The DeKalb County Commission met for the last time on Monday, August 22, before the newly elected commissioners and county mayor took their oath of office and begin their terms in September. During the meeting, County Mayor Tim Stribling and some outgoing commissioners were recognized for their service to the county.

Commissioners leaving office are 1st District Commissioner Shaee Flatt of the 1st district with 19 months of service, 1st District Commissioner Julie Young, with six years; 3rd District Commissioner Jenny Trapp, with four years of service; 4th District Commissioners Janice Fish Stewart and Dr. Scott Little, both with four years of service; 5th District Commissioner Jerry Adcock, with 12 years of service; 5th District Commissioner Anita Puckett, with eight years; 6th District Commissioner Matt Adcock, who will be taking over as County Mayor with four years of service, and 7th District Commissioner Bruce Malone, also with four years of service.

“I appreciate everything you have done,” said County Mayor Stribling. “I think we have done some good things for the county. I want to thank this commission and the one prior as well as all county employees for their dedicated service.”

Mayor-Elect Matt Adcock then presented Mayor Stribling with an “Outstanding Leadership Award” on behalf of the commission “in recognition of exceptional leadership and dedicated service to DeKalb County” over the last eight years as county mayor.

In regular business, the commission voted to acknowledge the merger agreement between Middle Tennessee Natural Gas and the Clay Gas Utility District of Clay County.

Approval was also granted for a state required statutory bond for the office of Trustee, which is done every four years.

In other business, Commissioner Malone made a motion that the County Veterans’ Service Officer, Bill Rutherford, be given an increase in pay of $75 per month. He currently earns $1,000 per month.

Commissioner Jerry Adcock offered a second to the motion. All voted in favor except 2nd district Commissioner Sabrina Farler. Farler later explained that her vote was not against the Veterans’ Office, but rather at how the pay raise was requested. Farler said that the commission just held budget committee meetings the month before and she felt that the issue should have been brought up at that time.

“We had three months of budget committee meetings, and this was never mentioned,” said Farler.