Residents will soon have access to instant emergency notifications, and the Carroll County Fire Department has the go-ahead to make their new fire truck purchase after Carroll County Commission’s meeting, Monday, August 11.
The Commission also amended the county school budget, made a reappointment to the Electric Department Board, joined a statewide opioid settlement, and raised the mineral tax.
Commissioners bid Manuel Crossno farewell after he resigned for health reasons.
CodeRED Emergency Notification
The Commission passed a Resolution that allows Carroll County Mayor Joseph Butler and EMA Director Trevor Foster to sign a three-year contract with Crisis 24 for Code Red critical communication services.
Code Red is a mass notification system that allows for quick emergency alerts to residents through multiple means. Residents can sign up to receive alerts via phone calls, text messages, and emails.
It can target the entire community or specific geographic areas.
Foster said it will be invaluable for severe weather warnings.
“Tornado sirens are helpful if you’re within range, but they don’t reach everyone,” Foster said. “With [CodeRED], we can get alerts straight to your phone, no matter where you are.”
The system allows Foster to notify residents of other public safety emergencies, such as road closures, hazmat emergencies, or other urgent situations. It also gives him flexibility to alert specific geographical areas, such as those in the path of a tornado or within a certain radius of a hazmat emergency.
Mayor Butler explained that funds had already been allocated in the EMA budget for CodeRED.
The total cost is $5,400 per year.
HGAC-Buy and Fire Truck Purchase
The Commission approved a resolution allowing Carroll County Fire Chief Jonathan Gaskins and Mayor Butler to sign an agreement with HGAC Buy to expedite the $5.5 million fire truck purchase included in the FY 2026 budget.
HGAC Buy is similar to Sourcewell. It eliminates the bidding process by allowing local governments to purchase equipment through pre-vetted contracts.
Gaskins said he was excited about the Resolution, and brought the contract for Butler to sign immediately after the meeting concluded.
Fire Department Land Purchase
The Commission approved two resolutions authorizing the county to purchase property for volunteer fire stations in Cedar Grove and Macedonia.
Mayor Butler said both landowners had verbally agreed to sell. Cedar Grove site was priced at $15,000 and the Macedonia site at $10,000.
He explained the difference reflected “location, the building itself, and a larger piece of land in Cedar Grove.”
The purchases follow last month’s Rural Fire Committee recommendation to buy the two properties rather than continue on privately owned land under informal agreements.
Other Business
In other action, Commissioners voted to raise the county’s mineral severance tax to 20 cents per ton. Companies who mine minerals such as sand, gravel, sandstone, chert or limestone pay the tax. Proceeds go toward road and bridge construction and maintenance.
The Commission reappointed Chris Gurley to the Carroll County Electric Department Board with a term ending in July, 2029.
The County joined an amended statewide opioid abatement settlement, which extends Tennessee’s opioid abatement plan to include the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy case, the Sackler family, and eight additional manufacturers. Carroll County’s share of the settlement is estimated to be close to $127,391.03.
The following notaries were elected: Carisa Erin Bennett, Kelli Britt, Christina Drinkard, Alyson Frensley, Kim Gilmore, Megan Lowe, Angel N Newbill, Tonyia Rush, Suzanne Snider, Jimmie Sue Staten, and Christine Farley Randell.
The next Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 8 at 7 p.m.
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