Carter County public meetings in 2020
17 substantive meetings from 2020, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Budget Committee
The Budget Committee approved several fund amendments and contracts, including a $7,500 sponsorship for the Omnium Bicycle Race. The committee also extended federal COVID-19 paid leave guidelines for employees through February 1, 2021.
- Approved General Fund 101 Budget Amendment H6 for $2,277,072.54
- Approved $7,500 for Chamber of Commerce sponsorship of the Omnium Bicycle Race
- Approved 3-year contract with Time Clock Plus for jail time keeping at an initial cost of $25,000
- Approved Pitney Bowes invoice for County Clerk title folding equipment at $123.75 per month
- Rejected a motion to fund $8,000 for jail mattresses and bedding
Financial Management
The committee discussed updates to Capital Asset Management policies and the enforcement of the Compensation Time Policy. Members also debated the creation of an Economic Development department and the transition of the Animal Shelter to a 501(c)(3).
- Approved motion to amend the Evergreen compensation study contract to start June 30, 2021
- Proposed changes to Capital Asset Management policies, including reducing infrastructure depreciation from 40 to 20 years
- Proposed 15-year useful life for bridge rehabilitations in asset policies
- Discussion on hiring a grant writer for a potential Economic Development department
- Review of compensation time balances as of November 30, 2020
Budget Committee
The committee approved several budget amendments, employee bonuses, and departmental fund transfers. It also addressed specific requests for the Animal Shelter, EMA tower upgrades, and volunteer fire department distributions.
- $7,500 distribution to each of seven Volunteer Fire Departments
- $2,600 set aside from unassigned fund balance for Commissioner compensation
- CARES Act bonuses of $1,250 for full-time and $625 for part-time employees
- $50,000 approved for Animal Control officers and transfer of funds to the Animal Shelter
- $5,000 pay raise for maintenance worker Roy Silver
Financial Management
The Financial Management Committee discussed updating capital asset and compensation time policies. The body also reviewed the potential creation of an investment committee and a post-renewal insurance update from Sequoyah Group.
- Motion carried to send a proposal for a Skyward Fixed Asset Module with a $10,581 start-up cost to the budget committee
- Discussion of a compensation study by Evergreen, currently delayed until January 2021
- Review of the 2020 Post-Renewal insurance presentation by Sequoyah Group
- Discussion on the creation of an Investment Committee to manage excess cash
- Review of Capital Asset Management Policies and Procedures
Budget Committee
The Budget Committee approved several equipment purchases, grant reimbursements, and budget amendments. The body also elected Travis Hill as Chairman and Austin Jaynes as Vice-Chairman for 2020-2021.
- Approved $402,889.48 for a new landfill baler and installation from Unassigned Fund Balance
- Allocated $142,500 from Governor's Grant for two F550 vehicles for the Highway Department
- Approved $125,000 from Governor's Grant for paving at Happy Valley High, Happy Valley Middle, and Unaka High schools
- Authorized claiming remaining Cares Act funds for reimbursement of salaries paid by the county
- Approved $40,096 for vehicles for the Assessor's and Reappraisal offices
Financial Management
The committee established a new priority order for reviewing financial policies and procedures. Members also recommended against creating a new ethics or investigative committee due to a lack of legal authority.
- Approved revised policy review schedule: Capital Asset Management, Budget Process, Ethics Code/Purchasing, Travel/Telephone, Credit Card/Internet, and Debt Management
- Recommended against the creation of an Ethics or Investigative Committee
- Discussed compensation time policy and reported a liability of $187,000 as of June 30, 2020 (excluding Highway Department)
- Discussed reactivation of Evergreen wage compensation contract and Job Assessment Tool study
- Elected Ginger Holdren as Chair and Travis Hill as Vice-Chair
Budget Committee
The Budget Committee approved several funding allocations from the General Fund and Governor's Local Government Support Grant. The body also passed multiple budget amendments for the General Fund and school funds.
- Reserved $600,000 from unassigned fund balance for ECD Broadband Grants match
- Allocated $587,499 from Governor's grant for road resurfacing asphalt
- Approved $20,000 from Governor's grant for an FCC Frequency Coordinator
- Set aside $20,228 for paving parking lots at the Planning and Probation offices
- Approved General Fund Budget Amendment #3 in the amount of $905,861.77
Animal Shelter Board
The Animal Shelter Board met via Zoom to receive updates on shelter operations and equipment. The board discussed the installation of grant-funded surveillance cameras and the status of a leak in the newer kennels. Director Shannon Posada reported on the progress of the feral cat program.
- Installation of grant-funded surveillance cameras
- Purchase of a desktop computer and pending delivery of a laptop
- Identification of a leak in newer kennels requiring concrete cutting for repair
- Report on the feral cat population reduction program
Animal Shelter Board
The Animal Shelter Board discussed shelter operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and facility maintenance. The board agreed to request permission from the county commission to use the shelter van for a free community feral cat program through the ASPCA of Asheville.
- Approved remaining open to the public by appointment only
- Agreed to request county commission permission to use the Taylor/Delawder estate donated van for the community feral cat program
- Reported an ongoing leak and grinder pump issue with TradeMark at the newly built dog runs
- Discussed hosting a fall rabies clinic sponsored by the Friends of the Shelter group
- Confirmed continued participation in the Veterans Buddies no-charge adoption program
Budget Committee
The Budget Committee decided on a refinancing plan and approved several budget amendments totaling over $2.5 million. The body also authorized specific equipment purchases using Governor's stimulus grant funds and CARES ACT funding.
- Refinancing Option #1 approved if estimated interest savings are at least $1.8 million
- General Fund #101 Budget Amendment #2 approved for $927,672.89
- School Federal Projects Fund #142 Budget Amendment #1 approved for $1,626,075.01
- New server and consulting for Finance Department approved for $18,248.96
- Stellar Striping proposal for Workforce Development Building parking lot approved for $3,489
Budget Committee
The Budget Committee approved several budget amendments for the General Fund and School Fund, as well as security improvements for the old Courthouse and Circuit Court Clerk's office. The committee also discussed financial advisory services for debt refinancing and referred a $35,292.17 official payment matter to the full commission.
- Approved up to $23,485 for Homeland Security compatible doors at the old Courthouse
- Approved $1,300 for a door and $2,200 for a counter for glass barriers in the Circuit Court Clerk's office
- Approved General Purpose School Fund Amendment #12 for $1,042,891.83
- Approved General Fund Amendment #11 for $169,691.26 and Amendment #11A for $186,555.05
- Approved $2,793.89 vacation/comp time payout for terminated employee Melvin McKay
Budget Committee
The Budget Committee approved several budget amendments across multiple funds and authorized spending for courthouse maintenance and an EMS substation. The committee also declared Sheriff's Department equipment as surplus and adjusted the sanitary landfill financial assurance contract.
- Approved $32,050 from Courthouse and Jail reserve funds to replace the courthouse boiler
- Approved $25,000 in Capital Projects for the EMS substation project on the Sluder property in Elk Mills
- Approved 2020 Annual Inflation Adjustment for City of Elizabethton and Carter County Sanitary Landfill at $1,638,085.99
- Accepted amended Forensic Contract totaling $121,462.08
- Approved General Fund #101 Budget Amendment #10 in the amount of $113,666.25
Budget Committee
The committee approved multiple budget amendments across various county funds, including the General Fund, Highway/Public Works, and Schools. Additionally, members approved contract amendments related to health services and the State of Tennessee Department of Corrections.
- Amendment to Health Services Agreement with Southern Health Partners, Inc.
- Amendment to State of Tennessee Department of Corrections contract
- General Fund #101 Budget Amendment #9: $378,498.81
- Solid Waste/Sanitation Fund #116 Budget Amendment #8: $185,850.28
- Sports and Recreation Fund #123 Budget Amendment #5: $25,000.00
Budget Committee
The committee approved seeking a financial advisor to refinance jail bonds to potentially save nearly $2.2 million over 15 years. Members also approved several budget amendments across multiple funds and discussed a proposed $468,495 state grant for road projects.
- Authorization for Brad Burke to get an RFP for a Financial Advisor for jail debt refinancing
- Highway/Public Works Fund #131 Budget Amendment #8: $785,227.11
- General Purpose School Fund #141 Budget Amendments #7A and #8: $153,250.98 and $172,630.52
- General Fund #101 Budget Amendment #8: $45,898.83
- Master Lease Agreement for three Sheriff's Department vehicles (Dodge Durango, Ram 1500, Jeep Compass)
Financial Management
The Financial Management Committee approved the creation of two separate committees for ethics and investigations. The body also addressed employee compensation time and credit limits for the Animal Shelter.
- Approved the creation of a separate Ethics Committee and Investigation Committee
- Approved buying back compensation time to 99 hours for two employees (Jaclyn Lewis and Gary Smith)
- Approved increasing the Animal Shelter's Northeast Community Credit Union credit card limit to $6,000
- Deferred decisions on employee retirement contributions, award recognition, and bonus/longevity pay until a compensation study is completed
- Deferred a decision on updating the Financial Management policies and procedures manual regarding the Code of Ethics
Financial Management
The Financial Management Committee reviewed options for increasing employee retirement plan participation through employer matches. Members also discussed a proposed policy for longevity pay and the distinction between bonuses and standard salary line items.
- Discussion of matching contributions for 457 and 401(k) retirement plans
- Proposed $500 longevity pay every fifth year of service
- Estimated cost for longevity pay: County ($62,520.90), Highway ($15,000), and Solid Waste ($1,838.85)
- Review of recent bids by Deputy Director of Finance Michael Kennedy
- Discussion regarding holiday time and pay policies
Financial Management
The committee heard presentations from two firms and voted unanimously to hire Evergreen Solutions, LLC to conduct a compensation study. Members also discussed potential employer matching for non-pension retirement plans but tabled the decision until next month.
- Unanimous vote to select Evergreen Solutions, LLC for a compensation study
- Discussion of potential 401(k)/457 matching costs: $45,000 to $270,000 for General Purpose School employees and $2,580 to $15,480 for Central Cafeteria employees
- Review of county bonus history from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019
- Tabled decision on retirement plan matching pending a presentation from Empower representative Tim Crawford