The Cumberland County Commission met for their regular session last night. Commissioners John Patterson and Carl MacLeod were absent. The following resolutions passed:

RESOLUTION 11-2019-1 – APPOINTMENT OF A SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR

Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster recommended Conrad Welch take over as the Solid Waste Director on a permanent basis. Welch has been serving as interim director since April of this year.  The commission approved the appointment unanimously.  Welch will continue serving as interim maintenance supervisor while a replacement is found.

RESOLUTION 11-2019-2 – REAPPOINTMENTS TO SOLID WASTE REGIONAL PLANNING BOARD

Everett Bolin and Barry Fields were reappointed to the Solid Waste Regional Planning Board with terms expiring in November of 2025, and Conrad Welch was added to the board with a term expiring in March of 2022.  The commission passed this unanimously.

RESOLUTION 11-2019-3 – APPOINTMENTS TO WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES COMMITTEE

Wayne Shadden and Charles Daugherty were unanimously reappointed to the Wildlife and Fisheries Committee with terms expiring in November of 2023.

RESOLUTION 11-2019-4 – BUDGET AMENDMENT, GENERAL FUND, SHERIFF DEPARTMENT – $270

This resolution unanimously accepted donations for candy at the Sheriff’s annual Trunk or Treat event.

RESOLUTION 11-2019-5 – BUDGET AMENDMENT, GENERAL FUND, DOWNTOWN CROSSVILLE, INC FOR $1,000

Downtown Crossville, Inc. (DCI) donated $1,000 to the county specifically for Christmas decorations at the courthouse. The commission passed this unanimously.

RESOLUTION 11-2019-6 – BUDGET AMENDMENT, GENERAL FUND, GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, COMMUNITY DONATIONS, $2,478

The Commission unanimously approved the donation from the Fairfield Glade Ladies Club to assist with dual enrollment and industry certification programs in schools.

RESOLUTION 11-2019-7 – BUDGET AMENDMENT, GENERAL FUND, SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, DRUG ENFOREMENT, $2,500

The commission unanimously approved additional grant funding from the US Office of National Drug Control Policy – Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), to offset overtime pay costs for drug related investigations.

RESOLUTION 11-2019-8 – BUDGET AMENDMENT, GENERAL FUND, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, CIVIL DEFENSE, $8,000 

The Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency applied for and received an Emergency Preparedness grant.  The county commission approved acceptance of the funds.

RESOLUTION 11-2019-9 – BUDGET AMENDMENT, GENERAL FUND, COUNTY BUILDINGS, $16,335 

This resolution funded the efforts to replace the telephone hardware and infrastructure improvements needed to move to a Voice Over IP (VoIP) phone system.

RESOLUTION 11-2019-10 – BUDGET AMENDMENT, GENERAL FUND, COUNTY BUILDINGS, $84,970  

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires the evaluation of public facilities to determine compliance, prepare a transition plan, and provide recommendations for compliance.  In order to develop a plan, the commission voted unanimously to fund and hire architect and engineering services to create the detailed plan that is required by TDOT.

RESOLUTION 11-2019-11 – BUDGET AMENDMENT, GENERAL FUND, SHERIFF/JAIL 

The 25-year-old generator at the Justice Center recently stopped working. The Tennessee Corrections Institute requires all jails in the state to have a generator for back up power. The original resolution in the amount of $139,191.00 was to replace the generator with a natural gas generator. The original request from the sheriff was to replace it with a diesel generator, but after discussion in the Budget Committee meeting, the natural gas generator was approved.  After discussion, the resolution was replaced in order to approve the diesel generator at a total cost of $ 96,591.00.  The motion to approve was 11-4-1.  Commissioners Threet, Wilson, Baldwin, and Blalock voted against the resolution and Commissioner Sherrill passed.

RESOLUTION 11-2019-12 – ACCEPT OFFERS TO PURCHASE THREE PROPERIES OWNED BY THE COUNTY   

The original resolution was to sell three properties, but one was withdrawn before the meeting. This will return the property to the tax rolls after it had been removed because of property taxes not being paid for several years.  The resolution was approved unanimously.

RESOLUTION 11-2019-13 – REPLACING THE CURRENT CUMBERLAND COUNTY PERSONNEL POLICY  

The policies have been reviewed and revised by CTAS, HR, the County Attorney, the Sheriff, the Finance Director, and the county mayor. The Commission passed the resolution adopting the policy unanimously. The document is posted on the HR Department page on the county website at: https://cumberlandcountytn.gov/directory/human-resources/.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Cumberland County Finance Director Nathan Brock reported local option sales tax collections came in at $846,819 which is $16,285 below estimated revenue. Overall, local option sales tax collections are $11,803 below the budgeted amount year to date.  Hotel/Motel tax collections are approximately 31.1% of the $817,283 budget as revised down because of last year’s collection.  So far $253,905 has been collected.  Property taxes are starting to come in and stand at 16.7% of budget.  Prisoner boarding is at 17.1% of budget at $127,374 collected.  EMS collections for the month were $324,174.  This puts year to date collections at $1,387,565 which is $54,233 above budget.