.2 million was paid by TVA. "TVA's tax equivalent payments benefit local communities that use the funds for schools, roads and other important programs and services," said TVA board chair Bill Baxter. ...

City seeks legal counsel in tax dispute (01/13/06)
Two resolutions dealing with taxation issues between Shelbyville and Bedford County that could result in legal action being undertaken were approved Thursday by the city council. City and county officials are to meet Thursday to discuss the matter that threatens to harm relations between the two government bodies...

County gets $500,000 matching grant for waste (01/13/06)
Bedford County has been awarded a $500,000 recycling rebate and has been ranked one of the top 11 generators of solid waste in the state, the Solid Waste Authority was told Thursday. The rebate is a dollar-for-dollar matching grant that can be used for establishing new programs and collection sites, preparing recyclable materials for transport, marketing, and developing educational programs to promote and advertise recycling...

Commission reappoints committees (01/13/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners reappointed its four standing committees Tuesday night, without making any changes in their membership: Rules and legislative: Eugene Ray, Frank Butler, Ed Castleman, Sewell Griffy, P.T. "Biff" Farrar...

County to begin codes enforcement Feb. 13 (01/12/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to hire a codes enforcer and begin enforcing county building codes Feb. 13. Commissioners also approved a re-zoning on U.S. 41-A just east of Shelbyville for a trucking warehouse and a proposed soybean oil extraction plant...

County committee to deal with city (01/11/06)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners didn't discuss the nuts and bolts of a potential debate with the city over tax revenue during their Tuesday night meeting, but they did ask County Mayor Jimmy Woodson to appoint a committee to deal with the city...

Candidates prepare for May primary (01/05/06)
Candidates are lining up for a primary in May that will lead to Bedford County's general election in August which will include a race for the sheriff's office, generally perceived as an attraction for greater voter participation. And as the Bedford County Election Commission is scheduled to meet Friday at 5 p.m. to formally call the May 2 Democratic primary for county offices, Bedford County Republican Party Chairwoman Barbara Blanton says, "We do plan to have a primary."...

Animal control sells abandoned donkey (01/05/06)
Bedford County has sold the wayward donkey its animal control office took into custody at Unionville and held for three weeks in a corral just south of Lane Parkway. "I calculated our expenses and I think we made about $15 on the sale," said Bedford County Animal Control Director Michael Gregory who captured the donkey with help from a veterinarian, the U-T extension agent and others...

City will ask to void sales tax agreement (01/04/06)
A resolution will be before Shelbyville's city council next Thursday (Jan. 12) that will ask to take appropriate legal action to declare a 31-year-old sales tax agreement between the city and county void. The resolution will address the issue of "double taxation" as well, a matter that was the subject of litigation between the city and county in the 1990s. The resolution will also offer an invitation to county officials to meet with the city to discuss the two issues...

Advocate says old closed meeting case is problematic (12/31/05)
The executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government (TCOG) says that that he's never heard of a Sunshine Law violation lasting as long as the one regarding a 31-year-old sales tax agreement between Shelbyville and Bedford County. Director Frank Gibson, a veteran Nashville journalist and part-time editor for The Tennessean, said there are complicated legal questions involved with the case...

(12/29/05)
A variety of local agencies and offices will close this weekend for the New Year's holiday. Here are some schedules of broad interest: Bedford County Courthouse and courthouse annex offices will close Saturday (where applicable) and Monday....

Christmas tree at jail debated (12/21/05)
As leaders of Our Town, the association of uptown merchants in Shelbyville, have reset their priorities on Christmas trees, the barrister at the northeast quadrant of the Public Square contends county jail prisoners have a constitutional right to a Christmas tree in confinement...

Local taxation powers debated (12/20/05)
An organization of government officials studying tax proposals, including the proposed adequate facilities tax for Bedford County, wants changes in state law to make it easier for Tennessee cities and counties to impose or raise taxes, but some state lawmakers and lobbying groups are opposed...

El Centro Latino asks for county building (12/20/05)
El Centro Latino has asked Bedford County for the use of one of the two houses on Union Street which the county had been considering selling. Last month, Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property committee had recommended selling two houses and keeping two vacant lots which the county owns on Union Street, adjacent to Bedford County Nursing Home. ...

No room at the inn, but donkey taken into county custody (12/17/05)
A wayward donkey taken into custody near Unionville is being held in a corral behind Bedford County Animal Control on Lane Parkway, where the beast may be viewed by people who can claim it as theirs, or who want to acquire it. The donkey was running at large and a hazard to motorists on U.S. 41-A North. Its capture required a shot from a tranquilizer gun administered by a veterinarian after officials realized they couldn't just lasso the donkey...

The need is clear, but funding is elusive (12/17/05)
Former school superintendent Mike Bone told school board members Thursday night that county commissioners clearly understand the need for new school construction. "I think their dilemma is how to go about that," Bone told Bedford County Board of Education during its monthly meeting, held this month at Thomas Intermediate School...

Lawyer says Open Meetings suit can be filed (12/16/05)
A 31-year old Sunshine Law violation regarding a sales tax agreement between Shelbyville and Bedford County will be one of the topics of discussion when the city council meets on Jan. 3 and an expert in the law says any citizen may file suit over it...

Commission appoints Lewis to SWA board (12/16/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners confirmed Bill Lewis to a seat on the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority board of directors on Tuesday, after turning down County Mayor Jimmy Woodson's first two nominations. State law gives the county mayor the right to appoint members to the SWA board, subject to confirmation by the commission. In Bedford County's case, the SWA board has nine seats corresponding to the nine county commission districts...

Com center sets research fee (12/16/05)
Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) board of directors voted Wednesday night to set a fee of $75 per hour, with a $75 minimum, for looking up 911 calls for the public. There is no charge for the agencies dispatched by the county communications center to look up the information. The charge would apply to attorneys or others who need the information, for example as evidence in a court case...

Commission grants one rezoning, refuses another (12/15/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, went along with the recommendations of Bedford County Planning Commission on two zoning requests -- allowing one and denying the other, just as planners had recommended. Grady L. Cunningham had requested to rezone property on U.S. ...

Commission defends sales tax distribution (12/14/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners members defended the current distribution of sales tax revenues between city and county, saying Tuesday night that 70 percent of the county's students are from within Shelbyville and so it's only fair that city taxes pay for their education...

Free tire disposal ends in March (12/13/05)
Those wanting to get rid of those old tires without paying a recycling fee have until March to do so, according to the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority. According to figures released by Road Superintendent Stanley Smotherman, the total cost of disposing of the tires from July until November was $31,895.05 for 400.57 tons of tires. Members of the authority learned that it would probably cost extra for workers to go throughout the county to pick up tires left on the side of the road...

Registration fee fails, but city to consider urban-rural tax issues (12/09/05)
Shelbyville's controversial vehicle registration fee failed its final reading Thursday as questions were raised about the current split of the local option sales tax revenue and county property tax rates. The fee, which was to pay for an estimated $6 million of road improvements, died for a lack of a second after the council discussed actions taken over 30 years ago in regard to the current 64/36 split of local option sales tax revenue and the lawsuits between the county and city over double taxation.. ...

Translation service may have saved a life (12/01/05)
Officials of Bedford County 911 Communications Center say that a new translation service may have saved the life of a Spanish-speaking woman who called the center last week. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, the com center received a 9-1-1 call in Spanish. Dispatcher/trainer Ashley Thomas was working with trainee Rose Vild, who took the call...

Vernon questions city-county tax split (12/01/05)
Shelbyville City Council held a discussion Tuesday after Councilman Randy Vernon raised questions related about the city and its relationship with the county, in particular the current split of the local option sales tax revenue and county property tax rates...

County may refuse to collect city fee (11/30/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee has recommended that the county clerk have no role in collecting the City of Shelbyville's proposed vehicle registration fee. The commission approved a county-wide wheel tax in 2004, saying that county tax revenues weren't keeping up with the demands placed on county government by rapid growth. But the tax was put to a referendum and soundly defeated by the voters earlier this year...

Panel recommends selling houses, keeping nearby lots (11/29/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee has recommended selling the two houses the county owns on Union Street but keeping the two vacant lots next to them, since those lots also adjoin Bedford County Nursing Home. The homes most recently housed Bedford County Emergency Management Agency and the local Tennessee Highway Patrol office. ...

Civic leader Ferguson dies (11/19/05)
Former county commissioner and school board member Roy "Sonny" Ferguson Sr., who died Friday at 77, is being remembered as a champion of education and an ambassador for his home town of Wartrace. "He was a very dedicated commissioner, and a very hard worker, committed to education," said County Commission Chairman Eugene Ray on Saturday. "We have lost a dedicated person."...

Cooperation a must in planning, says speaker (11/18/05)
Cooperation between the county and cities is a vital component to effective planning, according to one of the authors of Public Act 1101, which requires growth plans in Tennessee. Sam Edwards, executive director of the Greater Nashville Regional Council, the counterpart to the South Central Tennessee Development District, spoke Thursday to various county commissioners and planning commission members, as well as mayors and members of their planning boards, during an educational meeting...

Com board questions salary adjustment (11/17/05)
Bedford County 911 Communications Center Board of Directors complained Wednesday night about adjustments made to the com center's budget last summer by the county commission's budget and finance committee. The committee directed its chairman, Charles McDonald, to write a letter asking for its director's salary to be restored to the amount originally requested in the com center's budget...

Rezonings placed on commission agenda (11/17/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday night, placed two proposed rezonings on the full commission's December agenda -- one of them with a favorable recommendation and one with an unfavorable recommendation...

Action on tire fees deferred (11/12/05)
Action was deferred on reinstating a fee for tire collection by the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority after the recycling charge was suspended six months ago. Stanley Smotherman said they have been taking in twice the number of tires since the fee was dropped in April. The county had been allowing individuals to recycle 12 tires per year and charging $1 each afterwards. Some of the larger businesses in the county that dispose of tires have already paid a recycling fee to the state...

Commission begins process for hiring enforcer (11/09/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to begin advertising for a county codes enforcer, with an eye towards beginning enforcement of the International Building Codes on Jan. 1 The proposal approved Tuesday night includes only the normal fees to cover the cost of the codes office, not the disputed county-wide inspection fee which commissioners tried to pass earlier in the year but the legality of which has been questioned...

(11/09/05)
A number of agencies will close Friday in observance of the Veterans' Day holiday. Here are some schedules of broad interest: ***Closed Friday Bedford County Courthouse and Courthouse Annex offices will close Friday and (where applicable) Saturday....

City, county leaders to discuss growth (11/03/05)
There are cries about annexation in Bell Buckle. New zoning changes have been made for rural areas. A call for a moratorium on large subdivisions and changes in the urban growth boundary are being discussed in Shelbyville. No doubt about it, one of the leading issues facing Bedford County is growth and development, which is why county and municipal leaders are being called together to talk about it on Nov. 17...

Commission considers codes next week (11/01/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners will consider next week whether to hire a building codes enforcer and begin enforcing the International Building Code and the International Residential Code. The commission actually adopted the codes last January, but deferred action on enforcing them for a variety of reasons, ranging from discussions of whether the codes inspector would also have a role in the county's construction projects to whether the county could legally place a special revenue-generating fee on all codes inspections, including those done by the City of Shelbyville.. ...

Nursing home reimbursements resume (10/26/05)
Bedford County Nursing Home is having "a pretty good month," reported administrator Wayne Schumann to the county commission's budget and finance committee Tuesday night. Schumann said the facility has finally been able to submit its July and August Medicare claims for approval. ...

Committee studies county's space needs (10/26/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property committee will study a list of the county's real estate holdings before requesting a special session of the full commission to discuss how to meet the county's space needs. The replacement of Harris Middle School and the sale of Bedford County Medical Center will, when all is said and done, leave the county with several excess buildings. ...

Committee endorses Imagination Library (10/19/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday night, added its recommendation to the proposal for Bedford County to participate in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The program provides free books to preschool children, one book per month. ...

County's zoning rules strengthened (10/12/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners adopted changes to the county zoning resolution Tuesday night which will make it harder to develop high-density subdivisions in rural areas. County government has been challenged by keeping up with the area's rapid growth, which requires new schools, road improvements and other infrastructure. The school system recently proposed a 10-year building program which will cost $80 million, and commissioners say they aren't sure how to pay for it...

Nursing home given OK to seek loan bids (10/12/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, authorized Bedford County Nursing Home to seek proposals for financing $260,000 in furniture and equipment purchases -- but some commissioners are wondering out loud whether the county should sell the nursing home rather than put money into capital expenses...

EMS preparing for shortages (10/11/05)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services, already hit by high diesel prices, is making preparations for what would happen in the event of a crisis in the availability of fuel. "Fuel has been disrupted a few times in the past month or two," said BCEMS Director Chad Graham. The service normally buys its fuel from the fleet fuel program Pacific Pride...

It's only an idea (10/09/05)
Me and my big mouth. That's what came to mind when our city editor returned from a county meeting where the mayor passed along an idea. And that's all it was. It's just an idea. It's like an ad for an old horror movie. "It's only a movie. It's only a movie." You were to repeat that phrase when fear wells up inside because of flickering images on the screen...

Officials look for ways to fund building program (10/05/05)
School system officials spent two hours laying out the need and rationale for a 10-year school building program during a joint meeting Tuesday night between the school board and county commissioners. At the end of it all, commissioners said they fully understand the need for new classrooms; the problem is how to pay for them, especially since voters rejected a county wheel tax earlier this year...

Road board approves bids (10/04/05)
A final bid was approved by the Bedford County Road Board and other actions were taken during a brief meeting Monday. Clanton Paving Co. was awarded the bid for metal culverts, an action that was deferred last month. A road in Covered Bridge Estates near Bell Buckle, Matt Drive, has been extended and the board voted to accept it for maintenance...

10-codes won't go away after all (10/01/05)
First responders had been told to say good-bye to them, but now the nation's Homeland Security chief says that cops, firemen and others can keep their 10-Codes. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Wednesday that first responders do not have to discontinue using the 10-Code system of verbal communication in order to come into compliance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS)...

City wants to work with county on vehicle fee (09/30/05)
Shelbyville officials want to work with the county on compensation and logistical matters if the city council passes a vehicle registration fee to pay for the widening of North Main Street and other road projects. The city council passed an ordinance for the proposed fee on first reading Sept. 13. No fee amount has be set by the city as of yet but could do so by resolution...

(09/29/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners tried to pass a wheel tax last year but had it rejected this year by county voters. Tuesday night, the commission's budget and finance committee discussed the fact that the City of Shelbyville is now trying to pass a vehicle fee which would, in practice, be very similar to a wheel tax. The city's fee, since it isn't technically a wheel tax, is not subject to a voter referendum...

County to schools: keep old HMS until January (09/27/05)
Bedford County Schools had planned to turn the former Harris Middle School over to the county at the end of October, but the county commission's courthouse and property committee has asked the school system to hold on to the property until January while the county tries to get a better idea of its future plans...

10-year, $76 million school building program proposed (09/23/05)
Bedford County Board of Education voted Thursday night to send a 10-year, $76 million master school building plan to the county commission. The plan was presented to the school board by former school superintendent Mike Bone, who had been working for months on it along with current superintendent Ed Gray. The plan will first go to the commission's budget and finance committee, although at some point school board members would like to have a joint study session with the full commission...

Stricter zoning on way to commissioners (09/21/05)
Proposed changes to Bedford County's zoning resolution which will make it harder to develop high-density subdivisions in rural areas were sent to the full county commission Tuesday night by the commission's rules and legislative committee. Bedford County Planning Commission has proposed the changes and tweaked them at a special called meeting Monday night. ...

County approves animal control contracts (09/15/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, approved a contract with the county's smaller incorporated towns for providing animal control services. The contract had been the focus of debate for months; commissioners had wanted to offer the small towns a fair and affordable deal but had said they could not afford to take over the City of Shelbyville's animal control if the city were to decide that it wanted the same deal as the small towns. ...

Rezoning requests withdrawn (09/14/05)
A near-capacity crowd filled the second floor courtroom at Bedford County Courthouse Tuesday night to protest two proposed rezonings -- and, even after it was announced that the rezoning requests had been withdrawn, some in the crowd still wanted to address the commissioners...

Local leaders look at evacuee housing options (09/07/05)
Shelbyville and Bedford County leaders are trying to determine what can be done here for people evacuating Louisiana and Mississippi in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Strained budgets, the old Harris Middle School building and system capacities are concerns facing the group that Mayor Geneva Smith dubbed the Emergency Response Action Group...

Zoning limits gain planners' support (09/07/05)
Bedford County Planning Commission voted Tuesday night to recommend changes to the county zoning ordinance which would prohibit any R-1 (residential) zoning outside the urban growth boundaries of Shelbyville, Bell Buckle, Normandy or Wartrace. Subdivisions could still be built in the A-1 (agricultural) zone, but they would be subject to the larger minimum lot sizes which accompany that zone...

(09/02/05)
A variety of local agencies and organizations will close Monday for the Labor Day holiday. Here are some closings of broad interest: Bedford County Courthouse and courthouse annex offices will close Monday and, where applicable, Saturday....

State asks counties for fuel update (09/02/05)
Damage to the infrastructure that supplies gasoline to this part of the country caused by Hurricane Katrina has already resulted in high prices at the pump and shortages, but now the state is asking counties to give them an update on their fuel supplies...

County may keep Medical Arts Building (08/24/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property has recommended that the county hold on to the Medical Arts Building for the time being; it and the commission's budget and finance committee have also recommended that Vanderbilt Medical Group be allowed to combine two suites in the building...

Petitions signed against new development (08/22/05)
Residents near Halls Mill Road and at Rover are signing petitions against a Shelbyville-area developer's plan for new homes in Bedford County where he can build more homes without the requested rezoning, officials have said. "If you come in with a STEP system, you can go down to 22,000-square-foot lots," said Bedford County Zoning Compliance Officer Sam Riddle who on Friday described provisions of the A-1, agriculture zone for land use in Bedford County, and other parts of the state...

Smile! You're on county camera (08/20/05)
Bedford County Sheriff Clay Parker got a recommendation last week which, if approved as anticipated, will allow him to tell inmates at the county jail and workhouse, "Smile! You're on a county camera." Color video and sound recordings will be made by the surveillance cameras Parker wants to install at the county buildings to reduce, if not eliminate, the chance of lawsuits because of frivolous complaints filed by prisoners...

Hearing asked over rezoning requests (08/18/05)
Five Bedford County commissioners recommend that a public hearing be held on rezoning two tracts of land so more homes may be built per acre than what's allowed now since the properties are classified for farming. And the commissioner who called for the Rules Committee vote on Tuesday says the land ought to be rezoned as requested by a Shelbyville area developer because local developers "work with us and we might as well work with them."...

County property tax to rise (08/10/05)
Bedford County commissioners on Tuesday increased the property tax rate by 28 cents, thereby increasing county revenue by about $1.5 million. About half of the increase, $772,500, is to provide a reserve in the county general fund, the portion of the budget for which the tax rate hike was approved, and that started a debate by Commissioner Wayne Tucker...

Old Harris favored for office site (08/08/05)
Readers of the Times-Gazette web site, in a non-scientific poll, overwhelmingly favor Harris Middle School over Bedford County Medical Center or the Medical Arts Building for adaptive use as a county office building. Another option -- selling all three and building a new facility -- was ranked second in the poll...

Compactor to be built near Unionville (08/05/05)
Bedford County's Solid Waste Authority will take bids for a compactor for the Unionville area next month. Fiinal cost could run in the neighborhood of $35-40,000 when the project was completely finished, Road Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said...

BCUD considers bulk gas buys (08/04/05)
Bedford County Utility District officials may be financing the purchase of natural gas in bulk quantities as they are examining a way to control costs in a volatile market. That's according to BCUD General Manager Walter Bobo who's been consulting with the Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corp., a group of utilities headquartered in Clarksville...

Schools hope for no tax increase -- this year (08/01/05)
Bedford County School System is attempting to go without a property tax increase this year, although it remains to be seen whether the state will approve the proposed 2005-2006 budget under its "maintenance of effort" (MOE) guidelines. However, school superintendent Ed Gray told Bedford County Board of Education on Thursday night that the school system has been able to hold the line on budgets in recent years only by drawing down on its fund balances, and that well has just about run dry, meaning some sort of new revenue will probably be needed next year.. ...

Finance panel stands by property recommendation (07/27/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee, meeting Tuesday night, stood by its decision to recommend to the full commission the sale of four lots and the Medical Arts Building, saying it was trying to do what was necessary to avert a county budget crisis...

Courthouse committee puts brakes on property sale (07/26/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee, meeting Monday night, said "Not so fast" to the budget and finance committee's proposal to sell the Medical Arts Building and four parcels of land adjoining Bedford County Medical Center...

Two animal control policies changed (07/23/05)
Bedford County commissioners' law enforcement committee unanimously voted Thursday to change two policies for operations at the animal control shelter. One prohibits employees from driving their county vehicles home from work. Discussion indicated employees aren't on call after working hours. However, if they're to respond after hours, they'll now go to the shelter and get a county truck...

28-cent tax hike proposed (07/22/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee, meeting Thursday night, recommended an increase of 28 cents per $100 assessed value on the county property tax rate. A taxpayer with a home appraised at $80,000, leading to an assessed value of $20,000, would pay $56 more each year in property taxes under the increase...

Five-member board suggested for nursing home (07/20/05)
County attorney John T. Bobo has recommended that Bedford County Nursing Home have a five-member board which would meet quarterly instead of monthly, according to discussion at Tuesday's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee...

Bridge bids to be taken (07/19/05)
Bids will be taken in two weeks to replace a couple of bridges in Bedford County, paving work is to begin and a member of the county road board is stepping down. The bridges are on Amos Gammill Road in Flat Creek and Bedford Lake Road near Normandy. Both concrete bridges are crumbling, according to highway supervisor Stanley Smotherman...

County moves closer to tax increase (07/15/05)
A county property tax increase is looking more and more likely after Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee's meeting Thursday night. The county's overall property tax rate is $2.49 per $100 assessed value. It has been raised only once since the 1980s -- a 26-cent increase in 2003. Even so, some county residents complain that their county taxes go up each year, perhaps because of changes in their property appraisal...

Nelson joins ag center board (07/14/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to appoint Greg Nelson to fill the unexpired term of Andy Anderson on the Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center board. Anderson had resigned his seat. The commission also voted to reappoint Donald Stephens for a second three-year term on the Argie Cooper Public Library board, and Lynn Hulan for a second three-year term as Bedford County's representative on the Highland Rim Regional Library board...

Commission fails to pass zoning change (07/13/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners narrowly failed Tuesday night to approve a re-zoning of property on Halls Mill Road. A majority of the 16 commissioners present voted for the re-zoning; the vote was 9 in favor, 7 opposed. But for many years, the commission's own rules have required a majority of the full 18-member commission to pass any motion. That means 10 votes would have been required for passage...

EMS resists cutting personnel (07/12/05)
Like other county agencies, Bedford County Emergency Medical Services was directed last week by the county commission's budget and finance committee to re-submit its budget based on a 5 percent cut from 2004-2005 spending levels. BCEMS board members discussed the consequences of such cuts at their regular monthly meeting on Monday night...

Grant helps local tire disposal (07/11/05)
Gov. Phil Bredesen and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke announced this week that 89 waste tire grants will provide $4.4 million dollars to Tennessee counties in the 2005-2006 fiscal year. Bedford County will receive $31,519 of those funds...

Courthouse step replacement continues (07/07/05)
With a $37,658 contract, a Shelbyville construction contractor is replacing the south and west steps from ground level to the main floor of the Bedford County Courthouse. Work should be completed by Friday night, said Reggie Smith, the contractor who removed sandstone steps from their concrete bases which were exposed during the work...

Committee asks for 5 percent cuts (07/06/05)
Faced with one of the tightest budgets in recent memory, Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee has directed county departments within the general fund budget to re-submit their budget requests based on a 5 percent cut from their 2004-2005 spending levels...

(06/29/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved last-minute budget amendments Tuesday night and approved a "continuing resolution" allowing the county to continue to operate at 2004-2005 spending levels until a 2005-2006 budget has been approved. The new fiscal year begins Friday, but the county almost never has a budget in place by that time. ...

Rehab center hopes for July 11 opening (06/28/05)
The new Tennessee Rehabilitation Center facility should be ready for occupancy by Thursday; officials hope to move into the facility next week and open there on July 11. Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee failed to find a quorum Monday night, but the two members in attendance -- Kevin Caldwell and Billy King -- heard reports on the center's completion from Steven Curtis of Davis Stokes Collaborative, the county's architectural firm, and from Beth Strode of TRC.. ...

Planning begins for nursing home board (06/22/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee has asked County Attorney John T. Bobo to review the bylaws of Bedford County Medical Center and recommend what sort of bylaws -- and what size board -- will be needed to manage just Bedford County Nursing Home...

County will fund TRC cost overrun (06/17/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to fund the $15,000 cost overrun at the new Tennessee Rehabilitation Center and to accept an extended warranty on its concrete slab rather than insist on replacing it. The county is building a new facility for TRC on Railroad Avenue. The State of Tennessee will lease the facility from the county; the lease payments are designed to repay the county for the original agreed-upon budget of the project in 10 years...

County will begin codes, inspection fee (06/16/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to begin enforcement of International Building Codes in rural areas July 1 -- and to impose a building inspection fee on all houses, even those within incorporated towns and cities. The fee will be 25 cents per square foot for each of four inspections, a total of $1 per square foot...

Finance panel takes hard-line approach (06/02/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee took a hard-line approach with several agencies during budget hearings Tuesday night, saying the county is in serious financial trouble and must watch its spending. In other discussion, the finance committee recommended that the county start enforcing the International Building Code on July 1. ...

Proper procedures wouldn't have stopped overage (05/29/05)
Architect John Davis told Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee Tuesday night that the contractor for the new Tennessee Rehabilitation Center facility didn't follow proper procedures before replacing bad soil at the site with shot rock...

Contractor will guarantee slab (05/24/05)
The contractor for the new Tennessee Rehabilitation Center has agreed to extend the warranty on the center's concrete slab for two years (to a total of three), a solution which satisfies the county's architectural firm, Davis Stokes Collaborative. The question now is whether the county commission's budget and finance committee will agree to pay for changes to the project...

Town mayors may become dog 'callers' (05/20/05)
The mayors of small towns could become the official to call when their city halls are closed and residents want Bedford County Animal Control officers rounding up stray dogs, according to discussion among members of county commissioners' Law Enforcement Committee on Thursday night...

School tax projected to stay the same (05/20/05)
The county's long-term needs are still ominous, and members of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee say it's crucial that next month's wheel tax referendum passes, but the finance committee got two pieces of good short-term news Thursday night about the 2005-2006 budget...

(05/13/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners deferred action Tuesday night on filling the Bedford County Board of Education seat vacated by State Sen. Jim Tracy. Tracy represented the ninth commission district on the school board but resigned last month, saying his duties in the State Senate made it difficult for him to fulfill his school board responsibilities...

Commissioner hits state demands hard (05/11/05)
Bedford County Commission member Roger Brothers expressed frustration during Tuesday night's meeting over the county's relationship with the State of Tennessee, saying the state keeps piling new costs onto the county but severely limits the county's ability to raise money to meet those costs...

Medicare glitch solved; money now coming in (05/10/05)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services director Chad Graham told his board of directors Monday night that problems which had been delaying Medicare reimbursement have been solved -- the question now is whether BCEMS can catch up with its projected revenue by the end of the 2004-2005 fiscal year on June 30...

Commission hears budget requests (05/09/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee heard 2005-2006 county agency budget requests during a hearing on Tuesday. No action was taken; the committee is taking all requests under advisement until it has a complete financial picture for the new fiscal year. The fiscal year begins July 1, although the county seldom if ever has a budget in place by that time...

Free tire recycling -- for six months (05/08/05)
Individuals or businesses may turn in tires to be recycled at no charge for the next six months, the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority decided Thursday. The county had been allowing individuals to recycle 12 tires per year and charging $1 each afterwards. Some of the larger businesses in the county that dispose of tires have already paid a recycling fee to the state...

Two bridges to be replaced (05/06/05)
Two bridges in the county are to be replaced, Bedford County's Road Board learned Monday. One of the bridges is on Amos Gamble Road, and another is on Bedford Lake Road, which were picked out of a list of six bridges submitted to the state, Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said. Smotherman had stated in a previous meeting that the state prefers that the county spend its bridge money on those that are over 20 feet in length...

Construction tax is dead for this year (05/05/05)
Bedford County's proposed tax on new residential construction is "all but dead" for this legislative session, according to State Rep. Curt Cobb. Meanwhile, early voting will begin next week for the proposed county wheel tax. County officials have said new revenue is required to keep up with demands on the county which have resulted from rapid growth. ...

County begins budget review (04/28/05)
Budgets for Bedford County's sheriff, jail, workhouse, juvenile detention, court, ambulance and fire service are to be reviewed on Tuesday by county budget committeemen who plan to consider charities and other non-profits' requests at the end of their budget hearings this spring...

Committee considers cracked concrete (04/26/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property committee met with representatives of Tri-Star Construction Monday night to discuss the concrete slab at the new Tennessee Rehabilitation Center, which Tri-Star is building on Railroad Avenue...

Finance director applications in (04/26/05)
County commissioners on the Finance Committee tonight may recommend a big change in their government by calling for creation of a finance director's job at the Courthouse. "State auditors have been after us for years to have one," County Mayor Jimmy Woodson said Monday night of the idea of having a finance director which would be attached to his office...

Law enforcement agencies hit by gas prices (04/24/05)
Law enforcement agencies, like other branches of local government, are now preparing their annual budget request and like other Americans, they're facing the increased cost of gasoline. However, Bedford County Sheriff Clay Parker and Shelbyville Police Chief Austin Swing agree -- adding motorcycle patrol officers isn't the solution to higher fuel costs, although adding a motorcycle patrol has been suggested...

Animal control director defends agency's actions (04/22/05)
Bedford County Animal Control officer Michael Gregory defended his program Thursday during a meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' law enforcement committee. The law enforcement committee, meanwhile, denied Gregory and his deputy hefty salary increases for the upcoming fiscal year, saying they would never make it through full commission approval...

Com Center budget goes to commission (04/14/05)
Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) board voted Wednesday evening to approve a $298,512 budget request -- including $239,393 in county funding -- for Bedford County Communications Center for the 2005/2006 fiscal year; that request will now go to the county commission...

Commission backs plea for driver's license station (04/14/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to endorse an effort by State Sen. Jim Tracy and State Rep. Curt Cobb to request a driver's license testing station in Shelbyville. Tracy (R-Shelbyville) and Cobb (D-Shelbyville) have been pursuing the project and had asked for the commission's formal endorsement. The issue was not on the commission's published agenda, but commissioners suspended the rules to consider a resolution on Tuesday night...

Recycling fee could be dumped (04/12/05)
Several issues and reports were heard by the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority Thursday, including a discussion about doing away with a recycling fee. The authority will be looking into the possibility of dropping a fee of $1 per tire due to dumping that has been taking place around the county. According to Stanley Smotherman, since the authority began charging the recycling fee, a large amount of tires have been found dumped on rural roads...

Budget, growth plan approved by EMS board (04/12/05)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services board of directors approved a 2005/2006 budget request on Monday night -- and, separately, approved a growth plan which attempts to plot the future development of EMS stations around the county. Both documents will be sent on to Bedford County Board of Commissioners -- the budget for immediate consideration, and the growth plan for informational purposes and long-range planning...

Local Hazmat (04/12/05)
About 30 members of local fire and emergency response agencies have begun training related to the planned joint hazardous materials incident response team, according to local Emergency Management Agency director Scott Johnson. Participating agencies are Volunteer Fire Services Inc., Shelbyville Fire Department, Bedford County Emergency Medical Services and EMA (formerly known as Civil Defense)...

Water line will delay bridge project (04/05/05)
Work on a bridge on Pickle Road will be delayed due to the discovery of a buried water line, Bedford County Road Board was told Monday. Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said the weather had not been favorable for work on the bridge and that there was a water line that workers felt was located where it would be in the way of the new bridge...

'10-4' is deep-sixed (03/29/05)
The days of hearing "10-4" on the police scanner or the phrase "10-46" to describe an automobile accident with injuries will become a thing of the past next year when Bedford County dispatchers adopt new "plain English" standards being implemented by the federal government...

Problems continue with new TRC (03/29/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property committee wants to see problems with the concrete slab at the new Tennessee Rehabilitation Center fixed, at the contractor's expense -- even if it means jackhammering out the slab and pouring a new one...

County can't word wheel tax referendum (03/23/05)
Bedford County won't be able to put explanatory language in the June 3 wheel tax referendum implying that non-passage of the referendum would require an increase of 24 cents per $100 assessed value in the county property tax rate. The referendum was discussed at Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee...

EMS opposes transport bill (03/15/05)
Bedford County Emergency Medical Services board of directors went on record Monday night as opposing a new state bill which would force ambulance services to transport mentally ill persons to facilities like Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute in Chattanooga...

Reappraisal is underway (03/13/05)
Springtime in Bedford County this year brings more than warmer weather and growing season -- it's reappraisal time again. A representative of the state comptroller's office in Tullahoma has already visited Bedford County Property Assessor Ronda Helton. The two recently inspected several new subdivisions...

Impact tax proposal amended (03/09/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners, meeting Tuesday night, amended the proposed privilege tax on new construction so that it applies only to residential construction, not commercial construction. The tax, $1 per square foot, must be approved by the Tennessee General Assembly before it can become effective. ...

Bridge projects continue (03/08/05)
There were only a couple of items on the agenda of Bedford County's Road Board on Monday -- the closing of a road and word about a benefit for one of the board members. Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said that work has been completed on a bridge on Comstock Road and is now open to traffic. Work is in progress on another bridge on Possum Trot Road...

Internet phones may not be 911-ready (03/08/05)
For some people, moving their telephone service to the Internet sounds like a great money-saving idea -- and in certain situations, it can be. But users of new Internet telephone services should do a little research and be aware of how their discount telephone service handles calls to the emergency telephone number 9-1-1, say local officials...

Tire disposal contract renewed (03/04/05)
Bedford County Solid Waste Authority voted to request $25,000 that was in the county's budget for the authority and heard reports from members. The authority heard a report from Stanley Smotherman and approved the renewal of a contract with GreenMan Technologies for the disposal of tires. The authority will pay GreenMan $65 per ton plus a $202 delivery charge. Smotherman said the tires are disposed of every two weeks or so...

Potential hospital owners meet (03/03/05)
At least two potential buyers for the Bedford County Medical Center tipped their hands Wednesday by attending what could be called a pre-bid conference at an attorney's office. "I think they're keeping their cards close," Dr. Bill Russell, chief of staff at the county-owned hospital, said after nearly two hours of discussion at the Nashville City Center offices of Charles Bone...

Panel recommends no commercial impact tax (03/02/05)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee, meeting Tuesday evening, recommended that the county amend its request for $1 per square foot privilege tax on new construction so that it applies only to residential, not commercial, construction...

Interest builds for hospital sale (02/24/05)
A group of doctors and other medical professionals at Bedford County Medical Center is being formed to influence the outcome of the hospital's sale, if not participate in the purchase of the county-owned facility, the chief of staff said last night...

Soft soil raises cost of TRC (02/23/05)
The new Tennessee Rehabilitation Center will cost $47,000 more than expected, due primarily to poor, marshy soil at its site on Railroad Avenue -- but money will likely be shifted out of other line items so that county taxpayers aren't saddled with the extra expense...

Social Security numbers requested from some voters (02/20/05)
Nearly 1,000 Bedford County voters are receiving letters from the Election Commission asking for their Social Security numbers because of a glitch in an elections office computer program, the elections administrator said Thursday. "When a voter's Social Security number is not given on our forms, then the voter registration computer program inserts a default number and they're all nines," Anna Clanton, administrator of elections, said to explain why more than 900 letters are being mailed out...