Bradley County finance committee denies $75,000 funding request for Minnis Road fire facility site

The Bradley County Finance Committee voted 5-0 on Nov. 20, 2025, to deny funding at this time for clearing, leveling and paving work at a proposed Minnis Road fire facility site, rejecting an estimated $75,000 request and forwarding the matter to the full county commission.

Committee members debated whether to use remaining ARP (federal) funds or a local property-tax account described in the meeting transcript as “$1.89.” Mary (staff) told the committee the most recent site scope is roughly 30 feet by 200 feet and that the cost estimate is approximate: “It’s approximately 75,000,” and added that “you don’t know an exact price until you bid it, and you can’t bid it until you have funding in place.”

The scale and timing of the work were central to the discussion. Commissioner Blake said neither Chief Stewart nor Mayor Davis had requested the extra work and that the project as currently planned likely satisfies vehicle turning-radius needs. Blake said the additional clearing and paving was not a leadership request and urged caution about spending county funds for the change. Commissioner Mason said he had opposed continuing to discuss the request and moved to drop it: “I’m not agreeable of $75,000. If my thinking on it, if it costs more than 50, we need to drop it. And, so and we can’t do anything until the mayor puts it out for bid. So with that, I’ll make a motion that we just, drop the whole situation.” Commissioner Collins seconded the motion.

Members also discussed whether constructing the new building now would prevent the work later. A county representative said pouring a concrete pad as part of the current project would make later clearing or grading more difficult and likely more expensive, but would not make it impossible.

After brief additional comments about timing and other county projects being held while this request remained unresolved, the committee chair called the vote. The clerk recorded the motion as approved 5-0. The committee’s decision was to declare there is no available funding for the request at this time and to bring that recommendation to the full county commission for final action.

No statute, ordinance or formal grant authority was cited during the discussion. Committee members discussed two possible funding sources: remaining ARP (federal) funds and a local property-tax account referenced in the meeting as “$1.89.” The exact funding line and any required approvals were not specified in the meeting record.

The meeting record shows no formal request from Fire Chief Stewart or from the mayor asking for the additional clearing and paving; committee members said the request originated with the Building and Land Committee and had been routed through multiple committees before arriving at Finance.