Macon County commissioners approve transit expansion contract, fund skate park and emergency chiller, adopt revised ethics code

The Macon County Board of Commissioners on March 14 approved several capital and administrative measures, voting unanimously to award a transit facility contract, appropriate funding to finish a Franklin skate park, and fast‑track replacement of an aging chiller at the Human Services Building.

Transit Director Darlene Asher asked the board to approve a $715,000 contract with Owle Construction to expand the county transit facility at 36 Pannel Lane. Commissioners approved the contract and authorized County Manager Derek Roland to execute the agreement; county staff clarified the county is responsible for 20 percent of the contract amount and will fund its share as planned.

The board also amended the budget to address an urgent facilities need. County Manager Derek Roland and Finance Director Lori Carpenter said the boiler/chiller at the Human Services Building is 23 years old and operating at roughly 25 percent capacity. The board approved a budget amendment to allocate $110,000 from the general fund balance to purchase a 90‑ton chiller, citing a roughly 36‑week lead time.

On a separate item, Franklin Town Manager Amie Owens briefed commissioners on the proposed Whitmire Property skate park. Owens said original project costs of $294,750 were reduced to $262,250 after town grading and donations; the remaining balance was reported as $110,575 with the town budgeting $50,000. Commissioner Antoine moved to appropriate the remaining balance, then amended the motion to appropriate $60,576 from the fund balance; the amended appropriation passed unanimously.

The board also acted on governance and partnership items. County Attorney Eric Ridenour proposed rescinding an eight‑page 2010 Code of Ethics and adopting a streamlined one‑page version; Commissioners voted to rescind the 2010 code and adopt the revision. Jennifer Turner‑Lynn of REACH presented a Memorandum of Agreement to formalize partnership and services for human trafficking victims; the board approved the MOA to support REACH’s grant opportunities. Commissioners also approved a resolution recognizing volunteers at the Crawford Senior Center and approved several appointments to the Economic Development Commission.

The consent agenda, approved unanimously, included minutes, budget amendments #189–195, tax releases totaling $685.65, the monthly ad valorem tax collection report, and declaring a service pistol surplus for sale to Bill Edwards for $1.

Votes at a glance

• Transit facility expansion: Award contract to Owle Construction for $715,000; motion approved unanimously; county responsible for 20 percent of contract cost. • Skate park: Amended appropriation of $60,576 from fund balance to complete Whitmire Property skate park; approved unanimously. • HVAC replacement: Budget amendment of $110,000 from fund balance to purchase a 90‑ton chiller for the Human Services Building; approved unanimously. • Code of Ethics: Rescind 2010 Code and adopt revised one‑page Code of Ethics as recommended; approved unanimously. • REACH MOA: Approve Memorandum of Agreement to support human trafficking services and grant‑seeking; approved unanimously. • Consent agenda (minutes, budget amendments, tax releases, fiscal reports, surplus service pistol sale): approved unanimously.

The meeting entered closed session at 9:09 p.m. under statutory authority for attorney‑client privilege and personnel matters, returned at 9:49 p.m., and adjourned at 9:50 p.m.