Security Upgrades Planned at Schools
Board Okays Funding for Cameras, Monitors, Sensors

   Upgrades to security systems at three county schools were approved July 6 during a meeting of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors.
   Board members agreed to pay for upgrades amounting to $6,772.50 at Grundy High School, Twin Valley High School and Twin Valley Elementary-Middle School at the rate of $2,257.50 per school.
   The upgrades requested were as follows:
   Grundy High School, $3,327, for security cameras and monitors;
   Twin Valley High School, $1,845, for a control panel, ceiling motion sensors, wall motion sensors, key pads, battery strobe lights and cables; and
   Twin Valley Elementary-Middle School, $1,745, for for a control panel, ceiling motion sensors, wall motion sensors, key pads, battery strobe lights and cables.
   Several school-related transfers were also approved, including one in the amount of  $700,089.93 to be paid monthly beginning July 6 representing the county’s local share  funding of  $8,4 million for 2006-07. Board members also agreed to allow the school system to carry over appropriations previously made for roof projects at Twin Valley Elementary-Middle and Council Elementary and agreed to transfer monies for professional fees for the roofing and boiler projects.

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Crabtree Accepts IDA Post; Resigns As Manager

   Chuck Crabtree announced Tuesday night he will resign as manager of the Town of Grundy effective July 26, 2006 in order to accept a position full time as director of the Town of Grundy Industrial Development Authority.
   Town IDA Chairman Ed Bunn brought up the topic for discussion near the close of Tuesday's meeting, noting that Crabtree's current capacity as town manager and executive director of the IDA, leaves Crabtree with too many things demanding his attention.
   "We have a town to build," Bunn said referring to the ongoing Grundy Flood Control and Redevelopment project. "If we don't build the town, we don't need a town manager."
   Bunn noted Crabtree currently splits his time between his duties as town manager and as the IDA executive director, however, Bunn said he thought Crabtree would be better suited to put his time into industrial development.
   He noted that in the past Crabtree had been assigned duties as the IDA director, but gradually had been moved back into wearing both hats as town manager and IDA director again.
   "I would like for him to be here full time," Bunn said of the IDA post.
   Bunn said he had spoken with individual members of the personnel committee and Mayor Roger Powers about the potential reassignment in advance of Tuesday's meeting.
   IDA Member Chris Shortridge asked board members to discuss the matter behind closed doors. IDA Vice Chairman Mark Mutter seconded the motion to go into closed session.
   When board members emerged from behind closed doors 30 minutes later, it was to agree on a motion by Bob Hale and second by Shortridge to hire Crabtree as the IDA director at the same rate of pay and benefits as Crabtree now receives.
   IDA Members Chris Mitchell and Shea Shrader were not in attendance at Tuesday's meeting.
   Grundy Mayor Roger Powers said after the IDA meeting Tuesday that he would call a special meeting of the Town Council within the next few days to determine how council will fill the vacancy created by Crabtree's reassignment.
   In a brief interview following the meeting, Crabtree said he would accept the position and resign the town manager's post effective next week.
   "I'll go wherever they need me," Crabtree said. "We've got a town to build and this will allow me to focus more on the building of the town."

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