Mask Mandate Extended

 Sumner County Mayor Anthony Holt has extended the mask order through October 30, 2020, for all county buildings including all public schools.

According to the order, all staff as well as students in middle and high school are required to wear face coverings at school.

The mandate ends one day before Halloween, so will likely mean residents are in masks all the way through the month of October!!

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Riley Scores Legal Victory Over Holt

 In the battle over where the Sumner County Republican Assembly is allowed to meet, Kurt Riley and the SCRA scored a legal victory over County Mayor Anthony Holt recently. 

The Hendersonville Standard has more:

“I was not aware that the building was being leased out by the volunteer fire department for use by the public,” she said. “It took me a few days to review our insurance policy on the property you referenced. It is okay for the group to meet there.”

When contacted by a reporter, Dennen said she didn’t know what reason Holt gave for saying the group couldn’t meet at the facility.

While the county owns the building, it has given the volunteer fire department the ability to run it, Dennen noted.

“If the fire department leases the facility out to various groups, I said OK, when you do it for one, you’ve got to do it for anyone that wants to use it,” she added.

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Radical Riley

 Kurt Riley's purist conservative group - known as the Sumner County Republican Assembly -- purports to be able to judge the "quality" of a Republican. The Tennessee Star has more on the tussle between Riley and Sumner County Mayor (and Republican) Anthony Holt:

Sumner County Mayor Anthony Holt referred to a conservative-minded group as “radical,” and forbid any future meetings of the group from being held in a county building.

The “radical” group that Holt called out is the Sumner County Republican Assembly (SCRA), a chapter of the Tennessee Republican Assembly.

The building that Holt banned the SCRA from using is the New Shackle Island Community Center. Construction of the facility was funded from Sumner County’s 2008-2009 budget with $700,000 of taxpayer dollars for use as a community center, ambulance station and fire hall.

The SCRA says that, unlike the state GOP that “cares more about the number of people who join the party, the SCRA is “focused more on the quality of Republican.”

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Sumner's Mask Mandate

Sumner County Executive Anthony Holt has issued a mandate requiring the wearing of masks in public in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. NewsChannel5 has more:

Sumner County Mayor Anthony Holt issued an executive order requiring residents to wear face masks while in public.

The county-wide order will take effect on Tuesday, July 7.

"We are currently experiencing a public health emergency we need everyone's help to slow the rising trend of this deadly virus," Mayor Holt said.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued an executive order granting county mayors the authority to issue local requirements.

"Pandemic fatigue is real...but now is the time to take proactive measures to focus on the health of our family friends and neighbors," Holt added.

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A Mask Mandate

While Sumner County continues to be a COVID-19 hotspot, other counties in the area (like Wilson) and now Williamson, are mandating masks. Here's more from WKRN on the mask mandate set by the Williamson County Mayor:

Williamson County mayor Rogers Anderson explained requiring masks wasn’t a rushed decision.

“Over the weekend we were having conversations with all of our city mayors and our attorneys, city managers, and all the city people you try to get on board,” said Anderson.

Together, they decided COVID-19 is a problem too big for one person to tackle. Everyone in the county must do their part. The mandatory mask order, announced Monday, is similar to the one issued by Mayor John Cooper in Davidson County.

“We know the mask doesn’t stop the virus, it contains it,” Anderson said, “If you’ve got it, and you’re asymptomatic at least you’re not spreading it.”

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Just Shoot the Virus

The Portland Sun reports that Sumner County residents are prepared to take on COVID-19 with guns. While possibly a better suggestion than President Trump's proposal to inject people with Lysol or Clorox, it's not clear whether shooting at Coronavirus actually works to slow the spread. (HINT: IT DOESN'T).

Here's more:

Gun sales have increased since the beginning of March, according to one Sumner County gun shop. 

Owner of Sumner Gun & Supply Ken Winter says that since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, gun sales have increased drastically for both first time gun buyers and gun enthusiasts. 

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While Sumner Countians are stocked up on guns (and maybe Lysol), Gov. Bill Lee plans to "re-open" Tennessee next week, including at dine-in restaurants. Sumner County is among the locations "allowed" to re-open, and there's been no word from local leaders that they'll extend "Stay Home" orders beyond what Lee proposes. This despite Sumner County having the third-highest number of cases in the state and the second-highest number of COVID-19 deaths.

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Lee Set to "Re-Open" Tennessee Even as COVID19 Nears Peak

While Sumner County has the third-highest number of Coronavirus cases in Tennessee and the second-highest number of deaths, Gov. Bill Lee today announced plans to "re-open" Tennessee in 89 of 95 counties, including Sumner, by May 1st.

Here's his announcement:

Today, Governor Bill Lee announced the order for Tennesseans to remain at home will expire April 30, with the vast majority of businesses in 89 counties allowed to re-open on May 1.

“Our Economic Recovery Group is working with industry leaders around the clock so that some businesses can open as soon as Monday, April 27,” said Gov. Lee. “These businesses will open according to specific guidance that we will provide in accordance with state and national experts in both medicine and business.”

The Lee Administration will work with Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox and Sullivan counties and their health departments as they plan their own re-open strategies.

“While I am not extending the safer at home order past the end of April, we are working directly with our major metropolitan areas to ensure they are in a position to reopen as soon and safely as possible,” said Lee. “Social distancing works, and as we open up our economy it will be more important than ever that we keep social distancing as lives and livelihoods depend on it.”

The Economic Recovery Group (ERG), composed of 30 leaders from the public and private sector is crafting guidance to assist businesses in a safe reopening. The industry representatives participating in the ERG collectively represent over 140,000 Tennessee businesses that employ over 2.5M Tennesseans. More information about ERG is available here.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Health indicates Sumner County is effectively a COVID-19 hotspot.

It's unclear whether Sumner County leaders, who challenged the Department of Health over the re-opening of Gallatin Healing and Rehab, will take on Gov. Lee and extend a Stay Home order for Sumner County well into May.

Officially, Sumner County Mayor Anthony Holt's "Safer at Home" Order ends on April 23rd.

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EXTENDED

NewsChannel5 has the story of Sumner County Mayor Anthony Holt extending the emergency order in the county until April 23rd.

 — Sumner County Mayor Anthony Holt has again extended the county’s emergency declaration.

 Holt said Friday morning the order had been extended through April 23. The emergency declaration was first issued on March 20.

 Sumner County will continue running essential government functions. Residents were asked to conduct business over the phone or online when possible.

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More Deaths from Gallatin Rehab COVID-19 Outbreak

Sumner County Commission Chair Scott Langford took to Facebook to continue to criticize the leadership at Gallatin Rehab and Healing and the Tennessee Department of Health during the COVID-19 outbreak that left over 100 people infected. Here's his post:

Last week, Mayor Paige Brown, Mayor Anthony Holt, Chris Taylor, me, and the health community of Sumner County stood opposed to reopening the Gallatin Rehab Center that we evacuated 11 days ago.

The corporation that owns the center and the TN Department of Health overrode us and sent patients back three days after closure. There was zero transparency about cleaning, zero transparency about whether patients who were positive for COVID were being transported back, and zero transparency about quarantining staff members exposed to the virus. ZERO!

Now, patients are dying. Our first responders are exposed repeatedly as they move patients back and forth. More employees and residents are exposed to COVID in the center.

It is beyond appalling that this is allowed to go on.
These deaths are not a statistic. They are grandparents, parents, and friends.

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Gallatin Nursing Home Reopens Over Objections

A Gallatin nursing home where over 100 cases of COVID-19 were found is reopening over objections from local leaders, according to a NewsChannel5 report:

Just days after that disturbing video of elderly patients being moved out of the nursing home in Gallatin because of a Coronavirus outbreak, there are plans to reopen the facility.

In fact, it could be back in business by Thursday despite objections from Sumner County officials who call the idea "irresponsible."

They said it's too soon and they have no confidence in the facility right now or the Tennessee State Health Department. And they believe the state's plan to reopen the nursing home now will only put more lives in danger. So they called NewsChannel 5 Investigates to express their concerns and sound the alarm.

"I tell you this, I would not want one of my loved ones to be in that facility right now," Sumner County Mayor Anthony Holt said.

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Wild Wild West

Sumner County has joined a growing list of Tennessee local governments in passing a resolution that asks local law enforcement to ignore duly passed state and federal laws regarding guns. On Monday night, the Sumner County Commission passed the "Wild West" resolution, essentially declaring the "unalienable right" to keep and bear arms. The resolution's language interprets the U.S. Constitution and multiple Supreme Court decisions in a way that views most or all regulations on gun possession and sale as an "infringement" on an individual's rights.

Specifically, the resolution says:

The sanctuary county resolution was first introduced by Commissioner Jeremy Mansfield and states that Sumner County “will not authorize or appropriate government funds, resources, employees, agencies, contractors, buildings, detention centers, or offices for the purpose of enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of any element of such acts, laws, orders, mandates, rules or regulations” that infringe on the right to keep and bear arms as described in the nearly three-page document.

A copy of the full resolution can be found on page 38 here.

The resolution passed 18-4 with only Commissioners Krueger, Ring, Echols, and DeWitt voting "NO."

The Hendersonville Standard reports on Commissioner Baker Ring's reservations:

“Our oath of office says we are to support and defend the constitution of the State of Tennessee and the constitution of the United States,” Ring said. “I cannot vote for the original resolution with wording in there that tells us we must violate state law if we pass this.”

Rather than take a firm stand, County Executive Anthony Holt responded in typical weasel-word fashion:

 

Sumner County Mayor Anthony Holt said Monday that he would not veto the resolution. He also called for civility among everyone involved in the debate.

“Nobody… me, any elected official (or) any commissioner is going to take anybody’s guns in Sumner County,” Holt added. “I don’t know of anybody here that… needs to be demonized because they really believe that everyone’s Second Amendment rights needs to be protected.”

If the Sumner County Sheriff's office follows the plain language of the resolution, they would be in violation of state and federal law regarding guns.


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Taxpayers Assessed for Political Rant

Sumner County Property Assessor John Isbell, who came under fire last year for irregularities in the assessment process, is now using his taxpayer-funded website to advance his personal political agenda.

Isbell, who is up for re-election in 2016, has been fighting for his political life via social media under the auspices of the "Sumner Sentinel."

Now, he's taken his politics to his Assessor's Office website, which is paid for and maintained with public funds.

At the website sumnerassessor.org, Isbell explains the 2014 reappraisal process and notes:

 So why is a small group of pro tax increase bureaucrats led by Anthony Holt so driven to return to state-controlled property valuation in Sumner County? The answer is politics. Their intent is to manipulate the process to increase the assessment base thus increasing taxes on the citizens who are just now starting to recover from what many called the Great Recession of 2009.

A direct political attack on one of Isbell's detractors -- paid for by Sumner County taxpayers.

The disclaimer at the bottom of the page indicates the page is the property of Sumner County Government. That means it belongs to all taxpayers, not just Mr. Isbell.

Isbell continues his rant by referring to County Executive Anthony Holt simply as Anthony and unleashing a litany of attacks:

Anthony, in a recent meeting with the ladies of the Sumner County Republican Party, accepted full responsibility for the recent tax increase. "…I want you to know today, you can hold me responsible — hold me personally responsible. I do not want to shirk my responsibility." If Anthony accepts full responsibility for the tax increase why does he want to continue to try to blame the reappraisal process which has been validated as accurate and legal on three different occasions? Anthony will tell you that, in Sumner County, revenue-neutral means a tax increase. Unfortunately Anthony misunderstands the very basics of the reappraisal process and through his attempts to speak as an authority on the process only misinforms the public. Unfortunately Sumner County taxpayers have endured five months of uncertainty as Anthony held secret meetings, conspired with state bureaucrats, and wasted taxpayer dollars exceeding $100,000 to politically manipulate the process which resulted in his actions being grounded in general ignorance of the process. While the tax vote may be legal, it was certainly not conducted with any standards of transparency and ethical standing. Anthony stands as the self-appointed leader of this standard of transparency and ethical behavior for the new commission.

So, it's safe to say there's some bad blood between Isbell and Holt. But attacks like this belong on a political website paid for by a politicians supporters -- not on a publicly-funded, taxpayer supported site.

Isbell goes to great lengths on the public site to justify the recent assessment and his actions. He may have some valid arguments to make. The question is: Should John Isbell's political arguments be advanced by Sumner County taxpayers or John Isbell's supporters?

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Anthony Holt, Taxes, and the Sumner County Budget

County Executive Anthony Holt points out in a recent article in the Hendersonville Standard that the previous County Commission committed to a host of expenditures before they left office ... leaving the new Commission with two choices: Cut budgeted expenses or raise revenue to cover the expenses.

Here's Holt's statement on the issue:

"The majority of these expenses were budgeted and committed to by our previous 'fiscally responsible' County Commission with no attempt made to increase revenue or make corresponding reductions in the county’s budget, leaving our newly elected Commissioners holding the bill."

Among the new expenses is a bailout of the insurance trust, already bailed out in 2013 because the Commission under previous leadership refused to charge adequate premiums or deposit sufficient funds to cover claims.

That Commission, under the leadership of Merrol Hyde, also spent nearly all of the $40 million of reserve funds on recurring expenses, effectively running deficit budgets with no plan to meet expenses.

The new Commission raised revenue in a way that responsibly invests in Sumner County, including supporting schools and other county needs.

Candidates Line Up for 2014 Races

Candidates for County offices in Sumner County are lining up for the 2014 election.

Sheriff Sonny Weatherford may again face Stan Hilgadiack.

Circuit Court Clerk Mahaliah Hughes is retiring, and County Commissioner Joe Matthews (who consistently opposed school funding during his terms on the Commission) is seeking the seat along with three others.

Matthews' run for Circuit Court Clerk creates an open seat in District 4.  Democrat Kaye Kemnitz has announced her intention to run.  Also running in District 4 is Frank Freels.

So far, no pro-schools candidate has announced against County Executive Anthony Holt, who is seeking re-election.

District 1 School Board member Vanessa Silkwood, the only Board member to oppose last year's school budget and a proponent of a costly outsourcing scheme for school staff who has questioned whether teachers deserve retirement pay, has announced her re-election bid.  She's the only candidate in District 1 so far. 

More news as announcements happen.

Trouble in the Air?

Who is on the Airport Board? Which Board has real power? Has Attorney Art McClellan really been fired?

These questions and more surfaced as two groups, both claiming to be the Sumner County Airport Authority, met last week. 

A hearing in front of a judge may soon decide the fate of the dueling boards. 

For now, it's all up in the air.