Cheatham County approves $680,514 for school employee bonuses and a package of budget amendments

The Cheatham County Legislative Body on Feb. 22 approved $680,514 from the county fund balance to provide bonuses to school employees and authorized several budget amendments across county and school funds.

The school-bonuses motion, moved by Commissioner Tim Williamson and seconded by Commissioner Ed Greer, passed by roll call vote 9-1 with one abstention and one absence. The commission recorded David Anderson as abstaining and Gary Binkley as the lone No vote. The approved $680,514 allocation comes from the county fund balance and was presented to the commission by the Education committee for immediate disbursement to school employees.

The commission also authorized a slate of budget adjustments recommended by the Budget Committee. Director of Accounts Sandrine Batts outlined transfers and amendments affecting the County General Fund (covering items such as prisoner supplies, COVID-related reimbursements, insurance recoveries and Sheriff overtime), the General Capital Projects Fund (including Veterans Services Office build-out items), the Highway/Public Works Fund (reimbursement from the General Purpose School Fund for bus-garage electricity), and the General Purpose School Fund (a $70,993 transfer from school fund balance for district-wide school zone lights). Those amendments were approved by roll call votes as recorded in the meeting packet.

Commissioners approved authorizing the County Mayor Kerry McCarver to sign an agreement with Organizational Management Group to conduct a Veterans Services Office (VSO) salary study. The contract caps consultant compensation at $5,000 and runs Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2021; the motion was moved by Commissioner Tim Williamson, seconded by Commissioner Diana Pike Lovell, and approved 11-0 (one absent).

The commission also declared several county assets surplus — including a water tank and pumps behind Sycamore Square and a Canon C2030 color copier — with disposition to sale, recycling or disposal. A transfer of $4,067.26 from VSO reserves to the General Capital Projects Fund was approved to cover build-out items in the new Veterans Office (a wooden door with full glass and a push-button entry control).

Other routine business included approval of the meeting agenda and prior minutes, committee reports, and the consent calendar (a set of notary public appointments). Economic and Community Development Director Jerome Terrell noted nine active projects, announced a new business on Hwy 41-A (Premier Printing) and said Marrowbone Creek Brewing Company would hold a ribbon cutting the following week. School Board representative Dr. Cathy Beck told commissioners that in-person classes would resume the next day and that the Health Department would offer COVID-19 vaccines for teachers beginning then.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 1 (Quorum): approved (quorum declared). - Resolution 2 (Approve Agenda): motion by Chris Gilmore, seconded by David Anderson; approved by voice vote (two absences noted at the time). - Resolution 3 (Approve Minutes): motion by Tim Williamson, seconded by David Anderson; approved by voice vote. - Resolution 4 (Authorize Mayor's signature for agreement with Organizational Management Group – VSO salary study): motion by Tim Williamson, seconded by Diana Pike Lovell; roll call 11 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (approved). - Resolution 5 (County General Fund budget amendments): motion by Ed Greer, seconded by David Anderson; roll call 11 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (approved). - Resolution 6 (Transfer VSO reserves to General Capital Projects for VSO build-out): motion by Diana Pike Lovell, seconded by David Anderson; roll call 11 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (approved). - Resolution 7 (Highway/Public Works Fund amendment – reimbursement from schools): motion by Tim Williamson, seconded by Chris Gilmore; roll call 11 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (approved). - Resolution 8 (General Purpose School Fund transfer for transportation: $70,993): motion by Tim Williamson, seconded by David Anderson; roll call 11 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (approved). - Resolution 9 (Authorize surplus of county assets – Sycamore Square items, copier): motion by Connie Mayo, seconded by Tim Williamson; approved by voice vote (1 Absent). - Resolution 10 (Approve $680,514 from fund balance for school employee bonuses): motion by Tim Williamson, seconded by Ed Greer; roll call 9 Yes, 1 No, 1 Absent, 1 Abstain (approved). - Resolution 11 (Memorial plaque for the family of Donnie Lee Kemp Jr.): motion by David Anderson, seconded by Gary Binkley; approved by voice vote. - Resolution 12 (Consent calendar – Notary Public approvals): motion by Diana Pike Lovell, seconded by David Anderson; approved by voice vote. - Resolution 13 (Adjourn): motion by Walter Weakley, seconded by Ed Greer; approved by voice vote.

What the actions mean and next steps The approved transfers and amendments move funds to cover COVID-related reimbursements, Sheriff overtime paid from grant proceeds, school zone lighting purchases, VSO office build-out elements and other departmental needs. The VSO salary-study agreement will be administered by the County Mayor’s office; the contractor’s stated cap is $5,000. The school-bonuses allocation will be distributed by the school administration per the Board of Education’s guidelines; commissioners did not debate alternative uses at length during the session.

Administrative and community notes Sheriff Mike Breedlove and Road Superintendent Robert Hester were both thanked by multiple officials for road-clearing work during recent inclement weather. Economic Development staff announced business activity including Premier Printing and a Marrowbone Creek Brewing Company ribbon cutting. The commission adopted a memorial resolution honoring Donnie Lee Kemp Jr. for decades of local business and civic involvement.

The Legislative Body adjourned at 8:00 P.M. The next commission meetings will be held in the General Sessions courtroom and masks will be required, the chairman said.