Sevier County committee reviews capital projects list, bond terms and Tennessee BEAD broadband mapping

Vice Mayor Bryan McCarter and Director Jason Strickland briefed the Sevier County Intergovernmental Committee on May 9, 2024 about the status of multiple capital projects and how they are being financed.

Vice Mayor McCarter outlined current and planned projects, including the Courts Building, the Gilreath Family Library Kodak Branch, the Public Safety Building, the Sevier Animal Care Center, the Veterans expansion, Health Department renovation, renovation of the old Archives building for the Sheriff’s Office, My People Center renovation and expansion, Courthouse renovation, Fleet/Solid Waste renovation and expansion, the Sheriff’s Office Administrative Building, a downtown parking garage and Water Department projects. McCarter said he provided a funding breakdown for those projects and noted that bonds issued for the Courts Building project carry a 20-year term limit.

Commissioner Bryan Delius asked whether court fees would continue after the Courts Building is completed; Mayor Larry Waters replied that the fees would continue. Director Jimmy Bohanan and Director Dan King also gave department updates on fleet administration and solid waste services, respectively, including budget request items.

On broadband, Director of Grants and Special Projects Andrew Temple told the committee that Tennessee has begun the Tennessee BEAD Challenge Map process to confirm served, underserved and unserved addresses. He said the process begins a 75-day period, after which the county will continue to work with service providers to seek broadband service in areas identified as unserved.

The capital projects updates were informational; several administrative motions at the meeting (naming, leasing discussions and convenience-center fee timing) were acted on separately and forwarded to the Board of Commissioners or to the Mayor’s Office for follow-up.