Obion County Commission hears presentation on Obion County Schools' Mechatronics program, accepts funds from industry for inmate workforce oversight

George Leake, Director of the Career Technology Education center program, as well as the High School Curriculum Supervisor for Obion County Schools, presented an overview of Obion County Central High School's Mechatronics classes, to members of the Obion County Commission Oct. 19.

The Commission gathered for the monthly session in the library of Obion County Central, with a tour of the Mechatronics classroom following the meeting's adjournment.

Leake first thanked the Commission for their investment made for classroom equipment to begin the Mechatronix program at OCCHS.

"What we are doing with that money right now, we are investing in our workforce," Leake said.

He went on to explain at one time, if new industry were to locate within the area, the workforce would be trained, but now, industries prefer to have a workforce already trained and skilled.

"That is what you need to attract an industry," Leake said.

With electronically controlled systems now taught to 20 freshmen, 20 sophomores, 20 juniors and 20 seniors, by a certified math teacher, who teaches math classes during the school day when not in the mechatronics lab, students may graduate with certifications in areas such as welding, assempby, product movement, precision Ag, LED, and the ability to already be trained in the mechanisms which allow for traffic light operations, poultry houses, pharmaceutical dispensory, and self checkouts.

Leak displayed a photo of the early days within the Ford Motor Company, as employees lined each side of an assembly line to construct motor vehicles.

"Today," Leake said, as he changed the image of a motor vehicle assembly line to display a modern day setting, "there are maybe two actual people in this huge room, with all this equipment. They are at computers and are operating and controlling the entire line this way."

There are three levels of classes in the program, with entrance criteria to include science and mathematic abilities and skills.

When asked what it would take to have the ability to support a larger class size, Obion County School System's Director of Schools Tim Watkins explained it would require funding for another fulltime teacher, salary and benefits, with could equate to $75,000 annually.

Budget Chair Sam Sinclair and County Mayor Benny McGuire displayed a recently updated map depicting changes in boundaries of county legislative districts, for Obion County's representation on the County Commission.

The redistricting plan was adopted by the Commission, providing for three Commissioners in each of the seven districts for a total of 21 members. The task is required at least every 10 years.

Changes in the district boundaries were determined for District 6, District 5, District 3 and 4.

Through grant funding, and following the Obion County School System's survey of Principals regarding the use of the grant, Director of Schools Tim Watkins and Assistant Director of Schools Dr. Greg Barclay recommended and the Commission approved the hiring of an additional School Resource Officer, who would make it possible for the current SRO's to make home visits and attend court proceedings, while making sure an SRO remains on site at any and all of the schools within the system.

The Obion County Sheriff's Department requested, and was issued approval from the Commission, for budget amendments regarding the department's reimbursement from Ford Construction for the provision by deputies for road safety during paving, in the amount of $1,280, and for reimbursement from the Obion County Fair, for deputies providing security for the August 2021 fair, in the amount of $1,500.

Obion County Sheriff Karl Jackson provided Budget Committee Chair Sam Sinclair with a letter from Roger Williams, President of Williams Sausage, which Sinclair shared with the Commission.

In that letter dated Sept. 29, Williams wrote that in order to facilitate the successful startup of the Work Release Program implemented by the Sheriff's Department, Williams Sausage was willing to contribute up to $40,000 toward funding an officer to oversee the program for the first year, which supplies a workforce to Williams Sausage from jail inmates.

The Commission unanimously accepted the receipt of the funding from Williams Sausage.

Sheriff Jackson proposed to Obion County Mayor Benny McGuire and the Commission, the purchase of a TEK84 whole body scanner, a piece of equipment similar, according to Jackson, to full body scanners used at airports. The TEK84, Jackson explained, not only detects items hidden under clothing, but also items within the body, by transmitting a weak x-ray beam completely through the subject. The temperature check and full body scan may occur in less than four seconds, and will provide a decreased amount of physical contact, and greater safety measures enacted, more so than hands-on searches.

The price was $115,000, with the commission approving the purchase.

Another budget amendment was approved, to the fiscal year 2021/22 budget, with the General Fund-Hospital Money to loan up to $2,000,000 to the Highway Department to purchase the Hot Mix Plant.

Discussion was conducted regarding the previous approval by the Commission to fund the county Hot Mix Plant, with Budget Committee Chair Sam Sinclair reporting to the Commissioners he had received calls regarding concerns about the potential location of the Hot Mix Plant to be in the area of the Obion County Nursing Home.

Sinclair said families of residents at the facility had expressed their concerns, and ultimately, other locations would now be considered.

Obion County Mayor Benny McGuire said other location options include the Troy Saw Mill, the Jail Shooting Range and the area where the Highway Department is now located.

McGuire reported the Highway Department is continuing the evaluation of each site. He said four to five acres will be needed for the project, and approximately $1.7 million is needed for construction, with a down payment of $380,000 initially needed.

A matter of housekeeping, according to Sinclair, was the budget amendment for fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, for the Obion County Highway Department, with up to $2,000,000 designated for the Hot Mix Plant, through a resolution approved.

Another item listed on the agenda pertaining to the Highway Department was the recommendation of a budget amendment for fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, to accept ARPA Covid Relief Funds up to $72,300, for Highway Department incentive pay. The budget amendment was approved.

Through a recommendation from the Highway Commission, a 35 miles per our speed limit sign will be installed on Ed Jones Road and the speed limit sign is to be changed on Beaver Arm Road, from 25 mph to 35 mph, in the two 90 degree curves, with Commission approval Monday morning.

Following approval from Tim Watkins, Director of Schools for Obion County School System, as well as representation from the City of Union City, the Commissioners approved an agreement between the Obion County School System and the City of Union City, for the Obion County Central High School Tennis Team's use of tennis courts in Union City, for practice and competition matches, at a cost of $3,600 per year.

Another agreement, to be officially included within the Commission meeting's minutes, was regarding the option, lease and easement agreement between Obion Count and Origis Energy USA, Inc. relating to the solar powered electrical power generation and transmission project, known as the Skyhawk Solar Power Project, in the area of the Airport.

The Operator, through the agreement, agrees to pay the owner the sum of $5,000 for the due diligence period within 45 days after the effective date, and then a first renewal option term for $15,000 and a second renewal option term for $15,000.

Changes in the Obion County Personnel Policy were presented to the officials present, with revisions highlighted for reference.

Regarding sick leave, if an employee is in a paid status for one half of the month or more, he or she will be credited with eight hours of sick leave on the last day of the month. Employees on FMLA and Leave without Pay will not accrue vacation, holidays, or sick leave, with accrual to resume when employee returns to full time active employment status.

Regarding accumulation of vacation time, at fiscal year end, an employee may not exceed 12 days or 96 hours of vacation days. Employees on FMLA and Leave Without Pay will not accrue vacation, holidays or sick leave until fulltime active employment resumes.

To qualify for holiday pay, an employee must work their scheduled work day before and after the holiday.

While on Military leave, employees will not accrue vacation, holidays or sick leave, with those accruals to resume when employee returns to fulltime active status, but for longevity pay purposes, full time regular employees on active duty military leave will continue to earn service credit, and upon re-employment, the employee will receive all longevity pay that would have been paid if employment had been continuous.

Other changes and revisions included an addendum associated with pay during the Covid-19 pandemic, for pay up to two weeks with a positive test; Family and Medical Leave Act, up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during each calendar year for the birth of a child, with employees required to first exhaust all accrued paid leave; and the granting of leave without pay.

Mayor McGuire addressed the officials regarding the November meeting, noting the Budget Committee with be scheduled to meet Nov. 8, and the full Commission Nov. 22, that meeting to be the final meeting of the calendar year.

Commissioners present included Ryan Ellegood, James Gray, Rob Holman, James Beasley, Eugene Hudgins, Steve Goodrich, Dale Frazier, Allen Nohsey, Ricky Boyd, Larry Sherwood, Terry Roberts, Sam Sinclair, Ralph Puckett, Kenneth Barnes, Jerry Lamastus, Jim Bondurant; commissioners present included Donnie Braswell, Blake Cheatham, Dwayne Hensley, Paul Albright and Donnie Walton.