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Benton County Commission fills 3rd District seat, approves ARPA spending, opioid plan and multiple budget items

Benton County Board of Commissioners · March 1, 2026

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Summary

At its Nov. 15, 2021 meeting the Benton County Board of Commissioners elected Brett Burke to a 3rd District vacancy and approved a slate of resolutions including joining the state opioid abatement agreement, budgeting $1.57 million in ARPA funds, and multiple grant appropriations and board appointments.

Brett Burke was elected by the Benton County Board of Commissioners to fill the 3rd District vacancy during the commission's Nov. 15, 2021 meeting, after commissioners voted 15–0 with two members absent. The meeting opened with the invocation by Chairman Rosanne Ward and a quorum announced by County Clerk Wanda Malin.

The commission approved a package of resolutions and budget amendments affecting several county programs and projects. It voted to join the Tennessee State-Subdivision Opioid Abatement Agreement and the related proposed settlements, citing state legislation (Public Chapter No. 491) and nationwide litigation (In re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation, MDL No. 2804) as context for the unified allocation plan. Commissioners recorded the motion and adopted Resolution 20211115-06 by roll call (16 ayes, 2 absent).

The board budgeted the county's first American Rescue Plan Act installment of $1,569,445.50 into Site Development (Resolution 20211115-13) and approved several other appropriations: a $75,000 reimbursable Tourism Enhancement Grant plus a $3,750 local match for the Patsy Cline Memorial Park project (Resolution 20211115-18); $5,214.95 for airport maintenance equipment (Resolution 20211115-08); $4,500 from the City of Camden for the Benton County Library (Resolution 20211115-10); and $2,500 toward the OnSolve Code Red weather warning subscription (Resolution 20211115-12).

The county also approved administrative actions and appointments. Commissioner Darrel Hicks moved (seconded by Commissioner Davna Ferguson) to re-appoint Jennifer Hedge to the Benton County Audit Committee for a four-year term through Nov. 30, 2025 (Resolution 20211115-01). The commission appointed Bonnie Evans to the Benton County Solid Waste Board to fill a term through Feb. 18, 2022 (Resolution 20211115-03). The board amended prior budget language to correct a rollover balance of $345,903.52 and reallocated those funds across site development, other construction, and motor-vehicle line items.

Public-safety and operations items included the approval of a request from the Benton County Sheriff's Office to transfer FCC radio licenses and ownership of three radio repeater units to the Benton County 911 Board (Resolution 20211115-07), and the acknowledgment and budgeting of sheriff's office revenues and a small medical-claims reimbursement ($344.23) into the sheriff's budget (Resolutions 20211115-16 and 20211115-17).

Education-related budget adjustments were approved at the request of Benton County Director of Schools Mark Florence, including transfers within the school budget to correct insufficient estimates and an increase of $7,000 to the technology retirement line offset by a $7,000 decrease to health services retirement (Resolutions 20211115-14 and 20211115-15).

The commission also authorized appropriations for a CDBG EMA grant and corrected a prior drug court-fee appropriation to reflect $4,778.04 collected for FY20–21 (Resolutions 20211115-19 and 20211115-20). The election commission received a one-time appropriation of $1,876.25 for two computers, to be reimbursed by the State Department of Elections (Resolution 20211115-22). November 2021 notaries were approved, and the meeting adjourned after a final roll-call vote.

Votes at a glance: - Appointment of Brett Burke to 3rd District: elected by roll call (15 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 001) - Resolution 20211115-01 (re-appoint Jennifer Hedge to Audit Committee): passed (16 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 004) - Resolution 20211115-03 (appoint Bonnie Evans, Solid Waste Board): passed (14 ayes, 2 no, 2 absent). (SEG 005) - Resolution 20211115-06 (join Tennessee opioid abatement agreement): passed (16 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 008–009) - Resolution 20211115-07 (transfer sheriff FCC licenses to 911 Board): passed (16 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 009) - Resolution 20211115-08 (budget airport grant $5,214.95): passed (16 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 010) - Resolution 20211115-10 (library allocation $4,500): passed (16 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 011) - Resolution 20211115-12 (budget Code Red funds $2,500): passed (16 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 012) - Resolution 20211115-13 (budget ARPA funds $1,569,445.50): passed (16 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 013) - Resolutions 20211115-14 and -15 (school budget adjustments): passed (16 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 013–014) - Resolution 20211115-16 (medical-claims reimbursement $344.23): passed (16 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 015) - Resolution 20211115-17 (budget sheriff revenues $3,772.69): passed (16 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 015) - Resolution 20211115-18 (tourism grant $78,750 total): passed (16 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 016) - Resolution 20211115-19 (CDBG EMA appropriation): passed (2/3 where required; roll call recorded). (SEG 017) - Resolution 20211115-20 (amend drug court fee appropriation to $4,778.04): passed. (SEG 017) - Resolution 20211115-22 (election commission computers $1,876.25): passed (16 ayes, 2 absent). (SEG 018)

What happens next: Several approvals require administrative follow-up (account-number corrections with staff, reimbursements from state agencies, and execution of agreements such as the opioid-abatement participation). The commission adjourned after recording the votes and certifying the minutes.