Franklin County commission approves $4.99 million CDBG application and $1 million local match for TCAT satellite
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Summary
The Franklin County Commission voted unanimously Feb. 27 to apply for a $4,990,000 Community Development Block Grant to build a Tennessee College of Applied Technology satellite, committing $1,000,000 in local funds and agreeing to an MOU that would transfer the finished facility to the Tennessee Board of Regents.
The Franklin County Commission voted unanimously Feb. 27 to authorize an application for a $4,990,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to help build a Tennessee College of Applied Technology — Franklin County (TCAT-FC) satellite, and approved a related memorandum of understanding that commits a $1,000,000 county match.
Under Resolution 1a-022717, the commission authorized County Mayor Richard Stewart to submit the grant application to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and to execute necessary agreements if funding is awarded. The resolution lists a project cost of $5,990,000 and a required local contribution of $1,000,000 provided by Franklin County.
The commission also approved a Memorandum of Understanding among Franklin County Commission, the Franklin County Board of Education and the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR). The MOU specifies that the Franklin County Board of Education will deed about 8.5 acres on Dinah Shore Boulevard (the former Franklin County High School site) to the county for the project; the 2006 parcel value is listed in the MOU as $850,000. The MOU calls for a minimum 20,000-square-foot facility and identifies programs TBR would offer at the TCAT satellite, including Industrial Maintenance, Computer Information Technology, Welding Technology, Machine Tool Technology, Certified Nursing Assistant and Licensed Practical Nursing.
The MOU assigns Franklin County as the lead applicant and recipient of CDBG funds for project administration and budgeting; it says TBR will accept ownership of the finished and equipped facility upon completion and closeout of the grant project. The MOU lists an anticipated grant period of March 1, 2017, through Feb. 28, 2020.
County officials named in the MOU include Mayor Richard Stewart and Finance Director Andrea Smith; the Franklin County Schools’ Director of Schools Amie Lonas and Board member Christine Hopkins are listed as education partners. The MOU identifies James D. King, vice chancellor and director of project management for the Tennessee Board of Regents, and Ivan Jones, director of Tennessee College of Applied Technology — Shelbyville, as TBR contacts for project coordination.
The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Commissioner Dave Van Buskirk and seconded by Commissioner Chuck Stines; the commission approved the resolution and the MOU by voice vote, 16–0. The roll call in the meeting minutes lists the 16 commissioners present: Iris Rudder; Gene Snead; Stanley Bean; Lisa Mason; Dale Schultz; Dave Van Buskirk; Eddie Clark; Chuck Stines; Johnny Hughes; Helen Stapleton; Barbara Finney; David Eldridge; Angie Fuller; Doug Goodman; Don Cofer; and Sam Hiles.
Next steps identified in the MOU and resolution include the grant application to the state and coordination among Franklin County, the school board and TBR on project design, bidding and equipment purchases if the CDBG award is made. The documents approved at the Feb. 27 special called session direct the county mayor to enter into necessary agreements to receive and administer funds and to work with TBR and TCAT staff on planning and development.
No public testimony or substantive debate on the merits of the project appears in the meeting minutes; the motions were recorded as approved by unanimous voice votes.