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Newport council approves budget amendments, grants applications and personnel hires
Summary
At a regular meeting, the Newport City Council approved two budget amendments, authorized grant applications for traffic signal work, contracted engineering and administration services for a downtown stormwater project, awarded a street repair bid and approved personnel and supply purchases.
The Newport City Council on a series of motions approved two budget ordinances, authorized applications and agreements for traffic-signal work, approved consultant contracts for a downtown stormwater Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project, awarded a street-repair bid and approved personnel and equipment purchases.
Council members said the votes move several recovery and capital projects forward while preserving options for grant reimbursement and future budget amendments. The actions included a pair of second readings of budget ordinances, authorization to apply for or accept state funding for signal upgrades, and the hiring of engineering and administrative consultants required for a CDBG application.
The council approved second reading of Ordinance 2025-O2, an amendment to the city's annual operating budget and capital program for fiscal year 2024-25. The council also approved second reading of Ordinance 2025-O3, a separate budget amendment earmarked for Newport River (grammar) School. Both ordinances passed on motions during the meeting and were recorded as approved.
On transportation, the council authorized filing an application for a signal modernization grant (Resolution 2025-O4). Council members said the program would allow traffic engineers to perform counts and recommend signal synchronization downtown and possibly along state highways into city limits.
The council also approved an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (Resolution 2025-O5) to upgrade signage, striping and an electronic sign at the Fairview Street crossing; the project is largely TDOT-funded with a roughly 90/10 reimbursement split described in staff materials.
For downtown stormwater work the council approved two related items: Resolution 2025-O6 to hire Community Development Partners for CDBG administration services and Resolution 2025-O7 to hire Mattern & Craig for engineering services. Staff explained that the grant program requires the city to select consultants before filing the CDBG application.
On procurement and personnel, the council awarded the low bid of $90,558 from Brockwell Construction to repair storm damage on McSween Avenue and instructed staff to include the work in a forthcoming budget amendment. Council members said federal assistance through FEMA is expected to cover the majority of eligible costs but reimbursement could take years.
The council approved a $16,000 purchase to replace ammunition for the Newport Police Department after flood damage destroyed existing stockpiles and approved hiring a receptionist/records clerk for the police department to allow overlap and training with a retiring staff member.
Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2025-O2 (budget amendment, citywide): approved (second reading). Referenced in meeting materials. - Ordinance 2025-O3 (budget amendment for Newport River School): approved (second reading). Referenced in meeting materials. - Resolution 2025-O4 (apply for signal modernization grant): approved. Staff to return with scope details. - Resolution 2025-O5 (TDOT agreement, Fairview Street crossing upgrades): approved; TDOT funds ~90%, local share ~10% (staff estimate). - Resolution 2025-O6 (hire CDBG administration services, Community Development Partners): approved. - Resolution 2025-O7 (hire engineering services, Mattern & Craig): approved. - McSween Avenue repair bid (Brockwell Construction, $90,558): awarded; city to include funding in a budget amendment; FEMA/TEMA reimbursement expected but not guaranteed. - Ammunition replacement (Newport Police Department, $16,000): approved. - Receptionist/records clerk hire (Newport Police Department): approved.
The council meeting packet and staff presentations provided the specific ordinance and resolution numbers. Council presidents and staff said some items will require follow-up paperwork and budget amendments before funds are spent. No items failed on recorded motions during the session.
Minor items noted during the meeting included city announcements about a volunteer litter pickup and damage to a downtown logo sign during recent winds. The council adjourned after public comment.
