CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Juneteenth is now officially a paid holiday for Montgomery County employees after the measure was approved Monday night by the County Commission.
A resolution to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for all county employees was introduced in August by Commissioner Rashidah Leverett.
After several attempts at amendment in August, the resolution failed by a single vote. However, two commissioners reported having voted incorrectly. Commissioners Tangi Smith and Lisa Prichard voted no, believing they were voting on an amendment.
Monday night, Commissioner Joe Smith proposed an amendment to swap the day after Thanksgiving for Juneteenth, which was originally proposed by Commissioner Josh Beal in August. The amendment failed to pass.
Commissioner Garland Johnson called some amendments a ploy to make county employees hate the holiday, though he did not state which amendments he was referring to.
This time, the resolution passed by a single vote. Members of the audience cheered the result.
This story will be updated.