Council considers several funding measures: CDBG application, state loan program and DUI/high-visibility grant applications

The council considered a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to fund stormwater infrastructure downtown. Evan Sanders of Community Development Partners explained the city’s 2022 CDBG closeout and said applying for 2025 would allow continuation of downtown stormwater work. A council member moved and another seconded the resolution; the motion was moved on the floor.

Council members also heard a presentation about a Tennessee Emergency Management Agency loan program intended to provide short-term cash flow for utilities while the city awaits FEMA and insurance reimbursements. A presenter described the program as a $6,000,000, 10-year, 0% interest loan intended to prevent immediate rate increases for water and sewer customers by providing interim funds. The presenter said the loan “does designate in there that it will not obligate Newport general funds or anything like that.”

The council also considered the annual high-visibility grant used to fund DUI checkpoints and related enforcement. The presenter said the award had increased to $10,000, with about $8,000 earmarked for equipment (including new computers for patrol cars) and $2,000 for overtime. A motion to apply for the grant was made and later recorded as carried.

Several of these measures were moved on the floor during the meeting. The ordinance listed as 2024-11 (second reading) was brought up earlier in the meeting; council members completed the second-reading vote and the presiding officer stated, “A motion carries.”