Cheatham County approves package of budget amendments, assets surplus and several county contracts

Cheatham County commissioners approved a broad set of fiscal and administrative actions on Dec. 16, voting to move money for inmate medical expenses, fund urgent jail and election needs, implement a pay-scale change for elected officials and authorize the surplus sale of vehicles and equipment across county departments.

The actions, taken at a regularly scheduled Legislative Body meeting in the General Sessions courtroom in Ashland City, included roll-call approval for budget amendments authorizing $300,000 for jail medical expenses, $43,191.26 to cover Election Commission worker pay shortfalls, and smaller transfers for Veterans Service and the Recovery Court director. Commissioners also approved a countywide change in the salary scale for elected officials effective July 1, 2025, moving pay “to one population class above Cheatham County's most current population,” a procedural change the body voted to approve after discussion and an amended motion.

Why it matters: the package combines one-time transfers for immediate needs with ongoing policy choices. The elected-officials pay change sets new recurring salary baselines; the jail and election transfers clear shortfalls for operations now. Commissioners approved the measures by recorded roll calls where required; the elected-officials pay change passed with two recorded “no” votes on the roll call that adopted the final motion.

The meeting also authorized the surplus and sale or disposal of dozens of county assets across departments — sheriff’s vehicles, highway tractors and dump trucks, older trailers and small equipment — with proceeds directed to appropriate capital or departmental funds. County records included VINs, serial numbers and condition notes for each item authorized as surplus.

Contracts, MOUs and software renewals: the county approved several agreements during the consent and mayor’s items portion of the agenda. Among them: • A one-year Memorandum of Understanding with Heritage Health Solutions to provide third-party administrative services for inmate medical claims; Heritage’s standard terms (submitted with the MOU) state that Heritage will reprice out-of-jail claims and invoice the county at 205% of the Medicare-allowable amount plus a $20 processing fee per claim, with monthly invoicing and a 45-day payment window for in-network providers (see separate article on the MOU for contract terms). The MOU vote was moved by Commissioner Chris Gilmore and seconded by Commissioner Walter Weakley and carried by voice roll call. • A renewal or signature approval for a Virtual Academy online training solution and a five-year renewal for Andrews Technology custom timesheet software. • The mayor’s signature on a contract for architect Joshua Wright for Health Department work was approved pending attorney review.

What’s next: the major budget amendments are recorded in resolutions and the financial entries will be reflected in county ledgers and the next set of monthly reports. Where the changes create recurring costs—most notably the elected-officials pay scale—administrators will incorporate the change in next fiscal year planning and payroll. The surplus vehicles will be sold or disposed of as authorized and proceeds directed to the funds identified in the resolutions.

The meeting ran from 6:13 p.m. to 6:59 p.m. and featured votes taken by voice and by roll call depending on the item. Several items approved in bulk at the meeting were accompanied in the minutes by supporting documentation for each line item or asset to be declared surplus.