Carter County witnessed a lot of notable events during 2016. As residents begin looking forward to 2017, here’s a look back at some of the memorable events that transpired in Carter County in the year behind.

Carter County settles lawsuit against Carter County Tomorrow
Following months of debate within the Carter County Commission regarding the economic development agency Carter County Tomorrow and whether or not the agency was effective or even legal, the county’s governing body cut ties with CCT. The county cut funding to CCT in the 2015-16 budget process. In August 2015, Carter County filed a lawsuit against CCT and the First Tennessee Private Industry Council. In the suit, the county alleged CCT illegally took possession fo PIC assets and also claimed the lease agreement between the county and CCT was null and void.
The end of the legal battle came in April when Carter County offered a settlement agreement to CCT, which then accepted.
The agreement shortened the lease agreement of the complex by the county to CCT to six years, cutting it in half and ending the term of the lease agreement on July 31, 2022. The agreement states CCT agrees to use its best efforts to maintain the existing relationships with the current sublessees, including Northeast State Community College and others. By the amended lease term, the CCT has agreed to install an elevator and to repair the roof on building one of the two-building complex.

EMS Task Force submits funding report to County Commission
During the 2015-16 budget cycle, the Carter County Rescue Squad approached the Carter County Commission and requested additional funding. Without an increase in funds, the CCRS officials said the emergency medical service would have to close down substations in Hampton and Roan Mountain which would greatly increase response times to those areas in an emergency.
Members of the Commission approved a one-time allocation of additional funds for the 15-16 budget year, but the governing body also formed an EMS Task Force to look into the finances and operations of the Carter County Rescue Squad. The Task Force included two members of the Commission, a representative from City Council, a representative from the CCRS, and local professionals from the healthcare, emergency medicine, and emergency response fields.
In August of 2016, the Task Force submitted its report to the full County Commission. The report noted that while the CCRS has faced multiple cuts in funding from the local government level over the years, the agency has also been hit with significant increases to the costs of supplies, medications and training for employees. The report notes that calls for service continue to increase — including calls for non-emergency transports or care. According to the report, EMS agencies are also faced with changes to healthcare laws, including changes to how and how much they are reimbursed for services through Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance plans.
Among the Task Force recommendations are increased funding from local governments to help sustain the Emergency Medical Service.
“Given the low expended per capita cost for EMS it appears prudent to increase the contribution to (CCRS) in order to maintain and insure the existence of this medical safety net in Carter County,” the report states. “Municipalities must contribute to the education, certification and re-certification for Paramedics, EMTs and other advanced training certificates in order to stabilize and insure a workforce pipeline.”
In response, the Commission voted to approve additional funding for the 2016-17 fiscal year which had been held in reserve and will once again look at CCRS funding when the 2017-18 budget process begins.

Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter sees a number of changes
2016 was a tumultuous time for the Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter. The Shelter experienced a pandemic virus outbreak among the feline population. Carter County Mayor Leon Humphrey brought in experts from the University of Tennessee to evaluate the conditions and operations at the shelter. The results of the UT study showed a number of issues with the shelter, including cleanliness issues, improper animal quarantine and improper records keeping. Based on those findings, Humphrey terminated the director of the Animal Shelter and began a search for a person to head the agency. Humphrey’s Administrative Assistant Susan Robins stepped in as interim director while the search progressed. A new director was hired but soon tendered her resignation, leaving the agency once again without a full-time director. Robinson once again stepped in until the position could be filled.
In November, Shannon Posada began work as the new director. She had previously volunteered at the Animal Shelter and has 16 years experience working with animals in a local veterinarian office.
A number of improvements have been made at the shelter during the last part of 2016, including successful adoption events and increased support.
Recently, the Animal Shelter became the recipient of funds from a special endowment fund created by the $1.2 Million estate of the late Glenda Delawder. Money received from the endowment will be used to fund an expansion at the shelter and the purchase of a van to transport animals for veterinary care and to adoption events.

County forms new Joint Economic and Community Development Board
After an investigation by Carter County Mayor Leon Humphrey and his staff in 2015 revealed issues of non-compliance with state law surrounding the county’s then-economic development board CCT, Humphrey began work to create a new Joint Economic and Community Development Board (JECDB) which would be in compliance with state laws and allow Carter County to apply for state and federal grants. After months of hashing out details between Carter County and the three municipalities which lay wholly or in part inside the county — Elizabethton, Watauga and Johnson City — the new JECDB was formed. The Board held its first meeting in August.

New members join the Carter County Commission
The August election officially seated three new members on the County Commission, though they had already been serving in that capacity by appointment. Dr. Robert Acuff was elected to represent the county’s 1st District following the resignation of former Commissioner Jerry Proffitt in March 2015 after he had to move out of the district when his home was purchased by the Elizabethton Municipal Airport for its runway expansion. Bradley Johnson was elected to represent the county’s 3rd District following the resignation of former Commissioner Beth Depew in March 2015, who cited work obligations as the reason behind her decision to resign. Kelly Collins was elected to represent the county’s 8th District following the resignation of former Commissioner Robert Gobble due to health issues. All three new commissioners will serve out the remainder of the unexpired terms, which will conclude in 2018.

Fidelitone expands operations in Elizabethton
Fidelitone logistics, a warehousing and shipping firm, moved to Elizabethton in 2015 with the intention of consolidating the operations of two other warehouses in Washington County to their new location in Elizabethton, which was once the home of STL Distributions. In early 2016 the consolidation was completed. During 2016, Fidelitone completed upgrades to the location, including increased parking, and also added more jobs at the warehouse.

Inaugural recipients of Dr. E.E. Perry Memorial Scholarship announced
Two members of the Class of 2016 became the first two recipients of the Dr. E.E. Perry Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was established in 2014 when Perry provided for a scholarship endowment in his will to provide assistance to exceptional students from Carter County who intend to pursue math, science, engineering or medical fields of study. To be eligible students had to be graduating seniors from a Carter County public high school, Elizabethton High School, homeschool or a GED recipient. The student had to have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, be enrolled full time at an accredited college or university in Tennessee and must demonstrate financial need.
Noah Lyons, a graduate of Happy Valley High School, and Ellie Decker, a graduate of Elizabethton High School, were selected as the inaugural recipients of the scholarship. Both Lyons and Decker will receive $10,000 per year for four years as long as they maintain their minimum grade point average and continue in a major supported by the scholarship.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey announces retirement from Tennessee General Assembly
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey served as a State Senator representing Senate District 4, which includes portions of Carter, Johnson and Sullivan Counties. Ramsey has served in the state legislature for nearly a quarter of a century — first serving for four years in the State House of Representatives and then serving the past 20 years in the State Senate.