The Carter County Commission saw some big changes during Monday night’s meeting at the courthouse.

Electing a new chairman

The commission elected County Commissioner Ray Lyons to replace Dr. Robert Acuff as the commission chairman. Lyons won 15 votes to Acuff’s nine. Lyons was nominated by commissioner Patty Woodby of the second district while Acuff was nominated by commissioner Sonja Culler of the seventh district.

“I am very humbled, and I appreciate your trust in me to be your chair for the next year,” said Lyons during Monday’s meeting. “I commit to you that I will do everything that I can to make a unified effort to work with all of you. I look forward to seeing the committees getting to work.

“I am going to make an intentional effort to reach out not only to all of you but to also reach out to the County Mayor (Rusty Barnett),” added Lyons. “I am going to put a lot of emphasis on trying to build something and to continue to build on what Dr. Acuff has done.”

Lyons, who represents Carter County’s seventh district, is a Vietnam Veteran who served with the United States Navy from 1966-1970. Lyons also worked as a District Program Supervisor for the Tennessee Department of Human Services from 1983-2004. Also during his time with DHS, Lyons worked as a field supervisor and a social counselor. Lyons has also served as an executive director with the Northeast Community Services Agency.

“I feel very strongly that I have leadership skills that can be brought to the table,” said Lyons while addressing his fellow commissioners before they voted for a new chairman.

The commission also elected Brad Johnson of the third district as vice chairman. Both Ross Garland and Randall Jenkins were also nominated for the position.

Filling up the

committees

During Monday’s meeting, the commission worked to appoint members to the standing committees. Below are the results:

Budget &

Nominating Committee

Willie Campbell—First District

Patty Woodby—Second District

Ronnie Trivett—Third District

Isaiah Grindstaff—Fourth District

Ross Garland—Fifth District

Travis Hill—Sixth District

Ray Lyons—Seventh District

Kelly Collins—Eighth District

Rules &

By-Laws,

Building & Grounds, Law Enforcement, and Health & Welfare Committees

Dr. Robert Acuff—First District

Mike Hill— Second District

Brad Johnson—Third District

Jerry Proffitt—Fourth District

Layla Ward—Fifth District

Randal Jenkins—Sixth District

Aaron Frazier—Seventh District

Rick Richardson—Eighth District

Education,

Highway, and Landfill

Committees

Mark Blevins—First District

Nancy Brown—Second District

Charles Von Cannon—Third District

Austin Jaynes—Fourth District

Ginger Holdren—Fifth District

Gary Bailey—Sixth District

Sonja Culler—Seventh District

Robin McKamey—Eighth District

The commission also elected members to the financial management committee. Including Mayor Barnett, Director of Carter County Schools Dr. Kevin Ward, and Carter County Road Superintendent Roger Colbaugh, the commission elected Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford and commissioners Brad Johnson, Ginger Holdren, and Rick Richardson to serve on the committee.

Ward appointed to school board

With the election of Barnett as county mayor, the fourth district seat on the Carter County School Board was left vacated. With former commissioner Danny Ward being the only applicant for the position, the commission voted 23-1 to appoint Ward to the seat Monday. The only “no vote” was from seventh district’s Aaron Frazier. Ward will also be on the ballot for the same position during the upcoming elections in November.

Other Business

—The commission voted 24-0 to approve a proclamation designating the month of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Carter County.

—After hearing from Elizabethton Planning Director Jon Hartman, the commission voted unanimously to approve “an incentives policy to attract and retain businesses in Carter County.”