Budget committee forwards multiple budget increases and grants to commission; Alcoa plant purchase fails for lack of second

The Blount County budget committee on an administrative agenda on July 12 forwarded several budget increases and grant applications to the full county commission and rejected one item for lack of a second.

The committee approved seven routine appropriations and two sheriff's office grant applications, including a $465,375 federal opiate fund allocation to support a residential treatment facility in Blount County and a $1,575,000 state-funded school security officer (SRO) grant application to cover 21 SRO positions at $75,000 each. A separate $8,000,000 resolution to enter into an agreement with the Industrial Development Board to purchase the Alcoa South Plant (Resolution 26-07-001) failed when no member seconded the motion.

Why it matters: The approved items reallocate prior-year funds, accept small state and federal grants without local match, and authorize staff to proceed to the full commission for final action. The Pellissippi Parkway right-of-way acquisition (Resolution 26-07-002), if approved by the commission, would authorize the county to enter into a TDOT right-of-way agreement for a $5,000,000 debt-service increase tied to the parkway extension, a project commissioners framed as traffic-relief infrastructure.

What the committee did: The committee approved Resolution 26-07-003, a $2,154,682.10 reappropriation for ongoing departmental projects; Resolution 26-07-004, a $465,375 appropriation of federal opiate funds for a residential treatment facility (no local match); Resolution 26-07-005, a county maintenance adjustment for the Blount County Library; Resolution 26-07-006, a $27,800 library fund appropriation to repair plumbing in the learning lab; and Resolution 26-07-007, a $4,027.21 state DGA grant appropriation for health department personnel and operations (state-reimbursed, no match). The committee also voted to forward two Blount County Sheriff's Office grant applications: a $1,575,000 SRO grant and a $73,800 litter grant.

Committee discussion and votes: Commissioner Taylor moved to forward the $8 million Alcoa South Plant purchase proposal (26-07-001) but no second was offered and the item failed for lack of motion. On the Pellissippi Parkway right-of-way item (26-07-002), Commissioner Taylor moved and Miss Hannum seconded; Miss Hannum said she remains a supporter of the parkway extension but expressed disappointment with the contract language and urged legislative attention to road funding. The chair called for voice or raised-hand votes; the clerk reported vote counts as recorded in the meeting: 26-07-002 carried with three yes and one no; the reappropriation and most other items carried unanimously as reported (four yes votes reported for each passed item).

Public comment: A resident, Jim Jackson Trenton, asked about funds for Rawson View subdivision road work and budget options; committee staff and the chair told him the specific road request was not on the agenda and that his topic was outside the agenda items under consideration.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 26-07-001 (Alcoa South Plant purchase) — $8,000,000 debt-service increase to enter agreement with Industrial Development Board; mover: Commissioner Taylor; second: none; outcome: failed (no second). - Resolution 26-07-002 (Pellissippi Parkway right-of-way) — $5,000,000 debt-service increase to enter agreement with TDOT; mover: Commissioner Taylor; second: Miss Hannum; outcome: approved (3 yes, 1 no). - Resolution 26-07-003 (various reappropriations) — $2,154,682.10; mover: Commissioner Bridal; second: Miss Hannum; outcome: approved (4 yes). - Resolution 26-07-004 (opiate funds for residential treatment) — $465,375; mover: Commissioner Kaler; second: Commissioner Bridal; outcome: approved (4 yes). - Resolution 26-07-005 (county maintenance — Blount County Library) — amount not separately shown beyond adjustment; mover: Commissioner Bridal; second: Miss Hannum; outcome: approved (4 yes). - Resolution 26-07-006 (library plumbing repairs) — $27,800; mover: Commissioner Kaler; second: Commissioner Bridal; outcome: approved (4 yes). - Resolution 26-07-007 (state DGA grant for health) — $4,027.21; mover: Commissioner Bridal; second: Commissioner Kaler; outcome: approved (4 yes). - BCSO SRO grant application — $1,575,000 (21 SROs at $75,000 each); mover: Commissioner Kaler; second: Commissioner Bright; outcome: forwarded/approved by committee (4 yes). - BCSO litter grant application — $73,800; mover: Commissioner Bridal; second: Miss Hannum; outcome: forwarded/approved by committee (4 yes).

Quotations from the meeting: Miss Hannum said, "I—ve been a supporter of the Pellissippi Parkway since day one, and I'm still a supporter. I'm disappointed in the language in the contract, and I hope that our legislative body ... will put as much energy toward fixing or allocating funds for our roads." A resident, identifying himself as Jim Jackson Trenton, said he was "making another attempt to get Rawson View subdivision" funds for road repairs.

Next steps: Items forwarded by the committee will go to the full Blount County commission or commission workshop for final action; the Alcoa South Plant purchase (26-07-001) would need a motion and second at a future step to be reconsidered.

(Committee attendance was reported as four members present and one absent.)