County Commission - Regular Meeting

I'm sorry. I don't know.

As soon as commission Commissioner Stubblefield gets to his seat. I will now ask C County Sheriff Chad Parton to call the meeting to order. Come to order us. Commission's now for business. We need uh Pastor Chevy Shields please to the lectern. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you today with grateful hearts that we live in Coffee County. We're seeking your wisdom and your guidance as we gather to serve our community. We ask for your presence in this meeting that you may grant us clarity, clarity of thought, fairness in judgment, and kindness in our decisions this evening. Bless this commission with the strength to lead with integrity, the courage to make decisions that uplift each citizen. All of this with humility, to listen to the voices of those we represent. May we always strive for justice, unity, and the betterment of county.

Let our words this evening be thoughtful, our actions honorable, and our hearts open to the needs of those we serve and all God's people. Thank you for that. Uh, Commissioner Tim Brown, would you please lead the assembly and pledge allegiance to the United States flag to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for all Okay, the next thing is the approval of the agenda. I've got one note right quick before anybody asked to amend that 11 D of your paper copy. If you have a uh ink pen handy, 11D does not have a resolution number there, but it has been designated as 2025-13. If everybody would make that notation and mayor, I'd like to amend the budget uh the agenda, excuse me. Let me ask my IT expert. Does he need to post the amend button for you guys to work? We have a motion by Benton, Commissioner Benton Brown with a second by Commissioner Frank Watkins to approve. Now, there's a motion to amend by

Commissioner Tim Morris. Is that correct? Have you got that down correct? State your amendment. Yes, sir. I'd like to move 11B, which is uh the preliminary budget worksheet or worksheet to 11 I. And I'd also like to add 11J, a discussion of the TVA money. Sure. He's He's actually He's adding You're adding 11J, right? It's not on the agenda. Is that correct? Yes, I'm adding it. Yeah. So, you're all right with that. Okay. Commissioner Benton Brown and Commissioner Watkins, do you agree with the uh items that Commissioner Morris has amended? Yes, sir. Thank you for that. Now, we have to wait. We have I think we have to wait for her to move this stuff. Do you want to move it right now or you want to go ahead and approve the agenda? Commissioner Morris, what was the J edition? Jay is a discussion on the TVA money. Got to be sure that her her electronic software allows that.

We can vote on the amendment if you makes it easier on you. Okay. Does everybody understand what we're doing? We're voting to amend the agenda by the two items that Commissioner Morris noted. So, if you're ready, girls for them to vote. Okay. The amendment passed 18. Yes. Uh no nos. So the amendment the agenda has the amenda. Now we're ready to mo uh vote on the agenda as amended. All right, we the agenda has been approved with 18 affirmative votes. The guys have to have a minute or two to move these items around in the software.

Well, I think the zebra has made it back home. Anybody been watching the news? I think they took it back to Texas where it came from if I read it right. Coffee County made a lot of news with the airplane that went down in so thankful there were no fatalities. could have been much much worse. Are you ready to go? Okay. All right. So, the the agenda has been approved. We're ready now to move to public comments. Uh public comments. If you've signed the sheet and wish to speak to any item on the agenda and you are a Coffee County native resident, please come to the lectern and make your comments. Several agenda items. Yes, sir. Come forward. State your name, please. Stanley for districts and I'm here to talk about the motion to get rid of the con. And I've been told it's a done deal. It's going to happen. And I don't expect to change anybody's mind, but for those of you who will listen, I'm going to speak some truth. And that is that you'll a little bit of liability by getting rid of the a little bit. But you're also going to do a little bit

to kill something. It's very precious in this county. And I'm talking about the communities and the traditions and the people in the rural areas. A tradition and a community where people know each other and take care of each other. And when there's a small problem, they don't call the experts that cruise in with body armor and backup. They go and they talk to their neighbors belonging. They've done this for a long time. The symbols of community and I talk about people that go way back. I'm honored to be part of that. Men like like Sher Jacobs and Danny Draper Davis and others including members who later went on to be part of this commission. And when I give this requ I'll have more time to do other things. I'll have time to visit friends and family, to go to the Fredonia Fish Fry and the New Union Fire Department breakfast and the Pocahontas yard sale and the Shady Grove and Summitville picnics and to see my friends and family in Goose Pond and Natill and Noah and Beach Grove. But I got to tell you the sad truth and that is that all of those communities are dying. You know this. It's a long and silent death by a thousand cuts.

It's a bleed out. And that's what happened. Years ago, decades ago, the school board cut the school. Satan, the devil has been gnawing away at the churches. And now the county commission is about and you know it's it's a sad situation. I hate to see it because it's a beautiful thing that these communities has. It's a small thing. And so yes, when you all cut the cost, it'll save you a little liility, but it's going to help kill something very beautiful, very old, much older than any of us, and something that once it's gone, we're probably never going to see it. Thank you for that. Does anybody else wish to speak to an agenda item? State your name, please. Randall Breaker. I'm the constable for districts. Um I would also like to ask you not to do I think that we provide a valuable service but I would like to say that there's a couple of questions as I ask we do have a bond cost me $100 a year out of pocket 24 and I think that amongst other things

I'm a member of police association they will represent meally if I get into trouble or anything I don't believe that we represent And we don't get paid. I'd also like to point out that between the three of us that are here tonight, I think we got almost 6,000 votes in the last 6,000 people that voted for us kind of gave us to do something. And I don't think the commission should kill referendum to have the commission out of 100 hours of training in the last as do qualify at the ring. do all that training at you. Thank you for that, Mr. Breaker. Anybody else wish to speak? District 589. Um, as you see here tonight, two other con

you may have concerning the training qualifications of the state of Tennessee. Um, to emphasize on some of our training, the mandated train mandates certain classes that all law enforcement officers must have. We do that other classes that we have to make sure we do the 40 hours. However, last month our statement approved a bill for us to have 128 hours. So that will go that however um I just want to urge each and every we do this as a volunteer basis elected by constituents same people who voted you in office and I look around and I'm your constituent and you're we provide a free to the folks good folks um I want to Thank you. It's been an honor to serve my country past 21 years in the milary. It's also been a second honor to serve as ser and also ser. Thank you, Mr. Sanders. Is there anybody else that wishes to speak to an agenda item?

Did you say your name was Jenny Anthony? I did. Okay. I didn't hear you. I just wanted to yall are a little bit I'm here on agenda item 11 um concerning adding a 1250 fee um on behalf of the district attorney's office. Um I just I I I found out late yesterday evening that it was on the agenda. I'm not opposed to the the 1250 on the on the bill. I just um I did speak with the state today. I just need a little time to get it um set up in our system um if it is approved tonight. And I did just bring copies of what our costs look like just so y'all can kind of just have a general idea what what they look like and how it's broken down line by line. Um, the majority of the I believe and I haven't talked to Mr. North about it, but the majority of the the 1250 fee that probably will most likely be collected will be on driving offenses. And if it's okay with you all that I pass for everyone, sure. Um, but that that's that's we will collect on other charges, but you're pretty much guaranteed to collect on the driving charges just due to the repercussions of you losing your driver's license if you don't pay um on a driving charge. Um, our criminal or other types of charges I've also attached just so you can kind of look over like our drug charges. We collect on those, but it's not guaranteed. Our

driving charges is probably where most of the funding is going to come from. So, if you're pulled over with a traffic citation, state trooper, um, then it's going to type on 1250 to that field, which is I'm not, like I said, I'm not opposed to it. I just thought you would all like to have a visual and just kind of understand how that works. But the state I did speak with Lisa Mlennon, state of Tennessee administrative office office of the courts and um she's working on you know preparing getting that set up in her system but would need just a little bit of time so we could have till July 1. dy noted. If you want to hand those out, you can. Right now, uh the the business item that Miss Anony's referring to when it comes up on the agenda, District Attorney Craig Northcot is here to explain it in great detail, and I'm sure the two departments will work together to make the system work afterwards. Anybody else have uh public comment? Hello, mayor. My name is Jason Quick. I'm the city administrator from the city of Tele. And I want to say thank you to uh you and to the commissioners for the agenda item that was on tonight regarding the uh economic impact study for summer. Uh just just a little history. This is something that we have been looking at for quite some time, but I want to make sure it's understood by

the commissioners that the city of Toma and Coffee County and I would include Manchester perhaps we all have the same goal in mind, which is we love our county, we love our city, and we want to make sure that as we look to progress, we don't take our eye off preservation. And I feel very confident with this economic plan that is going to be presented to you tonight that you'll This development is something that's going to be extremely positive for the county as well as for the city and I don't think we could have found a better developer partner if you would come in with properties. So I just want to say thank you for your consideration. I was able to attend the uh budget finance committee meeting that occurred a couple of weeks ago. I thought the presentation that our economic development director Winston Brooks was very thorough. I know Mr. R was able to provide some comments on some concerns or some questions and the fact that we received a unanimous vote from the budget finance committee was very heartwarming. Uh so I just want to say thank you uh in advance for your consideration looking at this from an economic and from a uh financial standpoint. It is a great opportunity for for coffee county and for us to be able to add growth if you will but doing it in a way that does not imped. For those of you that are not aware, some of the development is going to be at the north end of city limits right up against the city limit and some develop or undeveloped land quite a while. One of the things that excites us about this as sometimes with your growth may come in the middle of your city and then it starts and causing some issues. The fact that this is going to be happening at the northernmost tip of our city limit is going to really reduce that impact. The other uh exciting opportunity or

advantage of this development, it is going to be on Highway 41. So, it's already a fourlane road. It's already equipped to take on some of the traffic that will be coming from this development. Uh but I think all in all, I don't think we could have asked for a better project to come our way and a better developer. And I just want to again say thank you for your thoughtfulness and your consideration looking at this and looking at Thank you, Jason. I'm sure we'll get a little better explanation when we get to that item on the agenda. Um, any more public comment on any agenda item? My name is coming here to speak in support of the same I'm coming as the city of also the appointee to the economic development and a soon to be neighbor of the development. When I first heard about this, I was against it. But after speaking with Mr. R and learning what this could do for our community, support, not only will it increase our resial growth, but it also gives us the chance to expand our economic further down. Thank you very much. Thank you for that. If there's any more comments, it needs to be quick because I'm gonna shut them off at 6:30. Anybody else have anything they need to say? Okay, that ends public comment uh section of tonight's business. We're now

going to move to the uh review and approval of the minutes. We have a motion by Commissioner Stubblefield, secondly by Commissioner uh Coff County Attorney has a Mark Williams has a couple verbiage changes that he wants to to make to this. And I would like for Commissioner Hirshman to make the motion to amend those since it was his motions that are being uh edited somewhat. Okay. Thank let him present. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh they relate to item 11 I in the minutes. Um, and I think what I recall that we that was done was it was to amend the agenda, what it should say, to refer the alleged misconduct by Commissioner Hodgej to County Attorney Mark Williams for investigation. And then on 11J, it would be add item to agenda to refer the alleged misconduct by Commissioner Hodgej to County Attorney Mark Williams for investigation. And on 11K, it would change to say refer the alleged misconduct by Commissioner Hodgej to County Attorney Mark Williams for investigation. That would be the way I suggest you're essentially adding the words refer as as opposed to direct. Correct. Okay. Change the meaning of the sentence. So, uh, have you made the motion to amend?

need a second for his amendment, which I can't see. All right. The motion to amend by Commissioner Hurstman has been seconded by Commissioner Nettles. Is there any discussion on these uh clerical changes? If not, we're ready to vote on the amendment. The motion passes with 15 yes, two no, and one abstain. Now we'll proceed to the main motion of approving the minutes as amended. Okay, we're back to the main motion. Commissioner Stubblefield, do you wish to make any comments regarding the minute the minutes? Any more any discussion changes? If not, we're ready to vote for approval

of the previous minute previous meeting minutes. We have this the minutes have been approved. 16 yes. to no. Thank you. We're moving to resolutions of memorial sympathy proclamations. There's none. Elections, appointments, and confirmations. The notaries that are listed were approved by unanimous consent with the approval of tonight's agenda. Uh there's no appointments to committees. The Elk River Public Utility District of Tele Kenny Sadler was approved by their board which I signed off on. Do you have that in there as a no vote or a vote item? No vote. Okay. This is EV. This is basically a FYI for you guys because they make the decision. The county mayor has to sign off on it. Okay. Okay, now the floor is going to be open for nominations to the board of zoning appeals for the vacancy of associate member. Associate member Helen Deellis has resigned her position. So, a vacancy exists. There were two citizen participation forms filled out by individuals that wish to serve on that. The two individuals are Jeff Keel and Summer Denby. Before I open the floor for nominations, is Jeff Ke in the room? Is Summer Denby in the room? Would you please come to the lectern and let uh let the individuals of the body ask you questions?

Give us get let them know a little your background. So, I'm Summer Dy and I'm here tonight to introduce myself. I am a resident of Coffee County. I have a early background in corporate finance, holding positions such as accounting manager and controller for various local manufacturing companies, well versed in budget planning. In more recent years, I have grown an appraisal business in which I'm a certified Tennessee residential appraiser serving local and national banks as well as individuals with the appraised values of their homes. Also have a Tennessee realtor's license. Through the years, I've learned a lot regarding codes and zoning through business, of course, and also my own personal projects and endeavors. I live on the county side of Short Springs Road in my retired parents as my neighbors. Together, my father and I farm 85 acres of goats, sheep, and highland cattle. I'm here tonight to offer my experience and skill skill set to further serve the community. I intend to make well researched and educated decisions and I reside under district commissioners and Morris and I would support. Does anybody have any questions for summer? That's s o m e r, right? That is s o m e r. Okay. The uh anybody have any questions? Commissioner D. Ford, you request to speak. Can I go ahead and make a nomination? You can. I'd like to nominate Summer Danby, please. So, you have nominated Summer Dami. Summer Danby. Thank you for that. Uh, are there any other nominations? Commissioner Benton Brown, you request to speak? I'd like to second Miss D4's nomination.

Okay, sounds good. Okay, we have Is are there any more nominations? We have uh Jeff Kio has been nominated. Okay, we have two names. Now I need a motion for the nominations to cease. Second. Is that good enough or do we need to vote once? Okay, we need to vote on nominations to seats. You want to do it by a show of hands that make it easier on you guys? Okay. All those. Yes. December raise their hand for nominations to cease. That looks unanimous to me. Okay. Nomination see cease. We have two names. Uh we have to do a roll call vote. Um, I'm going to ask our county clerk to go in whatever order you want. You will state, you can use uh whatever name you wish, Mr. Kill or Miss Dembi or Dimby. You can say it however you want to. Just be sure you say it clearly and then to the microphone. Jimmy, pull your microphone down, Miss Clerk. Pull your microphone down. They can't hear you. Jimmy, Jeff, summer mi

Summer dam summer. Jeff kill Jeff Gil. Jeff Gil Dale Summer Dy DB kill 11 for summer demi. and seven for seven for Jeff Keel. Congratulations. You're now the associate member of the board of zoning appeals. I just a brief explanation. There's a

five member board. If one individual is absent at a meeting, the associate member shows up and uh takes that vacant seat for that meeting only. Uh the quorum would be a minimum of three like if two regular members showed up, she can take the seat to form the quorum of three. So that's that's the mechanics of that. Okay. Ne next next unfinished business. We're now ready for the resolution 20259 to abolish the position of constable in Coffee County. And this is our second vote. This does take a twothirds majority of the body and this second vote will make it official. So we need a motion. We have a motion by Commissioner Hirschman, seconded by Commissioner Nettles. Commissioner Hchman, you have the privilege to speak first since you made the motion. Um, I pretty well have have let everybody know what I stand on this this issue. I'm still stand. Commissioner Tim Brown, you have the floor. I would like to have the two extra guests come up and speak tonight to give their point like we did last meeting. Okay. You want expert commentary? Yes, sir. I do. Okay. We would welcome that. Um

State your name, make a brief if you would as possible, and answer questions. I hope everybody might have some questions. My name is Steve Mangram. I'm the executive director for Tennessee Hospitals Association. I'm from Murray County, Tennessee. I'm here to ask you tonight to think twice about I'm just going to throw a few examples out there. I'll be happy to answer any questions that any of you may have. If I don't know the answer, I'll get the answer and get it back to you. I hope that's fair enough. Um, the constables that are here tonight, I've got documentation that shows that these gentlemen have completed 40 plus hours of inservice training annually. I think it goes all the way back to 2020. Um, that's what the law requires, just like any other full-time law enforcement officer that works for the sheriff's department here in Coffee County, the city of Oklahoma or Manchester or anywhere in the state of Tennessee. Uh we recently pushed to get the law changed to require more training for um effective as of July the 1st. The governor has signed off on it. It go to 128 hours for new sports coming in and I personally think that's great because you can never have enough training. Uh I think there were some questions asked at the and and let me say I apologize to you for not being here at the last meeting but I was recovering from surgery. It's the only reason I wasn't here. Uh but I think there was some questions asked is who do you report to? Who are you u who do you answer? Well as

a council we answer to the people that elect us just like the people that elect you and the sheriff and all the other elected officials in the county. Uh but also as a TCA, if say the mayor has a complaint on one of your constables, he can email the TCA and or he can call our our 615 number that's posted on our website and we'll take that complaint and we have a review board that will do an investigation to look into what the complaint is. So there is some accountability there. There is uh there was uh I think I watched the video questions about the training. There's training there. Uh I'm thinking I may be wrong on this number. I did not pull it before I left the office today, but I think there's about 140 hours that a hospital can do in service training on virtual academy, which is the same online training course that your sheriff's department probably police department uses. Um, I don't know there. I noticed there's an officer here. He may be able to answer if they use virtual academy. I don't know if there's anyone with the sheriff's department or not here. Uh, I guess so. There's the sheriff. I'm sorry. I didn't see you. Uh, so training shouldn't be an issue. Liability. Let's talk about that just for a moment. I've talked in other counties across the state and their answer to me is they have checked with their insurance and a constable that is elected just like you as a county commissioner just like the sheriff is covered under the same insurance policy as his deputies and he is as as an elected official in the county.

So, as far as liability, the county, you're covered through that insurance from what I understand unless your policy is totally different. It may be something you ladies and gentlemen, it may be your daughter or your sister or your mom or one of your mom or daughters that is being attacked out in the county. your deputies. If you eliminate this position tonight, yes, they'll have to serve until the end of their term, but I think it would be a mistake because your life may depend on the cost. I can think of a couple awards that we just recently given at our convention. One of them was a life award where a conible arrived on a rec car was in the water. That convey but there was another incident where a guy uh was having a heart attack actually had quit breathing and everything started CPR saved their life. Ladies and gentlemen, before you vote to abolish this office. It's a longstanding office. You may need I'll be happy to answer any questions that you may Anybody have any questions? I do. For their training, you have logs for their training. Do you have logs for how many hours they put in a week or a

month? As far as patrolling or or training patrolling? No, ma'am. I can't answer that because they have to keep up with their train. But we're elected officials and we come to this meeting is so I mean let's say one does a position even worth it. How do you contact Well, I know in our county and I can't answer and maybe the sheriff. Is it okay if I ask a question? Sure. Sure. Thank you. Sheriff, can you tell me if a con if if somebody calls your office and needs to get in touch with a con? Are they able to do that? Yeah. The only constable I know is is James Sanders. And I didn't even know I've known Randall Breaker for many years. I didn't even know he was a constable. So that tells you how much I know about the constipables and what their interaction with me is in Coffee County. But I mean, if somebody calling for a constable, I'm sure I could Okay, we can find them. I'm sure maybe our 911 centers probably got their numbers and stuff. I just happen to have Randall's number in my phone. Uh the other gentleman that spoke, I think I might have spoke to him one time. That's the first time I recall seeing him maybe. Um but I see thousands of people. But I I've known James for years and years and years and Mr. Breaker. But as far as anybody else, I certainly be honest with you, I don't know him because we, you know, James is the only one I've seen out active or whatever trying to do something. And I and I understand that totally. Yeah. Because through every county in the state of Tennessee that has you probably have about 50 to 60% of them that are very active. You've got

some that are older that are not quite Um, I don't mind telling you I spend, if I had to guess, anywhere from 20 to 30 hours a week myself, of course, we're allowed to, and I don't know how it is here in I don't live here, but we communicate with our radio system. We talk with our sheriff. We can talk to [Music] I've had our sh back up. Can you come out and help us? Absolutely. That's what we're there for. We're not here or shouldn't be here out here playing. Let me say this and as nice as I can not the way it's going to come out because your main purpose serve papers can be a backup officer for your fulltime deputies and your fulltime police officers up or I'll back the deputies But you could ask if I keep a record of when I'm out of

any other questions. I've got a question, but it's not for you because Tina's got a good question there. What she asked and James and Milton I I know very well and Milton I see out all the time and and James probably every day. So I'd like to ask how many hours they spend a week. contact you. One more question. When was the last time you actually went to a site or something?

Good example what I was talking about.

I have one question. Uh, typical dress code is pretty much plain clothes because they put in fewer hours and you sound like you put in quite a few hours. I was thinking maybe if if you only do it two or three hours a week or whatever. You just do plain clothes pretty much and and just play your badge or whatever. But now this gentleman right here, I think he he's more into it say 30 40 hours a week sometimes and whatever. So that's it's typical. Yeah, the typical dress there when you need it. That's the thing. Yeah. Okay, guys. I think we've allowed you

ample time. You got two minutes for closing arguments. It won't take two minutes. If you choose tonight, office. If you have questions for your even us as a PC, we would be more than happy to set up a workshop with you guys, ladies and sist once a month or once a quarter to your commission meeting and say, "Hey, give us an update on what's going on in the county. What are you doing?" and give them an opportunity if that's if that's your concern. Give them a chance to prove their don't put them on the chopping block and cut their head off before they have a chance to prove yourself. Thank you so much and I'll be happy to give any of you my number after the meeting tonight and feel free to call me anytime. Thank you. Thank you for your time and your trip over here. Okay, the floor is still open for discussion if anybody wants to speak to this. Wait a minute. Wait a minute, Commissioner Nettles. Thank you. Um, I don't have a question. I just uh want to make a comment on my concerns. Um, I was reading in um something that was just recently put that Union County, Tennessee, had a constable that was um involved in a fatality crash that was initiated by him and uh that county is is currently being sued. He's being sued and that county's being sued and u it it killed three people and I looked and it looks like he was sued again in 2023 for another crash. that that concerns me. And I I know you say, well, you know,

that's never happened here, but never say never. But um the constables are not utilized like they used to be. I think years ago when there was one or two deputies on the street at night, constables were utilized more. Um they're not utilized not just by the sheriff department, but city or Manchester City. They they the agencies just don't utilize them. And unfortunately, they don't have the training as a certified law enforcement officer. They they may go to the amount of hours for like inservice type training. Those that an officer is required to have every year, the 100 hours, the 120 hours. Every year officers are required to have those hours as refresher courses and updates on things that they do. as far as being the same training that they do, it's it's not the exact same training. Um I uh I feel like in the communities and things that we have, I feel like if there wasn't a constable and something was going on with one of our fellow neighbors, I feel like our neighbors would come and help regardless if there was a constable or not. I I know I would. um if a neighbor needed something um I would be happy to go out and help. My concern is definitely the liability issues with with it. And I know that that county, Union County ended up that county commission ended up abolishing that um seat. So, I just wanted to share that So, you have a motion to amend down there, girls. You got to tell me because I can't see it. Okay. Uh, the motion is by who?

Commissioner Tim Brown, do you wish to amend this? Speak in your microphone, please. Well, I mean, Laura had good that was a good example, but I was going to look up on Google how many times as a a police officer caused an accident, killed somebody. And I'm not against nobody, but I'm sure that's happened a lot, too. But I think we should let the county residents make the decision on this. I don't think we should. They v voted them in. I think they should vote them out. Okay. As a technicality, you pushed your amend button, but you really wanted to make a statement. Is that correct? Okay. Sorry. Can you girls straighten that out? Tell me when we're back to the main motion. We are. Anybody wish to speak to this? Push their RTS button, please. If not, we're ready to vote. I would like to say that the vote totals are not showing on our streaming. We've been noted. So, anybody's got a cell phone handy, turn around, take a picture of the screen. You can share it with people later. Maybe I announce the totals, but I don't announce the individuals. This motion has eight yes, 10 no. It took a

twothird majority which was 12 which it did not. So this the constables are still in business. Next item would be our let's see we moved 11 financial or is 11 a still you didn't move it right Tim okay I guess that would be you In your agenda packet is the statement of cash flows, revenues, and expenditures. And this is for the period in April 30th, 2025, not May 12th. These are presented monthly to give you a snapshot of our cash in our bank accounts for each fund. and then budgetarily the revenues compared to the expenditures. Um, nothing to me is outstanding, but if y'all have any questions, just let me know. It's pretty much typical, but I'm sure we'll be speaking on this later in the uh packet um on the agenda about the budget. Thank you. Are we going to Is that a vote item? Have you got that as a vote item? Okay. 11B is the one you moved. Is that correct?

All right. So, we're are we ready for 11 C? I don't have my amended budget I mean agenda in front of me. We're 11 C. Oh, does uh April, does you need come up and present this? Come on. Good evening. Um I have several budget amendments. So I guess I will need to do individually each one. Is that how they're Do you have them where we have to vote on them individually? Yeah. Um budget amendment 141 2025-13. We have two state grants that we we get every year. So this is the um budget amit just to clean up those grants. They're state grants. So they run through our state budget. Um, so this is just the budget amendment to clean those up so we can close those out for the year. And this budget amendment does not affect our fund balance and it was approved by budget finance on May 29th. Okay. The motion for 11C1 by Commissioner Mars, second by Commissioner W. Did you wish to speak to it, Commissioner Mars? Okay. Any comments? All of these uh budget amendments were approved by budget and finance and none of them have anything to do with the director salary or anything.

None of that's in there. We're ready to vote. 11 C1 passes with 18 affirmative votes. 11 C2 budget 141 202514. Um our sped department is required to keep all of their records for life. So our room is filling up and our high school room is filling up. So we have contracted with a visual records company to go ahead and start digitizing those records um to free up space and also to keep those records for to be able to keep those records for a lifetime. So this budget amendment is to move the funds um in our current budget to take care of this project. It didn't have it in our current one. So this is to take care of that and this budget does not affect. Any comments? Let's vote. 11 C2 passes 18. Yes. Affirmative votes. Thank you. 11C3 budget 141 202515. this uh the board approved to pay our technology director for his extra time he spend setting up our committee meetings because all of our meetings are televised. So he has to be there for the entire time. So this is to pay him for his extra hours and this does not affect fun balance by the motion by Commissioner Bent Brown, seconded by Commissioner Hollingsworth.

Any discussion? If not, vote. Amendment passes with 18 affirmative votes. 11C4. This budget 141 202516. This is a new grant, a new a donation that we received from Coffee County Education Foundation for our academic coaches to use on instruction materials. So this is to bring the revenue in our into our budget. purchase the materials that they need for instruction and this does not affect funds. Motion to approve by Commissioner Duncan, seconded by Commissioner Hollingsworth. Any discussion? Please vote. Approved with 18 affirmative votes. 11C5. Budget 141 2025 17. Um these are just normal moves. You can look at the bottom of your um second sheet. These are just some normal moves in the budget and where we need some additional funds um based on current trends and estimation as we close out the school year. This budget amendment does not affect funds. Motion to approve by Commissioner Hogworth, seconded by Commissioner Hodgej. Any discussion? Vote. 11 C5 approves with 18 affirmative votes. 11C6 budget 141 202518. This is for our This is state um grant that we receive every year for summer school program. We receive funding for K8 um to be able to provide summer instruction to our students and then

transportation funds to be able to get those from their to the school. Um this is additional revenue. Um this is the budget amendment to bring that additional revenue in to our budget and it does not affect. Motion by Commissioner Benton Brown, seconded by Commissioner Hodgej. Any discussion? Vote. 11 C6 approved with 18 affirmative votes. 11C7 141 202519 we received some additional funding from the state based on our test scores and some um ASVAB scores and so we have measuring tools that the state uses and um so based on our scores we can receive additional funing. So we we did receive around $295,000 of funding for this school year that we are deemed to use for instructional purposes only. And so we have started using that those funds in this current school year and we will carry those funds over into a restricted fund for next school year um to be able to finish the projects that we have started in this school year. So if you look at the bottom of your sheet um we were doing some additional training training for our staff and then we're providing some um CTE support support for our schools to help our test scores for the next year to hopefully keep increasing our funding so we can um continue to do um provide more instruction and better instruction to our students. And this budget does not affect funding. Motion to approve 11c7 by Commissioner Hollingsworth, seconded by Commissioner Duncan. Any discussion? Vote, please.

11 C7 has been has been approved with 18 affirmative votes. 11 C8 141 20 2520. Um, last school year the board put aside restricted some funds to um, be able to do some track improvements so we can host a track meet at home because we currently our track is unsafe and there's some things that we need to fix to be able to host a home meet. And then also um, they chose to look at our lighting at our fields to be able to install LED lighting at all of our athletic fields um, especially at our football field. Um, The board set aside some funds to be able to do that in a restricted fund last school year. So we have started working on those projects. Um they will continue will continue to work on those projects into the next few school years. Um this budget amendment is to start that start those projects. Um so you can look at the explanation. Um we have started working on construction documents for athletic lighting and then um we started the track improvement. equipment and starting to get some quotes on some of those improvements at the track. Um, this budget amendment does affect our restricted fund balance. So, if you look at the bottom of your sheet after we take out that budget amendment, it brings our restricted fund balance to 8.3. And then our it does not affect balance. Motion to approve by Commissioner Duncan, seconded by Commissioner Benton Brown. Any discussion? Let's vote, please. Amendment 11 C8 has been approved with

18 affirmative votes. Thank you, April. Moving to 11D, resolution 2025-13 to approve an economic impact plan. Have a motion by Commissioner Duncan, seconded by Commissioner Saburn. Commissioner Duncan, you have the privilege to speak first. Commissioner Saber, I believe there's some representatives here from Oklahoma to explain this. I'll defer to them first. Great. I hope I would request I think most people want to know about the dollars part of it. That's what I would like for you to concentrate on. How's the money going to work? Who's going to get it? They're going to get it. Yes, sir. County Mayor. Good evening. My glasses. This is Mr. Winston Brooks, the infamous Winston Brooks. I am Winston Brooks, the executive director for the Area Economic Development Corporation or T AEDC. My board is an industrial authority started in 2011 to leverage teleon strength with retail, aerospace, aviation, medical, innovation, technology. We work in close partnership with coffee county and the coffee county industrial. In that time, we've won awards and had many successes that all of coffee county in the region share. My board is appointed by the home board of marin. I'm excited to stand before you tonight at the start of a very productive partnership that will be an important part of county's development which will include the

I'll get to that in just a moment. I want to introduce a couple. We have our city administrator Jason Quick here, Alderman Matthew Bird here, as well as the developers Chris and Kate in the audience. Uh we also have our attorney Betsy KN who has been representing our collective interest. What I plan to do is discuss the resolution we're asking you to approve. And we'll first talk about what problems are we solving, why should you care, and what do we risk if we don't approve this resolution or if we don't take this action, look at the specifics of the agreement, and then I'll take questions. I know you're been discussing the budget lately, and this is a project to grow the revenue side of the equation, which is one reason I mentioned I was excited to talk about this great opportunity. So first, what problem are we solving? So I think we can all agree that Coffee County has been discovered as a great place to work and live. Organic growth and industrial multipliers like the Arnold Air Force Base in the middle of a 4 billion expansion with the result of an estimated 500 to 700 new employees that will be here in the future. We're also familiar with the I24 industrial site that will create thousands of jobs. In 2020, a housing study showed we needed housing in there not been an apartment built in since the early 80s and this will continue to meet that need. This will allow our workforce to live in coffee county. So for example in Oklahoma 79% of the workers commute most of the workforce commutes from you can understand that when the commander talks about a child getting sick employee has to lose 40 minutes to drive and check on that child productivity goes way down. We are solving the housing which in this case national another problem in Oklahoma that I like to say and it's also a problem for public county is the good news is that

all of our commercial space is full bad news is all commercial space is full this development will add new commercial space for the many retailers that want to locate in county and utility authority has utility it's our greatest incentive and this development is on state lane highway. This is the best place for development county and then one that was agreed upon by our community. Why should you care? The property and sales tax revenue generated and come to Coffee County housing to support our growth in our workforce and the county will have to provide few services to the summer development and this is slow controlled growth. This is the kind of growth that we want with that we're going to see in the future. Now, if we don't act, what's at risk? Okay, all of the above, loss of credibility with the developers, and the developers investment. So, let's take a look where we've been. There's the city of To Economic Development Corporation Board have passed this resolution and this agreement unanimously and we have also uh spoken to the budget and finance committee. They also provided an unanimous favorable recommendation to this board and we now submit it to the county commission with a recommendation to approve. I'll give a little context and then look at the partnership we're asking this board to approve. Now is no strangers to tax increment financing. Uh we all remember the Northgate Mall project that you guys were great partners in and that has been very beneficial for the entire county in terms of the sales tax that it has created. Uh Tax increment financing is a common economic development tool that's used across the country especially in vibrant communities and you'll understand that

in a minute why it's so this agreement has been vetted by many people including the top economic development attorneys in the state Betsy KNS used to work for the state economic development department in the incentives department tax financing for many many years and also Tom Trent with Bradley. The property was reszoned for the development. The developer completed an application for the financing and my directed that developer to conduct an economic impact. Um this analysis of the project is an extensive study that shows the economic impact of the plan over the lifetime of the development from construction jobs of sales tax and growth of property tax and other sources of revenue. This estimates 12.4 million of new tax revenue to the county over the life of the project. And once the project is completed, the ends the county will see a half million property tax. This is a 604 split. Most of these agreements sharing the increment are 100%. So this is a very fair deal. Let's take a quick look at how tax financing works. is authorized by state law and is widely used. Now I move through this pretty quickly but first of all you have to establish a tip district also also shows res 336 330 very nice community

professionals and come live. We all want to see our young people come back for the jobs here. So now the next thing you do is you freeze the property values and that if you look at the little diagram there you see a yellow portion that's the tax and the bottom part of that baseline property value. So you freeze the property value and so this $5,000 a year then you complet agreement and you begin to capture the taxes. So when the only public at the bottom that little yellow triangle. So slowly as they build the value goes up and up and as it gets reassessed there's the capture. Now the developers pay that revenue directly into this agreement says that county and city that revenue pay for the infrastructure public instruction and then um that goes forward. That's tax. So that yellow box there represent 12.4 million based on the economic impact plan

of the process very construction. So you can see why it's so used so often. vibrant growing able to take that future tax agreement loans. Let's see project is the benefits the project is expected to promote economic development in this area by providing retail residential and recreational opportunities for all residents and visitors to the county. It's anticipated that the project will become further develop all the way up to the county line. The project will create a significant number of construction jobs during the construction of the project and it also one of the notes in there is the economic impact plan requires the developer to purchase 40% of materials locally as just one example of a local construction. timeline this has to be started about everything has to be started within eight years starting third later this year there's no recourse that takes onility there's no growth $500 starts to go up and it creates revenue and that's when the agreement continue to retain the base taxes and the sales tax and as I mentioned

and it's also a reimbursement has to provide money I'll pause here and I'll ask you clarification Please speak into your microphone, please. Was this land woodland or farmland or was it several houses bought up together to get this section together? This land is commonly referred to as the stone farm and I believe and you mean by the rock farm it had rocks on it or uh the stone stone stone Daniel stone yes sir that's who owned and in this development are you going to Save a a portion for a park for all the squirrels and animals you run off this. And that wasn't a joke. It was a serious question about anybody got any questions for Winston? Commissioner Hzman, you have the floor. So on this where it says the tax increment financing right above your chart. Yes sir. It says the city retains the 40% of the new taxes. Is that not the county? Uh the county retains 40% and the city retains 40%. The countyy's portion is 12.4. Yes sir. I'm sorry.

Winston. Did we get actual dollar figures? Did you I think you did, but I I think I'm Do we talk about the actual amount of revenue that the county is going to get while the project? Projected amount of revenue based on economic impact plan analysis over the life of the project. At the end of their agreement, it'll be$1.5 million approximately every year. And talk about the school dollars for just a moment. Did we did we did we end up with that in the agreement that we were going to keep the So the way their agreement is written is that county infrastructure. Any more questions for Winston? It's really a great legacy, a great project. Commissioner Miller, you have the floor. Is this essentially the same project that was going to be behind making It's not the same group, but is it similar to what they were going to do there? Well, it's a similar size, similar type of living experience, I guess you could say. This is going to be a nice res, but it's not not related to that at all. Just instance that As I was saying, there are a lot of people. Yeah, I was just asking is it similar to the same similar thing? I don't know

these types of developments in other counties. I can't think of the name West Haven. They have concept drawings. Does that answer your question? Any more questions for Winston? I have one. When when do you anticipate the real estate will actually transfer ownership? So the real estate when will the real estate there's an option on it now, right? Yes. I believe that that will sooner rather than later. Next one. July. Okay. Any more discussion? I'll just make a couple comments and then I'll be done. But um Winston and his board have been working this for probably about two years. Is that about right? About two years. That's which is about the same amount of time it took us previous time we did one of these for the mall redevelopment. So there's a lot of detail work that goes into this sort of thing and we've always hired uh every time we've considered one lawyers with expertise in this particular area and Winston board has hired legal counsel with expertise in this area. So all these agreements you're seeing have worked out and vetted pretty well. Um when we did the mall, one of the things we were focused on was not just the benefit that was going to come to the mall, which it did. You drive through to now you can see that, but it made all the area around the mall grow as well. And the advantage of the

property tax increments like we're foregoing some future property tax we might not ever even get and we instantly got sales tax. When Publix came in, especially that was huge sales tax. When you see this property go in, you see all that empty across the street from it. It's going to instantly light a fire to put more retail on that into town and we're going to get all of that benefit immediately. We won't have to wait for 20 years on that. So, we're not only getting the benefit that Winston's talking about, but we're going to get a sales tax boo to boot and that's the purpose of doing this. Appreciate your support for home and for coffee county. Commissioner Reid, you have the floor. Lyn, I'm worried about the infrastructure with the rain. I mean, the mall floods now. Have you looked over these plans with him? Commissioner Lyn, are you asking me? I I haven't looked over that, but our planning and codes department, that's their job uh to do that. I mean, the mall was a redevelopment in an existing area. This is a new build. Uh and they have to meet all of our requirements for flood control under our current regs. Now, if that doesn't happen, that's on our department. Uh but their plan that they bring and and those probably aren't even finished yet, are they? Uh we that that'll be part of the development process. They'll have to have approval on all of their plats and their engineering. Uh and I agree with you, but that's something as mayor I'm looking towards improving over the next few years. It's drainage. We have drainage issues all over the city. It's a disadvantage of living in a somewhat flat city. My house is flooded twice. Yeah, I know. I know. So, we'll I'll talk to you about that sometime, but but we'll definitely be focusing on those sort of things as we go forward with the development. Yes, sir. There you go. It's a lot better placehood.

not as far as the development what it looks like. I think there are a lot of similar I feel very comfortable. Any more questions discussion? Commissioner Jones, you have the floor. Uh, Mr. Brooks, I believe that I understood you to say that this project would mean jobs for the people of Coffee County constructionwise and otherwise. Uh, and I thought I heard you say something about the materials for building that were going to be purchased. Did you say they're going to be local purchases and that we would prefer that The people that are manning these construction jobs would be local people. So that it truly truly is a benefit to Coffee County. There's an agreement in there 40% of materials locally.

Thank you. Any more questions? If not, I'm I have one more. Commissioner Jones, you have the floor. Um, my question would be for our attorney. Has our attorney reviewed this uh agreement and proposal that we have before us? Yes, ma'am. I have and it appears to comply with all the required tiff requirements. Thank you. Anyone else? If not, we're ready to vote on this approval. This economic impl impact plan in partnership with has been approved with 18 affirmative votes. Thank you. Thank you for the presentation, Winon. Okay, the next one we have a motion. This would be item 11. Motion by Commissioner Dford, seconded by Commissioner Benton Brown. U I'm going to invite District Attorney Craig Northcot to the lectern commissioner D Ford while he's walking. Do you have anything you want to say about it? You have privilege to speak first.

pretty straightforward in this latest legislative session or general assembly. I recognize that there have been a decrease in alternative funding for DA's office over the years. Certain things have been removed fund no longer available to public safety. Other things like the economic crimes are no longer available to us. I This is simply a a $1250 fee on every misdemeanor and Committee County. We do in a lot of ways the same job. I have to do the same as we've heard here today with that issue.

Every single criminal case that comes through criminal justice system attorneys in the office somewhere. Thankfully up to now the state has been able to fund that. But I see an issue. I look at my colleagues counties from the county offices many counties are funding I don't have fun you able to get ahead of that. This is one way do it and this is one way. Governor I fully recognize there's going to be logistics.

That is what I'm asking for. I'm certainly happy Commissioner Jones, you have the floor. Uh, yes, sir. Did I understand you to say that the 1250 would only be assessed on the cases that were found guilty? Thank you. Any more questions for our district attorney? Uh, Commissioner Smith, you have the floor. Do you have an anticipated amount that you think this is going to bring your office? You said 7,500 to 10,000 criminal cases a year. So, is that what you're basing it off of? Um, I we do not collect fees on every single case for a variety of reasons. being the main one. So it is not an easy math to do. Public defenders office has had the ability to get this same many years. I believe Okay, before we go any further in questions, answers, Commissioner Miller wishes to make an amendment. State your amendment, please. It sounds like we would like to I would like to make an amendment to the resolution to make it July. Okay.

We have an amendment to the resolution making the effective date if it passes tonight. The effective date would be July 1, 2025. Is that correct? Your amendment, Commissioner Miller? We have a second by Commissioner Watkins. Commissioner Benton Brown, you wish to speak to this amendment? Uh, yes. I just would like to ask Miss Anthony if July 1st would actually be enough time to get your technology ready for this. I just want Miss Anthony to have enough time to get everything done where she's not getting hit. Yeah, I'm You guys I know work together to make it happen. Uh any more questions or discussion on this amendment? Changing the date. If not, we'll vote on amending the effective date of this resolution. The amendment to make the effective date July 1, 2025 has passed with 18 affirmative votes. Now we're ready for the main motion as amended.

Is there anybody discussion on the main motion? Anybody have any more questions for the district attorney? Any more discussion? We're ready to vote on the main motion to approve as amended. This does take a twothird vote, which is 12. The motion passes with 18 affirmative votes. I appreciate it. Thank you, District Attorney Northcot. Okay. We'll be sure to write July one effective on this resolution when we're signing it. Okay. Okay. Okay, now we're ready for 11F. Modification to the Coffee County Commission procedural rules change rule 2 section G from 5 days to 48 hours. Commissioner, this motion to approve by Commissioner Reed, seconded by Commissioner Stubblefield. Commissioner Reid, you have the privilege to speak first. Mr. Tubblefield, you wish to speak to it. Okay, this is we are amending our rules uh changing the rules. So, this require twothirds our parliamentarian had told me. Are you set up for that? You're

good. Okay. Any discussion? This is to coincide with TCA uh which requires the 48 hours. Our policy and procedures. Does anybody from policy and procedures wish to speak to it? And this only applies to agenda agenda notice. Correct. Anybody any discussion? If not, we'll vote. The motion passes 17 affirmative and one no vote. All agendas for committees in the commissions and boards must be posted 48 hours prior to the meeting. Okay. 11 G. Yes, 11g. This is uh if you got this in your notebook, you'll see the um this is a what you're looking at is a letter or document of acknowledgment that every single Coffee County employee must sign prior to employment. This is a TCA requirement. All the this document used to be, if you look at paragraph B, a violation of this section is a class E felony. That line used to say class A misdemeanor. So all the records uh all

the records of of acknowledgement by Coffee County employees have to be upgraded to this. It's a Tennessee state law. So, we're just acknowledging that by voting to change that, meaning all employees are going to have to sign a new document acknowledging the fact that this is now felony. This uh this law was changed in 2019, I think, and we were just unaware of it. So, motion by Commissioner Stubblefield, seconded by Commissioner Mars to approve this document. acknowledging TCA law. Can we speak to it? Commissioner Stofield. Anybody discussion? If there's none, we're ready to vote on 11G. Motion passes with 17 affirmative and one negative vote. Resolution 2025-12, that's 11H on your agenda. Resolution to amend our zoning resolution. Uh this is a recommendation of from our planning commission for 50 foot side rear yard setbacks in the A1 district only. This was approved by unanimous uh vote on the planning commission. Motion by Commissioner Hirschman, seconded by Commissioner Smith. You wish to speak to this Commissioner Hzman?

Okay. Is there any discussion? There being none, we're ready to vote. This motion passes with 14 votes affirmative, four no votes. Thank you for that. Now we're ready for 11 I. Is that correct? This is preliminary budget worksheet. Is that one? We've moved 11B down to 11 I. Right. Okay. Is this just a presentation? We're not actually voting on this, right? Okay. discussion. Who wants to go first? So the budget preliminary budget presentation, this is just the various funds that the budget and finance committee has been working through. Um there will be changes. I'll just say that. So, but this reflects the vote the um approval that was made at last Thursday's budget and finance meeting because normally you know we do two meetings in June. One this one to present the budget so you have time to study it excuse me before the actual vote on June 24th. So, this is just a preliminary of where

we are currently and the items that were discussed and approved. Um, uh, salary increases, those types of things. Um, they're listed underneath each department as it just says 5% and 2%. um because that is what we decided we would try to do two I mean five and then two in January. So, I just wanted to put that out there for for you to look at and obviously everybody is welcome to come to the meeting Thursday night and then we have another one the following Tuesday. So, I will anyone has any questions currently? Does anybody have any questions for our budget director Mary? It's a lot to look at. Sure. Commissioner Broom Ben, are we going to be in the black? Are we going to is once everything's done, are we going to have a balanced budget is my first question. I mean, are we paying our bills? Everything's good there. My second question is, uh, I' I've gotten several phone calls from county employees, uh, on the payraises. Um, I want what's best for the county, but also when I ran for this seat, I want to pay our employees to stay here and not hire them and train them and send them

somewhere else. So, is the number that's been presented a number that's going to to keep our employees here and not send them somewhere else? That's that's my question. And anybody's free to answer that. I think built into to this what you're looking at right now is 5% now and 2% in January. Uh but being in the black, no, not not with what we've got right on the floor right now. Last year we voted 2.1 or 2.2 with a deficit hoping that we would come even in June and we have not come even in June. We're about $940,000 short on last year's budget. We took a chance. It didn't work. So we're 940 and that will come out of the fund balance to cover that which lowers that fund balance. the other night and numbers have changed but the other night we were somewhere between 2.4 four and three million dollars short and I'm a county resident. I pay taxes. My kids are going to inherit this place. the whole all of our grandchildren and I couldn't I mean even the mayor threw out something about taxes and stuff and everybody everybody's know on taxes but one thing I did several several years ago and this is just to throw this out there probably six eight years ago they named a budget Tim Morris's budget because I froze I said okay let's just phrase it you know we have to live by our means county does people that live here do. If somebody loses a job, you have to cut stuff back. And this is just Tim Morris's option is to

go back to last year's budget and the expenditures of 28,600,000. Add $400,000 to that to cover increased expenses, payroll taxes, things like that, which gets us to $29 million if we freeze it. Now, it may not freeze right there. It may up down, but it's sure going to be lower than the 30 something million. When you take the revenue that is expected for this year, and it could be low, it's 28,49,946. And the other night during budget finance, there was a vote taken to remove $670,000 of TVA money from the school system and put it back into our general fund. The sheriff also offered or came up with a way to give us $450,000 out of his SRO money. When you add that and the TVA money together plus our expended revenues, uh we're at my numbers. I'm right at $600,000 short that way. A lot of people have looked at this budget. There's little bitty things that you can hack and slash if we stay with this budget. Uh I would encourage everybody to come Tuesday if you have something to talk about tonight. I'm more than sitting here because we've spent a lot of time with her. Uh trying to find ways to cut things. I have another one for Mary if she can answer it for me. How much total money is in the fund balance right now?

10.9 million and that's in the fund balance right now. Okay. Anybody got any more statements or comments? Mary works pretty hard on this budget every year. Uh, Commissioner Morris is our chairman of our budget and finance. Uh, I'd like to state publicly that he receives a lot of grief because he's a county employee, but he's probably the most the most vocal conservative voice on our budget and finance committee. And I appreciate the work he does on that. And I hope each one of y'all do too. Uh other than that, the budget and finance committee is still at work on this, you know. So, uh the next meeting will be Thursday of this week. Correct. Yeah. So, if anybody's got any suggestions, ideas, or whatever, nine of you are on budget, finance, nine of you are not. If you're not on it, you probably ought to attend. Uh that'd be my suggestion. And uh if you would uh Commissioner Tim Brown, you want to make a comment? Yeah, this just a comment. I know the countyy's short on money and and every employee needs a pay raise. I worked for the county years ago for nothing. That's the reason I quit. But is there a possibility, and I know people's going to get mad over it, to pay the the small person, just the people paid because we pay everybody. Everybody's still going to climb the ladder the same way. Can you just pay the lower paid employees and get them

caught up a little bit? Is that possible? Budget and finance can take your comments and recommendations in their meeting. You're on it. You're one of them. You're on it. So, anybody else got any comments? I I'd like to say something. One more thing, Commissioner Benton Brown. U somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but the goal of the of the county is not to um become a bank, so to speak. We have money. Yes, we are. Something could go wrong. We need to repair the high school. It's going to cost a whole lot of money. Whatever. We've got $10 million in the fund balance. Commissioner Moore says we're going to have to dip into that to get into the black. What my only opinion and I'm going to say this out loud obviously Baron going on. I will not be able to make that meeting Thursday, but I will voice it my opinion here. What's wrong with dipping in a little deeper and and taking care of our employees? I'm not suggesting anything bad. This is there's 18 people in here. Everybody has an opinion. This is mine. $10 million sits in that bank. It's drawing interest. Why not take a little bit extra and take care of the people that we've got? I guess I can go back to the history of me and me being on the commission and I've had a lot of uh very knowledgeable knowledgeable men and women. I guess tutor me or talk to me about it that were commissioners too. And one of the things that was always drilled in my

head as I sit back there where Lynn sits now is that you don't pay for reoccurring expenses out of your fund balance because if you hit it this year for $2 million and we hit it next year for $2 million before you wake up there's just two million left. I agree with you. I mean I'm not I'm just giving my opinion. I've been in this chair for and I appreciate just like mine. Mine's just one out of 18 votes. Uh we're going to hit it for 900 and something right now to cover last year's budget. I I get that it's a reoccurring balance like Mr. Hman said and next year we're going to have to come up with the money to pay for those raises. I get that. But it's this is my thoughts. I mean well and the one thing that I did and this is this is just me. I I took us back to last last year's budget, but I gave everybody 5%. Not seven, five. And it put us at 600 right at $600,000 in the hole with a 5% raise. Plus, that's given the volunteer fire department, the rescue squad their money of last year. Everybody would start with last year's budget. So, you're not cutting out uh any of the like the civil defense in or the civil air patrol in. They're still in last year's budget. So, everybody would stay the same. You would stay stagnant except for our employees and they would get the 5% raise. And yes, they are going to get somewhere. There is a cost of living allowance going in for their insurance, but it will not eat up their raise. Uh even if it's 5%, it's not going to eat up a raise like some people think that 5% on $100 is going to be five

bucks where 5% on a $40,000 income is $2,000. So, you can't put both of those together and call them 5%. It's a wash. They're still getting a raise that way. Uh, I have a question. I'm tracking. We're good. I'm tracking. I have a question. Uh, Tim, you may be able to answer this. The money in the fund balance that continues to grow and grow and grow. Is the comprollers office okay with that? I mean, do they want us to continue not to spend that money? I mean, what is the rule on that? We have a fund balance policy that details how what level we need to maintain in our fund balances. What do they require you to maintain? is at our discretion as long as it's within reason obviously. But currently our fund balance we we cannot go go below 12.5% of budgeted expenditures. So currently that is about $4 million that we must maintain in the general fund. Now, obviously, we have more than that because I'm very frugal. I've always been that way. I don't budget everything. I don't budget every revenue. Um, I look at years just data that's coming in and, you know, budget appropriately. Um, and also I do want to say on the individual department budgets, you have to remember quite a few of the smaller ones, they either have salaries or maintenance agreements and that's it.

So, it's very difficult. Not that I'm saying about Tim Morris's plan, but you have to remember that our software maintenance agreements have gone up quite a bit. You know, mine was 10% this year. So, I just want to say that we have to be cautious and aware of that because operating's not going down. It's gas, utilities, all have gone up. So we just have to look at that when we're looking at these departments. So anybody else anybody else got a comment, statement, suggestion? So we in statements and announcements right now? No. We got 11J. It's open for discussion. 11J. I don't reckon we're voting. Are we Jay? No. I think. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Y Thursday night at budget finance, it passed with me abstaining because I'm a school employee to remove the TVA money from the school budget. It hasn't become I don't think it's active. Explain TVA money right quick. T the TVA money is the Tennessee Valley Authority money that's given distributed to all the counties in the state of Tennessee. It is already ADA within our county. That means Toma has gotten their TVA money. Manchester has gotten their TVA money and Coffee County has received their TVA money. each entity, each city and the county can do with. I don't know

what Taho does with theirs and don't know what Manchester does. I know since 2004, the county has given that money to the school system to operate on. I think I don't know if April's still here. She needs to know, are we going to take that away right now so she can do some things? uh with their budget because they've not been notified and to wait until two weeks from tonight and drop a bomb on them. Uh I don't know what they would do. Repeat that uh dollar amount again that we're talking $670,000. 600 Commissioner Saburn, just a question. Is that under maintenance of effort? No, that's the only thing that is not under maintenance of effort. But um shoot, I lost my train. It's discretionary, right? We can choose whether we uh Yes. give it or not. Yes. I mean, it's it's already been 88, so no. I did want to also say I know I personally have some other ideas that will help the schools that I want to discuss Thursday night. Um that I know everybody panicked but I mean that is county general fund money that we have given to them all these years and you know we need to periodically look at that. So just say that and we'll talk about it Thursday night in more detail. Okay. I don't know. I don't think we can actually vote on that tonight. The budget and finance committee voted

unanimously to retain it. Correct. Okay. Uh moving. Go ahead, Tim. Stubblefield. Correct. Yes. We had the uh they the budget finance committee voted unanimously to retain the 600 and something thousand uh TVA money. Uh the school system needs to know I don't know how we can tell her to to I would if it if it was me April I start moving towards amending your budget without it. Then if it does not pass this full legislative body when we are approving the full budget, you get it anyway. That that's the way I would look at it. I don't know if I'm right or wrong, but the I know budget finance has approved to retain that money and that will be part of the budget as approved by this full legislative body hopefully in June the 23rd. Is that our next meeting? 24th. Sorry. So, we're we're trying to get this budget put together and passed by June the 24th. Doesn't that have to go through the full commission though to be approved before we do that? Yes. Okay. Anybody else want to make any comments or suggestions? Uh, I would say show up at the budget finance meeting Thursday night if you if you feel like you need to make comments regarding this. But, April, if I was you, I'd be work trying to work without it because the budget find I'm sorry, I can't hear you. Sure. Sure. Come on.

So, our board approved with that revenue for us to go into fund balance around 1.3 to be able to give our employees a five a 4% increase. Um, so for me to amend our budget, um, that would have to go back to our full board, which means that I would have to revise our entire budget and we have to call a special meeting before our for them to approve it and then again present it to budget and finance and then for it to be in the comm the commission's vote on June 24th just feel like I don't know and we've had some discussions in our office on how we would accomplish that at this time there's not a plan so I don't I don't know what that looks like and I feel like it would be really hard for us to meet that deadline and that's just that's just on how you know because we have no idea where I don't think our board will approve us to million in funds to um move forward with I don't know that but um it was very hard to get a 1.3 pass through. Is that where you are right now? Yes, sir. 1.3 with the 671,000 I see. I just wanted to say that that's kind of our process. It has to go through our board. We have to call a special meeting. I would obviously have to amend that budget and that's pretty consuming. Um, so I just wanted to lay that out there. I think we will plan to attend those meetings talk through that some conundrum creating another conundrum. I think you know we're trying to make we're trying to make things happen over here and uh you know I I don't have an answer for it. I really don't. How much you have? How much do you have in your fun? In our unassigned, we have

12 million, but we also also will add that um I don't know if you'all been following the a lot of the federal dollars could be cut. So, we do have some employees that we would love to have pay for out of. We have some federal employees that we would have to move to our general fund that is not currently in our budget right now. So, that could also hit us on the 500,000 that we currently have in our budget. So there's a lot of things going on with this school budgets right now that are uncertainty and so I just wanted to mention thank you. Anybody got any comments? I'm ready for the standing committees. Okay. The standing committee's uh budget and finance. Uh Commissioner Tim Morris, you have anything? Yes, ma'am. We're meeting th this Tuesday, right? We're meeting Thursday night at five o'clock. Five o'clock. Okay. uh capital outlay commissioner hirsman. Uh we didn't have a meeting this month, but we are meeting next month on that's be on the third at four o'clock. Thank you. HWR Commissioner Hollentor, I'd refer you to the minutes. Our next meeting is Thursday, June 26 at 6 PM. Thank you. Law enforcement committee. Commissioner Deep. We were going to meet in June, but that's been rescheduled to July 3rd. The June meeting conflicts with budget and finance, and I know some people need to be there. Yes, I saw that. Thank you. Uh, legislative committee, Commissioner

Watkins. Nothing to report. No meeting scheduled at this time. Thank you. Policy and procedures, Commissioner Hzman. We have a meeting on Monday at 5:00 on the 16th. Anybody like? Thank you. That concludes the standing committees. Okay. On uh statements and announcements, I would like to say that uh the we met at the animal control facility for a construction update uh meeting and the uh the base material was in place for the main structure. U it's uh moving right along. Guys are moving right along. You went out to the health department today. Is that correct, Commissioner Hzman? That's correct. Give us an update. Actually went to both facilities and um they're dewatering a lot there at the animal health facility. So that is coming along at the health department. They're already pouring uh footings on the right hand side of the building has been poured. They're going to try to some this week on the back side, but that is progressing very well right now. I went ahead and did an inspection while I was out there. Everything's looking pretty good so far. Anything else? Uh, Commissioners Saburn. So, I have a a comment and and an announcement. So, u I just wanted to thank everyone on this tip proposal and Winston has already left, but I wanted to mention, you know, Winston's worked with the city now for many years. He's worked with DAC for the past several years. He's worked on this project for about two years. Tomorrow is Winston's last day with DADC and with the city of To. Uh he has taken a new job over in Chattanooga doing economic development over there. his son or his I think his son graduated high school this year and

he loves being over there and he got a great offer from the city of Chattanooga. So this was his last harrah what you saw tonight. So I appreciate everybody's see Winston. Thank him. He's done great work for us and we're going to miss him. Uh in similar vein, this is my last night on the commission tonight. Been saying for months I was going to get off the commission and go do the job of mayor a little better than hopefully I've been doing. Uh, so I've got a letter of resignation sitting here with me. So y'all hopefully look forward to pointing somebody to my seat. It's been a pleasure serving with everyone. Learned a ton on this job. Done this about six and a half years and wish I could keep doing it, but it's just not it's just not adequate time to do everything you want to do. So appreciate everyone's support and thank you for the time together. We certainly have appreciated your service. I'd like to I'd like to congratulate Commissioner Sbran uh a newlywed so I'd like to congratulate you on that as well. Yeah, he and uh that requires a little extra time too. Yeah, he he changed Tiffany Clutter's last name legally. Uh, one other thing, Commissioner Hurstman, tell everybody about the welcome signs. Uh, as you know, we um, we had approved welcome signs on the approximately I believe it was 11 or or 14. Anyway, we've already approved the purchase of signs for the county. The mayor and I have met with Tekk and um there there's a new statute out right now that they're researching to find out if if we can indeed install welcome signs at the county lines. They right now they have got them stopped. Uh but they're going to wait. They're going to check with higher up in their division and get a

ruling on it to find out if we can continue on with that. T DOT was here. T DOT was here regarding bridge construction in Coffee County up out at uh Highway 127 and the individual we've been dealing with out of Chattanooga Landing Castleberry said bad news he's found he don't they don't think they're going to let us do it. So we'll see. Anything else? Any other statements or announcements? I'd I'd like to say that Bonnaroo is here and people are on Facebook griping about the traffic and stuff, but tomorrow, Thursday, those people will be in the farm. Don't, if you're from Manchester, don't go off and leave your restaurant empty this weekend. I have a friend who works for one of the restaurants here and he says it's like a ghost town. You will be able to move around Manchester Thursday, Friday, and Saturday because those people stay in the farm. Go eat with your friends here in Manchester. Spend your money here. Good idea. We're going to You're going to need to pull up a vote screen for a journ. Mr. Mayor, just say, Commissioner Benton Brown, Mr. Morris brought up Bonnaroo. I would like to say uh traffic today was terrible. However, we're getting them in. Traffic's moving. Please be patient. For anybody who's out watching in TV land, please be patient. It is hot. All of our officers are on the road. They're doing the best they can. Thank them instead of yelling at them because they're standing on the pavement and you're in your air conditioned car. And like Mr. Moore said, once they get in, they're in. So, go spend some money at J&G or go to Taho and spend some money down there. Do something, but don't leave town because we still got to pay the bills.

Are y'all voting to adjourn? I don't know who made the motion to adjourn. Can I say one? Can I say one other thing? You sure can. U We want to just want to wish Tommy Tommy Gwyn, our world hero in um a happy birthday. 6 years old. Wow. World War II and Korean War hero. Thank you, Commissioner Surn. You got one last vote to make as county commissioner. Now, his letter says effective the 11th. So, he's he's good tonight. Okay. The 18 yes votes to adjourn. Thank you guys.