Blount County commissioners forward budget transfers, grant applications and reappointments; resident urges road repairs

Blount County commissioners at a workshop on April 9 voted to forward several budget transfers, grant applications and mayoral reappointments to the full commission and heard a resident urge repairs to deteriorating neighborhood roads.

The board approved, by recorded votes, moving a series of budget items and grant applications to the full commission for final action. The clerk read Resolution 264002, a $144,082.92 intra-budget transfer to align the innovative school model grant; the board moved it forward 14-0 after the budget committee recommended it 5-0. The board also forwarded Resolution 264004, a $73,284.85 increase in highway capital funds to cover additional rock removal for a sewer relocation at Wildwood Bridge (14-0), and Resolution 264003, a $100,000 appropriation for courthouse stairwell tread and landing replacement (recorded 13-yes, 1-no). Resolution 264005, a $68,000 transfer to align a public school security grant, and two Blount County Sheriff’s Office grant applications to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office — $120,000 for patrol overtime and $24,000 for a network coordinator (both no match required) — were each forwarded 14-0.

Why it matters: the measures include capital repairs to county infrastructure, school grant alignments and public-safety grant requests that, if approved by the full commission, would authorize county spending or acceptance of external funds.

Commissioner Eckard asked that higher-dollar items (items 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9) be separated from the budget consent calendar for individual votes because each exceeded $20,000; the commission followed that approach, voting the remainder of the consent calendar first and then taking the larger items individually. The mayor’s reappointments to the Board of Equalization — Scott Blevins, Bruce Rectenwald, Amanda Stone, Steve Johnson and Daryl Tipton — were also forwarded to the full commission unanimously.

During announcements, Commissioner French invited commissioners to the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department annual gala, describing it as a fundraiser to support a new fire station and noting a $125 ticket for a steak dinner and scheduled entertainment. Commissioner Anderson said assessment-change notices from the Blount County Assessor’s Office would be mailed soon and said the reassessment gives the county an opportunity to reduce the tax rate.

Public comment: Jim Fox of 2009 Trenton Boulevard used his three minutes to urge attention to road and curb deterioration in his neighborhood on Ralston Road and Trenton Boulevard. Fox described gravel and sinkholes near intersections, said the pavement is “pulling away from the curbing,” and warned the loose gravel is dangerous for bicyclists and children. He estimated roughly 175 houses in the neighborhood and asked the commission to address the safety and maintenance concerns; his time expired before he finished.

What’s next: all forwarded resolutions, grant applications and the mayoral reappointments will appear on the full commission agenda for final votes and any required implementation steps. The commission also set a 30-day-notice public hearing on the regional comprehensive plan, which Commissioners Eckard and Anderson said should address traffic congestion.