Commission also approves the appointment of Dr. Marco Ross as Shelby County medical examiner.

The County Commission put off a vote on the change in the reappraisal cycle until its April 12 meeting as commissioners hear a lot from constituents about increased property values in the current reappraisal.

The Monday, March 22, meeting also featured the defeat of a resolution calling for federal officials to reconsider a nationwide permit for the pipeline project granted in February by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

An independent report concluded Ford failed to disclose a county grant he proposed in 2019 would be used to buy computer equipment from Ford totaling $45,000.

All residents age 16 and older will be eligible to get vaccine appointments beginning next week, Shelby County Health Department Deputy Director David Sweat told county commissioners Monday afternoon, March 22.

The move to every other year comes as property owners are getting reappraisal notices this month that increased property values by an average of 15% to 20% countywide. 

When Shelby County Schools students entered their school buildings this month, many did so for the first time in about a year. But children attending smaller suburban municipal districts had been back for months.

While many are surprised by their reappraisal, some Germantown residents feel the assessor’s office did not keep its promise after the 2019 flood.

Greater access through more public sites and pop-up events combined with higher vaccine allotments from the state and declining wait times are three reasons attributed to the changes in recent weeks.

Face mask directive is effective today; health directive changes begin Saturday.

The 15-page report obtained by The Daily Memphian details a nearly year-long investigation that initially faded for lack of corroboration but came back to life as paperwork confirming the grant emerged. Ford has contended he recused himself since he left the room during the vote on the grant. The report says that doesn’t resolve the conflict of interest and could lead to his removal from office.

State will issue final report in several weeks on the lapses it found at the Shelby County Health Department.

The County Commission Scorecard tracks votes on a piece of legislation in Nashville that would change the way county commissioners are elected and final approval of a share of county contracts for locally owned small businesses.

Due to glitches with the state’s VRAS vaccine signup program, Shelby County has reverted to SignUpGenius to schedule appointments, Mayor Jim Strickland announced. 

The notices are drawing fire from a county commissioner after the commission approved $180,000 more in funding last month for the direct mail piece. The assessor’s office says it is Melvin Burgess’ way of “owning” the process.

Hall will serve up to 90 days and will also help conduct the search for new permanent director.

When state investigation is over, state Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey says she will report to the citizens of Shelby County. 

Bartlett’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen authorized Mayor Keith McDonald to enter an agreement with Lakeland and Arlington to open a joint vaccination location at its meeting Tuesday.

To build capacity, the City of Memphis expects to run five or six fixed vaccination sites plus one or two pop-up locations in neighborhoods where access is an issue.

Commission also approves a goal of giving locally-owned small businesses 20% of county government contracts and purchases.

State Health commissioner Lisa Piercey said she won’t have a completed report by Friday, March 12.

The bill in Nashville would outlaw partisan primary elections in Shelby and Davidson counties – the state’s two biggest concentrations of Democratic voters.

The new CDC guidance does not include children.