[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6488756,"mediaKeyId","5573838-39c6afea414b66fbaed69c0c8505543f","parentId",5573838,"title","Committee forwards $200,000 reallocation to buy culinary equipment for William Blount High School CTE building","audioSeconds",244,"startMs",1105000,"endMs",1349000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573838-39c6afea414b66fbaed69c0c8505543f&start=1105&end=1349","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573838-39c6afea414b66fbaed69c0c8505543f/thumbnail_1105000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6488756/Blount-County/Tennessee/Committee-forwards-200000-reallocation-to-buy-culinary-equipment-for-William-Blount-High-School-CTE-building","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488756-2c842fdb4de93f551e58e57d051efe29/orig.mp4?Expires=1775442248&Signature=D6ai7Ho1UWgdENnIMC0J~ihpe2tEB~F8R58PM~duB3ByaiHi3fgaY5RqBuHMU9NnQ4i50DPNEKwJ5mhEjJ3mZiFZug0IE4n0Q9TDvRnKj50fq5FPVTEY79-1NfH-dV0zJwfkivHbWfxfdTfUr4t8Cu4BYOUJL8vcyuhB7tHUVvt9~eAmGl1fOg1~DT8cWQnZfdRZdqLzKaVguHn5UHTeHbwmZxtdjtzL5fcyxYYb8nVeaafx~l5zFNmDCbVj~n3dNM4WgZkWpgCDgVr88dkj~rsSzizXhtw1zhgWuqQMc2D2KaUi6oirBOCO~Q9E6x0mZju~dlOSTGRCv2YqgN6Xlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Blount County","date","2025-08-12T17:00:00Z","article","The Blount County Budget Committee voted 5–0 to forward a $200,000 reallocation to purchase culinary equipment for the newly built culinary facility at William Blount High School (Resolution 25-08-014).

Commissioner Anderson noted supporting documentation showing a likely equipment cost around $168,000; staff confirmed the apparent winning quote from TriMark is approximately $168,000. Meeting speakers said the $200,000 request includes a modest cushion because some quotes are valid only seven days and vendors warned of possible price escalators related to tariffs and installation timing.

Dr. Utilor, a school official, said the culinary program has been in place for many years and that the CTE building is essentially complete but waiting for equipment. “The building is sitting there waiting for the equipment to be ordered and to be installed,” Dr. Utilor said. School staff said they are ready to requisition equipment and hope there will be no delays, but cautioned that equipment orders sometimes face supply or shipping delays.

The item was forwarded to the commission workshop for final action so purchase orders can be issued.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Blount County - Budget Committee on 2025-08-12 5:00 PM - Live stream via https://zoom.us/join Zoom Meeting ID: 811 0479 3721","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved forwarding a $200,000 reallocation to purchase culinary equipment for the new William Blount High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) culinary building; bids total roughly $168,000 with a cushion for possible price escalations.","taxTitle","Blount County, Tennessee","taxId",56690,"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},6488760,"Committee questions timing, procurement for $709,078 in school HVAC controls; $550,000 contingency fund approved",269,413000,682000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573838-39c6afea414b66fbaed69c0c8505543f&start=413&end=682","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573838-39c6afea414b66fbaed69c0c8505543f/thumbnail_413000.jpg","/articles/6488760/Blount-County/Tennessee/Committee-questions-timing-procurement-for-709078-in-school-HVAC-controls-550000-contingency-fund-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488760-428592ba7433d965ab7d6bdaf34ea888/orig.mp4?Expires=1775442248&Signature=XtHGclYfaira3dvaAjNWp0dbnELFp1WneyCngrrwnhu0tJQ94lN3jo3o4HfttcXCGeDQa~jrY3quM57ONq-nRrhtGyYWU4Qpz4o5kWkMOAnrPSk-qq2hkbJEDkhtxPwvAxpzRZrSkQsJdBrXRwcgd6ylYPxWWJKcagMs4O1ZgEjsp4HTpVhawxWjaYCAiKgDgXK-4okcjB~PxKEWHY-8Wcl2xYQ95oXpvy9k0pu7eAmS-Q4bi5I~0E6w6zqlxFhB23fL25huTdycUAg9WwRWn2djHHOiTP1P8xldsn2C-fznje9g0QDtQpKncn1UNEVZgBwLRoKcTf~3ACG4HEJndQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Blount County Budget Committee discussed procurement timing and cost estimates before forwarding two related Blount County Schools budget items: $709,078 to replace outdated HVAC control systems at two middle schools and the William Blount Ninth Grade Academy (Resolution 25-08-005), and $550,000 to set aside unplanned HVAC replacement funds for fiscal year 2025–26 (Resolution 25-08-007). Both motions were forwarded to the full commission; each passed in committee by a 4–1 vote.

Commissioner Hannam pressed school staff for clarity on whether materials were on hand and when installation would start. “Are the funds in hand, or are we still waiting on them?” Hannam asked. Britney, a county staff member, responded: “It is in hand. Yes. So it’s just a pass through.”

James Dukes, a school staff member, told the committee the quoted costs are in line with previous projects at Heritage Middle School and Union Grove Middle School and that the county entered a cooperative agreement to replace outdated Novar controls with current systems. Dukes said installations will be scheduled “throughout the school year” after the purchase order is issued and that materials cannot be ordered until the commission approves funding. “They’ll then order the materials, and they’ll coordinate on the installment while school’s in session,” Dukes said.

Several commissioners said they would prefer a clearer installation schedule before the county issues purchase orders. One commissioner said they were “a whole lot more comfortable to know when you’re gonna put them in before you put in your purchase order,” expressing concern that the county could pay for materials months before installation.

The $550,000 contingency fund was explained as a pooled amount to address broken HVAC units that require replacement at short notice; staff said past unplanned replacements and ESSER‑funded purchases combined average roughly the requested amount. Staff noted the difficulty in estimating how many units $550,000 will replace because units vary widely in size and cost.

Both items were forwarded to the commission workshop for final consideration.","Committee members pressed school staff on installation timing and bidding for a $709,078 HVAC controls contract and approved a separate $550,000 fund for unplanned HVAC replacements; both items were forwarded to the commission after discussion (each passed 4–1).",{"_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},6488765,"Blount County budget committee forwards 19 budget resolutions, approves $15.5 million interfund loan to bridge ARPA reimbursements",1535,97000,1632000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573838-39c6afea414b66fbaed69c0c8505543f&start=97&end=1632","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573838-39c6afea414b66fbaed69c0c8505543f/thumbnail_97000.jpg","/articles/6488765/Blount-County/Tennessee/Blount-County-budget-committee-forwards-19-budget-resolutions-approves-155-million-interfund-loan-to-bridge-ARPA-reimbursements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488765-e5595e1053872ce4a75535d6db23c378/orig.mp4?Expires=1775442248&Signature=b2cqFyfTR6MiZaaWGntC-P9klUydqvnnB8cc~Wxx3w7AIcJlxC2R4pLwNDu00Bg8OuIsi~Cwizp9-Lfi-fa9I7infFVxo~Xyj8OdVsWoaqZhAQG4paRDOSaFWAfREQC7AHCuazruReL5QeAmwB-Ee8ip2SIjW6toJ2cNSecSe9sdLCyPfgLDCl64PBixMMZMjk1GtOzov083wUiP7xL3Jkw11JAczaoisjoZ9Wgw~TgdPqiB-PSGcdAAn6qNGCLvN0VRtBLwdcxRJ4U0lIpXCL~S7HSdxubOxPoz5AA6xdascOlVwbNeQYrCmk9Nl7aEG4N~bT861-Ztd0vOMtNG3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Blount County Budget Committee voted to forward 19 budget resolutions to the full county commission workshop, including an interfund loan of $15,529,489 from the debt service fund to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund to bridge timing differences while the county awaits reimbursements from the state.

The interfund loan (Resolution 25-08-001) was described by staff as a maximum liability request to cover cash outlays across several projects while reimbursements are processed. Brian, a county staff member, said some utility projects are about 70% complete and the county expects a “good chunk” of reimbursements in the next 60 to 90 days, while other projects, including at the health department, may not be reimbursed until later in the year. “But we will not wait until the end of the year to start moving this cash back,” Brian said.

Why it matters: The loan lets the county pay for capital work now and restore the debt service fund as state reimbursements arrive. Most resolutions forwarded spending or appropriating prior-year or grant funds for capital projects in county departments and Blount County Schools.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 25-08-001 — Interfund loan, debt service to ARPA, $15,529,489. Motion to forward to commission workshop. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-002 — Budget increase, various departments, $11,683,214.83. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-003 — Budget increase, Blount County Schools (one‑time teacher bonus pay), $1,818,407.60. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-004 — Budget increase, central services; appropriate general funds and authorize a 5‑year contract with Sports Facilities Company LLC to manage Eagleton Ballparks, $1,000,073.67. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-005 — Budget increase, Blount County Schools, HVAC controls at two middle schools and William Blount Ninth Grade Academy, $709,078. Motion to forward. Vote: 4 yeses, 1 no. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-006 — Budget increase, Blount County Schools, purchase of 1,937 Chromebooks for grades 1, 5 and 9, $600,000. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-007 — Budget increase, Blount County Schools, set aside for unplanned HVAC replacements for FY25-26, $550,000. Motion to forward. Vote: 4 yeses, 1 no. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-008 — Budget increase, highway capital, purchase of a new paver, $544,490.91. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-009 — Budget increase, Blount County Schools, replace gym floors at Fairview and Friendsville elementaries, $437,992. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-010 — Budget increase, Blount County Schools, replace fire alarm systems and ECCA, $419,979.63. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-012 — Budget increase, Blount County Schools, architect fees for multiple planned projects, $300,000. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-013 — Budget increase, Blount County Schools, contingency funds for multiple planned projects for FY25-26, $125,000 (reduced per school board request). Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-014 — Budget decrease, Blount County Schools, reallocate $200,000 to purchase culinary equipment for the William Blount High School CTE/culinary building. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-015 — Budget increase, Blount County Schools, purchase of a fuel truck for school maintenance, $45,264. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-016 — Budget increase, Elections, one‑time general county funds for voting machine maintenance, $35,000. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-017 — Budget increase, Health Department, accept and appropriate FY26 state DGA grant for personnel and operations, $9,065.02 (reimbursed by the state). Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-018 — Budget increase, Highway Department, purchase of a tractor‑mounted blower, $7,785.72. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-019 — Library contract approval (3‑year ATOZ database subscription), $3,276 per year (three‑year option). Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)
- Resolution 25-08-020 — Emergency Management, apply for FY26 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant. Motion to forward. Vote: 5 yeses. (Forwarded)

Committee next steps: Each forwarded resolution will appear on the commission workshop agenda for final consideration and any further motioning or adoption by the full county commission.","The Blount County Budget Committee voted to forward 19 budget resolutions to the full commission workshop, including a $15,529,489 interfund loan from the debt service fund to the ARPA fund to cover timing gaps while the county awaits state reimbursements.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee forwards $200,000 reallocation to buy culinary equipment for William Blount High School CTE building

Committee questions timing, procurement for $709,078 in school HVAC controls; $550,000 contingency fund approved

Blount County budget committee forwards 19 budget resolutions, approves $15.5 million interfund loan to bridge ARPA reimbursements