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Surgoinsville board adopts FY2026 budget, approves amendment and routine purchases
Summary
On June 9 the Surgoinsville Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously adopted the town's fiscal 2026 budget, approved a budget amendment, authorized several maintenance and IT purchases, set sealed-bid terms for a surplus truck and appointed negotiators to meet with local schools.
SURGOINSVILLE, Tenn. ' The Surgoinsville Board of Mayor and Aldermen on June 9 adopted the town's annual budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and approved a series of routine purchases, infrastructure repairs and administrative changes, all by unanimous roll-call votes.
Vice-Mayor Jarnagin moved and Alderman Bishop seconded approval of Ordinance 185-2025, the FY2026 annual budget; the board also approved Ordinance 184-2025, a second and final reading of Budget Amendment #2 to the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Alderman Randy Collier proposed an amendment reducing maintenance salaries by $4,160 and reducing animal-control staff from four employees to two, with Maintenance Manager Donnie Morrison to select the two employees to continue animal-control duties effective July 1, 2025. The board approved the budget and amendment unanimously.
The meeting record shows the board authorized several purchases and contracts related to town operations. Recorder Megan Gentry was authorized to buy a website enhancement that will help the town meet the agenda-posting requirements of Tennessee Code Annotated ' 8-4-110 for $584 (account 110-41990-255). The board approved transitioning town cellular service from Verizon Wireless to FirstNet for Recorder Gentry and Police Chief James Hammonds to manage.
Maintenance items approved included contracting Perry's Excavation to repair a train trestle for $4,500 (includes materials, labor and equipment), purchasing a drive motor for a Tiger SCAG from Cox Tractor for $897, buying three sewer pumps from Liberty Lumber for $2,350 and authorizing up to $1,010 for additional sewer inventory items. Donnie Morrison also was authorized to purchase rip-rap and materials to repair S. Zions Hill Road (account 110-43190-268). All motions were seconded and carried by unanimous roll-call votes.
On property disposition, the board declared a 1994 Ford F-350 with a Western plow surplus and approved selling it by sealed bids rather than listing it on GovDeals. Vice-Mayor Jarnagin moved to set a minimum bid of $1,500 and to open bids on July 7, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.; the motion passed unanimously.
The board heard Attorney Joe May present the Modified Approach for Public Sanitary Sewer Collection Infrastructure (third triennial condition report). May noted accounting adjustments and advised that the life expectancy of several sewer pumps is nearing its end, forecasting maintenance and replacement expenses in the near term. The board also acknowledged notice received that the town was not selected for the Healthy Built Environments Grant, which had been sought to fund a basketball court at Riverfront Park.
First readings were approved for two ordinances: Ordinance 186-2025, amending the Surgoinsville Municipal Code (Title 1) to allow participation in meetings by electronic means, and Ordinance 187-2025, which would adjust sewer rates. Both advanced on first reading by unanimous votes; final adoption will require subsequent readings where required by ordinance rules.
Vice-Mayor Jarnagin moved, and Alderman Bishop seconded, a motion to appoint James Hammonds, Randy Collier and Attorney Joe May to negotiate with local school systems; that appointment passed unanimously. Alderman Collier also acknowledged board efforts to reduce the projected FY2026 deficit by more than $100,000.
The board scheduled additional discussion about painting the bridge on Longs Bend Pike for the July meeting and set a special called BMA meeting for June 24, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 6:38 p.m.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance 184-2025 (Budget Amendment #2) ' approved (unanimous roll-call); Ordinance 185-2025 (FY2026 annual budget) ' approved (unanimous roll-call); Ordinance 186-2025 (electronic participation) ' first reading approved (unanimous); Ordinance 187-2025 (sewer rates) ' first reading approved (unanimous); surplus 1994 Ford F-350 ' declared surplus and set for sealed bids (minimum $1,500) ' approved (unanimous); website enhancement ($584), FirstNet provider transition, trestle repair ($4,500), drive motor ($897), three sewer pumps ($2,350), sewer inventory (up to $1,010), rip-rap purchase for S. Zions Hill Road ' all authorized (unanimous).
