Budget Committee Rolls Fire Substation Funding and Strawberry Plains Senior Citizen Center

The Jefferson County Budget Committee held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, November 9, 2015 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. All members were present for roll call. The Minutes for the October 19, 2015 meeting were Approved with a Motion from Committee Member Tucker and 2^nd from Committee Member Solomon.

Seven County Budget Amendments were Approved including General Fund 101 (motion by Seal/ 2^nd by Musick) General Fund 101 #4 (Musick/Solomon), Solid Waste Disposal Fund 207 (Solomon/Kesterson), Highway Fund 131 (Musick/Tucker), with three of the amendments-General Fund 101 #5, Sanitation Fund 116 #2 and Sanitation Fund 207 #3-impacting fund balance for approved 5% employee raises. The other amendments were general housekeeping in nature.

Three School System Amendments were Approved and all were general housekeeping in nature. The General Purpose Fund 141 was Approved with a Motion from Commissioner Blevins and 2^nd from Commissioner Solomon. General Purpose 141 #5 was Approved with a Motion from Commissioner Musick and 2^nd from Commissioner Solomon and the federal amendment was Approved with a Motion from Commissioner Solomon and 2^nd from Commissioner Turner.

Commissioner Huffaker sponsored a request from the Dandridge Volunteer Fire Department for $25,000 in substation funding for the “old” fire station in Dandridge that services calls from an area that is largely outside the city limits of Dandridge. The Committee had questions regarding the issue and it was rolled to the January meeting via a Motion from D. Seal and 2^nd from Committee Member Kesterson. Committee Member Blevins brought a request that the Committee consider funding for a Senior Citizen Center in Strawberry Plains that is currently housed in church owned property and will be needed by the church in the future. The issue was rolled to the January meeting.

In other business, the Commission Approved funding in the amount of $120 to the finance office to print copies of a letter of appreciation to County employees with a Motion from Commissioner Turner and 2^nd from Solomon. Finance Committee Chairman Turner brought a request to fund not to exceed $255,000 from the litigation fund (must be used for mandated limed categories) to be paired with budgeted funds of $300,000 for necessary repairs to the workhouse. The request was Approved with a Motion from Commissioner Tucker and 2^nd from Solomon. (D. Seal No)