On Monday, the Carter County commissioners elected Bill McLaughlin as board chairman for 2009. Kevin Robinson will serve as vice chairman.
The commissioners renewed the seven-day, countywide burn ban for another week. County commissioners in Murray, Love, Marshall, Johnston and Jefferson counties took similar actions during their Monday meetings.
The commissioners also approved a request from Steven Smith on behalf of the Noble Foundation and Quail Unlimited to conduct several prescribed burns in the field trial grounds at Lake Murray State Park during January and February. Smith gave the commissioners a written prescribed burning notification plan detailing various contingencies. Smith said he also will send copies of the plan to the Dickson and Ardmore fire departments, the Carter and Love county sheriff’s departments and Lake Murray State Park.
Smith said Noble Foundation staff will assist Quail Unlimited members in burning 71 acres in the park. The purpose of the burns is to improve bobwhite habitat and kill eastern red cedar seedlings and saplings.
Weather permitting, the burns are planned from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days when winds are expected to be low and relative humidity levels are high.
In other business, the commissioners:
* Approved advertising for six-month bids on kiln dust and a milling machine
* Approved a request for a road crossing in District 1
* Approved county officer reports, requisitions and purchase orders
* And completed a required tour of the Carter County Detention Center.
