County Honors Retirees, Commission Votes Down Hazardous Duty Benefit

HUNTINGDON (August 10) — The Carroll County Commission honored retiring county officials and rejected a proposed hazardous duty supplemental retirement benefit during its Monday, August 10 meeting at the Carroll County Civic Center.

Recognized for their service were retiring county officials Property Assessor Rita Jones, Road Supervisor Ricky Scott and Sheriff Andy Dickson, along with County Commissioners Jimmy McClure, Joey Darnall, John Austin, Cyril Ostiguy, Joey Simmons and Daniel Thomas.

Resolution 8-08-2026, which would have established a Hazardous Duty Supplemental Benefit, generated considerable discussion among commissioners and Sheriff Dickson.

One concern was the requirement for the county to make a lump-sum payment of $328,774 to the retirement system. Commissioners also discussed the limited number of individuals who would be eligible for the benefit. Volunteer firefighters were among those who would not qualify.

Prior to the vote, Commissioner Barry Mac Murphy moved to table the resolution until the next meeting. The motion received a second but failed 4-16-1. Several commissioners said the current legislative body should make the decision rather than leave the matter to the new commission taking office September 1.

Dickson noted that incoming Sheriff Eric Sawyers was present and could answer questions concerning his position on the proposal. Sawyers was not called on by the commission.

The commission then voted 4-15-2 against establishing the hazardous duty supplemental benefit.

Following the vote, Dickson requested the withdrawal of Resolution 8-10-2026, which would have amended the Drug Fund Budget by $240,000 for the purchase of vehicles. The measure could return to the commission for consideration in September.

The commission approved Resolution 8-04-2026, extending Sunday hours for establishments selling beer in unincorporated areas of Carroll County. Under the resolution, beer sales are permitted from noon to midnight on Sundays. The measure passed 17-4.

Resolution 8-06-2026 established a one-year moratorium on data centers in Carroll County. The moratorium gives the Carroll County Mayor’s Office, Carroll County Lake Planning Commission and Carroll County Legislative Body time to study the potential health and environmental effects of current and emerging technologies, including data processing, data mining and cryptocurrency mining operations. Among the concerns cited regarding such operations are their peak electrical demands.

The commission approved Resolution 8-07-2026, authorizing a second amendment to the Waste Disposal Services Agreement with Republic Services for rural trash collection and disposal. The agreement establishes a five-year contract between Carroll County and Republic Services, with an option for a five-year extension.

Republic Services assumed the county’s waste disposal services following the collapse of Red River. The Solid Waste Committee recommended continuing with Republic Services following the company’s acquisition of RaeKar.

Resolution 8-05-2026 amended the rules governing the Carroll County Legislative Body. Under Rule VII, language concerning the citizens forum was changed by deleting the phrase “on a subject on the agenda” and replacing it with language allowing comments on matters germane to both agenda items and the jurisdiction of the legislative body. Under Rule X, the “Budget Committee” was renamed the “Finance, Ways and Means Committee.”

Other Business, the commission also approved several other resolutions:

Resolution 8-01-2026 authorized retiring Sheriff Andy Dickson to retain a service weapon of his choice.

Resolution 8-02-2026 appointed Mary Ryan Bond and Rene Dickens to the Carroll County Library Board.

Resolution 8-03-2026 appointed Willie Huffman and Dr. Walter Butler to the Carroll County Electric Department Board.

Resolution 8-09-2026 amended the General Fund Budget for Animal Control by $19,200.

Resolution 8-11-2026 amended the ARPA Fund Budget for a Civic Center grant in the amount of $116,054.

Resolution 8-12-2026 amended the Grant Fund Budget for various county departments.

Notaries elected were Caleb Buchanan, Amy Countryman, Nelda Davidson, Tina Pauline Deloach, David Garcia, Amelia Jordan, Dwayne Maddox III, Andrew Maddox, Heather Moore, Courtney Oatsvall and Jamy Wortham.

The next scheduled meeting of the Carroll County Commission is September 14 at 7 p.m. at the Carroll County Government Complex in Huntingdon.