Van Buren County commissioners approve multiple fund transfers, authorize RTS contract termination and back museum grant application

Van Buren County commissioners at a regular meeting approved a series of routine budget transfers and purchases, authorized Mayor Sullivan to give written notice terminating the county’s contract with RTS, and voted to pursue a Tennessee State Museum grant to fund repairs at the county museum.

The commission approved minutes from the July 21, 2025 meeting and accepted quarterly reports for emergency medical services, the board of education, the clerk and master, the highway department, the sheriff’s department and solid waste. Commissioners approved a set of intra-fund transfers, including a $1,000 allocation to cover TASA reimbursement and conference costs, a $149,384 disbursement from Van Buren County Schools Fund 141 as presented, and a $26,103 transfer returning unspent SRO grant funds to the state. The commission also approved payment of a $4,000 insurance deductible and adjustments to the county drug fund, including a roughly $1,250 payment to Van Buren County Court ordered during criminal proceedings.

The panel voted to authorize Mayor Sullivan to send written notice terminating the county’s contract with RTS after state officials signaled dissatisfaction with RTS’s timeliness and payment arrangements. County attorney (name not specified) explained the termination is intended to allow the county to adopt a different system and to comply with the state’s direction; the motion carried on a unanimous roll call of members present.

Commissioners approved purchasing two 40-yard open-top garbage containers for solid waste at a total cost of $12,462, after discussion about solid waste fund balances and the condition of current containers. The commission declined a request to immediately increase the purchase to four containers because of current solid waste fund limits.

Members also voted to allow the museum grant committee to submit an application to the Tennessee State Museum grant program, which awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. A museum representative (name not specified) described multiple building problems the grant would address, saying, "the place needs a lot of repairs" and listing HVAC problems, water-damaged ceiling tiles, failing mortar and bricks around windows, leaking gutters and a nonworking bathroom upstairs. The committee said it will obtain estimates before any contracted work and will submit the grant application in advance of the program deadline.

In old-business updates, the county attorney reported a default judgment secured in the Wheeler matter and said a damages hearing has been rescheduled for Aug. 25. The attorney also summarized an unresolved dispute with an architect over skylights: the contract requires mediation before litigation, the parties are discussing retaining a formal mediator, and estimated mediation costs are roughly $1,000 to $1,500. The attorney said he will report back on progress in September.

Trustee Smith presented the fiscal-year-end trustees’ financial report the commission required for compliance. Trustee Smith told commissioners the trustees’ office has increased invested principal significantly since the current officials took office and provided multi‑year comparisons of turnover to the clerk and master, trustees’ commissions, and investment income. "We've been able to increase investments 15 times the original amount," Trustee Smith said.

The meeting concluded with routine business and a motion to adjourn.

Votes at a glance: all motions described above were approved by unanimous roll call of members present.