CC Notes – May 21st, 2018
All County Commissioners were present for the May meeting except Tracey Scarbrough, Roy Turner, and Woody Geisler.
Resolutions
The first resolution of the evening was to appoint Adam Nail as the permanent Building Maintenance Supervisor. Adam has served as the interim since the passing of the previous supervisor. Adam was appointed in 15-0 vote. Next, a resolution authorizing the submission of an application for a Litter and Trash Collecting Grant for the 2018-2019 fiscal year was discussed. This is a grant that the county applies for and receives each year from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The resolution was approved unanimously.
Bluegrass Holdings, Inc., and Joseph and Margaret Medeiros made offers via the Delinquent Tax Committee to purchase several parcels of land currently owned by the county. Bluegrass Holdings, Inc. requested to purchase 9 parcels at $100 each. Joseph and Margaret Medeiros requested to purchase 1 parcel at $100 each. The Delinquent Tax Committee recommended that the full Commission accept these offers to get the parcels back on the tax rolls. The resolution was approved 15-0.
An $11.9 million loan renewal was approved unanimously. The new terms on the renewal should save the County approximately $85,000 net of loan fees.
A budget amendment for $458.50 was approved 15-0 to accept community donations to the school system. The money was donated by the Fairfield Glade Community Church and St. Raphael Episcopal Church to assist with the Shoe Fund in the school system.
A portion of an Energy Loan payment was allocated to principal in the Board of Education’s (BOE) budget, when it should have been allocated to interest. $3,138 was approved to be moved to the correct line items to address the issue. The bus garage is in need of a new roof. The BOE recently renegotiated a contract with Trane that resulted in savings being generated. $80,000 of these savings was requested to be moved to the General Purpose School Fund, Maintenance of Plant, to complete this project. Both resolutions were approved unanimously.
The next resolution was to assume responsibility for maintenance and safety of the military cannon display. The Building and Grounds Committee approved a cannon display in front of the Military War Museum. The cannon will be on loan to Cumberland County by the U.S. Army to help draw attention to the museum. The resolution states that the County will be responsible for the minimal maintenance and upkeep costs, and that the County will secure the cannon with a chain or other device that will not detract from the display. If the display is damaged or stolen, Cumberland County will not be held financially responsible. The resolution was approved 15-0.
The final resolution of the evening was an agreement for a third party, Quality Correctional Health Care, to provide inmate/detainee health services for the Sheriff’s Department. In an effort to maintain costs and create better coverage, Sheriff Cox requested the third party be contracted to provide medical services. This is a one year contract, and it is budget neutral. The contract would not start until the next fiscal year, but the county will likely be running on a continuing budget at that point. This resolution will allow for the contract to be in place and active in July.
Financial Report
The Local Option Sales Tax collections continue to improve with $652,075 collected in May against a budgeted number of $587,008. That is $65,067 above projections for the month. Year to date we are still $25,131 behind budget, but that is a big improvement. Property tax collections are at 98.3% of projections versus 97.1% at this time last year. The Hotel/Motel Tax collections are at 74.5% of the $810,000 budget at $603,406 collected. Prisoner Boarding through 9 months is $490,737 against a $525,000 budget. That represents 93.5% collected of the budgeted number year to date. EMS collections continue to do well with $328,610 collected in May. The year to date total is $3,338,116 collected of a $3,900,000 budget, which is $88,116 ahead of the budgeted forecast with two months left.
Fuel costs continue to rise with the average price paid for diesel coming in at $1.97 per gallon, and gas at $1.78 per gallon. The budgeted amount per gallon is $2.00, but usage has increased over what was budgeted in multiple departments, which may end up requiring budget amendments closer to year end.
Thank you for allowing me to serve the 4th District and Cumberland County. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at any time.
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Sincerely
Allen Foster
Board of Commissioners
4th District Representative
http://allenfoster.net
allenfoster.com 