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HUNTINGDON (April 14) — The county airport is now the Sgt. Lee Russell Carroll County Airport. With a unanimous vote, the Carroll County Commission approved Resolution 4-11-25, naming the airport in honor of the late Tennessee State Trooper. Sgt. Russell tragically died in a helicopter crash while on duty in August 2022.
Sgt. Russell served Tennessee for nearly 12 years, beginning as a reserve deputy for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office in 2007 while attending UT Martin. He became a full-time Henry County Sheriff’s Deputy in 2008 and, a year later, began his aviation career as a part-time pilot while serving on the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force. He transitioned to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) in 2010 and was selected as a THP pilot in May 2012. He was transferred to the Carroll County Airport so there would be an available helicopter in northwest Tennessee. He was promoted to sergeant on November 12, 2017.
Two resolutions dealing with the Carroll County Electric Department were approved. Resolutions 4-01-2025 and 4-02-2025 deal with bonds used for the construction of the substation located near the Leach Community. Resolution 4-01-2025 states it is the initial resolution authorizing the issuance of not to exceed $10,000,000 in electric system revenue and tax bonds of Carroll County. Resolution 4-02-2025 – authorized the issuance of not to exceed $10,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of electric system revenue and tax bonds, series 2025 of Carroll County, Tennessee; making provision for the issuance, sale and payment of said bonds; establishing the terms thereof and the disposition of proceeds therefrom; providing for the collection and disposition of revenues from the electric system of the county; and making provision for the operation of said system.
Ryan Drewry, Carroll County Electric General Manager, was in attendance to explain some of the points of the two resolutions. Drewry stated, that the Leach substation constitutes about 60% of the expense. The other upgrades and renovations will take place within the existing system. Part of this will be done at the substation located adjacent to Granges and improvements to the system connecting Huntingdon to Trezevant.
The improvement will alleviate some of the load strain making electricity more readily available to Carroll County’s industrial sights. The last bond issued to Carroll County Electric was in 2001 and has been retired.
The Rules of Order were temporarily suspended during the meeting to revisit Resolution 11-03-2024 which allowed Sheriff Andy Dickson to research and have the County take part in a study to address pay retirement standards through hazardous duty supplemental benefits. Due to what the State felt was missing in the original resolution, the County adopted a resolution drafted by the State that mentioned paying funds for the actuarial study.
Additional resolutions approved: Resolution 4-03-2025 – Authorizing Carroll County to participate in the 24th Judicial District Recovery Courts allocation of funds received from Opioid Abatement Funds. This is a 3-year continuation, allowing the county to continue funding its participation in Circuit Court Judge Brent Bradberry’s Recovery Court utilizing our Opioid Abatement funds.
Resolution 4-04-2025 – Appointed Marty Towater to the Civil Service Commission.
Resolution 4-05-2025 – Requires the Carroll County Clerk and Master to transmit monthly fees of the Office to the County Trustee and to pay the salaries and expenses of the office from the General Fund. This is designed to address an audit finding in the Clerk and Master’s Office, due to a deficit in financial operations. This resolution addresses this by having this office function the same as our other fee-collecting offices, where revenues generated come to the County General Fund and expenses of his salary and other expenses are the responsibility of the County Government under the Central Finance Director. The resolution also proposed that it remain this way in future years.
Resolution 4-06-2025 – amended the General Fund Budget with a transfer of $42,434 for Rural Fire. The movement went towards line items composed of salary, maintenance, dues and communication equipment.
Resolution 4-07-2025 – amended the General Fund Budget for the Trustee’s Office by $1,321 to be moved from data processing to the line item of deputies.
Resolution 4-08-2025 – amended the School General Fund Budget by $13,000 through line items transfers from bus drivers and career ladder to other salaries and other wages.
Resolution 4-09-2025 – amends the School Transportation Fund Budget. This amendment moved $7,500 from unrestricted funds to a line item called Board of Education — Trustee’s Commissions.
Resolution 4-10-2025 – authorized the County Mayor to Sign a Project Proposal with the Tennessee Department of Transportation. This deals with the transfer of property to be used by TDOT on Rochelle Road adjacent to the Carroll County Airport for road improvements.
The following were elected notaries: Kaliah Adams, Lydia Chadwick, Dylan Clifft, Steven Trevor Foster, Vicky Jarrett, Selenia D. Lockhart, Cindy McMinn, Dawn Oakes, Gina Pate, April Pritchard, Geneva L. Rumley, Tammy A. Simpson, Steven L. West, Anna Wheet and Katie Woolf.
The next regular meeting of the Carroll County Commission is May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Carroll County Government Complex.
