Humphreys County commissioners approve multiple budget amendments, opioid allocations and grants; drone purchase draws opposition
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Summary
The Humphreys County Board of Commissioners approved a series of budget amendments, including $20,000 for law enforcement equipment (a new drone), $141,615 in opioid-abatement allocations to local providers, a $10,000 arts grant for a hospital mural, and other adjustments; most measures passed unanimously or by large margins.
The Humphreys County Board of Commissioners on June 23 approved a package of budget amendments, grants and appointments, including a $20,000 increase in the county's drug enforcement account for law enforcement equipment that will fund the purchase of a new drone.
The actions included a $10,000 donation from OxyChem and $10,000 of new county money applied to drug enforcement equipment; the board voted to approve that budget amendment 10-3 after brief discussion. Commissioners also approved a $10,000 Tennessee Arts Commission grant to fund a 20-by-5-foot mural at Ascension 3 Rivers Hospital (13-0); moved $272,992.18 of previously approved CDBG funding into a public utility projects expenditure line (13-0); and accepted $141,615 from the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council to be distributed to local organizations addressing prevention, treatment and recovery (13-0).
The opioid-abatement spending was allocated as follows: $80,000 to the Humphreys County Board of Education for a school-based substance-use prevention counselor (salary, benefits, training and materials); $36,615 to the 20th Judicial District advocates for a recovery court technician and legal counsel; and $25,000 to Mid Cumberland Human Resources Agency for completion of the Apries Townhomes, a 19-unit permanent supportive housing project in Burns, Tennessee, serving Humphreys County and nearby areas.
The board also approved a $27,500 reallocation to cover a settlement related to the former finance director's employment separation (approved with 12 yes, 0 no and 1 abstention), a $2,600 internal reallocation in the election commission budget to pay election workers (13-0), appointments to the Agriculture Committee (Commissioner Kathy McClanahan and Shannon Proctor, terms through Jan. 31, 2028) and an annual county road classification that reduced the Stevenson Road speed limit to 30 mph (13-0). A slate of applicants for an insured bond was also elected as read.
Commissioner Justin Curtis questioned whether the $10,000 OxyChem donation had usage restrictions and warned that incremental increases "just keep adding up," saying he planned to vote against items he deemed not necessary or revenue-producing. Miss Wilson read the vote tallies after commissioners cast their votes. Jerry Hooper stated that the administrative committee discussed and recommended each resolution to the full commission prior to votes.
Votes at a glance: [all items were motions presented by the chair and recommended by the administrative committee unless noted]
- Drug fund budget amendment (law enforcement equipment/drone): increased drug enforcement account by $20,000 (includes $10,000 OxyChem donation); vote 10 yes, 3 no; outcome: approved.
- Tennessee Arts Commission grant (mural at Ascension 3 Rivers Hospital): $10,000 grant with no county match; vote 13 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved.
- CDBG grant entry into expenditure (public utility projects): move $272,992.18 into account 91170 construction line; vote 13 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved.
- Opioid Abatement allocations: total $141,615 distributed to three entities (Humphreys County Board of Education $80,000; 20th Judicial District advocates $36,615; Mid Cumberland HRA $25,000); vote 13 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved.
- Finance director separation settlement: reallocate $27,500 for legal services; vote 12 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention; outcome: approved.
- Election commission payroll reallocation: $2,600 to election workers line; vote 13 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved.
- Appointments to Agriculture Committee (Kathy McClanahan, Shannon Proctor): vote 13 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved.
- County road classification (Stevenson Road speed limit reduction to 30 mph): vote 13 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved.
- Insured-bond office elections/renewals (multiple named applicants): vote 13 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved.
Why it matters: The budget changes authorize new spending for law enforcement equipment and dedicate opioid-settlement money to local prevention, treatment and housing initiatives. The vote on the drone purchase came after a critical public comment and a commissioner's warning about incremental budget increases, signaling some dissent even as most items passed comfortably.
The meeting adjourned following final votes and routine closing remarks.
