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Benton County commission approves school nursing grant, FEMA highway funds, sheriff appropriations and ethics policy update
Summary
At its Nov. 18 meeting the Benton County Board of Commissioners approved a package of budget appropriations and routine appointments — including a $292,376 nursing grant for schools, $49,724.98 in FEMA funds for a dump truck, multiple sheriff budget items totaling about $11,707, notary appointments, and an amendment to the county conflict-of-interest policy — plus several other small transfers and equipment purchases.
The Benton County Board of Commissioners approved a slate of routine budget adjustments, appointments and a policy amendment at its Nov. 18 meeting.
Key votes at a glance
- Resolution No. 20241118-03 (schools): The board budgeted $292,376 in nursing-grant funds for the schools’ 2024–25 budget, allocating money across special-education teacher pay, teacher assistants, benefits and capital outlay lines. The motion (moved by Jerry Price, seconded by Kenneth Miller) passed 13–1; Commissioner Debbie Bain cast the lone no vote.
- Resolution No. 20241118-04 (highway): The board moved $49,724.98 received from FEMA storm-damage reimbursements into highway equipment to fund the purchase of a dump truck. Motion by Kenneth Miller, second by Sonny Hall; passed 14–0.
- Resolution No. 20241118-05 (court IT): The board budgeted $605.42 from court fees to purchase a NAS server for the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office as requested by the judge and clerk. Motion by Kenneth Miller, second by Jerry Price; passed 14–0.
- Resolution No. 20241118-06 (jail training equipment): The sheriff’s office received and appropriated a $9,400 training equipment grant administered by the Tennessee Corrections Institute across jail budget line items. Motion by Debbie Bain, second by Sonny Hall; passed 14–0 (2/3 required and met).
- Resolution No. 20241118-07 and No. 20241118-08 (sheriff budgets and insurance): The board budgeted $967 in miscellaneous sheriff revenues and $1,340.60 in insurance reimbursements into vehicle maintenance and other sheriff accounts. Both measures were moved by Debbie Bain and seconded (one by Jerry Price, the other by Sonny Hall) and both passed 14–0.
- Resolution No. 20241118-01 (appointments): Mayor Mark Ward’s nominations of Charles Wood, Alicia Engley and Lea Harris to the Benton County Animal Shelter Board for three-year terms were approved unanimously (14–0).
- Notary appointments: Commissioners approved the appointment of Kimberly E. McCall, Scott Hill, Jennifer M. Williams, Carly Bayless and Ashley Hooper as county notaries (presented by the county clerk).
- Resolution No. 20241118-09 (ethics policy): The commission amended the Benton County Conflict of Interest & Business Ethics Policy to add federally required language governing participation in contracts supported by federal awards; the board suspended the rules to consider the item and approved the amendment (motion by Mike Nunnery; second recorded as Kenneth Miller; vote 14–0).
Procedural note: During the Commissioners Forum the board voted to convene a Special Called Commissioners Meeting (motion by Commissioner Jerry Price, second by Commissioner Debbie Bain); that motion passed on roll call 10–4 with four absent (no additional special-meeting agenda items were recorded at this session).
One recorded dissent: The nursing-grant appropriation passed 13–1, with Commissioner Debbie Bain recorded as voting no; the meeting record does not include her explanation for the dissent.
The meeting concluded after routine business and an adjournment motion by Kenneth Miller, seconded by Jerry Price.
