Jonesborough approves up to $15 million in bonds to fund new water plant; council OKs related grants and hires

Mayor Wolf and the Jonesborough Board of Aldermen on Feb. 13 approved bond measures and grant applications designed to pay for a new water plant and related infrastructure.

The board passed Resolution 2026‑O3, an initial resolution authorizing issuance of water‑system revenue and tax bonds not to exceed $15,000,000, and later approved Resolution 2026‑O6, the full bond resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of those bonds and short‑term bond anticipation notes. Mayor Wolf said the project ‘‘will eventually be funded by USDA Rural Development.’’

Auditor Sina Schmitzrambo of Blackburn, Childers and Stegall told the board the town’s fiscal 2025 audit received an unmodified, or clean, opinion. ‘‘The first two paragraphs is the most important. It says it’s an unmodified or clean opinion,’’ Schmitzrambo said, noting the audit included a new special‑revenue fund for the recently completed Jackson Theatre and that there were no grant or financial‑statement findings.

Council members also approved applications and project steps tied to the water and school‑access work: an application for FY26 State Community Development Block Grant funds to build a road connection from the new elementary school to Boones Creek Road; hiring Community Development Partners and Todd Wood Engineering to provide administrative and engineering services for the CDBG; and submission of an Appalachian Regional Commission grant application for a $392,500 grant to build a 16‑inch redundant waterline along the new access road to ensure a backup supply for the school’s fire‑suppression system.

Why it matters: the bond authorizations and grants are the financing and project‑management steps the town needs to begin construction of the water plant and to complete road and waterline work that officials say will protect school operations and improve system redundancy.

Votes at a glance: • Ordinance (Title 1, Ch. 5, §1‑502) to expand the Recreation Advisory Commission from 11 to 12 members — Motion to approve carried by roll call (Aldermen Dixon, Jenkins, Causey and Counterman recorded ‘Aye’). (Topic provenance: SEG 039–SEG 050; SEG 1224–SEG 1252.) • Resolution 2026‑O3 (initial bond authorization, not to exceed $15,000,000) — Approved after motion and second; roll‑call approval recorded. (Topic provenance: SEG 1254–SEG 1292.) • Resolution 2026‑O6 (full bond resolution and bond anticipation notes, not to exceed $15,000,000) — Approved after motion and second; roll‑call approval recorded. (Topic provenance: SEG 1303–SEG 1332.) • FY26 CDBG application for school access road — Motion to apply approved by roll call. (Topic provenance: SEG 1333–SEG 1375.) • Hiring administrative and engineering services (Community Development Partners; Todd Wood Engineering) for CDBG — Approved by roll call. (Topic provenance: SEG 1376–SEG 1403.) • ARC grant application ($392,500) for 16‑inch redundant waterline — Approved by roll call. (Topic provenance: SEG 1409–SEG 1444.)

What’s next: Mayor Wolf said bond issuance will proceed as the project advances and that USDA Rural Development is expected to be the eventual funder; the board also authorized the staff to pursue the listed grants and to execute agreements with the approved service providers.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 1254; topfinish SEG 1450.