Van Buren County Commission approves budget transfers, authorizes vehicle auctions and seals bids, and funds museum HVAC replacement

The Van Buren County Commission approved a series of budget transfers and procurement steps at its meeting, including moves to cover sheriff’s department personnel costs, authorization to auction older county vehicles, solicitation of sealed bids for a roll-off garbage truck and a county contribution to replace HVAC units at the county museum.

Kale Crane (Committee member) moved to transfer $7,595 from fund balance lines to pay the remainder of an officer position in the sheriff’s department; the motion was seconded and approved. Crane later moved $10,000 into deputy salaries; commissioners clarified the transfer covers remaining salary allocations and is not a pay increase. The commission recorded members voting yes on the $10,000 transfer.

Commissioners also authorized putting several older vehicles — identified in discussion as including a 2011 ambulance and 2011 Ford F‑250 and F‑150 pickups — up for auction through Tay’s Realty and Auction, with a standard 10% commission discussed and accepted. The commission voted to allow the county mayor’s office to solicit sealed bids for a 2001 Freightliner roll‑off garbage truck.

Jimmy Hodges, representing the Van Buren County Historical and Heritage Museum, told commissioners that inspection reports show multiple HVAC units are aged and have safety issues, including evidence of leaks and electrical hazards. Hodges said the museum has $20,883 remaining in a grant and presented two contractor estimates: roughly $32,000 for full replacement, or about $26,750 for partial repair. Hodges asked the county to budget a county share of $11,117 (about 35 percent) so the museum could replace the upstairs and downstairs units and associated ductwork.

"The upstairs furnaces are 30 years old," Hodges said, describing carbon monoxide and mold-like conditions found during inspection, and urged the commission to accept the vendor’s quote so the museum could proceed. County staff and commissioners discussed placing the expenditure out of the county’s fund balance and completing a vendor contract in committee before payment.

A motion was made and seconded to move $11,117 from fund balance to a museum building-repair line to replace the museum HVAC units as presented; the commission voted in favor. Commissioners noted the need for a written contract from the vendor before work begins.

Solid‑waste staff reported the county diverted 773.09 tons of material in 2025 and met a 25 percent diversion requirement from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), an eligibility threshold for some grants. Staff outlined plans to seek two additional compactors and more open‑top containers once the new roll‑off truck is in service.

The meeting included routine approvals such as minutes and a public‑notary appointment. The commission also recognized School Resource Officer Brent Hickerson for service to Van Buren County Schools.