Committee votes to separate health department and school electrical meters after construction hookup discovered

Sumner County’s General Operations Committee voted unanimously Aug. 4 to separate electric service to the Henderson Health Department and the adjacent school stadium and require the school to pay to restore its own dedicated meter. The action follows discovery that a direct electrical line from the school had been tied to the county-metered service at the health department during recent demolition work. The committee heard an update from Scott, the county’s finance director, who described how demolition at the remodeled health department severed a direct line that had been powering the school’s stadium and parts of parking. Scott said contractors provided a change-order estimate of $10,008.01 to restore or relocate the wiring. Committee members raised life-cycle and billing concerns before Commissioner Nunn moved — and the committee seconded — a motion to “separate the two entities for the power” so the school would install and pay for its own meter and the county would retain service to the health department. Committee members who spoke said separating meters would remove future billing ambiguity and avoid delay to the health department remodel; Scott cautioned that if the county paid for the fix it would require state approval because the project is state funded. The motion passed by voice vote; the committee did not record a roll-call tally. Commissioners instructed staff to notify Dustin and to report the action to the contractor and affected departments so the school can schedule the work. The committee also discussed short-term options for restoring power — including temporary construction service — and whether the county or the school board would fund temporary service while permanent meters are installed. Scott said temporary service could be arranged but that any county-funded permanent repairs would need state approval if included as a construction change order.