Key appointments made at County Commission

The Madison County Commission held its monthly meeting Monday morning and handled a few pieces of business.

One was swearing in Richard Watson, who’s been a commissioner for about a year-and-a-half since being appointed to replace the late Harold Petty. Petty resigned from his position less than a year after winning re-election and a couple months before he died, so the Commission seat – Seat 3 in District 10 – was up for election in August to fill the seat for the final two years of the term.

Watson had no opposition in the primary or the general election.

“There were a few write-in votes cast,” Watson said. “Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck got a few, but not more than me thankfully.”

The Commission heard from Sheriff Julian Wiser about a new medical contract his staff have negotiated for the jail.

The main thing he said the new deal is saving on is the 15 percent of administrative fees the previous deal charged the jail.

The new deal also has access to less expensive medication for many of the ailments that are typically prevalent in the jail.

The Commission also accepted the resignation of Joey Hale from District 3 Commissioner. Hale turned in his resignation at the end of the August meeting, so this was the first time the Commission could take any action on it.

Commissioner Claudell Brown had Chairman Mike Taylor confirm the Commission will appoint a new person to fill that role at their October meeting. Anyone from District 3, which is in the northwestern part of the county, interested in serving on the Commission is welcomed to send a resume to Commission secretary Sarah McClain at 1981 Hollywood Drive in the County Finance Complex.

Because applicants’ names will be sent to Commissioners with the agenda 10 days before the meeting, the deadline to submit a resume is Oct. 10.

The Commission voted on the Chair and Chair Pro Tempore. Taylor was re-elected unanimously to serve as chair. Carl Alexander, who’s served the past year as Chair Pro Tempore, nominated Mike Bryant to fill that seat. He also was unanimously approved.

They also appointed members of the budget and financial management committees for the following year. Hale served on the budget committee, and Kevin Hicks was elected 15-9 over Aaron Ellison to fill that vacancy.

Hicks and Karley Bond both came off the financial management committee, so the Commission did a roll call vote on three nominations for two spots. Luther Mercer, Watson and Tony Neihoff were nominated. Of the 24 Commissioners, Watson received 22 votes, Neihoff received 16 and Mercer received 10.

At the end of the meeting, Wiser addressed an issue that he, his deputies and many on the Commission received texts and calls about.

“A host on a radio talk show read a text message on the air that said bus loads of migrants from the border were being unloaded at the K-Mart building,” Wiser said. “Now I’ve addressed the issue of reading the text without any context with the host.

“But I can tell you the Sheriff’s Department investigated it, questioned people who live and work around there and asked if anyone had seen anything. No one said they had. There are no photos. No videos. Nothing that corroborates this text message. So the host when he read that text, he was reading fake news.”

Brown stood back up before the meeting and encouraged other commissioners and employees of the County that if they heard more false information being broadcast on the radio or on social media to step in and let everyone know that whatever they’re hearing or reading isn’t the case.

“Our country is divided, and a big reason for it is misinformation that is put out there on purpose by irresponsible people,” Brown said. “If we stay out in front of it and let people know the truth, we can cut down on how much fake news – as the Sheriff put it – gets out there locally.”

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news