Monroe County commissioners approve multiple budget amendments, grant applications and appointments

Monroe County commissioners voted on multiple budget amendments, grant applications and appointments during the meeting, approving a set of routine financial adjustments and grant applications intended to fund training, equipment and local projects.

Why it matters: The measures allocate county funds or authorize grant applications that will affect public safety services (ambulances, EMA equipment), solid-waste operations and local program budgets; several approvals also amend the fiscal-year 2024-25 general fund.

Key approvals and formal actions at a glance - Resolution O325-6A: Amendment to the sheriff's department budget to bring in $43,200 for yearly training salary supplements. Motion seconded; roll call recorded as "Aye." Outcome: approved. - Resolution O325-6B: Budget reclassification to move military funds within the sheriff's budget (amount $7,312.50). Motion seconded; roll call recorded. Outcome: approved. - Resolution O325-6C (amended): An amendment to move funds into reserve for the Telco Water Project (TDEC match) in the amount of $134,768.79; commissioners voted to amend the resolution to remove the word "military" before proceeding. Motion to remove the word "military" was made by Commissioner Travis Wade and seconded by Roger Thomas; the amendment passed and the amended resolution was approved. The record notes the Telco water project has an engineer and that ground-breaking is expected in summer (project timing described as "probably August"). - Resolution O325-6D: Amendment aligning other local health services budget to a state grant amendment for 2024-25 in the amount of $41,855.49. Motion and roll call recorded. Outcome: approved. - Resolution O325-6E: Declared certain Register of Deeds items surplus for discard or spare parts. Motion and second recorded; outcome: approved. - Resolution O325-6F: Amendment to move funds from a youth leadership donation line to the economic development budget for youth leadership travel. Motion and roll call recorded; outcome: approved. - Resolution O325-6H: Authorization for the Monroe County Ambulance Department to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of up to $420,000 (84% grant) with a $67,200 local match to purchase two ambulances. Commissioners discussed the match and incorporation into the next budget; motion and roll call recorded. Outcome: authorized for application. - Resolution O325-6I: Authorization for Monroe County EMA to apply to the Department of the Interior for a 100% grant up to $68,000 to purchase a slip-on tanker unit. Motion and roll call recorded. Outcome: authorized for application. - Resolution 03256J: Approval for the Solid Waste Department to apply to the Department of Solid Waste Management for a 90% grant up to $450,000 with a $45,000 match to purchase solid-waste equipment for the Teleco convenience center. Motion and second recorded; outcome: authorized for application. - County Board of Education budget amendments and Monroe County Library appointments: motions made and passed; roll calls recorded.

Details and context: Finance staff indicated that required local matches for grants (for example, the ambulance grant $67,200 match) would be included in future budget requests and would come from fund balance or departmental budgets as appropriate. Commissioners discussed funding histories for similar grants and the county's prior use of grants for water lines and ambulances.

Ending: Several items required follow-up in the finance office to incorporate matches into the FY2025 budget, and staff reported that the Telco Convenience Center project had an engineer and is expected to proceed toward a summer ground-breaking.