County Commission Loses Quorum

The Jefferson County Commission met for a Work Session on Monday, April 14, 2014 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse.

The Meeting was Called to Order by Acting Chairman Griffin who was sitting in for an absentee Chairman Mills. Also absent from Roll Call were Commissioners Dockery, Barriero and Patterson.

Three Citizens appeared before the Commission. Two were requesting improvements to roads in the Chestnut Hill area and one was in opposition of annexation of the exit 424 area that is in the Dandridge growth plan.

Jefferson County Mayor Palmieri stated that he will bring a Resolution 2013-11 for consideration regarding authorizing the submission of an application for a Litter and Trash Collection grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation and authorizing the acceptance of the grant.

Highway Superintendent Tipton informed the Board that a portion of the area noted in the citizen complaint was impaired by property owners and there is action being sought against the party responsible. He also stated that he anticipates getting bids out for repair of the White Pine Bridge very soon. Tipton will bring surplus items for the voting meeting.

Jefferson Count Finance Director Helton informed the Commission that he is looking into the sale of two buildings that were recently given back to the County from the hospital.

Director of Jefferson County Schools, Dr. Edmonds, addressed the Board concerning the formula for BEP funding and stated that the latest projections are slightly lower than last year. He said that the DOE is working on the budget but previously teacher state raises were a part of that budget and now, with the newest information from the State, they are not. Edmonds informed the Commission that the DOE will still get around $200,000 in funds to equalize teacher pay but no teacher in the State will get the expected 2% raise. He stated the mandated differential pay is gone for this year due to State cuts. Dr. Edmonds also addressed the mixed drink tax and informed the Commission that the School Board had approved a request for the County Commission to negotiate three equal payments from Dandridge and Baneberry for back taxes owed to the DOE and those would run concurrent with same year mixed drink taxes.

Director of Facilities and Business Affairs for the Jefferson County Schools, Phagan, presented the Commission with a request to reassign funds that were earmarked for windows ($500,000) but will not be used for that purpose, due to not receiving applied for grants, for the football stadium at Jefferson County High School (estimated to cost around $440,000). Phagan stated that there are serious structural issues that need to be addressed and that the cost of demolition of the current stadium would run around $1 million and to totally rebuild around $4-6 million, leaving the structural revitalization the most cost efficient means of addressing safety issues. Commissioner Musick requested that the remaining funds go to replace steps at White Pine School and Commissioner Scarlett requested lighting on the Jefferson Middle School Football Field. (The School Board approved using remaining funds for safety upgrades requested by Principals).

Susan Gass, Jefferson County Assessor of Property, informed the Commission that the 2014 reappraisal program is complete and will go out this month (April) and hearings will be entertained following the receipt of appraisals. She stated that the appraisals are down slightly but very close to last year’s cycle and Gass said that she will have a tentative number for the worth of a penny next week.

Following the break, there were not enough Commissioners to have a quorum and, after some discussion, the meeting was adjourned.