Cheatham County approves major budget transfers, land purchases and Sycamore Square funding

Cheatham County commissioners on Nov. 19 approved a suite of budget actions and land purchases expected to support courthouse and facility projects, jail planning and future school needs.

County Mayor Kerry McCarver reported the county's FEMA account balance is $25,647.32. The Legislative Body approved budget amendments to the County General Fund covering several departments (Jail $55.50; Cheatham County Library $959.74; South Cheatham Library $50.00 and $627.50; Juvenile $428.00; EMS $3,267.08; County Buildings $332,665.00 and $7,936.00; Veterans' Services $15,000). Director of Accounts Sandrine Batts presented the amendments and the motion to authorize them (moved by Diana Pike Lovell, seconded by David Anderson) passed on a roll call vote of 12–0 (Resolution 9).

Separately, commissioners approved a transfer of $1.2 million from the County General Fund balance to cover upcoming Sycamore Square renovations prior to the sale of the Tucker Empson Building (Resolution 19). The LED light poles ($66,240) and parking lot island funding ($57,189) previously approved for Sycamore Square are to be paid from the Capital Improvements Fund balance; the LED poles are noted to be repaid within two years from either sale or rental income of the Tucker Empson property.

The body approved several debt-authorized land purchases under Capital Outlay Notes, Series 2018. Commissioners authorized a three-year land purchase for jail complex expansion not to exceed $400,000 (Resolution 16; roll call 11 Yes, 1 No). They also authorized a three-year land purchase for future school use not to exceed $1,008,000, noting that funds that had been budgeted for a Sycamore cafeteria expansion would be reallocated to the purchase; that motion passed 12–0 (Resolution 17).

Budget Committee also approved a $410,000 transfer from the Other Capital Projects – Jail Fund balance to purchase land (Resolution 13; roll call 11 Yes, 1 No). In addition, a reallocation of budgeted Highway/Roads insurance charges of $11,507.95 was approved (Resolution 12).

The meeting record shows motions and explicit roll-call tallies for these actions; most were unanimous or near-unanimous. The minutes list movers, seconders and vote records for each resolution.

Next steps noted in the meeting included a state representative coordinated through CTAS to present options for the county jail and continued work on Sycamore Square renovations prior to property disposition.