Greene County approves small appropriations, grant application and transfers to highway fund

Greene County Legislative Body on Feb. 17 approved a bundle of budget amendments and an authorization to apply for a state transportation litter-and-trash grant.

The commission approved six separate actions during the meeting: (1) appropriating $7,500 in reimbursements from the Tennessee Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner to the County Coroner budget (Fund 101, account 54610-790); (2) allocating $16,771 from a School Resource Officer (SRO) retention grant to SRO payroll/benefits; (3) recognizing $8,475 in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) event-standby revenue and appropriating it to EMS part-time payroll; (4) authorizing submission (and, if awarded, acceptance) of a Tennessee Department of Transportation litter and trash collection grant for FY 2026–2027; (5) allocating $49,188.43 in proceeds from sale of surplus county vehicles and equipment (GovDeals) to the Highway Department (Fund 131, account 68000-718) for motor-vehicle purchases; and (6) a procedural vote to elect a slate of notaries. All resolutions passed by roll-call vote.

Key votes and motions recorded in the minutes:

- Resolution A (Chief Medical Examiner reimbursements - $7,500): Motion by Commissioner Carpenter, second by Commissioner Smithson; roll-call vote 20 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent; motion passed. The resolution directs the $7,500 to County Coroner account 54610-790.

- Resolution B (SRO retention grant - $16,771): Motion by Commissioner Bible, second by Commissioner Kiker; Commissioner Lawing recorded an abstention; final recorded result 19 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain, 1 absent; motion passed. The line items include allocations for SRO salaries, social security, pension and related payroll costs.

- Resolution C (EMS event revenue - $8,475): Motion by Commissioner Arrowood, second by Commissioner Crawford; roll-call vote 20 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent; motion passed. The revenue was recorded as EMS expenditure credits and is appropriated to part-time EMS payroll.

- Resolution D (TDOT litter and trash grant application): Motion by Commissioner Shelton, second by Commissioner Burkey; roll-call vote 20 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent; motion passed. The resolution authorizes the county mayor's office to apply for the FY 2026–2027 TDOT litter/trash grant and, if awarded, to execute required contracts and accept funds.

- Resolution E (Proceeds from GovDeals to Highway - $49,188.43): Motion by Commissioner Crawford, second by Commissioner Murray; roll-call vote 20 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent; motion passed. The resolution appropriates surplus-sale proceeds to Fund 131, account 68000-718 for Highway Department vehicle purchases.

Votes were recorded electronically and announced by Mayor Morrison after each roll-call. The meeting minutes show unanimous support for most items; only Resolution B recorded the single abstention. The commission also approved the election of multiple notaries and accepted committee reports (Board of Education financials, Veterans and Emergency Chaplains reports, Solid Waste reports) as part of the consent business.

Fiscal context and next steps: The appropriations use small, restricted funding streams (grant awards, reimbursements and sale proceeds) so the actions did not require a material change to the county’s overall tax rate. The TDOT grant authorization will advance an application process; if awarded, the county will return to the commission for any required acceptance and appropriation of awarded funds, as the resolution authorized execution of the acceptance paperwork to the mayor's office.

The commission adjourned after completing the business; the next regular meeting was scheduled for March 16, 2026.