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Surgoinsville board approves budget amendment, open-burning ordinance and personnel policies; tables traffic-fine changes
Summary
At its June 10 meeting, the Surgoinsville Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved a budget amendment, an open-burning ordinance, a building-permit fee schedule, and two personnel resolutions; the board also authorized grant and account actions and tabled proposed changes to traffic fines for further discussion.
Surgoinsville Mayor Merrell Graham presided over the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on June 10, 2024, at Surgoinsville City Hall. The board unanimously approved several ordinances and resolutions, authorized financial accounts and a grant application, and set a special meeting for the budget's final reading.
Recorder Megan Gentry summarized Fiscal Year 2023–24 Budget Amendment #2 before the board voted. Alderman Hoss moved to approve Ordinance 175-2024 (the budget amendment) and Vice-Mayor Jarnagin seconded; the motion passed by a unanimous roll-call vote. The board set a special BMA meeting for June 25, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. for the ordinance’s second and final reading.
On other formal actions, the board adopted Ordinance 174-2024, regulating open burning inside town limits (motion by Vice-Mayor Jarnagin; second by Alderman Bishop), and adopted Ordinance 177-2024, establishing a schedule of building permit fees (motion by Alderman Mierek; second by Alderman Hoss). Both ordinances passed by unanimous roll-call votes.
The board approved two personnel-related measures. Resolution 150-2024, which repeals and replaces the personnel policy and employee handbook, passed on a motion by Alderman Mierek and second by Alderman Bishop. Resolution 151-2024, adopting a drug and alcohol testing policy, was approved on a motion by Alderman Bishop and second by Alderman Mierek. Both resolutions were adopted unanimously.
Police Chief James Hammonds asked that Ordinance 176-2024, which would revise the town’s traffic fine charges, be held for further discussion. The board unanimously agreed to table the item for the July workshop rather than vote on it at this meeting.
The board also approved administrative and intergovernmental actions. Vice-Mayor Jarnagin moved, and Alderman Mierek seconded, authorization for Recorder Gentry and Mayor Graham to open two separate State of Tennessee LGIP accounts for the General Fund, with one account designated specifically for Fire Department funds; the motion carried unanimously. The board authorized the Surgoinsville Volunteer Fire Department to enter an interlocal agreement with Hawkins County to provide coverage for Phipps Bend and authorized the mayor to execute the agreement (motion by Vice-Mayor Jarnagin; second by Alderman Bishop).
Vice-Mayor Jarnagin moved and Alderman Hoss seconded approval for the Town to apply for the Judy Housley Safety Partners matching grant through Public Entity Partners to purchase turnout gear for the Fire Department; the motion passed unanimously.
Visitors Chris Singleton and Tim Carwile presented two checks of $475 each from a local Jeep show, designated for the Fire Department and the Police Department. The board unanimously authorized Recorder Megan Gentry to establish restricted reserve accounts for those donations.
During department reports, Chief Hammonds read the May police report; Mayor Graham read the Fire Department report; Bobby Hickman presented maintenance items; and Donnie Morrison provided updates on brush truck and tractor repairs. The board unanimously approved the May department reports. Alderman Hoss asked about the new school flowmeter; Chief Hammonds reported it is functioning and that he plans to compare readings with the Surgoinsville Utility District before preparing invoices.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. The Board will reconvene for the special BMA meeting on June 25 for the second and final reading of the budget amendment.
