[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6447574,"mediaKeyId","3089052-9bf2e670a531a7ee512cb83528665a30","parentId",3089052,"title","Commission approves budget amendments, insurance changes and emergency purchases; Project Sam extension also approved","audioSeconds",2099,"startMs",2701000,"endMs",4800000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3089052-9bf2e670a531a7ee512cb83528665a30&start=2701&end=4800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3089052-9bf2e670a531a7ee512cb83528665a30/thumbnail_2701000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6447574/Madison-County/Tennessee/Commission-approves-budget-amendments-insurance-changes-and-emergency-purchases-Project-Sam-extension-also-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6447574-f2bcf2c5bb17cbdd3fed3f7a8ebf4f46/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140169&Signature=Pot3i~W67cdd48XY92yO1Fe40cXayjCfdB5qknqAqjCrcyayI-cy5LF7kmXxT8dKK0G5Ll9KVUq~j4Dvto~56j1ubKXjb5-jyZi97OSvhfVKCizX75R7EfJl1nNxQ6jAGA8Jbuhz-iDktPQfRrcG9ryem0u7dLk8TzRDZporIhyyl3F-337971b4oqOQd6U6Y-bJUU5qMugyZq~dzGcNjnv8MLBkJWdDCXoCXbSCWWiQ4MCb5FVkYc8JJvMFWy92cfoc9Swhd37Uta1mEQqQxOYiECnvYjuBGtMApvxXWBNaXq2m7mpQz8UAN4FVaWjpNO-tHYUXqPIigNNw~F61sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Jackson-Madison County,TN","date","2025-04-23T05:01:51.663Z","article","The Madison County Board of Commissioners on April 21 approved a set of budget amendments, transfers, committee recommendations and several emergency items during routine business.

Budget and finance votes
- Commissioners accepted multiple year-end and program budget amendments and grant receipts (examples recorded in the meeting packet): solid waste funding for waste-tire disposal; year‑end benefit cleanups for general government and juvenile services; liability insurance and trustees’ commissions; highway project adjustments for full-depth reclamation on Vassal Road and Baker Chapel Road; and multiple grant receipts for EMA, drug court, sheriff’s reimbursements and excess-resale receipts. The board approved these items as committee recommendations by voice vote.

Insurance and employee benefits
- The insurance committee reported a roughly $1 million-year loss on the county insurance plan and recommended remaining self-insured for the coming budget year while extending the reinsurance contract for one year. Commissioners approved extending the reinsurance contract and approved a $50 monthly increase in the county contribution for employee insurance coverage (county contribution raised from $600 to $650 per employee per month) to cover costs.

Emergency and capital items
- The commission approved an emergency purchase order to replace a failed HVAC unit at the library; the county’s share was listed as one-third of the cost (approximately $3,333.34 requested) and the motion passed by voice vote.
- The board approved the sale of a fire truck with a $25,000 item listed in the packet and voted to accept associated budget adjustments.

Other routine approvals
- The board accepted committee reports, committee appointments (insurance committee, long-range planning members), and the retirement and resignation items included on the agenda, including acceptance of Judge Hugh Harvey’s retirement effective May 30 and the resignation of an ethics committee member.

Votes and procedures
- The board used suspension of rules to take up Project Sam’s option agreement extension and voted to approve the extension. Most budget and grant items were taken as committee recommendations and approved by voice vote. The meeting record reflects unanimous voice approvals in most roll-call items discussed at the meeting.

The meeting minutes list multiple itemized amounts and grant sources in the meeting packet; the board voted on those packet items in grouped and individual motions as recorded in the meeting transcript and packet.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jackson-Madison County, TN Commission Meeting on 4-21-25","oneSentenceSummary","Madison County commissioners on April 21 approved a package of budget amendments, reinsurance and employee-insurance adjustments, emergency purchases and the extension of an option agreement for Project Sam.","taxTitle","Madison County, Tennessee","taxId",5103,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6447579,"Downtown Development Corporation reports new businesses, state façade grant and small-business incubator growth",601,3006000,3607000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3089052-9bf2e670a531a7ee512cb83528665a30&start=3006&end=3607","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3089052-9bf2e670a531a7ee512cb83528665a30/thumbnail_3006000.jpg","/articles/6447579/Madison-County/Tennessee/Downtown-Development-Corporation-reports-new-businesses-state-façade-grant-and-small-business-incubator-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6447579-4b1ae52cbd434ab740259e5d6e6868f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140169&Signature=hB1JHVi1ZyLIYi6rmSvRdiFFKopCCGW66nJJriPCRbAz6ZzT-37WH5X0dUmBumAvlc8etBipzpD5E7V34wCTCiJe043AUsItTvUrrfRWpTyOPypPszzf0Imb4zU11LWol1SjJFa-9aWBUTGKuYQ3Tn-RdN9aO-gMwkoXWpM0GdaI~9hC4q3ldSbAcJ9Hiu6i7mqj5jn7LcptqYXhFjrfDcFxpm5nnpTaOmaUDOee5bp17VrpTpZYGAOpQGWvcrRlbbsYVLGCgddMMs0KPThQYyHgrtEsnZ9lT6NDWZ7lpSc01tpgXwTviP2fC2ESIoAWQNOzqcI6a~t68qAIj9MaWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Beth Ann Simpson, director of the Jackson Downtown Development Corporation, briefed the Madison County Board of Commissioners on downtown economic and artistic development activity on April 21.

Simpson said 21 new businesses opened downtown in 2024, producing about 56 new jobs and $7.6 million in public and private reinvestment tied to rehabilitation and building projects. She said vacancy rates increased modestly but credit ongoing building rehabilitation for expected tenant growth.

Simpson highlighted a $300,000 state Main Street grant for façade improvement work that will start in the summer and target an estimated 15 buildings, including property-owner matches and CRA funding. She said the organization will begin an equitable application process and that work will include centralized dumpster enclosures and signage.

The director also pointed to a small-business incubator on Lafayette — 12 tenants since it opened in 2017–18, with 7 moving on to larger downtown spaces — and continued public-art investments tied to the farmer’s market and the city’s arts district.

Simpson encouraged commissioners and the public to visit downtown events such as the Art Walk and Food Truck Friday and to refer prospective businesses and residents interested in downtown property opportunities to the development organization.","Beth Ann Simpson, director of Jackson Downtown Development Corporation, reported 21 new downtown business openings in 2024, a state façade-improvement grant of $300,000, and progress on incubator tenant transitions and public art installations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6447583,"Library director outlines schematic plan and projected $32M construction estimate for main library expansion",700,2316000,3016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3089052-9bf2e670a531a7ee512cb83528665a30&start=2316&end=3016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3089052-9bf2e670a531a7ee512cb83528665a30/thumbnail_2316000.jpg","/articles/6447583/Madison-County/Tennessee/Library-director-outlines-schematic-plan-and-projected-32M-construction-estimate-for-main-library-expansion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6447583-d90999e0aab7d517f7a652cffbe2263a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140169&Signature=cba-5ci4a6dDyo-Ift3XXto5pzAE0vGCOn5hyFVKGzW3NmP-7VQYil1gnnpGoXbKcKgz8mA40irxSP-D1qmafiorR3Nd3c01i45BhVRFPFdQ1zCahrpMstfVxBi8TRQzhPgdavgHb1HTVA1tB36APcj3FMSE42gIiWoI-38Mlp50pgIKMo5BWyl~nZbhsD8Pz4aZ~sZhxQUiR4XoaiyfxaBzxikV5KSjS5hpknmrxJ1svH8mREh6x2eEvjZFGc5TIXj-6oXYQZZM4vDIS4rONw7AcCz90-KfQXrw~99kCWJnnWlB~rQNBGJcvTAkKOeRF2JgRABpbpGHcQFAVn3Eug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Donna (Miss) Harris, representing the Jackson-Madison County Library, presented the commission with a status update on a schematic design and cost estimates for an expanded downtown main library.

Harris said the library’s feasibility study — funded by the Library Foundation and conducted by Andrew Dahlgren — recommended a main library of at least 65,000 square feet (the current main library is about 30,000 square feet) and a north branch of roughly 12,000 square feet (current north branch about 3,500 square feet). She said the board concluded the main library should remain downtown and that the city and county purchased two adjacent houses on College Street to secure future expansion property.

Harris said schematic design work has been funded and completed with a Memphis-based firm, and interior work is being planned with a firm called Arcomania. She described features in the schematic including consolidated entrance/exit and added archival space, drive-through material pickup, and a seventh-floor children/teen makerspace area designed to improve supervision and safety.

Estimated costs Harris provided: about $790,000 for design development and “a little over $32,000,000” for construction and renovation including fixtures and furniture. She said the cost would be split with the city and that schematic design should be finalized before the end of the fiscal year, with design development slated 14–18 months before construction.

Harris asked commissioners to remember the library in future funding decisions. County officials confirmed the county and city have already invested nearly $500,000 into preliminary design and feasibility work.","Jackson-Madison County Library director Donna Harris presented schematic plans for a proposed addition to the downtown main library, a feasibility study summary and an estimated construction and renovation cost of about $32 million shared with the city.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6447587,"Commission approves 12-month extension of Project Sam option agreement for West Madison County site",392,2699000,3091000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3089052-9bf2e670a531a7ee512cb83528665a30&start=2699&end=3091","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3089052-9bf2e670a531a7ee512cb83528665a30/thumbnail_2699000.jpg","/articles/6447587/Madison-County/Tennessee/Commission-approves-12-month-extension-of-Project-Sam-option-agreement-for-West-Madison-County-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6447587-5a88878e63fbbec18ce14c9c67f4e4da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140169&Signature=TXjHv2AUG0Y-VWZmh~gR53sGPMTW5nUt2JGzgqDyOGNAbtdkFruDaCDnqEES1Bv2H-j4NC9nm6nS0-ld6mIp4M3aFTvJ6kuLxEz~Vxh1nr2xbtEe-sQfcGEkrFEGmRNOg-BUctwCH~7a70~1yrYB4rkH39hneczp2omkysdxl2Elb2T~L~quwZwXkquic9b50CAjsXiVTfvohX-wEj6T4KM9Vyxr1q2rJJkZrVPbCFNbEj5QU7VjfOYJhxfOfbjvI2Io06TgglusjDGozusTrZF-1tDGxgfgJqYywqO5sZ~D9UZitullCwnyQdqmmYFh5ONoz-G4xgwtq6uhvcALSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Madison County commissioners voted on April 21 to approve a 12-month extension of an option agreement with a prospective battery materials manufacturer identified in the record as Project Sam.

County staff told the commission the extension leaves the original purchase price unchanged: $60,000 per acre for 48.47 acres (about $2.9 million) plus 11.71 acres in a floodplain at $10,000 per acre (about $117,000), for a total near $3.0 million. The developer agreed to put up an additional nonrefundable deposit of $150,000; combined with prior deposits and investments the county would retain several hundred thousand dollars if the buyer declines to complete the purchase.

The county mayor said the project is expected to be a multi-phase manufacturing investment, with phase one estimated at about $220 million and the full buildout over multiple phases “over a billion dollars” and projected to bring high‑tech jobs producing battery anode materials. The buyer was described as an Australian company; county staff noted ongoing nondisclosure constraints in the record.

Commission discussion included clarification that the project would complement another local battery-component facility under construction that makes cathode materials, and staff said this would represent onshoring of a manufacturing step previously located in China or Australia.

The commission first voted to suspend the rules to take up the late-arriving option agreement extension and then voted to approve the extension. Commissioners identified in discussion included Commissioner Lisonbee, who made the motion to approve, and Olivia Abernathy, who seconded. The extension was approved by voice vote and recorded as passing.","The county approved an extension to an option agreement for Project Sam, a multi-phase battery-materials manufacturing project, keeping the original purchase price and taking additional deposit money to protect the county if the developer withdraws.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6447590,"Jackson-Madison County superintendent details literacy gains, enrollment rise and school supports",1549,417000,1966000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3089052-9bf2e670a531a7ee512cb83528665a30&start=417&end=1966","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3089052-9bf2e670a531a7ee512cb83528665a30/thumbnail_417000.jpg","/articles/6447590/Madison-County/Tennessee/Jackson-Madison-County-superintendent-details-literacy-gains-enrollment-rise-and-school-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6447590-fe461ebc32eec74cc5bcb1c31a6040a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140169&Signature=c5HtwXLxDml4LoOxi8ycUKMO2U0pTfbjd-sefAKpBW44Vf0x25T-2Jpdv~aEnOJ9EtTWvd0MvW6H0qjz7vkpCdzEQhbKEzSOptvPJIqmlDOrFr0UzSlyaPr8TUGrmO-Yo3gDA~sMsdkkbeo3dNS2VoOLlwt2acDOIObjvxBgGjXShBeKQV9WNGid0uAAPlaPMhk5gbIbrpQ-HemsDTivuXGSXwS3IxNDXRShxLXenVf45cUSw9hHr4osCQlwSfKrfMj44WwLZjtuxyhLg0fCZulrCoSIzrm-X7or4SHoE38c5Yn4MJCny4MQqEZDGKjzfHD5Jw~n7JXO06MZUteJcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Marlon King, superintendent of the Jackson-Madison County School System, told the Madison County Board of Commissioners on April 21 that the district has seen rising enrollment and improved academic measures after a year of targeted initiatives.

King said the district generated roughly $2 million in additional revenue because more students enrolled and that “because of our student outcomes, we received about a million dollars in revenue.” He credited gains on indicators tied to third-grade reading, middle-school reading and mathematics, and high-school ACT results for the extra funding.

The superintendent highlighted the district’s “Leap Up for Literacy” campaign and a pilot shift from a whole-language to a phonics-based reading curriculum. King said the phonics pilot began in November and “when we looked at our benchmark results of the students that piloted the pilots, we have seen remarkable improvement,” and that the district plans expanded implementation next year.

King described new incentives and supports for high-performing students and others: an “ACT 30-plus” recognition that includes a commemorative card and a laptop at senior year funded by the district’s education foundation. He also said extracurricular offerings have expanded, with robotics programs, green power racing, more clubs and new elementary-level athletics such as indoor soccer and elementary basketball.

On safety and staffing, King told commissioners the district is “97% fully staff” for elementary-school SRO (school resource officer) positions, which he said parents cited as a reason for increased confidence in the public schools.

King also described persistent hardship among students: he said last year 246 district students were classified as homeless, down from 296 the prior year, and that some students “are homeless, sleeping in cars.”

On district finances and contracting, King said the district’s audited fund balance has grown since 2021 and that he is initiating more rigorous contract reviews: “I want y’all to do an audit of this contract and find out, are we gonna return all the services that we're putting out there?” He said the district will move some vendor payments to quarterly disbursements to better match services delivered.

King credited community partnerships, the county’s STAR Teacher grant that supplements teacher classroom supplies, and collaborations with law enforcement and local businesses for several program expansions.

The superintendent’s remarks were made during the commissioners’ meeting and were followed by board appreciation and brief commissioner comments.","Superintendent Dr. Marlon King told the Madison County Board of Commissioners that enrollment and state funding rose, literacy pilots showed early gains, and the district is expanding student programs and supports, while flagging persistent student homelessness and contract-review changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves budget amendments, insurance changes and emergency purchases; Project Sam extension also approved

Downtown Development Corporation reports new businesses, state façade grant and small-business incubator growth

Library director outlines schematic plan and projected $32M construction estimate for main library expansion

Commission approves 12-month extension of Project Sam option agreement for West Madison County site

Jackson-Madison County superintendent details literacy gains, enrollment rise and school supports