Bynum replaces Holt in District 1

The Weakley County Commission welcomed a new commissioner to its 18-member board after it accepted the resignation of elected District 1 County Commissioner Andy Holt during its meeting Monday.
Holt announced his intent to resign from the board in recent months stemming from current obligations he also holds to the 76th District House of Representatives seat.
The Palmersville Republican shared the county district with long-time commissioner and Democrat John Salmon after the pair won the majority of votes cast in the 2010 county General Election.
When the decision to accept Holt’s resignation as well as name a replacement for his seat came before the board Monday evening, Salmon recommended former Weakley County Board of Equalization member and Palmersville farmer James Bynum to the post.
Salmon reported he had spoken with former District 1 commissioner David Rook about the potential vacancy and offered to name him a replacement if Rook chose to once again sit on the board.
Rook sought re-election for his seat in 2010. Salmon said Rook had served the district well during his tenure as commissioner,  but the Cottage Grove resident indicated he was currently not interested in the position. After Salmon recommended Bynum to the fill the District 1 vacancy, Scott Fortner, District 5 commissioner and Republican, said he felt it fair to honor Rep. Holt’s request to seat Bobby Dunlap as his replacement.
Board members chose to place Bynum in the District 1 slot.
In similar news, board members were also charged with finding a replacement for the vacancy left by District 3 constable Mitchell Greub. Before naming a replacement, board members voted to accept Greub’s resignation.
Former Greenfield police officer Tony Trimble was recommended to fill the constable vacancy. The commission unanimously voted to name Trimble as District 3 constable.
Weakley County Administrator of Elections Barbara Castleman announced to board members Bynum and Trimble were appointed to their positions, but both will have to seek election to keep their seat as this year was an election year.
Castleman also said the pair would have to run as write-in candidates or on the independent ticket as the qualifying deadlines for county seats has passed for those seeking election under a Republican or Democratic ticket.
In other news, board members combined two budget resolutions, which then passed unanimously Monday evening.
Board members approved a budget amendment to the School Federal Projects Fund to reflect federal allocations under the provisions of No Child Left Behind and include previous carryover funds in the current project budget. Additional revenue of $16,990 from a Jobs Bill Grant was also included in the budget amendment.
Commissioners also authorized submittal of an application to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development for the Small Cities Block Grant Program (CDBG) for the acquisition of pumper trucks and equipment for the Latham and Como-Ore Springs volunteer fire departments.
The grant application was for $300,000 with a commitment of $24,800 in local funds.
The Weakley County Commission will meet again in regular session at 5:30 p.m. May 29 in the commission meeting room at the Weakley County Courthouse.

WCP 3.22.12