During the recent Jackson County Commission joint meeting and work session , several budget amendments were approved.
The hiring of a temporary employee for the Jackson County mapping and appraisal office was approved.

Commissioners approved the purchase and installation of security cameras for both the Jackson County Courthouse and the Jackson County Courthouse Annex. Jackson County will pay J&B Electronic Systems, LLC $52,719.90 for the purchase and installation of cameras at the Jackson County Courthouse Annex. Jackson County will also pay J&B Electronic Systems, LLC $27,050.04 for cameras inside the Jackson County Courthouse. Jackson County Commissioner A.J. Buckner questioned the approval without multiple bids. Jackson County Attorney John Porter explained that since the items fall under Public Works there was no issue.

An Umbra Law Enforcement data access agreement was reviewed and approved by the Commission. The no-cost agreement required access to public records. However, it in turn gave law enforcement access to a large database of mug shots. Jackson County Sheriff Rocky Harnen stated that this software will be beneficial to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

An offer from Truck Works to exchange two chassis on trucks belonging to Jackson County Public Works, due to issues with mountain braking, was approved. The agreement offered to buy back the two T480 chassis at full cost and sell two L770 chassis to the department at a discounted rate of $116,000.

Commissioner Chris Gulley updated the commission on the new playground at Higdon. The playground is now complete.