[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6198392,"mediaKeyId","3846954-d6547a9367ad075d35596a19c1966396","parentId",3846954,"title","Sheriff seeks COPS grant; commissioners debate long-term staffing and budget implications","audioSeconds",261,"startMs",1615000,"endMs",1876000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846954-d6547a9367ad075d35596a19c1966396&start=1615&end=1876","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846954-d6547a9367ad075d35596a19c1966396/thumbnail_1615000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6198392/Benton-County/Tennessee/Sheriff-seeks-COPS-grant-commissioners-debate-long-term-staffing-and-budget-implications","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198392-4751964c830347f9e6af5e8c4c2014dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156225&Signature=IK820JHTlFhl3G0z9~S8dGATZJAikwwayVjvXIDnCKM4z3MKOp-vbYoTs6taeBR1HK3Aw2l6HQnv6mybdlOQWgr65npe91TgFEBW0XX9hupPTxAAfTYKROpNmMPTSp3MnKdADQiJ127hJWXB8XEAyEPhx7QPzeKQZjL5QwaVWenzX08EKa90KhRE3ksWH77Vkzopr49SOrWtnHM~4L6NyWkyAY8wFJZCLQ5xKYZRH7ScK6QplHLTuzws2~f2zLUzdwexbI4y5Bw2ysMm8qqLq987bh0S1O~ngb8igwv4eKULoYe1kn4IC8359TqCTMzeprsiKQb-ZlNwUQnTQp9NDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Benton County, TN","date","2025-06-17T01:42:32Z","article","Benton County Sheriff Ken Christopher asked the commission to approve a resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for the 2025 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring program grant, which would provide funding to add officers over a three-year period but carry staffing obligations afterward.

Commission discussion focused on whether new grant-funded positions would be additional to existing payroll slots, certification and the county's capacity to sustain more deputies after the grant period ends. \"Are we short on officers now?\" a commissioner asked. The sheriff said the department has repeatedly requested additional slots and had proposed three extra positions in the budget.

Commissioner questions included whether grant-funded officers could simply fill existing vacancy slots (the sheriff said no) and whether the county could maintain three additional slots long-term should the positions be added after the grant ends. A commissioner noted the county has never consistently maintained 14 deputy slots and asked how the county would sustain 17 positions. The sheriff replied that crime and workload have changed and he believes more officers are needed.

Sheriff Christopher told commissioners he had requested three additional positions in the current budget and emphasized the difficulty of maintaining certified staff: \"If you can't maintain 14 slots, how do you expect to maintain 17 slots?\" he said, adding that hires need training and certification and that the county has struggled to keep positions filled over time.

Commissioners debated the grant's terms and obligations; one commissioner said some grant offers come with long-term commitments and asked whether the county could avoid a maintenance-of-effort requirement. The transcript shows commissioners questioned whether the funding would create a ten-year obligation; the sheriff and other commissioners discussed certification timelines and the county's historic budget requests for ongoing positions.

The commission voted on the resolution to authorize the mayor to apply for the COPS hiring grant; the transcript indicates the motion advanced (multiple commissioners moved and seconded the resolution) and commissioners continued to discuss staffing and budget capacity following the vote.

The sheriff also told the commission the jail's medical claims account and other lines have seen volatility; the meeting included separate budget votes later in the agenda to cover medical and payroll line shortfalls.

Next steps: if the county pursues the COPS grant application, staff will need to confirm grant terms including the duration of salary support and any local funding obligations after the grant period, and report back to the commission on long-term fiscal impacts before committing to permanent staff increases.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County Commission Meeting 6/16/25","oneSentenceSummary","Sheriff Ken Christopher urged the commission to apply for the 2025 COPS hiring program grant to add officers; commissioners and the sheriff discussed recruitment, certification and the county's ability to sustain additional deputy slots over time.","taxTitle","Benton County, Tennessee","taxId",73395,"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},6198397,"Commissioners push property committee to make a plan before moving volunteers, driver's testing and other offices",985,128000,1113000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846954-d6547a9367ad075d35596a19c1966396&start=128&end=1113","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846954-d6547a9367ad075d35596a19c1966396/thumbnail_128000.jpg","/articles/6198397/Benton-County/Tennessee/Commissioners-push-property-committee-to-make-a-plan-before-moving-volunteers-drivers-testing-and-other-offices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198397-f94671c9327b5d2d6490e67797f44d4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156225&Signature=UJeUg-PAYoF-BjqeyorSUIw0E6wy5J6mFOI-PpPk52Mk7tL4FX0~PltITcNiAYD1T2~tQ~nwZ82X29RT-UM7Xww5hwV-C2YaGCI0w1fc7kxZ17PdulbVFZw0I1wsQliDO~xXZRbSZ14l9NZp8iwzZDuZP0oW2fCdGGnT1ipkTbOUjnJ2v~LHl1ixyLiEy035F~XCVw882FIRcj9cQfGPWR7M9jfWnAjql6~BSpMl0mbteaVR2ZvJGP-elfyGmrmP1gQ-UD-T1xpkDrj109PD4tYbsCmRza6hfL3-kqq87kGQ5ZEiOalR0N1egLM9O6l9z~GXkesB6Qo6PagdwhP~zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and some commissioners urged Benton County to adopt a deliberate plan for how county offices are assigned across several county-owned buildings rather than making informal \"moves\" that can displace long-standing volunteer operations.

John Lattie, speaking for Benton County volunteers, told the commission the volunteers perform varied duties across county facilities and asked commissioners to \"consider us a little bit\" in budget and space decisions. \"There's 70 active members and somewhere around about 140 members altogether here in Benton County,\" Lattie said.

Several commissioners responded with concerns about a proposed plan that would relocate volunteer operations into a room at the senior citizens' center to save an estimated $1,300 a year. One resident warned that placing volunteers and senior citizens in the same space could be problematic, and commissioners said the property committee should study building assignments before any moves. \"We just need to let the property committee look at what goes where,\" Commissioner Arnold said. \"Let us come up with a plan to decide who goes where ... bring it back to the commission.\"

The discussion also covered an offer from the state for a full driver's testing facility. Commissioner Nunnery said the state had asked for a room and would move a full facility if the county gives them space; others raised parking and traffic concerns if the testing center were located in a smaller courthouse-adjacent building. \"If you have been over to Paris to that testing center, you're gonna find about 40 to 50 cars parked up there,\" one commissioner said, urging the commission to consider parking availability and circulation before committing to a location.

Commissioners and staff discussed alternative county-owned spaces that have been suggested for relocation, including the old mayor's office, the old liquor building and other county-owned buildings. Commissioners recommended the property committee meet more frequently to inventory building space and produce recommendations on optimal locations for county services, maintenance needs and possible moves.

The commission scheduled an additional property committee meeting and directed that committee to return recommendations to the full commission. Commissioners emphasized they did not want piecemeal moves that might create maintenance or code compliance problems or reduce service quality for volunteers or residents.

The county also received an immediate operational concern: electrical problems were reported in the basement of a building housing offices, and a commissioner asked county maintenance to inspect and repair the issue before further relocations to that space.

The discussion concluded with agreement to address assignments through the property committee and to avoid unilateral moves without a plan and committee recommendation.","Residents and commissioners urged the county to stop ad hoc moves of county office functions and asked the property committee to create a coordinated plan for building assignments, citing a proposal to relocate volunteers to a senior center and interest from the state in a local driver's testing facility.",{"_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},6198401,"Commission debate over permit to let HHS employees use county office space raises questions about federal leasing norms",186,2114000,2300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846954-d6547a9367ad075d35596a19c1966396&start=2114&end=2300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846954-d6547a9367ad075d35596a19c1966396/thumbnail_2114000.jpg","/articles/6198401/Benton-County/Tennessee/Commission-debate-over-permit-to-let-HHS-employees-use-county-office-space-raises-questions-about-federal-leasing-norms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198401-73aba1bdfeef3efb7c96afc9e00e9dd9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156225&Signature=TN~YE2XfQozzfmxnliQgoXj5C1LHObfmIrn20dVMTenfEjKF0tSOlCIJFwT~dXaTclR6BtWvJBN-CVIS-EMmavflwlkm8d4HHgDluttOgkIpFEIAmCPMRztO-Zqh5rIAbBV2aI3euC6kDJmctNgsfZ4AelKh54SiP1G2ojNVP7MIRDGs9SOYU-ZN4fDGDAVQtTMVB1m-1FaMHPd8l0YUg4EGAay62CYPH5uac5JwANEDmTmMC-V8Sfg7MzLc1MYVJdPx4Xax1mrTCsczNGpiY51tznsJi0cIJeNB184G74WX849EdYVz9m9udJUYQDAju-gDTrWs5WnVIAIV4-23fQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Benton County resolution to permit U.S. Department of Health and Human Services employees to use county-owned office space prompted commissioners to debate federal leasing norms and legal formality of the paperwork in the meeting packet.

Commissioner Price questioned why a permit form in the packet appeared to be an HHS/ASPR (Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response) government document and why a signature block for a federal official was predated. \"This is kind of confusing for me because if the intent was to rent to individuals, why have we got this document, which is a government document?\" Commissioner Price said.

Price described the federal General Services Administration (GSA) role in leasing federal office space and said the GSA does not permit individual federal employees to personally lease office space. He said the form in the commission packet listed Helga Scharf Veil, identified in the packet as the Office of National Disaster Medical System director, with a dated signature block for Washington, D.C. \"I don't think this lady in Washington DC had time to write this,\" Price said, and he concluded, \"I can't support it. I will not be supporting it.\"

Mayor Mark Ward replied that he did not ask the commission to support the arrangement but was relaying a request from two county employees who asked whether county office space was available. \"They were willing to pay the county for the office space if they would lease it to the government for free,\" the mayor said, describing the paperwork provided by the federal employees.

Commissioner Arnold observed the item had not been recommended by the property committee and said she believed approving individual leases or informal arrangements could set a poor precedent for the county. \"I personally feel like we're setting a bad impression on this,\" Arnold said, describing the county's need to be cautious about leasing public property.

During the discussion commissioners raised three main concerns: whether the county was being asked to lease to an agency or to individual employees; whether the precompleted federal form in the packet reflected an appropriate process; and whether approving the permit would create a precedent for future informal use of county property.

The packet contained a two-page permit for use of real property that included a clause stating, \"the use and occupancy of the property shall be without cost or expense to the HHS ASPR and under general supervision of the Benton County government for its authorized representatives.\" Commissioner Price sought clarity on why that government-level permit, and not a rental agreement, had been included if the intent was to provide space to individuals.

Commissioner discussion did not reach a clear recorded final vote in the transcript excerpt provided; commissioners expressed doubts and asked that property committee review and clarification be obtained. The record shows commissioners debated the matter and at least one commissioner declined to support the resolution as presented.

The transcript records no final contract signature and no executed lease during the meeting. The commission did not move forward to sign a contract during the session; commissioners asked for additional vetting and committee review before any agreement is finalized.","A resolution to allow Department of Health and Human Services employees to use county-owned office space drew skepticism from commissioners over a predated federal permit in the packet and whether the arrangement set a precedent for leasing space to individuals rather than agencies.",{"_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},6198406,"Benton County commissioners approve $32,000 cap to pursue two airport land purchases",1697,2768000,4465000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846954-d6547a9367ad075d35596a19c1966396&start=2768&end=4465","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846954-d6547a9367ad075d35596a19c1966396/thumbnail_2768000.jpg","/articles/6198406/Benton-County/Tennessee/Benton-County-commissioners-approve-32000-cap-to-pursue-two-airport-land-purchases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198406-1ecafb58a27ae165ac61813221ca1177/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156225&Signature=ToWd0vnuN1pLNL3SPKwluTJ9PJ~~YbNqTqfYhAFiCpWww598abriNnDPJzbrV7GOl2vlDRpX7bB9-4NbA6jaT1B0Q10E~unzRzgUsTK2pAY-OoTqt2VOXi~LoD1sgTTkWfhtgbDE6MSCG7w~mQKZAC-tMILlnBHRyaRmIk4sf5h90xv4W3jeX0nzdHnrnhxhuflYmjDZDIkqwG468ElE40o-WTqiTzarnCekAWcVr0Q3G9j2ToFsOlGW58aDqyp1i0QyaDcMw4UbxLlBCHrQsY7W0XMW5NLva~NgRvunQhrsp~BxUSPGE4pKF6Y8~-I4wjfpIry8q5NeUgVKtKWa7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Benton County commissioners voted in June to authorize the mayor to pursue purchases of land adjacent to the Benton County Airport, with an amendment limiting the county's offer to $32,000 per parcel.

The authorization, advanced after an amendment approved by the commission, directs the county to seek purchase agreements for two parcels identified in the airport layout plan and return to the commission for approval of any final purchase price before signing a contract.

The county mayor, Mark Ward, said the appropriation for land near the airport has appeared in budgets since 2019 and that negotiations with owners have been ongoing. \"This money was in the budget'...it has been since 2019,\" Mayor Mark Ward said during debate. He added that no contract had been signed and that the resolution brought a negotiated offer for commissioners to consider.

Rita Regan, the airport manager, presented the county's airport layout plan (ALP) created in 2019. Regan described the ALP's brown-shaded area as the proposed apron expansion and the blue line as the proposed property boundary; she identified the two parcels before the commission as the Higdon parcel and the Deaton parcel and said the plan envisions future corporate or T-hangar development. \"This is the airport layout plan. This is the apron or ramp'...the brown is the proposed apron expansion,\" Regan said.

Commissioners and the airport manager discussed why the county would buy the parcels now. Supporters said the purchases would square up property lines around existing airport infrastructure and preserve options for apron or hangar development in the future. Commissioner comments included concerns about losing the opportunity if the county deferred: \"If we back out on this one, who knows what's going to happen in the future if the property will ever be available to the county again,\" one commissioner said.

Opponents and skeptics at the dais pressed for clarity about the budget line and parcel details. Commissioner Preston said he could not find a clear appropriation listed in the budget for either parcel and asked the mayor and budget chair to show where the funds were earmarked. The mayor and staff stated there is capital-account funding already carried forward for airport property acquisition, but several commissioners said the resolution lacked specifics about acreage and precise contract amounts.

Regan said acquiring the parcels aligns with the ALP and cited an active hangar wait list: she reported 17 people on the waiting list and noted additional callers who did not provide names. She described private-public partnership (P3) opportunities in which third parties build hangars on airport property under ground leases.

Commissioner discussion also touched on environmental review and grant timing for apron expansion. Regan said environmental review would be required before expansion work and that grant funding and project timing would be coordinated with FAA and state aeronautics programs.

The commission approved an amendment that removed a fixed dollar figure from the mayor's authority and instead required the mayor to negotiate and return with a resolution for approval; after that amendment failed to pass, the commission passed the amendment that set a $32,000 limit and then voted on the resolution as amended.

The vote to move forward with the amended resolution was put to the commission and carried.

Background: the Benton County airport ALP was prepared in 2019 and adopted as the county's planning document for airport growth. Regan said the ALP must be updated every 10 years and that the ALP guides FAA and state investment decisions. Regan also described grant windows and a reduced local-share requirement that can affect when apron or other projects are pursued.

Looking ahead, commissioners asked staff to return with parcel descriptions and final negotiated terms before any contract is executed.","Commissioners voted to authorize negotiations and limit spending to $32,000 per parcel as the county moves to acquire two parcels adjacent to the Benton County Airport; the airport manager presented a 2019 airport layout plan showing apron expansion and future hangar areas.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sheriff seeks COPS grant; commissioners debate long-term staffing and budget implications

Commissioners push property committee to make a plan before moving volunteers, driver's testing and other offices

Commission debate over permit to let HHS employees use county office space raises questions about federal leasing norms

Benton County commissioners approve $32,000 cap to pursue two airport land purchases