County Complex Dies In Committee

Jefferson County Commission Facilities Committee Chair, Russel Turner

Jefferson County Commission Facilities Committee Chair, Russel Turner

In a 2-3 vote, the Jefferson County Facilities Committee declined to proceed with a proposed County Complex that would see the County government offices moved from their current location in downtown Dandridge. Following discussion on the proposed County Complex, Committee Member David Gaut offered a motion to proceed with the concept of a County Complex, with funding for the project to come from a property tax increase. Gaut’s motion was 2nd by Committee Member Tim Seals but failed to find favor with the remaining members of the Facility Committee. Committee Members Terry Dockery and Randy Bales, as well as Committee Facilities Chairman Russell Turner, voted against the proposal, citing concerns regarding cost of a new facility, timing for the proposed project and the impact to the downtown area among other issues.

Chairman Turner expressed his concern that movement be made toward repair and renovation of the existing County buildings and the Committee noted that only a small amount of repairs and renovations that were listed as needs in the comparison of renovation vs new complex were included in the Capital Projects proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. To address what appears to be the most pressing issue, the state of the Department of Education building which was vacated by the DOE earlier this year due to a reported mold issue, Turner briefly relinquished the Chair position to Vice Chair Seals to offer a motion. Turner moved that a new bid for work on the DOE building be obtained so there will be good working numbers for decision making. He was 2nd by Bales and both stated their questions regarding the numbers that were included in the renovation and repair costs in the comparison document. The Turner/Bales motion was approved, with Gaut and Seals casting dissenting votes. Turner also offered a motion to request that the courts relocate entirely to the Justice Center, to allow for re-purposing of the main courtroom in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. Though the Committee appeared to be open to looking at options that would increase available space in the Historic Courthouse, Gaut spoke against physically altering the main courtroom and others had similar reservations, leaving the motion to die for lack of a second.

The Facility Committee addressed a motion that was comprised by Commissioner David Seal and carried to Committee by Committee Members Dockery/Bales, which would provide a maximum amount of $213,000 for relocation and renovation of the existing work building at 207 West Dumplin Valley Road for the purpose of housing the Department of Education Central Office. Currently the DOE is being housed in the upper floor of the First Tennessee Bank Building at a cost of $4,800 per month, which includes utilities, housekeeping and maintenance. Director of Schools Edmonds and DOE Facilities Director Phagan both spoke against the proposed renovation location, noting space needs, parking and general condition of the facility as key concerns. Dockery and Bales voted in favor of the motion which failed in a 2-3 vote.

In other action, the Committee approved the acceptance of two portables from the Department of Education that will be distributed to the Strawberry Plains Senior Center and the 4th Judicial Drug Court. Dockery made two motions, which found favor with the Committee, that funded up to $5000 each for the Senior Center and Drug Court for the movement and set up of the portables and his motions were 2nd by Bales.

Source: K. Depew, News Director