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Four members of the Jefferson County Commission were present in the chamber Monday for the final meeting of this four-year cycle as voters head to the polls Tuesday. But Commissioner Joe Knight, who is recovering from heart surgery, checked in from home via Zoom.
“Good morning, everybody,” Knight began. “I hope everybody’s doing okay. I’m two weeks out today and doing pretty well. My strength’s returning. I’m progressing well and I want to thank all of you for your thoughts and your prayers.”
The District 4 commissioner said his family is taking good care of him.
“My sweet wife has been amazing,” he said. “I lovingly refer to her as my Nurse Ratchet. She’s been my Florence Nightingale. I hope you all are good.”
Knight wished Commission President Jimmie Stephens good luck in Tuesday’s election. He is the only member of the commission whose race is contested as the four-term incumbent faces Democratic nominee Camara Blue.
“I have a follow up with the surgeon on Thursday,” he said. “I’ll continue on my journey. I’ll do it. Good spirits, great hope, and I can’t wait to see you all next Wednesday.”
While Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, a federal holiday, state law dictates that the commission have its organizational meeting on that day to swear in commissioners and determine committee assignments. The downtown courthouse will be open only for that 9 a.m. meeting.
Commissioners took up one matter of new business during Monday’s combined committee/commission meeting. It was a community grant of $25,000 from the discretionary account of Commissioner Sheila Tyson to Exposure Community Development Corporation to assist with musical programs to honor military veterans in Jefferson County.
