Cheatham County approves budget amendments, health‑department ARP grant and joins statewide opioid plan

Cheatham County commissioners approved a package of budget and capital adjustments, accepted a state health‑department grant for local clinic improvements and adopted a resolution to participate in a unified Tennessee plan for opioid‑abatement funds during the county's March 20 regular session in Ashland City.

The meeting opened at 6:01 p.m. with Chairman Tim Williamson and County Clerk Abby Short calling the roll and confirming a 12‑member quorum. The body approved the agenda as amended and the minutes from its Feb. 27 session.

Director of Accounts Sandrine Batts presented Budget Committee recommendations. The commission approved several County General Fund amendments to support sheriff and jail line items, transfers from reserved accounts for equipment, and the use of a Tennessee Corrections Institute training grant to purchase jail training equipment. Commissioners also approved a General Capital Projects Fund amendment to accept contributed funds for an animal‑control kennel restoration and authorized declaring a 2001 Jeep Cherokee surplus for sale on GovDeals. The roll‑call votes for the budget items were recorded in the meeting minutes (Resolution 4, Resolution 5, Resolution 6).

Under mayoral items, County Mayor Kerry McCarver presented a package of approvals. The body authorized the mayor to sign a grant contract with the Tennessee Department of Health for Local Health Department capital investment funded by State Fiscal Recovery Funds; the contract lists a $383,200 maximum federal award for Cheatham County and a total project budget of $510,900…