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Carter County commission approves budget amendments, vehicle purchases and three rezoning requests
Summary
On Nov. 20, 2023, the Carter County Board of Commissioners approved a package of budget amendments, authorized vehicle purchases and approved three property rezoning requests; the body also adopted two resolutions including a memorial bridge designation and authorized participation in the Food City opioid settlement.
Carter County commissioners met Nov. 20, 2023, at the county courthouse in Elizabethton and approved a series of financial and land-use measures, including budget amendments, sheriff’s vehicle purchases and three rezoning requests.
The board unanimously approved a set of budget amendments and funding reallocations presented by the Budget Committee. Commissioners approved budget amendment 101-5 (items 1–6) totaling $66,057.69, with $14,209 coming from a reserve account and no draw on the Unassigned Fund Balance; they also approved amendments 116-1 ($3,500) and 131-1 ($50,000), each recorded in the meeting packet and carried by roll call votes.
The commission authorized two separate vehicle purchases for the Sheriff’s Department: five Chevy Tahoe units at a total listed cost of $36,000 to be funded from the Sheriff’s Inmate Telephone Contract Reserve Account, and a single additional vehicle for $26,000 using proceeds from items sold on GovDeals. Captain Range confirmed the five Tahoes are expected to be purchased from Chicago Motors.
Other fiscal actions included relocating courtroom audio equipment at a cost of $7,650 (funded from the Sheriff’s Inmate Telephone Contract Reserve Account) and dissolving the Workforce Development Reserve Account with those funds moved into the Capital Projects Reserve Account.
On planning matters, after a recess for a public hearing, the commission approved three rezoning requests: property at 894 Hwy. 91 in Elizabethton (Charles Keith Bowers) from A-1B to M-2; 163 Brookdale Drive in Johnson City (William Hawk) from R-2 to R-3; and 311 First Street in Hampton (Joseph Eastridge) from Q-1 to M-2. Each rezoning motion passed with a unanimous roll-call vote.
The board also adopted two resolutions: Resolution 859, designating November 2023 as Family Court Awareness Month, and Resolution 860, naming the bridge spanning Gap Creek Road the Staff Sgt. Ira Lynn Meredith Memorial Bridge.
Additionally, the commission approved accepting monetary donations totaling $956 and nonmonetary donations totaling $993 for the county Animal Shelter, clarified an August funding authorization of up to $40,000 for an Election Commission building addition, and approved closing and conveying a 532-foot segment of Judge Don Lewis Boulevard to adjacent owners David and Canda Ellis via quitclaim deed.
Votes at a glance - Present: 21 members; quorum established. - Audio relocation: approved; $7,650; funded from Sheriff’s Inmate Telephone Contract Reserve Account; motion by Robert Acuff; vote 21-0 (SEG 023–SEG 027). - Workforce reserve dissolved and moved to Capital Projects: approved; motion by Robert Acuff; vote 21-0 (SEG 028–SEG 030). - Purchase 5 vehicles (Sheriff): approved; $36,000; motion by Robert Acuff; vote 21-0 (SEG 034–SEG 036). - Purchase vehicle (GovDeals proceeds): approved; $26,000; motion by Robert Acuff; vote 21-0 (SEG 037–SEG 039). - Budget amendment 101-5: approved; $66,057.69 (partial reserve funding $14,209); motion by Robert Acuff; vote 21-0 (SEG 041–SEG 043). - Budget amendment 116-1: approved; $3,500; motion by Robert Acuff; vote 21-0 (SEG 044–SEG 046). - Budget amendment 131-1: approved; $50,000; motion by Robert Acuff; vote 21-0 (SEG 047–SEG 049). - Animal Shelter donations (monetary $956; nonmonetary $993): approved; motion by Robert Acuff; vote 21-0 (SEG 050–SEG 057). - Resolution 859 (Family Court Awareness Month): approved; motion by Nick Holder; vote 21-0 (SEG 058–SEG 061). - Participation in Food City opioid settlement: approved; authorized Mayor to complete documentation; motion by Nick Holder; vote 21-0 (SEG 062–SEG 064). - Resolution 860 (Staff Sgt. Ira Lynn Meredith Memorial Bridge): approved; motion by Steve Burrough; vote 21-0 (SEG 065–SEG 067). - Road closure/conveyance (Judge Don Lewis Blvd., 532 feet to David and Canda Ellis by quitclaim): approved; motion by Steve Burrough; vote 21-0 (SEG 068–SEG 072). - Rezoning approvals (three parcels): approved; motions by Steve Burrough and Aaron Frazier; vote 21-0 for each (SEG 074–SEG 082). - Code of Ethics update and designation of County Attorney as Ethics Administrator: approved; motion by Avery Wynn; vote 21-0 (SEG 083–SEG 088).
What it means: The session advanced several capital and operating items — equipment purchases, vehicle additions for the sheriff’s fleet and multiple budget amendments — while also moving forward routine land-use decisions and local ceremonial resolutions. Several decisions rely on internal reserve funds or designated proceeds rather than the Unassigned Fund Balance, as recorded in the meeting materials.
Next steps: The County Attorney’s report was filed (attached to the meeting packet) and commissioners adjourned at 7:30 PM. Any procurement or contract steps (for vehicles, equipment or renovations) will proceed under the authorizations recorded in the minutes.
