By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–The Henry County Commission met at the courthouse for the first time in a year Monday evening and it was the first time since County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway took office that he presided over the county commission from the podium in the courtroom.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, commissioners have been meeting at the County’s Emergency Management building, which allowed more space for social distancing and provided a telephone hook-up for telephonic meetings.
“Welcome back to the courthouse,” Ridgeway said at the meeting’s outset. The session was a short and sweet one–logging in at only 15 swift minutes.
Commissioners applauded the certificate from the Tennessee Comptroller’s office recognizing that Henry County achieved a ‘clean audit’ for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2020. According to the certificate the audit contained zero findings “and is an indication of the country’s strong system of internal control and exemplary financial reporting.”
In answer to a question from commissioners, Ridgeway reported that according to the latest data, 28.44 percent of Henry Countians have received both of their COVID vaccines.
In other business:
–The commission approved a resolution authorizing the sale of delinquent tax properties at a reduced price. According to the resolution, it appears that the delinquent tax parcels are impossible to sell for an amount equal to the total amount of the taxes, penalty, cost and interest. Eight parcels are included in the resolution.
–Commissioner Dell Carter applauded Henry County High School for its car show over the weekend, which he said is just “another good thing that our county school system has done. Our school system is out of this world.”
Photo: County Mayor Ridgeway greets commissioners at Monday evening’s meeting. In photo are Commissioners Randy Gean and David Webb. (Shannon McFarlin photo).