[{"_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",6484808,"mediaKeyId","5573839-4addc334b71bbda54f42d9fe3153febd","parentId",5573839,"title","Votes at a glance: Blount County workshop (Aug. 12, 2025) — budget items and resolutions advanced to full commission","audioSeconds",755,"startMs",905000,"endMs",1660000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573839-4addc334b71bbda54f42d9fe3153febd&start=905&end=1660","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573839-4addc334b71bbda54f42d9fe3153febd/thumbnail_905000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6484808/Blount-County/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-Blount-County-workshop-Aug-12-2025-budget-items-and-resolutions-advanced-to-full-commission","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484808-6163b48310dc35ab4d37b2f81a618445/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176774&Signature=b~nfOzaiCOAp5CRO~GMN-9BRR8NnAXj~LXVW94n0h497CNZQVBO16oEOFumVF48eEmOfdCVLTHI3IMpqdx-QawzpDAcB6vjvsHT0LKTlUTWqOv8X~CsaVSdgrEllfS6Oq9zzZa9DB-UlkB5b2YsBgrOT8xLm4XTx1nFgmqV6paUqpVHHu3VCKV~oEgiPwujViAskStXQ266eHuX9Prx8xo2Wy4EkNW8jZCxZiAEZc1LFgFXx2CY3eJ4VeCbyAvyxtNvlF7CTjPeNI23PhE6l27rQDr4vcQikQuc1Viswlhz-ldhQKnmTFIaeZ4s5yM7lTz5XDDoT9aP-jYSMu7q6tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Blount County","date","2025-08-12T17:59:00Z","article","At its Aug. 12 workshop the Blount County Board of Commissioners’ budget committee and full workshop advanced multiple items to the Aug. 21 full commission meeting. Below are the items called at the workshop, a one-line description and the workshop-reported vote outcome.

Votes at a glance (workshop action to move to full commission):

- Resolution 258013 — Blount County Schools: $125,000 contingency for multiple planned projects. Budget committee recommendation: favorable. Workshop reported: 21 yes.
- Resolution 258014 — Blount County Schools: $200,000 to purchase culinary equipment at William Blount High School (capital funds). Workshop reported: 20 yes, 1 abstention.
- Resolution 258015 — Blount County Schools: $45,264 to purchase a fuel truck for school maintenance (replacement). Workshop reported: 21 yes.
- Resolution 258001 — Interfund loan from debt service to ARPA fund: $15,529,489. Workshop reported: 21 yes.
- Resolution 258002 — Reappropriate prior-year funds for various departments: $11,683,214.83. Workshop reported: 21 yes.
- Resolution 258003 — Blount County Schools: $1,818,407.60 (state grant) for one-time teacher bonus pay. Workshop reported: 18 yes, 3 abstentions (conflicts of interest stated by several commissioners).
- Resolution 258004 — Central services: Enter into a 5-year contract with Sports Facilities Company, LLC to manage Eagleton Ballpark and appropriate first-year funds. Workshop reported: 21 yes.
- Resolution 258005 — Blount County Schools: $709,078 to replace outdated HVAC controls at two schools. Workshop reported: 21 yes.
- Resolution 258006 — Blount County Schools: $600,000 to purchase 1,937 Chromebooks (grades 1, 5, 9). Workshop reported: 21 yes.
- Resolution 258007 — Blount County Schools: $550,000 set aside for unplanned HVAC replacement costs (fiscal 25–26). Workshop reported: 17 yes, 2 no.
- Resolution 258008 — Highway: $544,490.91 to appropriate highway capital funds to purchase a new paver. Workshop reported: 19 yes.
- Resolution 258009 — Blount County Schools: $437,992 to replace gym floors at Fairview and Friendsville elementary schools. Workshop reported: 19 yes.
- Resolution 258010 — Blount County Schools: $419,979.63 to replace the fire alarm system at ECCA. Workshop reported: 19 yes.
- Resolution 258012 — Blount County Schools: $300,000 to set aside funds for architect fees for multiple planned projects for fiscal 25–26. Workshop reported: 19 yes.
- Resolution 258027 — Amend employee handbook of policies and work rules. Workshop reported: 19 yes.
- Resolution 258021 — Adopt medical premium rate structure (effective 01/01/2026). Workshop reported: 17 yes, 2 abstentions.
- Resolution 258022 — Adopt dental premium rate structure (effective 01/01/2026). Workshop reported: 16 yes, 3 abstentions.
- Resolution 258023 — Authorize purchasing to auction surplus vehicles/assets valued over $1,000. Workshop reported: 19 yes.
- Resolution 258024 — Approve temporary workspace agreement relative to pipeline improvements. Workshop reported: 19 yes.
- Resolution 258025 — Establish a coordinating committee for Blount County’s 250th independence-anniversary celebrations (\"Blount 250\"). Workshop reported: 19 yes.
- Item number 10 — Reestablish Public Services Committee and provide for hearings required by TCA 5-1-115 (dirty-lot enforcement); create separate appeals panel. Workshop reported: 19 yes.

Notes and next steps: all items were advanced to the full commission for final votes at the regular meeting scheduled for Aug. 21; several items (notably the HVAC requests and the sports-facility contract) generated extended discussion at the workshop and commissioners requested additional documentation before final action. Abstentions were recorded where commissioners cited conflicts of interest (explicitly noted in the workshop for personnel/benefit-related resolutions). If a resolution’s line-item or fund was not specified in the workshop transcript, the item is recorded here using the description and figures read aloud at the meeting and will be clarified in full-county materials.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Blount County - Commission Workshop on 2025-08-12 6:00 PM - Live stream via https://zoom.us/join Zoom Meeting ID: 856 9381 9558","oneSentenceSummary","The workshop advanced multiple budget resolutions, a park management contract, personnel policy updates and other items to the full commission. Listed below are the items called at the meeting, their intent and the workshop-level vote counts reported on Aug. 12.","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},6484811,"Commission moves to reestablish Public Services Committee, creates separate appeals panel under TCA 5-1-115",6477,166000,6643000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573839-4addc334b71bbda54f42d9fe3153febd&start=166&end=6643","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573839-4addc334b71bbda54f42d9fe3153febd/thumbnail_166000.jpg","/articles/6484811/Blount-County/Tennessee/Commission-moves-to-reestablish-Public-Services-Committee-creates-separate-appeals-panel-under-TCA-5-1-115","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484811-87400b2bc7a2a2e8ae8a3a476afdb04f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176774&Signature=dEcoRkDl1zo1nkq~qZFODvV5hOhd671QISnWB375a8vKT7z5-I8RThvx8yF-1~~~jYy-SAS-jNmSaM08s~OxUPj28L07MT5E-A5sgWXBmU3x8Ql3V~uQHmhRRLsAVuRXgkIcnD7uUiFIaQKN3nq~PqmrYa9qjBGmFJCb~j5yW~VKX~Ck3kfJUtIajOkt5~OM04nCSucMNauQryJa-qclJznhzPnA8lOiAHC9SSGDMuzd0u4EWo1hr74eru58OpsVFIlCY1WJC1qgNhKo18d1L9MTblIzSao5zc8f0k9996UhojXDpuWV8C-qAfDhCA~8WnjgnLKT2YsNPrFrx~Oq2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Blount County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 12 voted in workshop to move a resolution to the full commission that would reestablish the county’s Public Services Committee and provide for the hearings and enforcement procedures required by Tennessee Code Annotated §5-1-115.

Commissioner French, who introduced the item, told the meeting the committee as originally established in 2001 and reaffirmed in 2004 had authority to adopt rules and pursue enforcement of the county’s “dirty lot” code. He said a resolution adopted two years earlier had reduced that body’s authority to appeals only, leaving the county without a committee that could adopt enforcement rules and move to remediate properties in violation.

The rewrite presented to commissioners reinstates the original committee’s authority to make rules and enforce the TCA provision and also establishes a separate five-member appeals committee. Under the proposed language no member may serve on both bodies simultaneously; the appeals panel membership would be recommended by Jeff Hedrick, the highway superintendent, echoing the original appointment process.

Commissioners said the change restores a structure they said was effective in earlier years and ensures separation between those who set and enforce rules and those who hear appeals. The resolution states the committee will follow attorney guidance on enforcement actions, and that a previously created fund — reportedly seeded at $100,000 years ago to pay for cleanup actions — exists for remediation costs.

The motion to place the resolution on the full commission agenda was made by Commissioner French and seconded by Commissioner Caldwell; the workshop recorded 19 yes votes to advance the item.

Why it matters: reestablishing the committee restores a local apparatus for enforcing property-maintenance standards that supporters say can address neighborhood nuisances and safety risks. Creating a separate appeals panel aims to improve due process and reduce perceived conflicts of interest.

What’s next: the resolution will appear on the full commission’s next meeting agenda for final action; the county clerk and legal counsel will supply the formal resolution text and membership recommendations for the appeals panel.","The county commission voted to reinstate a Public Services Committee with rulemaking and enforcement authority under Tennessee Code Annotated §5-1-115 and created a separate five-member appeals committee to avoid conflicts of interest in enforcement of “dirty lot” regulations.",{"_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},6484816,"County OKs contract with Sports Facilities Company to manage Eagleton Ballpark; first-year shortfall expected",1232,1812000,3044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573839-4addc334b71bbda54f42d9fe3153febd&start=1812&end=3044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573839-4addc334b71bbda54f42d9fe3153febd/thumbnail_1812000.jpg","/articles/6484816/Blount-County/Tennessee/County-OKs-contract-with-Sports-Facilities-Company-to-manage-Eagleton-Ballpark-first-year-shortfall-expected","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484816-b860db398925fab990f5e18d18db70f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176774&Signature=KW~TKS-msqNAu5h3ykk977veuIiPKOrR2FeO50qqrSdPSV33q62hzyucc0oqWFKes99NHIcQLfJehcbvQzpsIATqcCU0tZdbqhnaI8UrdWVFywFqxqt645-lZzg6vpeoWK0mGoZN6gtJ~vDg-TcXGWczinf5vwqiYUTRSsGVvpuhnZTE5ykmKhOjfY29yaM2Y2vcTK5lHpHCu3-Uv2vQLfA0wjpX0zfxGMnqHIED7gdZINCOKXuoB68MzJSsreVU45b2j1MBcrheJ0gZalAY8ovxP-oug~cHxA0g0PsZtrAhvO06Fn1n00W6ggDD691PVZLDp~34i0jRBWPvgP3oBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Blount County budget committee on Aug. 12 recommended sending to the full commission a five-year management contract with Sports Facilities Company, LLC, to operate Eagleton Ballpark.

County finance staff said the first-year operating budget for the ballpark is about $1 million and covers the management fee, staffing, food-and-beverage costs, and other operating expenses. The budget package includes offsetting revenue projections; the county’s expected net exposure in year one is roughly $200,000, finance staff said. The company’s feasibility work projects the venue would approach break-even in years three to four.

Commissioners and county staff questioned how the venue would be programmed and how community use would be preserved. Greg Weiscarver, Sports Facilities Company’s representative, said the firm would operate the facility as the county’s manager and that the county retains control of the property and of programming priorities. \"We are your partner on your behalf — we will handle everything for the facility A to Z — but the facility is yours and the revenue is yours,\" Weiscarver said.

Weiscarver and county staff said the manager will prioritize community leagues and specifically accommodate Challenger (special-needs) programming. He also said the company participates in an access fund intended to remove cost barriers for children who otherwise could not afford to play.

Commissioners asked about procurement and competition. County staff said an RFP generated three interested parties, but only Sports Facilities Company completed the submission that met purchasing requirements. County staff said oversight of the contract will be managed out of the mayor’s office.

Other questions during the discussion included concessions management (SFC will operate concessions and hire its own staff), event staffing and contracting for umpires, and sponsorship/naming-rights revenue. Weiscarver described sponsorships as \"partnerships\" that the company would develop in cooperation with the county and said any significant naming-rights deal would be brought to the commission for approval.

Vote and financials: the budget committee recommended moving the contract to the full commission; at the workshop the reported count was 21 yes votes to advance the item. County finance staff reported the first-year gross operating budget of about $1,000,000 and a net county gap near $200,000 once projected revenues are applied. The company’s feasibility study anticipates breaking even by year three or four.

Why it matters: a professionally operated ballpark can attract tournaments and sports tourism but requires initial operating support. Commissioners signaled they want firm oversight and clear community-access commitments before final approval.

What’s next: the contract was forwarded to the full commission; county staff and the firm will provide more detailed contract terms and oversight arrangements for the full-county vote.

","The budget committee recommended moving forward a five-year management contract with Sports Facilities Company to operate Eagleton Ballpark. The first year carries roughly $1 million in expected expenses, with county net support around $200,000, and commissioners pressed the vendor on programming, concessions, naming rights and local access.",{"_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},6484820,"Blount County schools seek $1.26 million for HVAC controls and unplanned replacements after years of failures",2846,3073000,5919000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573839-4addc334b71bbda54f42d9fe3153febd&start=3073&end=5919","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573839-4addc334b71bbda54f42d9fe3153febd/thumbnail_3073000.jpg","/articles/6484820/Blount-County/Tennessee/Blount-County-schools-seek-126-million-for-HVAC-controls-and-unplanned-replacements-after-years-of-failures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484820-70bcaadbf3189ef9d3717851ab1e6133/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176774&Signature=RjFjHw~-lQmVC9438rIbwBZAWXfecJXThXj9aYKHTRSfERF0hzjnEfso1Mukc6VDVMLf2s00jfxwGv2vGVPUiG8y0hEL8~VHmSME7VL92NrxKpSB2yU4KEi~U48FOZHZDJlJsraTFPJyRz0yNAusa3TWBRb23O5Sbq4ieDg~h~EnVmPBg7PG7SrrBuiadUO2UiDktHicF2baWprTD4wRAp9YaOKNc8T6k-uPrpor~N-Gm2s7P0YoGVnpG7wHoMnw9PlmMxfJFx8LshuBrh1njhm-qqZ7SmEZsf06KVJb6v5tksuf9QRBeLA5Roex1-ZC7VEwB-jd2fqKnzHxdT8L~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Blount County Schools asked the county commission on Aug. 12 to move two budget items forward to a full commission vote: $709,078 to replace outdated HVAC controls at Carpenter Middle School and William Blount Ninth Grade Academy, and $550,000 to create an unplanned HVAC replacement fund for fiscal 2025–26.

School staff and county finance officials said the controls replacement is part of an ongoing multi-year plan to replace obsolete control systems that are no longer serviceable; the unplanned fund is intended to allow rapid replacement when units fail so classrooms are not left without heat or air while formal bidding and appropriation processes run their course.

The school-side presenters said many existing control systems are obsolete and cannot be repaired because parts are unavailable, and that replacing controls on a single vendor platform gives district staff one app to monitor and manage multiple buildings. \"This is a continuing effort to replace the old Novar control system that's failed throughout the district,\" a school facilities speaker said. He said four schools were converted last year and the requested money continues that work.

School operations staff and several commissioners pressed for clarity about whether the $709,078 is on a state contract and why it was not already included in the regular annual budget. County finance staff said the controls work is being purchased off a state cooperative contract, so a separate formal bid was not required, and that items routed through Fund 177 (capital) come before the commission rather than being included in the operating budget.

The larger $550,000 request drew the most debate. School facilities staff told the committee that over the past three years the district has averaged roughly that amount annually in unplanned HVAC replacement costs. \"These are things that nobody planned for. You can't repair it. It's old units,\" a school official said. District speakers said ESSER (federal) funds had covered a portion of recent unplanned replacements, and that when those funds expired the district shifted the expected unplanned replacement need into Fund 177 for county appropriation.

Commissioners questioned why the county would appropriate a pot of money large enough to replace multiple very large rooftop units at short notice. County finance staff explained that Fund 177 is appropriated on a per-request basis and that the commission's prior decision to require appropriation of 177 funds means school staff cannot trigger purchases from fund balance without the commission's approval. Finance staff also said checks and balances would be applied: funds appropriated into the HVAC line would be verified by the schools' CFO and county finance before being spent and transfers out of that line would require mayoral approval.

Questions about scale and urgency framed the debate. School facilities staff said the district has roughly 1,300 HVAC units across 21 schools and that rooftop units range widely in cost depending on size — a 20-ton unit can cost on the order of $125,000 while 5-ton units are far less. Commissioners and a classroom teacher who spoke in favor of the fund both described occasions when having emergency funds available shortened outages dramatically: in one example a classroom lost air conditioning and was back in service the next day because a replacement unit was available.

Votes: the $709,078 controls replacement measure (resolution 258005) was approved by the budget committee and reported as 21 yes votes to be moved to the full commission. The $550,000 unplanned replacement pot (resolution 258007) passed the committee and was reported as 17 yes, 2 no votes and will also be moved forward.

Why it matters: school HVAC failures directly affect classroom conditions and can require moving students or cancelling activities; the county and school system are balancing the need to plan capital replacements against the need to react quickly when equipment irreparably fails. The discussion highlighted the limits of school-side budgeting under the county’s Fund 177 rules and the tradeoffs between centralized oversight and operational speed.

What remains: commissioners asked for clearer lists of planned replacements, warranties on recently replaced equipment, and ongoing reporting on how Fund 177 uses are tracked and justified. School and county staff said they would provide additional documentation to the commission before the full-county vote.

","Blount County Schools asked the county to approve two budget increases — $709,078 for planned HVAC controls replacements and $550,000 for unplanned emergency HVAC replacements — prompting extended debate about budgeting, fund structure and response times for broken units.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Blount County workshop (Aug. 12, 2025) — budget items and resolutions advanced to full commission

Commission moves to reestablish Public Services Committee, creates separate appeals panel under TCA 5-1-115

County OKs contract with Sports Facilities Company to manage Eagleton Ballpark; first-year shortfall expected

Blount County schools seek $1.26 million for HVAC controls and unplanned replacements after years of failures