Madison Co. commissioners approve funds for school building study

JACKSON, Tenn. — Madison County commissioners spent Tuesday morning discussing education, the upkeep of buildings and a possible property re-zone.

With a packed agenda, commissioners met for nearly 90 minutes. Topics on the table included whether the Jackson-Madison County School System be given $204,000 for a study on buildings. Commissioners approved the spending, but not without expressing concerns.

“I was concerned we were able to close five good schools without having knowledge of all the buildings,” Commissioner Mike Taylor said.

The funds will be used to examine structure and mechanics of buildings more than 30 years old in the district.

One commissioner said some constituents have expressed concern the district seems to care more about physical spaces than actual education, a claim current board chairman Bob Alvey says is not true. During the meeting, Alvey attributed proper facilities to boosting education standards.

“We want to support the school system but do it in the right way and make sure decisions are being made properly,” Taylor said.

A resolution concerning a potential future outdoor sport shooting range in the northern part of the the county also passed. Commissioners say the proposal could require a two-step process and rezone a specific shooting rage near Medina.

Commissioner Doug Stephenson says the elected officials will have the final say on if a range is approved.

“It could be a person that has maybe a checkered past or something where we go, well, we’ve got some questions on that, so we do have the right to say no,” Stephenson said.

Another topic of discussion for commissioners was enforcing a 40 mph speed limit on Campbell Lane.

The county also recommended the district hang onto Beech Bluff Elementary School at least for the remainder of the school year.