By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–It was a night of big changes as the Henry County Commission accepted the resignations of County Mayor Brent Greer and County Sheriff Monte Belew Monday night.
Belew’s resignation was effective immediately, as he accepts the position of Director of Public Safety at UT Martin beginning Tuesday. He has served as sheriff for 14 years. (see top story on our site).
Greer announced his pending retirement last month and his resignation is effective on or before the general election November 3. Greer has served as County Mayor for 22 years and said his decision followed ‘thoughtful consideration and meaningful prayers.’
The county Board of Elections will meet in special session at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to place both vacancies on the November ballot.
Both Greer and Belew received standing ovations from the county commission and the large number of visitors on hand.
Greer noted how difficult the decision to retire before his term ended was for him, “but I made my decision for the right reasons for my family, myself and my community. I do not take it lightly. I’m just tired and I’m afraid if we go forward and if I’m not able to stand up to the standards I place for myself I’ll never be able to forgive myself.”
Greer noted the candidates who have already stepped forward to run for the position and said, “Henry County is fortunate we have people who will step up. It will take a group of commissioners like we have and officials like we have to keep the county moving forward as it has been.”
Former State Rep. Tim Wirgau, who has announced his candidacy for Greer’s position, thanked Greer “for your many years of working for the county.”
In other business:
Commissioner Marty Visser noted that the local school boards “have a tough way about them right now. We need to have them in our thoughts and prayers.”
Greer agreed, noting, “There are a lot of tough decisions facing all of us right now. We need to keep the community in our thoughts and prayers.”
–Greer reported that with another $30,000 grant from the State Department of Health “we’re now fixing to work on the mountain bike trail at Camp Hazelwood. It will be ten miles of bike trails. 100 percent grant money. We received grants in 2017 and 2019 and we are just now able to get started on the trail.”
–The commission approved the sale of the unused building at 317 Tyson Ave. by the Henry County Medical Center for $135,000.
Photo: County Mayor Brent Greer, right, speaks to the commission as Sheriff Belew (at podium) and Commissioner James Travis listen (Shannon McFarlin photo).