Lawrence County Commissioners took action at their September 24 meeting that advanced two significant projects: the West Gaines School Community Center and the new Lawrence County Health Department.
The Commission voted unanimously to transfer ownership of the West Gaines School property to the West Gaines School Community Center, Inc., a nonprofit group that includes former students, family, and friends. I am proud to be one of its members and celebrate this milestone with them.
The school opened in 1937 to serve Lawrence County’s African-American children in grades 1-8. Integration closed the school in 1964, and the building served as offices for Department of Human Services and the Lawrence County Board of Education. It has been empty for many years and fallen into disrepair.
The West Gaines School Community Center, Inc. has been working since 2019 to attain the building and turn it into something that will once again serve this community. Their plans include developing a museum of local African-American history, a place for community gatherings and after-school programs.
I have never seen a group of people as determined and patient. Transferring the property to them involved a lot of red tape and delays, but they continued to meet every week, conduct fundraisers, and make presentations about their plans. Along the way, they attracted the attention of two great allies: Dr. Carroll Van West, Director of the MTSU Center for Historic Preservation; and Rebecca Brewer Moore, an instructor in the Belmont University design program. Students in both programs have done pro bono work for the West Gaines group.
With ownership, the nonprofit can apply for grants to refurbish the former school. I feel very good about their ability to do that, since the building is a landmark in African-American history for our county and region. I’m looking forward to seeing their dream come true.
Commissioners also voted on September 24 to approve Wold Architects and Engineers as the architect for our new Health Department. With this action and the land purchase behind us, the real work can begin. We’ll soon see our new Health Department, built in a better location and designed to better serve our citizens, rise from the ground.
The agenda included several items the Commission considers every September. They elected Shane Eaton to his second year as Commission Chair, so he will conduct its meetings and propose members to all committees that do not deal with county finance. As County Executive, I propose members to the Budget and Purchasing Committees, and chair their meetings.
I want to congratulate Commissioner Eaton and Commissioner Dave Ray, who was elected Chair Pro Tempore. Ray is the youngest member of our Commission and will conduct meetings in Eaton’s absence.
About 50% of Tennessee’s County Executives (or Mayors, as they’re more commonly called) serve as Chair of their respective Commissions. The trend in counties that are growing like ours is that a member of the Commission serves as Chair, so Executives/Mayors can focus on their work as CFO and CEO of their counties. Having a Commissioner in that position also forms a bridge between a county’s executive and legislative branches.
All committee appointments were approved at the September 24 meeting as well. You can find a list of Commission committees and their members on our website, LawrenceCountyTN.gov.
Longtime County Attorney Charlie Holt was reappointed to serve another year in that post, and we would make it a lifetime appointment if we could. We call on Holt almost every day about one matter or another, which probably makes him the most underpaid member of our team.
September agendas also include appointment of the County Budget Director and Purchasing Agent. Brandi Williams and Kelly Odom, respectively, received unanimous support, which is exactly what they deserve. Both do great work in difficult jobs.
