Claiborne County Commission approves budget amendments, appointments and property reversion

The Claiborne County Commission on Feb. 22, 2021 approved a series of budget amendments, appointed notary publics and a budget committee, and authorized the return of county property that had reverted under a deed clause, during a regular meeting at the courthouse in Tazewell.

The actions included Resolution 2021-009, a sheriff's vehicle maintenance budget amendment tied to a damaged 2017 Ford Police Interceptor. Commissioner Kim Large moved to approve the amendment and Commissioner James Hatmaker seconded; the roll-call vote was 21 for, 0 against. The county reported the repair cost at $1,794 and insurance recovery of $1,764.78 was moved into the sheriff's vehicle maintenance line.

The commission approved Resolution 2021-010 permitting the County Clerk to buy barcode scanners to handle motor-vehicle transactions. Commissioner Anthony Rowe moved the measure and Commissioner Sherry McCreary seconded; commissioners approved the $2,450 purchase from a County Clerk reserve account by roll call, 21-0.

Commissioners combined and approved two Board of Education budget amendments. Resolution 2021-011 adds a Remote Technology Grant of $152,959.74 to the general-purpose budget (the resolution states it involves no local tax dollars). Resolution 2021-012 makes adjustments to the Federal Projects/ESSER budget lines to match the state's approved grant budget; several lines were increased and decreased as listed in the resolution. The combined motion was made by Commissioner Shawn Peters.

The body also adopted Resolution 2021-013 to support the county's Great American Cleanup, and approved Resolution 2021-014 authorizing the county mayor to execute a deed returning property to Donald R. and Ann Edwards under a reversion clause because the parcel is no longer used as a voting precinct. Resolution 2021-015 appointed nine commissioners to the budget committee: Charlton Vass; Kim Walker-Large; Mike Campbell; Anthony Rowe; Mitchell Cosby; Steve Mason; Shawn Peters; David Mundy; and James Hatmaker.

On Resolution 2021-016, the commission accepted a $20,000 State of Tennessee Bike Share Program grant and amended the general fund budget to move two existing BIKE travel/contracted-services lines down ($10,000 each) and increase a BIKE equipment line by $20,000. County Attorney Estep advised clarifying the line-item changes and resolution wording before the roll-call; the measure passed 21-0.

The commission approved four notary public appointments (Linda K. Hurst; Kishon N. Agee; Matthew R. Marshall; Heather L. Manson) and adjourned by motion of Commissioner Juanita Honeycutt.

Votes at a glance: - Res. 2021-009 (Sheriff vehicle maintenance budget amendment): Passed, roll-call 21-0. (SEG 004) - Res. 2021-010 (County Clerk barcode scanners, $2,450): Passed, roll-call 21-0. (SEG 005) - Res. 2021-011 (Remote Technology Grant, Board of Education, $152,959.74): Passed (combined vote). (SEG 006) - Res. 2021-012 (ESSER Federal Projects budget adjustments): Passed (combined vote). (SEG 006–007) - Res. 2021-013 (Keep America Beautiful / Great American Cleanup): Passed, roll-call 21-0. (SEG 008) - Res. 2021-014 (Transfer county property to grantors under reversion clause): Passed, roll-call 21-0. (SEG 009) - Res. 2021-015 (Budget committee appointments): Passed. (SEG 010) - Res. 2021-016 (Bike Share Program, $20,000 state grant): Passed, roll-call 21-0. (SEG 011–012)

The commission’s approvals move several grant and equipment items into county accounts and set a budget committee to begin preparing the county budget for the coming cycle. The meeting record shows unanimous or voice approval on the listed resolutions; no ordinances or defeats were recorded.