TAZEWELL, Tenn. — It was the first meeting with newly elected commissioners and Mayor Jack Daniel’s first official meeting as County Mayor.

Rumors flew throughout Claiborne County since the termination of Dr. Eddie Shoffner as Director of Claiborne County Schools that the situation would be brought before County Court.

Hundreds filled the courtroom, several were there to see if there was any discussion on Dr. Shoffner’s position but the majority of the crowd was there in support of the Claiborne Animal Shelter.

When commission came to Resolution 2010-106 Appropriations Resolution, Commissioner Shawn Peters made a motion to add $15,000 to the Animal Shelter Control Board, which was $5,000 more than what they received last year.

Charleton Vass seconded the motion and before another word could be said, a citizen from the audience stood up to speak.

“I feel that it is bad when you put two or three resolutions together and vote on them,” he said, “Because then you don’t know how your commissioner feels.”

Commissioner Steve Mason spoke up and said that he would like to make a motion to amend the $15,000 and give the board what they received last year, which was $10,000.

“It is important for the health and safety of the community,” Dr. Mike Seaman of the DeBusk School of Osteopathic Medicine said to the audience, “This is an investment in our future.”

A roll call vote was taken first on Mason’s amendment to lower the money to $10,000. The motion failed.

A roll call vote was taken on Peter’s motion to give them $15,000, which failed also.

The decision does not give the Claiborne Animal Shelter any funds to operate with this year but they remain hopeful that they will get help somewhere.

“We will continue on,” Chair Ann Bowling said, “We have made it this far, we are not giving up hope.”

The vote for the Appropriations Resolution passed commission with 18 for and three against.

Commission also discussed the property that is adjacent to the Historical Society Museum. The Claiborne County Industrial Board currently owns the property and that Walters State wants to keep that property unless they need it in the future.

Commissioner Dennis Estes asked how many people would be able to park a vehicle on the property if they ever decided they needed to use it as a parking lot.

Attorney Jimmy Estep said that it would be approximately 10 to 15 cars.

A representative with the Historical Society stated that they were promised that land when it was brought before commission a few years back.

Commissioner Bill Keck stated that when it was voted on, the historical society was given that land.

Estep told them that in order to transfer land that it has to be in writing and nothing was ever given to them in writing.

The court voted David Mundy in as Chairman of the Commission and Mike Campbell as Vice-Chairman.

A motion was made by Commissioner Steve Mason to place Jimmy Estep back in as the county attorney. Commissioner Glenn Bowling then made a motion to put Danny Stone in as the county attorney. Newly elected Commissioner Steve Vass made a motion to put Tom Tabor Esq. in as attorney but the motion died by lack of a second.

When County Clerk Evelyn Hill began taking the roll call vote, County Mayor Jack Daniels interrupted her.

He was concerned about following the rules for the agenda due to Estep being placed on the agenda 24 hours after the deadline.

Commissioner Bill Brooks stood up and stated that he had not received his packet until last Monday and by rule, they are supposed to get them ten days before the meeting.

Commissioner Juanita Honeycutt made a motion to set the rules aside to go ahead and vote on the attorneys. Honeycutt received a second from Ken Clark and they proceeded.

Sixteen commissioners voted to keep Jimmy Estep in as county attorney and four voted to place Stone in as county attorney.

Terry England and Rob Asbury were recommended for the hospital board and approved by commission.

The next meeting of the Claiborne County Commission will be on October 18 at the courthouse in the large courtroom at 7:30.

Deadline for information turned in for the October agenda is Wednesday, October 6 at noon.

Ashley Collingsworth is a staff writer for the Claiborne Progress.