County Commission Recognizes Wayne County's 6U Diamond Youth World Series Champs

The Wayne County Commission met last week in what would be the final meeting for several outgoing commissioners who chose not to run for re-election to another term. Presiding over the meeting was Chairman Pro Tem Rickey Kelley, one of the outgoing commissioners who served for many terms on the Wayne County Commission before declining to run for re-election. In addition to newly sworn in County Clerk Ronnie Skelton, retiring County Clerk Stan Horton was also in attendance for his last meeting as Wayne County Clerk.

Wayne County Sheriff Shane Fisher began by reading a Proclamation prepared by County Executive Jim Mangubat honoring the Wayne County 6U Diamond Youth Boys’ Baseball Team for their recent accomplishment of winning the Championship in the Diamond Youth World Series. These fine young men had an outstanding season and ended with the highest accomplishment in the sport for their age group. Mr. Cory Moser then read a Proclamation prepared by State Senator Page Walley honoring the team at the state level for their accomplishments. Congratulations are in order to this team of outstanding young ballplayers.

During the Public Forum section of the meeting, rumors of a possible data center coming to Wayne County were addressed by a few citizens. Although the County Commission has declined to speak on the matter at this time, in part due to the new commission term beginning next month, citizens have been talking about it at great length on social media. Most seem to be of the same opinion that Wayne County does not need and would not benefit from a date center coming here, citing possible environmental and health risks. One of the citizens who spoke in the forum said that if the construction of a data center in Wayne County is imminent, the county at the very least should protect its citizens from said risks as much as possible.

Assistant District Attorney Patrick Butler, who is also a current County Commission, addressed the commission next at great length regarding the CoreCivic prison in Clifton, the South Central Correctional Facility. ADA Butler spoke to the Clifton City Commission on this topic last month and was asked by some county officials to speak on the matter at this County Commission meeting as well.

ADA Butler began by stating emphatically that he was not trying to get rid of the CoreCivic South Central Correctional Facility prison in Clifton, but he has several concerns about things that are happening there.

Mr. Butler said that Wayne Countians were told when the prison first opened in the late 1980s-early 1990s that it would only be a medium-security facility housing non-violent offenders. Although Wayne Countians still had concerns, this seemed to ease minds somewhat. Since that time, parameters have changed many times so that the facility now houses what are essentially maximum-security inmates in a medium-security prison.

ADA Butler said one concern he had was the amount of illegal drugs coming into the prison. He said that Clifton Police Chief Steve Wilson informed him that over the last two months, the City Police Department was made aware of and seized over $1 million in drugs that were being introduced into the prison. According to Mr. Butler, criminals have devised a way to operate drones that drop the drugs onto prison property to be retrieved by inmates. He said what makes it even scarier is that these criminals are staging their operations at Clifton’s City Park. Mr. Butler went on to say that there are two main gangs within SCCF that run all the illegal operations, including drugs.

The violence occurring seemingly every day at the prison is the primary concern of ADA Butler. He gave an example of a death penalty case he is now prosecuting. He said the offender was in prison in another county on a first-degree murder conviction when he was transferred to SCCF. When he arrived at SCCF, he was put into a cell with an inmate serving an 8-year sentence for drug crimes. This inmate had already been approved for parole and was awaiting release, which was to happen soon. On the day he was supposed to be released, he was beaten, stabbed, and ultimately murdered by his cellmate. That offender now faces a possible death sentence for this crime.

Another incident ADA Butler spoke of was related to under-staffing at the prison. One female Correctional Officer was in a situation where she was locked down by herself (no other officers) with 128 inmates. One inmate became violent and body-slammed the female officer onto a concrete floor. She was transported to Vanderbilt by LifeFlight with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and suffered spinal cord damage. The grand jury has since indicted that inmate on an attempted murder charge, and the former employee will suffer lifelong ramifications from her injuries.

ADA Butler finally said he didn’t want something terrible to happen in regard to the prison that would cause people to ask, “Why didn’t we know?” He recommended that the city, county, and all interested or possibly affected citizens get together and discuss the situation at the prison in more detail and contact CoreCivic with their concerns.

In other business, Sheriff Fisher detailed the Budget Committee’s recent recommendation to change county employees’ health insurance from a private company plan to the state insurance plan. The state insurance plan will come at a slightly lower cost to the county, and county employees will pay the same premiums as before. The state insurance plan was unanimously approved by the commission.

Sheriff Fisher continued with a report from the end of the fiscal year and a request to declare certain vehicles as surplus. The sheriff explained that the vehicles requested for surplus all ad excessive miles on them and some were in almost constant need of repair. The commissioner unanimously agreed to declare the vehicles as surplus.

Sheriff Fisher ended his report by thanking the commissioners for their service to this county.

Road Superintendent Chuck Moser next gave a report on his department and explained recent frustrations some citizens had expressed about bushhogging that needs to be done on some county roads. Mr. Moser said that only four of the county’s eight bushhog machines are currently operational, and his department was just having a hard time staying caught up with the overgrowth problem that has only gotten worse with all this year’s rain.

Road Superintendent Moser, Director of Schools, Dr. Ricky Inman, Library Director Holli Haddock, and IT Director Mike Floyd closed out departmental reports with brief statistical reports and thanks to the commission for all their hard work and dedication.

Commissioner Logan Shull next spoke briefly about the possibility of a new data center. He stated emphatically that he had no more prior knowledge of the data center than anyone else in the county, and said he planned to task the incoming commission and County Executive with finding out as much as possible and sharing that information with citizens.

Commissioner Tom Mathis spoke briefly about his 24 years on the commission and all he had learned. He said he had made great friends while serving and hoped he had made a positive impact.

Commissioner Rickey Kelley closed the meeting by expressing his great thanks to his fellow commissioners and to the citizens of the county for their support and guidance over the years.

With no further business to come before the commission, the meeting was adjourned.