Blaire Benavides

The meeting commenced with standard opening procedures, invocation, pledge of allegiance, and roll call. Key discussion points included an update on the COVID-19 Pandemic in Shelby County presented by the Director of the Health Department, and a presentation by FedEx Express Corporation regarding employment opportunities. Public comments were received on various topics, including the EDGE Board and Clarion Security. The Consent Agenda featured resolutions of memorial, sympathy, and commendation, including special recognition for the 2019-2020 Chairman Mark Billingsley and Chairman Pro Tempore Eddie S. Jones, Jr. Major resolutions addressed included amending the FY 2021 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Budget and approving an amendment to the contract with Turner Construction Company for construction services. Other actions involved approving an amendment to a contract for Engineering Services related to the Big Creek Project, purchasing cardiac monitors and AEDs for the Fire Department, granting an electric utility easement, establishing a Shelby County Board of Health, and amending the FY 2021 Operating Budget to add FTEs for the Health Department's Ryan White Program grants (one for HRSA ending the HIV Epidemic Grant and one for a COVID-19 response grant). Finally, contracts were approved for Psychological Assessment Services for the Juvenile Court and for Juvenile case mentoring services provided by Juvenile Intervention & Faith-Based Follow-Up (JIFF).

The Commission meeting addressed several resolutions and agenda items. Discussions included a resolution overriding a Planned Development case (Case No. P.D. 18-21 CO) and several consent agenda items. Key resolutions approved or considered involved a three-year contract with Pictometry International Corporation for Aerial Orthophotography, purchase of property insurance for the FedEx-Forum shared with the City of Memphis, and amendments to the FY 2019 Operating and Position Control Budgets to transition the Workforce Investment Network (WIN) funding from the City of Memphis to Shelby County Government. Other budget amendments concerned carryover grant funds from the State of Tennessee Housing Development Agency for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Resolutions were also passed concerning the election of Notaries Public, setting dates for interviewing and appointing a Judicial Commissioner, authorizing the Chairman to select an Assistant County Attorney to serve as Legislative Services Director/Assistant County Attorney, and adding full-time positions for Strategic Initiatives in Communication and Education, and Information Technology. Finally, funds from the FY 2019 Operating Budget were awarded to charitable organizations: Heal The Hood, LMN Scholarship Foundation, and Renewed Minds Xcel, Inc.

The committee meetings addressed several significant actions. Committee #14 (Delinquent Tax Property) involved passing a resolution to advise the Clerk of the Chancery Court not to bid on twenty properties scheduled for tax sale due to environmental risks or non-conforming status, and approving the sale of eighty-four County-owned delinquent tax parcels totaling $272,918.03. Committee #1 (Budget and Finance) involved receiving and filing the Summary Financial Report for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2017, and considering a failed substitute resolution regarding guidelines for expending surplus funds collected in FY 2017. Committee #4 (Law Enforcement, Corrections & Courts) approved amending the FY2017 Operating Budget by $105,000.00 in Federal grant funds for prosecuting drug cases. An add-on discussion noted future changes to the County Pay Structure potentially starting April 1, 2017. Committee #6 (Education) ratified amendments to the Shelby County Board of Education Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2017 amounting to $8,551,527.00. Committee #13 (Audit) deferred discussion on the 2016 CAFR Governance Letter. Committee #2 (Public Works) approved a contract not to exceed $250,000.00 for pavement marking services, approved an amendment to the FY2017 Operating Budget for fleet replacement vehicles costing up to $927,207.85, and approved a contract for $250,235.00 for environmental permitting and design services for the Mudville Road Bridge replacement. Finally, a resolution was approved for the lease of County-owned property at 895 North Circle Road to the Northaven Community Association.

The meeting primarily focused on the presentation by Mayor Lee Harris regarding research and proposed data for reforming the Ethics Chapter, specifically section 1858 concerning the composition of the Ethics Commission. The Administration proposed reducing the commission size from 13 to 7 members, decreasing the required number of licensed attorneys from 6 to 4, and eliminating the mandate for former judges. Discussions ensued regarding the rationale for existing composition requirements, the process for filing ethics complaints, the transparency of records, and difficulties in maintaining a quorum. Old Business included the adoption of SCC Permanent Rules of Order for the Blue-Ribbon Panel, which were adopted to be implemented to the extent applicable to the Ad Hoc Panel, and deferring discussion on Guiding Principles. A motion to notice Committee and Commission Meetings simultaneously was approved. The approval of the July 18, 2022 Minutes was completed with several spelling and clarification amendments. The next meeting was scheduled for August 19, 2022.

The meeting included opening procedures such as a call to order, invocation, pledge of allegiance, and roll call. Key resolutions discussed included honoring Betina Hunt (which failed) and honoring May as Internal Audit Awareness Month (which failed). The consent agenda addressed several financial and administrative matters, including the appropriation and expenditure of FY2024 Capital Improvement Project Funds for the Mimecast email solution and the purchase/installation of high-density mobile shelving units for the Criminal Clerk's Office. Other actions included receiving and filing the March 2024 Monthly Comprehensive Financial Update Reports, approving expenditures for specialized replacement parts for the Air Pollution Program, purchasing illegal substance detectors for the Division of Corrections, and amending the FY2024 Operating Budget for FEMA and Tennessee Corrections Institute Grant Funds. The board also approved the election of Notaries Public, the appointment of Nycole Alston to the Shelby County Retirement Board, the appointment of Sandy Bromley as Director of Community Services, allocation of CIP funds for cameras in District 11, and the sale of numerous delinquent tax parcels.