Commissioners sworn in, receive assignments

LISA HOBBS - News Editor

Executive Terry Bell has retained his seat as chairman of the Warren County Commission. That, and other positions, were finalized during last night’s special-called session.

Bell, among his duties as chairman, must generate a list of committee appointments for commissioners’ approval. He recommended the following:

Budget and Finance: Commissioners Scott Rubley, Carl D. Bouldin, Cole Taylor, Christy Ross and Tommy Savage.

County Corrections Partnership: Commissioners Randy England, Charles Dotson, Chris Rippy, Caleb Graves and Stephen Potter.

Education: Commissioners Carlene Brown, Scott Kelly, James Zahn, Chris Rippy and Caleb Graves.

Health and Welfare: Commissioners Blaine Wilcher, Phillip Stout, Scott Rubley, Brad Hillis and Steve Glenn.

Safety and Beer: Commissioners Ron Lee, Michael Bell, Randy England, Gary Prater and James Zahn.

Opioid Committee: Commissioner Chris Rippy.

Policy and Personnel: Commissioners Tommy Savage, Steve Glenn, Kenny Moffitt, Phillip Stout and Ken Martin.

Highway and Bridge: Commissioners Gary Prater, Brad Hillis, Charles Dotson, Kenny Moffitt and Traye Cope.

Economic and Agriculture: Commissioners Carl D. Bouldin, Brad Hillis, Ron Lee, Cam Montgomery and Stephen Potter.

Legislative: Commissioners Christy Ross, Carlene Brown, Ken Martin, Blaine Wilcher and Carl D. Bouldin.

Building and Grounds: Commissioners Michael Bell, Scott Kelly, Cam Montgomery, Cole Taylor and Traye Cope.

Tourism Authority: Commissioners Christy Ross, Randy England, Caleb Graves and Carlene Brown.

“When I went to Murfreesboro a couple years ago taking county executive classes, they recommended that no county put two county commissioners from the same district on one committee,” said Bell. “If you think that’s easy to do with 24 commissioners, you need to try it. It’s a lot. If you’re not on a committee that you were on last year, it doesn’t mean that you didn’t do a good job. We’ve done a great job over the last four years, but I couldn’t put everybody where they always wanted to be. We have worked really good together over the last four years, and it’s my hope that we continue to do that. I tried to get everyone on some committees that they wanted. Maybe not every committee you wanted, but I tried to get you on at least one committee that you wanted.”

The first name listed is the interim chairman and will call the first meeting to order. After that, each committee is tasted with electing a chairman, vice chairman and secretary.   

Commissioners unanimously approved Bell’s recommended committee structure.

Absent from the list were members of the county’s Financial Management Committee. Bell allows those members to be nominated by the full commission. Appointments are made annually. Serving in fiscal year 2025-26 were Rubley, Taylor, Hillis and Ross. Those commissioners were unanimously approved for fiscal year 2026-27.

With the formalities coming to an end, the new board of commissioners received their first task in their roles; they had to vote on a measure that called the 3rd and 5th District Constable seats vacant due to no one qualifying to run for those seats in the August election. Commissioners unanimously approved.

Those seats will now be placed on the November ballot. The Qualifying deadline is Sept. 9 at noon. For additional information, Warren County Election Commission can be reached at 931-473-5834. The office is located at 201 Locust Street in the Warren County Administrative Offices Building.

Bell swore in all 24 commissioners prior to this meeting. Bell was sworn into office by Judge Ryan J. Moore on Monday evening.