ELIZABETHTON â Despite a sharply divided disagreement over funding for the Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter on Monday evening, it was mostly smooth sailing for the Carter County Commission in passing a new budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The commissioners also passed the certified tax rate of $2.03. That is down from the $2.47 rate passed by the commission last year, before the latest countywide assessment of property but determined by the state comptrollerâs office to bring in the same amount of property tax revenue.
The only serious controversy during the passage of the new budget was an attempt to reduce the countyâs contribution to the animal shelter that is jointly operated by the city and the county. The total contribution to the shelter by the city, county and other means in 2020-21 was $492,000. Several commissioners discussed reducing the total amount to $400,000 by reducing the countyâs share, but were not able to gather the 13 votes needed
ELIZABETHTON â Austin Jaynes took over the chairmanship of the Budget Committee of the Carter County Commission at the start of the committeeâs monthly meeting on Monday. It was the latest personnel change on the county commission since the death of Mayor Rusty Barnett in September.
These changes have including County Commission Chairwoman Patty Woodby taking the mayorâs position for the remaining two years of Barnettâs term
The latest change came Monday when Travis Hill said he would step down as chair of the Budget Committee because he had replaced Woodby as chairman of the County Commission.
With Hill stepping down as chair, vice chair Austin Jaynes became the new chairman of the Budget Committee. Ross Garland was then elected by acclamation to be the vice chair. Garland had previously served as chairman of the committee.
Dec. 23, 1891: The Comet reported, âLast evening a special train went to Elizabethton and (back) to carry a party of Knights of Honor to participate in the ceremonies of instituting a new lodge at that place. Among those who came from Jonesboro and other points down the road were: E.A. Shipley, Mat Peoples, Jasper Peoples, Joe February, R.M. May, J.A.T. Bacon, A.P. Mathes and H.C. Remine of Limestone Lodge, now Deputy Grand Dictator.â
Dec. 23, 1906: The Chattanooga Sunday Times, with a dateline of Johnson City, reported, âAt a recent meeting of the Johnson City and Washington County Medical society at Dr. Coxâs office, an essay on the subject of diphtheria was read by Dr. Cox and thoroughly discussed by all the doctors present. This being the last meeting of the year, the society elected the following officers for the ensuing year: Dr. E.A. Long, president; Dr. G.A. McLain, vice president; Dr. S.B. Gillespie, secretary and treasurer. The new officers will be indu