Greene County Partnership President Randy Harrell told the county commission on Monday that two companies, one U.S. and the other international, are considering industrial sites here.

Harrell said that, despite economic uncertainty, a "very aggressive" international startup company has visited Greene County twice, the second time last week.

"We are actively working with (this) foreign company," Harrell said, adding that he is "confident that we are on the short list" of locations the company is considering. For competitive reasons, companies seeking new sites are not named until location decisions are final.

Harrell said the GCP is also working with "a domestic company that has short-listed Greene County" after considering sites in North Carolina and elsewhere in Tennessee.

"I am confident we are the front-runner," Harrell said, and said the company will return on Thursday. If the company chooses Greene County, he said, it will mean 35 new jobs.

Announcements will be made "in the next month or so," he said.

Harrell said he continues to work with existing industries, and two expansions of them are planned, one at John Deere Power Products Inc., where "fast track" approval was obtained for a new water line.

Harrell said he has also met in the past two weeks with other local companies that are considering expansions.

Harrell also noted that the Partnership has updated its Web site, www.greeenecountypartnership.com and it is now current and updated regularly.

Speaking in general terms, Harrell predicted "tough times," adding, "I've been doing this (economic development) for 28 years, and I've never seen anything like it."

He continued, "I'm pleased to say that we have activity in Greene County when other counties probably do not," because "this is a great place to do business.

"In the next six months, possibly a year, I am convinced we will see more downsizing, more layoffs, more consolidations" as companies do what they need to do to stay in business and react to conditions.

"The sad thing is, we may see some plant closures, but we'll remain optimistic and continue planning for the future," Harrell said.

Greene County Mayor Alan Broyles said, "We appreciate the good job you're doing."

Harrell had begun his remarks by saying, "We were fortunate enough to keep American Greetings here, operating in Greene County," because a community action team was formed quickly, including Mayor Broyles.

Commissioner Bill Dabbs asked Harrell if it is likely that the community will have to negotiate again with American Greetings in three years, since similar negotiations took place three years ago, when the company was considering whether to expand here or in Nashville, and chose Greeneville.

Harrell said Dabbs was asking him to speculate, "and I don't think I can do that," but added it is possible that this will not be the last time such negotiations take place.

Much will be contingent on economic times, he said, on the company's profitability, and on outsourcing.

Harrell noted that local and state incentives were offered to American Greetings, "but at this time, they have not accepted them. That doesn't mean they won't."

The county commission moved quickly to approve four resolutions.

One resolution, recommended by the school board and education committee, made changes in the county school system's budget related to state-funded teacher raises.

The resolution includes a $181,499 increase from the state for the bonuses, and a $72,376 increase in state funding for special education students that require additional services.

Increased funding for pre-kindergarten equipment accounts for $51,391, and an additional $27,000 for an after-school program at McDonald Elementary School and $10,000 for a school health grant are also included.

Another resolution was approved to reimburse Lloyd Cutler for property taxes he paid on land purchased at a county tax sale in 2000 that should not have been offered in the sale.

Broyles told the budget committee that the county is under a court order to make the reimbursement.

County Attorney Roger Woolsey said the tax sale "was set aside" in court after Cutler sued to get his money back. The case was handled in court by attorney Keith Livingston, who was the county's tax attorney on the property.

"We really don't have a choice" about the reimbursement, Woolsey said.

According to the resolution, on Jan. 7, 2007, Cutler filed suit against County Trustee Dan Walker seeking reimbursement of the purchase price, fees, costs and property taxes "as well as interest resulting from his purchase of a parcel of land at the tax sale for Greene County on Jan. 10, 2000.

The resolution directs that Cutler be paid $3,977.

A resolution to use $5,100 in the Solid Waste Department's budget for concrete pads needed for installation of large trash compactors at garbage collection convenience centers was approved. The resolution also adds $1,700 for increases in the cost of electricity used at the centers.

Another resolution was approved to allow the county government to accept and spend a $470 reimbursement for damage to landscaping.

Broyles explained that a truck driver headed for the John Deere Power Products plant mistook the new driver license station for the Deere entrance and ran over new landscaping there. The reimbursement covered the damage, he said.

Larry Parman, of Mosheim, spoke briefly to the commission. Parman began by saying that "everybody" he had talked to is "against the new jail."

Parman said he thinks the county already has more debt than it should, and cannot afford to take on construction of a new county detention center, or jail, in view of problems in the national economy.

Parman said he believes the county should concentrate on paying off debt.

The county commission also heard from PK Lowrey. He said that, "Like others, I perceive a perilous economic future, an inflationary recession where prices keep rising to unprecedented levels, folks can't afford to buy products and firms can't afford to hire employees."

Lowrey then said, "History certainly makes us aware of the conflict between liberty and tyranny," and the county commission has a role to play.

"I have a question for Sheriff Burns and each county commissioner," Lowrey said. "Hypothetically, how would you respond if forces came to Greene County and tried to confiscate the guns of our citizens, or invoke any other martial law? Would you comply or would you resist?"

Neither Sheriff Burns nor any commissioner replied to Lowrey's hypothetical query.