Shown Left to Right: Commissioners Lester Brown and Tennyson Smith, Alexander Henley, County Engineer Willie Branch, Assistant Engineer, John Ensley and
Commissioner Allen Turner, Jr.

At the regular meeting of the Greene County Commission, Monday Sept. 11, 2017, Mr. Alexander Henley was recognized for his long and diligent service to the county. Henley was presented a Certificate of Retirement for 29 years with the county’s Highway Department. Henley noted that during that period of time with the county he worked under 18 County Engineers and Assistant Engineers. “I enjoyed my work and made many friends. Until recent years I had no illness that kept me from my job,” he stated.
During public comments, Mrs. Johnnie M. Knott presented members of the Greene County Hospital/Nursing Home Auxiliary (Greene Team) and other local citizens who had come to the commission’s meeting seeking support for the Greene County Hospital. The general purpose of the group was to ask the commission to provide leadership in helping to keep the hospital and its varied health services operating. Several individuals gave testimonies of how the Greene County Hospital had basically saved their lives by stabilizing them during a health crisis until they could get specific care at another health facility. Many others spoke out in support of the county finding ways to keep the hospital operating. The commission listened but made not statements since that body cannot provide specific commitments during public comments.
In other business the commission acted on the following.
*Approved 2017-2018 Budget, including employee pay adjustments as indicated in the budget.
*Approved liquor license for Jackpot Food Beverage, LLC (Palace Bingo Facility).
*Approved long term detention subsidy contract with Dallas County Detention Center.
*Approved annual bids from Highway Department including bids for timber, corrugated metal pipe, plastic pipe, etc.
*Approved thermostat replacement and installation paid from general fund bingo account.
*Approval various travel requests for Engineer and Assistant Engineer.
*Approved budget amendments and payment of claims.
County CFO, Paula Bird reported that as of August 17, 2017, the county had $1,962,092.35 in Citizen Trust Bank; $4,488,356.17 in Merchants & Farmers Bank and $792,094.11 in the Bank of New York. According to the CFO’s report, of the $3,236,960.59 expenditure budget for the current fiscal year, $2,905,759.82 has been expended to date, approximately 90%.
The commission announced that its October meeting will be re-scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, due to the Columbus Day holiday.