Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Let's pray. It's the time of year, Lord, we're grateful for a change of season, but it's so beautiful outside. And we're grateful for that. And we pause to thank you for those who serve our nation and communities as first responders. Bless them, Lord, and grant them the strength and wherewithal to serve effectively in trauma and crisis. Thank you for this gathering, and we pray for your blessing. That because of discussions and decisions made here, Blount County will stand as exemplary in the state of Tennessee. Grant these women and men wisdom and clarity of thought. Bless the citizens gathered here tonight. And for all of us, grant that we would not grow weary of doing right.

And may our words and deeds be edifying to you and to each other. Amen.

Alright. Welcome everyone to the board of county commissioners meeting for Thursday, 08/21/2025. Thank you to chaplain Steve Brooks for leading us in prayer and and deputies for leading us in the pledge of allegiance to the American flag. At this time, we will pause for the emergency evacuation procedures announcement. Alright.

Madam clerk, please take the roll call.

Would you like for me to adjust the roll call?

Yes, please.

Mister chairman, there are 20 members present.

20 members present. I will declare that a quorum is in existence. We'll move on to item a, setting of the agenda. Chair will stand for a motion to set the agenda as published. I have a motion to set the agenda as published from commissioner Bright, second by commissioner Davis. Any discussion on the setting of the agenda? Commissioner King, you're recognized.

Yes. I'd like to pull twenty five zero eight dash o o four from the agenda.

Twenty five zero zero eight. And what which one was that, commissioner?

Do what now?

Can you repeat the number?

I'm sorry. 2508DashOO4. OO4.

This is item g four on our calendar, central services, sports management. Is there any objection to the withdrawal of that item?

That's that's the wrong one. It should be 2505, I mean, Jared. O5.

O5. Sorry.

Sorry.

Alright. So this is 2508005. This is BCS7O 709078. Capital funds to replace outdated HVAC controls. Yes. Yes. Alright. Any objection to the request? No. Commissioner Reagan, you recognized?

I'm curious why we're pulling it.

Alright. Does somebody from the schools wish to come up and and address this issue or commissioner King, either one.

Mister chairman, commissioners, good evening. So I know there was some contention and some concern about the HVAC controls by some members of the the commission. And so I think that that some members were a little bit more comfortable if that was pulled off of the agenda and we reevaluated whether or not moving in this direction is the right move, for the system as a whole. We're gonna look at getting a consultant in to look at all 21 schools, all units to determine, the best steps moving forward.

Any other questions? Commissioner Giles, you're recognized.

Thank you, ma'am. I just wanna I just wanna be for clarification purposes, is the school BCS system in agreement with having this bull at this point in time along with the school board members?

I can justify the controls. However, I do think that it's important that everyone is comfortable in the direction that we're moving. And if that's what we need to do at this juncture in order to to move forward in a positive manner for all parties involved, then I think that that we're comfortable doing that. Now we could get a consultant in, and they may say you're doing the right thing. You're moving in the right direction. And I I can very much see that happening, but we are we are comfortable taking a step back and allowing that to happen if if everyone is in a better place.

Thank you, ma'am. You're welcome.

Commissioner Michaels, you're next. Thank you,

mister chairman. So, and I I respect the decision to to do this, and I I appreciate that as a commissioner and and for the transparency in our in our county. So what is there not some needs there that that could be addressed? I know some of the some of the question of the amount of money that was asked for was it was just more than what we knew immediately would be needed. So is

For this particular item, for the HVAC controls, that is based off of a quote. So that is the full amount that would be needed to pursue the HVAC controls.

So what I'm hearing is is you're just gonna kinda back up and reevaluate it from a different standpoint and then bring that back to us more as a whole? Correct. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for that.

Commissioner Carver, you're next.

Do you happen to have a time frame of what you think this is gonna take?

No. We would need to first put together an RFP for the consulting services. We'd have to work with the purchasing department on getting that drafted and then, of course, pushing that out and waiting on a response.

Okay. So possibly next year?

I wouldn't I would hope not next year. Okay. But it it would take some time to draft the specifications and then to vet the vendors. So

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Commissioner Bennett, you're recognized.

Thank you, mister chairman. What about how much money is this gonna save, and how much is it gonna cost to get a consulting firm to come in and and do this? So, I mean, you have savings. Because, obviously, if you can control the temperature, if it's during the summer and it's 50 degrees with no kids or no athletes are in the building, why why would you not wanna up the temperature? So how much money are we looking at saving if we do these controls, and how much is it gonna cost to get a consulting firm? Is this gonna cost the taxpayers more money?

I don't know how much it's gonna cost to get a consulting firm because this is this is new for me, and it's and it's probably new for even purchasing. So we would have to do some research to see what kind of consulting firms are out there for HVAC. As far as what HVAC controls do say, we know they're they're energy efficient because, like you said, you can control when the units are running right now. If you don't have HVAC controls, they just run nonstop. So that's a lot of wear and tear on your units. It's increased utility bills. When you have the controls in place, then you're able to alleviate some of that by setting you know, after schools a few hours after school, then your temperature comes down, and so you don't have your units running nonstop. So but as far as a dollar amount, I I cannot

So, I mean, if your units are if your units are running all the time, that's like keeping a car running all the time. They're eventually, they're gonna break quicker.

That's correct. Yeah.

K. Thank you.

Commissioner Michaels for the second time.

So I I this this question after commissioner Bennett asked you that several years ago, and I I'm I'm unclear of the actual year it was, but I remember on education committee, we this was addressed. We actually had, an h I don't know if they were from Trane or or who it was, but they did a comprehensive overview of every school in the district. And it did cost money, but what they came back with was not feasible. Mhmm. And so that's when we stepped back once again and said, well, we we could do this and we could do that and that.

And then we kinda move forward with the HVAC systems in that manner. But it sounds like maybe we we might be going back the same direction again.

We're gonna put things on hold if if we move in this direction for sure.

Yeah. We might we might look into what and I don't I can't even remember if mister Dukes was here.

Mhmm.

I I don't I don't know that he was, because I think that that was under the Brit Rob Brit administration. So I don't know.

Think there might have been a whole facilities.

Yes.

Yes. They came in and looked maybe even the roofs and Yes. Comprehensive

Yeah. Assessment. So we might look into that before we start, you know, spending money on Mhmm. Doing it again. Mhmm. But that's all I have to say. Thank you.

Commissioner Bledsoe, you recognized?

Yes. Real quick. Well, apparently, there there's an issue or something needs to be replaced before this resolution was brought forward. Apparently, there was a need that some somebody saw a need somewhere that obviously knows more about HVAC than I do. So, you know, my trust is kinda with, you know, if you know, whose recommendation was it. You know? Apparently, they work with HVAC quite often. And so, I mean, if it's brought forth to commission and we have a resolution and that needs there, then I don't see any point of us needing to postpone this.

So I think that it was a overall, HVAC comprehensive plan. And, Brian, did you send the commissioners a copy of the replacement plan? Yes. You have it. So you have not. Okay. So we'll we'll make sure you all have that. But, we have a comprehensive replacement plan for HVACs, for the next five years. So we're planning out which units need to be, replaced next and then the controls. Started that last year. We did three schools with the plan to do two this year, and then it's I think it's two on out for the next five years.

I can speak to I can speak to Trane did a a study of how to save us money efficiently, and they have a program where you basically take out a loan and the savings cost. Mhmm. Well, it's out of pocket nothing, but all they do is do the controls to save the money, and we have no control over this. So the decision was made that we don't need to take the loan out and do those things. We can do it incrementally over time.

So So it was recommended by Trane to do this?

So we're we're doing everything

Trane we do.

Yeah. Essentially doing everything Trane recommended, but it's we're doing it, you know, just incrementally over time instead of taking out a loan to do so. Yeah. Absolutely.

Okay. Thank you. That helps.

Commissioner Wells, you recognized?

Yeah. Do we have an, what you're saying earlier about a mechanical engineering firm? We've not had a mechanical engineering firm evaluate our systems, or we have?

Trane. Yeah. Trane Trane is part of that. Have they have all the pieces in place to do that. So it's been it's been evaluated, and it's just going off their recommendations of what they would what we're gonna do if we went with that program is what we're saying. You know, LED lighting's part of that. And then, obviously, the controls, not necessarily units involved. That's kinda part of their package doesn't include, like, actually putting HVAC units in. They're more efficient. It's just, having the controls to set where, over time, the utility cost savings pays for

Right.

The equipment to put the HVAC controls and the LED lighting in.

But Trane is a provider. Right? So they came in and did an evaluation, gave you a proposal. Right. But you didn't have an independent mechanical engineer come in that wasn't necessarily providing you services to just evaluate the systems. Right?

Right. No. It was it was just Trane's people. Right.

Exactly. So Trane Trane came in and did their thing, which is they're a provider, a company that does a holistic approach to HVAC equipment and does all of that. Well, they chose not to chew you didn't choose to use their system. You said, okay. We're not gonna do that system. We're not gonna go down that path. We're gonna design or build maybe our own direction with that, maybe evaluate and pick our own control systems that we think might work well for us, go out and select independent vendors. And And now it sounds like maybe some of those parts and pieces are in question, you know, as to whether or that should go that route, and maybe an engineering firm that's independent could evaluate it and and give a another approach. Because you got 1,300 units we heard last time

Yeah.

That that that are part of this makeup. And and do we do we really need this or need that? And I think that may be where the questions are coming from.

Yeah. And I wasn't a part of that. I just investigated it. Sure. But it's really not about the HVACs themselves. It's only the controls. So, you know, Trane is much bigger than just providing like, they they do this in a lot of different entities. They do Knox County Schools, and I got some feedback from them because they were trying to come back and get us to do this. They saw a new guy. They said, well, I won't try to get this going.

Yeah. But, yeah, it it it really just focuses on the controls and the energy savings. The units themselves are not part of the plan. Right. But I do know they have capable, comprehensive studies, and and they can predict how much money you can save. So the decision, again, was made at the time that we know what needs to be done to save to maximize the or minimize the utility cost. So we can do that in small increments over time, basically doing the same recommendations they were gonna do if they were to take over the project.

Yeah. I I know training. I know their approach. I mean, again, they're they're they're a provider in a company that comes in and evaluates and and provide you quotes for the services that they can provide. I I know what they do, but the the idea of the controls that we independent we're not choosing their controls.

Their controls are proprietary controls that they put in, and they're very complicated. And I think that's part of when speaking to mister Dukes, part of the reasons why I said, you know, this is a little bit convoluted, hard to follow, not a system that I really wanna endorse or or purchase for the sake of the schools because if we can't run it, it doesn't really get a lot to spend the money on it. So the system that we were looking at using, maybe you've implemented a few of those already, you know, is a a different type of system. And, you know, I've I've commented on that particular thing just in private conversations. But in terms of it being it it is an open architecture system, but there is only one provider in the market that can service that.

So you are working with one shop that can that's then that's all that can service that product. So you are kinda stuck, if you will, with that vendor. So it may or may not be long term what you're hoping for. But I I think we're we're saying here, it sounds like there's a potential, I'm saying, potential need to make sure that the that somewhere in the North North Side of 10 to $15,000,000 that we may be spending on HVAC controls over the course of 21 schools, that that that's a pretty big investment for us to to launch into. And this is just the beginning stages of that.

Again, you're a few schools in right now, but is if we've not had an a mechanical engineer truly evaluate this from an independent standpoint, not one that provides services and tells you how you know, what your plan should look like, but somebody that says, hey. I'm I don't have any dog in the race, and I wanna evaluate your systems for you and give you a plan that you might could follow, then you can go then you can go pick these independent providers that can provide that model of help.

Right. And it's not a to your other point, it's not an urgent need Yeah. Like, having actual air conditioning in in any building right now.

Yeah.

So we we are willing to step back and take a little bit of time to make sure that we're going in the right direction.

I think it's a good choice.

Yeah. Thank you.

Commissioner Acord, you're recognized.

Thank you, mister chairman. I have a a couple of questions to clarify my understanding of the situation. As I understand it, these controls are not necessary to heat or cool any building that we have being heated or cooled currently. They are automated controls so that a phone smartphone can control the phone control them from anywhere. Is that accurate?

Well, all HVAC has HVAC controls. But, yes, this is an automated system. It's got remote access. So you get, alarms if something isn't isn't functioning. If something goes down in the middle of the night, then they get an alarm. They know that. They can respond quickly. So HVAC controls existed long before they were accessible from a smartphone, but this system is yes. Absolutely. It is smart smartphone accessible.

So it's my understanding that they've been installed in more than one school already?

Yes.

Do we have any data to know how much energy we have saved from the expenditure that we have invested in those?

I do not. Not off the top of my I could get that information for you, but off the top of my head, no. I don't.

So from my limited perspective, $710,000 buys a lot of electricity if we're not saving a lot of electricity by having them shut off at night when nobody's there. And I I I assume they're smart controls, which is why we why they pitched them to us that we're gonna have a savings by the system not doing its thing when nobody's there and then being ready for being ready for school to start in the morning by firing back up and and doing that the same way a smart control does in our home now if we don't maintain the same temperature all the time. So with those being installed, when this comes back to us, it would be ideal for us to get to hear how much energy we have saved with those controls versus what we were spending in the same buildings prior to those controls.

We could get that information for you. Uh-huh. It shouldn't be a problem.

Sounds great. Mhmm. Thank you. Welcome.

Any further discussion? Alright. Any objection to withdrawing this this resolution at this time? Alright. Hearing none, the request to withdraw is approved. Resolution twenty eight zero eight zero zero five will be withdrawn for now. Any other discussion on the motion to set the agenda? Seeing none, if you're in favor of setting the agenda with, the removal of that item g five, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no. Please stand by.

Has every commissioner voted?

They can get it.

You

may be, but I'm not. Commissioner, did you vote? But not let's do it twice. Let's do let's go for two times tonight. And commissioner Giles, how about two for you?

Please bear with us tonight on these technical issues.

Miss Cameron, are 21 yes votes.

21 yes votes. The motion carries. The agenda is set as published with that change. Moving on to item b, general consent calendar. Chair will stand for a motion to adopt the general consent calendar. I have a motion from commissioner Martin, second by commissioner Carver to adopt the general consent calendar. Any discussion or questions? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting the general consent calendar, please vote yes as many times as necessary or no. We're we're starting off with a bang.

Mister chairman, are 21 yes votes.

21 yes votes. The motion carries, and the general consent calendar is adopted. Moving on to item c, public input on items on the agenda. I have some cards here. I'll read those off first before I call for, call for the audience. So first, I have Harry Groth John. Please come forward. Speakers, when you come forward, please remember to tell us your name, the district in which you live, and the item of the agenda that you're speaking to us about. Please remember you have three minutes, and your three minute timer will be displayed up here on this screen, and there are no extensions. So, mister Rothschild, please please go ahead.

Thank you, mister chairman. Harry Rothschild, district two. I couldn't help but think with the regards to this discussion of the HVAC demands on the county budget that perhaps since it is the county taxpayers' money that maintains this school system as well as the county buildings that the employee who supervises the cost of this HVAC system should perhaps be a county employee rather than a school board employee and work for the mayor directly to be able to incorporate the county buildings and the county HVAC costs in this project. That's just my thoughts for whatever it's worth. I'm not a candidate for mayor, mister chairman.

The second resolution is twenty five zero eight double o one. $15,000,000 for a transfer of debt service fund to ARPA fund for fiscal year ending 06/30/2026. I this is the first time I recall seeing this exercise, and, I'm all all up for using somebody else's money, for our benefit. But I hope that this doesn't reflect the crisis in our own mid debt management and cash flow management system, mister chairman. So I'd like to have an understanding of that if you could help us with that when it comes up.

And secondly, twenty five zero eight zero four, the $22,000,000 we spent on creating the Eagleton Village Ballpark. I you know, when I first looked at that, I I thought, why would we pay and spend $22,000,000 and then pay somebody $2,000,000 to come and run it for us? Shouldn't they be paying us to run it and make money? But I guess not. So what I'd like to understand is the last whereas, the breakeven point pro form a occurs around year three.

Would you could you define breakeven? Is that when we get our $24,000,000 back in our pocket, mister chairman? Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Next, we have Ronald Jarvis. Please come forward.

Hello. My name is Ronald Jarvis. I'm in District 7. Coming tonight in regard to g 21 resolution number twenty five zero eight zero two seven in support of resolution to reestablish a public services committee establish a public services appeals committee. Just had a word here I wanted to, to read.

My name is Ronald Jarvis. Been a resident of Blount County for thirty one years, all of that being on Rio Vista Subdivision, specifically on Chula Vista Drive near Fringeville. I'm here this evening to address you regarding a residence located 1140 Chula Vista Drive, which is about 750 feet west of where I live, on that same street. It's been at least twenty years since anyone has lived in this residence. The owner has refused to provide any maintenance or upkeep whatsoever on the structure or its surrounding property due to the complete lack of upkeep and maintenance.

The structure has greatly deteriorated, the property is overgrown. Deterioration of the structure has not reached a point of structural failure. Structure now represents a danger to anyone, particularly children, that might choose to explore the property. Of course, safety is a primary concern, but there are also concerns of environmental hazards, aesthetic issues, devaluation of property values, and potential collateral damage to adjacent homes and property. I come this evening to respectfully request that the county take steps to have the structure demolished and the property cleared. Without any action, this situation will only become worse and will continue to be a danger, especially to children in our neighborhood. So thank you for your help and consideration. Thanks.

Thank you, sir. Next, we have Henry Odum.

Hello. My name is Henry Odom. I'm also here from District 7, agenda item g 21 resolution resolution number twenty five zero eight zero twenty seven. I'm also a resident of Friendsville. This is my second opportunity I've had to address this committee.

I would like to give a sincere thank you for the amount of work and effort that everybody has put into this since it's been brought to your attention. When safety issues arise, this commission comes to the rescue of its Blount County residents. The issue I brought up was 1140 Shula Vista Drive. By the pictures I presented and the description I gave, everyone knows the property is a very real safety hazard to our community, children, and anyone who happens by on the water or otherwise and decides to go in and explore the residence. On this past Saturday, two neighborhood children asked if I would take them for a ride in the golf buggy.

As we were driving, they asked if I wanted to go look at the abandoned house. I said no. And I was sure the children was completely oblivious to the danger that could be inside that house or even on the property. I spoke with the parents to make sure they were aware of the danger. Because of the consideration of this committee, you have worked to put together a resolution, and I urge and hope that everyone here is willing to vote for that.

It will be a positive step in the safety, health, and welfare of our community. In closing, I would like to leave you with the thought property owners' rights end when it encroaches on the safety and well-being of their neighbors that affects every resident and district of this county and community. Thank you again for the consideration on this matter.

Thank you, sir. Does anyone else wish to speak to us on items on the agenda? If so, please raise your hand at this time. Alright. Seeing none, we'll move on from public input on items on the agenda. Move on to item d, budget consent calendar. Chair will stand for a motion to adopt the budget consent calendar. I have a motion from commissioner Carver to adopt, second by commissioner Davis. Commissioners, there was a a a one update to resolution twenty five zero eight zero one six. It was emailed out.

That was the resolution for the voting machine maintenance, And the previous version was missing the dates and appropriation details, and those have now been added. So if there's no objection, we'll we'll consider those incorporated. Is there any objection to that? Alright. Hearing no objection, it'll be so ordered. Any discussion on the budget consent calendar? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting the budget consent calendar, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 21 yes votes.

21 yes votes. The motion carries, the budget consent calendar is adopted. Item e, elections, appointments, confirmations, there are none. Item f, unfinished business. There is none. Item g, new business. Madam clerk, please read the first item.

Resolution number 258001, interfund loan debt service, $15,529,489 enter into an interfund loan from debt service fund to ARPA fund to allow time for reimbursement from the state of Tennessee referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee five zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number 258001 from commissioner Wright, second by commissioner McMahan. Any discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero one, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 21 yes votes.

21 yes votes. The motion carries. And resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero one is adopted.

Resolution number 258002, budget increase various departments, $11,683,214.83. Reappropriate funds from prior year to support the ongoing capital projects. Referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee five zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero two from commissioner Davis, second by commissioner Giles. Any discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero two, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 21 yes votes.

21 yes votes. The motion carries, and resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero two is adopted.

Resolution number twenty five eight zero zero three, budget increase, Blount County Schools, $1,818,407.60. Appropriate state grant funds to pay one time teacher bonus pay. No matching funds required. Referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee five zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero three from commissioner Acord, second by commissioner French. Any discussion? Commissioner Bennett, you're recognized for the first time.

Thank you, mister chairman. I'll have to abstain from this since this affects me personally.

Thank you. Commissioner Bennett, abstaining for cause. Commissioner Reagan? I must also abstain. Commissioner Reagan, abstaining for cause. Commissioner Martin?

I must also abstain. So

Commissioner Martin, abstaining for cause. Thank you, commissioners. Any further discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero three, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister

chairman, there are 18 yes votes and three abstentions.

18 yes. The motion carries. Resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero three is adopted.

Resolution number twenty five eight zero zero four, budget increase central services, $1,073,567. Appropriate general county funds and enter into a five year contract with Sports Facilities Company LLC to manage Eagleton Ballpark. Referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee, five zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number 2508004 from commissioner Davis, second from commissioner Webb. Any discussion? Saying none, you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero four, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 21 yes votes.

21 yes votes. The motion carries, and resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero four is adopted.

Oh, we skipped that one. Resolution number twenty five eight zero zero six, budget increase, Blount County Schools, $600,000. Appropriate general purpose school funds to purchase 1,937 Chromebooks for grades first, fifth, and ninth. These Chromebooks are replaced every four years and follow the students. Referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee five zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero six from commissioner Davis, second by commissioner Webb. Any discussion? Oh, she's Commissioner Martin's computer's frozen.

Is it still?

Are you good? They're ready to vote.

Alright. Commissioners, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero six, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 21 yes votes.

21 yes votes. The motion carries. And resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero six is adopted.

Resolution number twenty five eight zero zero seven, budget increase, Blount County Schools $550,000, appropriate education capital funds to set aside funds for unplanned HVAC replacement cost for fiscal year 2526. Referred to full commission with the favorable recommendation by the budget committee for one.

Alright. I've got a motion to adopt resolution number 20 508007 from commissioner Hannah, second by commissioner Carver. Commissioner Kaylor, you're recognized for the first time.

You, mister chairman. I move that we reduce that $550,000 number by half and set that at $225,000, please. Thank you.

Commissioner Kahler makes a motion to amend to reduce to 225,000. Is there a second?

Second.

Seconded by commissioner Acord. We are now in discussion on the motion to amend. Any discussion on the motion to amend the 225,000? Commissioner Michaels, you're recognized on the motion to amend.

Thank you, mister chairman. At this time, if if if you would maybe call somebody up from the schools either

Alright. So can someone from schools come forward and talk to us about this issue?

I would like to be.

Any specific question, or do just want me to jump right in there?

Let's see.

I've got some I've actually got some information for the commission that I'll I'll send out to you all first thing in the morning. I apologize you don't have it. And it's it's gonna give you all the units that we have across the schools, an average cost on cost on unplanned replacements for the last three fiscal years, planned replacements for the last three fiscal years, and then also our replacement plan for the next five fiscal years. So I'll make sure you all have that first thing in the morning. So this is for unplanned replacements outside of that five year plan.

On average, we spend about $754,000 a year on unplanned replacements. Again, I'll I'll get you all that information in the morning so that you can see it yourself. Right now, we have 12 units that need to be replaced. That's out for bid. I I did not realize that in all of my nine day tenure the last time I was before you all, so I apologize for that. We don't have the bids back on that yet, but I'm I'm gonna estimate that's probably gonna take about 200,000 out of the contingency funds once that gets awarded. That's sometime in September. So so that's where we're at right now. But on average, you're looking at about $754,000 a year on, an Okay. Unplanned replacements.

So

if

we reduce this, is it gonna hurt you? Is it gonna set you back? Or it sounds to me like, you know, $750,000 over over the course of do you know how much that that money how many units that money replaced in in in that annual budget?

It depends on on the unit, the size of the unit. So there's it varies.

Well, I'm I'm I guess what I'm asking is how many units I know that, you know, a larger unit's gonna cost more. Mhmm. For the $750,000 on average that we've spent per year, how many units did that did that cover? And if we're looking at 12 units already, would that be close?

It's a roll of the dice, honestly, because you don't know what's what's gonna go down. I'm looking at it right now. Again, you'll have this in information in the morning.

Right.

And I'm looking I'm looking at one that's $234,000, but then there's another one that that, know, it's $5,000.

Right.

So

Well, I guess what my question is and what I would like to know from you, and I know this is hard to answer. I'm not trying to back in a corner. Sure. Are you gonna be okay with the $225,000 this month?

Well, I mean, I think it's it's a risk because we're gonna take 200,000 immediately, pretty much. You got two units.

So

For that one unit?

For 12. For the it's out for bid right now. So 200,000 for for 12 units.

What was the 230,000 for one unit, though? You said something about

That was a big unit.

So Was that something that's already been done, though?

Yes.

Yes. Split

five. And so that's what I'm it varies just depending on the size of the unit and and the Sure. Failure.

Okay.

No. 20 So thousand could be okay if it's a $5,000 unit. If it's a major, you know, unit that goes down, then

So you you brought this number $550,000 specifically to cover what you have out for bid right now?

Part of that. And then the other part would be for what's to come, what we hope doesn't come, but historically has happened.

Okay.

Alright. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Commissioner Kahler, you're recognized.

Thank you, mister chairman. I'm pretty

sure there's nobody in here that would dare want any of our students or children to suffer from too hot or too cold. That's not the intent of this request. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you need money, you can come back and ask for more. Correct?

Come back. Mhmm.

Then I don't see any reason to quibble over the $2.25 to start.

If you

need more, come back and ask

for it.

And I will.

I don't think there's anybody here that won't give it to you.

Yeah. And I will. And and that's fine, and we can do that. Just so you are prepared that I will be back based on historical information. We're gonna have more units fail. You're gonna see me again.

I look forward to seeing you.

Great. I'll be here.

We sure cover you're recognized.

So if you were to get the full amount for this year and you didn't spend it all, it goes back

Goes back into fund balance.

This is specifically for the

This is specifically for HVAC units. It's gonna go into a line item for HVAC units. Any contingency funds, they're gonna come to me for approval, then they're gonna go to director Ridge for approval before they're ever pushed forward. Once a purchase order is in place, after we've approved it, it it also comes to the county. The county purchasing agent's gonna look at it, and then it's gonna go to Brian's office.

So, Brian, can I ask you is that if that's the process? So any money that we approve today and they don't use goes back into they can only use it for heat and air, and then it goes back if it's not spent.

Commissioner, in general, yes, that's that's correct. There are transfers that are allowable within within the system once the money's been appropriated. So they could But those transfers are handled the same way. Those still would go to miss Spence. They would come to my office, and then finally, the mayor would be the final approval on any transfer in the system. So there are several checks and balances.

Then would we would would would we be aware of that and vote on it also? No. That would just be the money, then you could move it over to another. Alright. Thank you.

Alright. Commissioner Reagan, you're recognized.

Thank you, chair. Miss Spence, are you telling me that there's 12 units out right now that need to be replaced? Yes, ma'am. Right this minute. Yes, ma'am. 12 units that need to be replaced. Where's this money coming from? What fund?

$1.77.

$1.77? Mhmm. Mister Baldwin, may I ask you a question?

Mister Baldwin, the commissioner.

If we, have money in January that's designated for the schools and they come and they ask us for that amount of money, is there something wrong? Are we doing something wrong with the comptroller's office if we give them $550,000 to spend on heat and air units, and they spend it on heat and air units to have them ready to be replaced whenever those units go down?

According to the comptroller, no. I do not believe I do not believe so.

Thank you, sir.

Mister Bennett, you're recognized. Thank you,

mister chairman. So just like last week, I said the same thing. If a unit goes down, if we don't have money in the contingency, how long does the process take that our kids don't have heat and air in a building if a big unit goes down?

So if if money is not appropriated, we can't, of course, we can't issue a PO. It depends on when it hits. If if it hits at a it could potentially take two months. It's gotta go through the board of education before it comes to budget committee and makes it to commission. So potentially two months.

So you're saying we spent $700,000 last year. You're asking for 550,000 this year. We're wanting to cut it to 250,000. It doesn't make any sense. So I can't be for cutting it.

Thank you.

Commissioner Bledsoe, you recognized?

Yes. Just making sure you all did say last week that this is a three year average. Right?

It is.

Okay. So this is just not grabbing numbers out of the air.

No. It's actuals. Right. It's actuals.

Just making sure we understand that part of this math problem that

you have that in the morning. I'll make

sure legitimacy to this number that you all

are asking.

This is pulled straight from the general ledger.

Thank you.

Mhmm. Thank you, commissioner. Commissioner French are recognized.

Thank you, mister chairman. So let me understand. If we cut this in half, is there a certain point when that fund is diminished that you would come back and ask, or do you have to wait till it's to zero and then come back and ask? Or because you can't predict unplanned failures. Mhmm.

So if if, say, we cut it to two seventy five and and we've got several unplanned emergencies, and it takes 250,000. At that point, would you come back and ask for more money? Because there's still $25,000 in there. Or at which point and you don't know when when it's going that 25,000 is gonna be used.

If it gets down to $25,000, I will be back.

You would be back.

I would. I wouldn't wanna cut it that close.

Okay. So at at what amount would you come back and ask for more money? Because say say say you use we're cutting it to, what, $2.75, half of no. Yeah. $2.75, half of $5.50.

Mhmm.

So if you used a 125 of that, would you come back and ask to replenish that, or would you Commissioner,

please come to order. Commissioner French, you're recognized. Because

you're not sure that next unit might not take more than what was left in the fund. Mhmm. So if we put the $5.50 in there, which is an average of the last three years, then you then at some point, you could come back and ask if it gets low enough, but that will at least cover several units that may go out between that time. That's that's what I'm trying to ascertain.

Yes. Okay. Yes, sir. Bye.

Alright. Thank you, commissioner. Commissioner Bowers, you're recognized on the motion to amend.

Thank you, chairman. There's nothing wrong with setting aside this money based on what miss Spencer said, what school board's appropriated. They've already got $275,000 spent before we even talk about it. So I will not be supporting this amendment. I think we need to set aside what they're asking for. Thank you.

Thank you, commissioner. Commissioner Wells on the motion to amend.

Yeah. Thanks. I I I I tend to agree that I said it last time. The the capital expenditure piece of this, I get on the the plan side, the controls, all that stuff we talked about before is a different ballgame than emergency replacement. But I'm wondering, you say we got bids out right now for these units that are down. Right? So when when units go down do we have units on the yard?

The portable units. We we have so many that they they do try to have stockpiled. They can we have HVAC individuals that can actually go in and replace units. When they get so big, then then they won't replace them. We'll get someone else to come in, but it just depends on the size of the unit. We don't keep a full it wouldn't be beneficial to us to have a warehouse full of HVAC units, but we try to keep some on-site.

I mean, of course, that makes sense. I mean, if you've got one that goes down, you need it tomorrow. I mean, you need it tomorrow just like somebody needed one and got one the next day for their classroom. So for the emergency piece of this, I mean, that's where I said it last time that that if you've got this this fund is being allocated from $1.77 because we don't build a one seventy seven budget. Mhmm. We have to allocate those funds and be available for these emergency purchases in this particular case. Now what it was said last meeting that was inaccurate apparently that that we were that our average was $500,000. That's what the number was stated in the last meeting. But what I'm hearing today is that was not correct. You said the number is actually, what, 7?

754,000.

So we're going in the wrong direction. Mhmm. So that in that particular case, so that's a three year average?

Yes, sir.

Yeah. That's so that's new information. So now we've got a 550 that's not even sufficient to cover this for the school year per se. So we're gonna cover now this is projected to cover two thirds

Probably.

Of what your average expenditure normally would be. So we're likely gonna run out of this money at $550,000 based upon where we've been.

Yeah. Maybe maybe come spring if if we did the full $5.50, I I could be back.

But with the not. But but with the timeline that it's gonna take to to to bid these things out, there will be opportunities to get back in front of us, hopefully, in advance of maybe what you've had to pull off the yard to fix some of those other things to replace those, that sort of thing. Is that correct?

Mhmm.

Okay. I agree that this amendment probably doesn't need to be in place.

Thank you, commissioner. Commissioner Michaels for the second time on the motion to amend.

Thank you, mister chairman. I think with with what commissioner Wells just said and and the information that we've got from miss Spence and the school system, I wanna I wanna make a comment here. This this body has in the in the last recent years, there were some things that were coming from the school system that, you know, would produce question. I I think that reducing this amount with with, you know, a three year average of what it's cost, and knowing that more than likely we're gonna have to come back and increase it again even if we stayed right here at this number, it would be foolish at this point to reduce that number. So, I think that they have been fair, when they brought this number.

And so, I'm not in favor of this amendment. And I think that we need to give this administration and and the the people that he's put in place to, lead the way and make these decisions. I think that they're showing that that they have regard to our apprehension. So at this time, I'd like to call for the question on this amendment.

Alright. Commissioner Michaels calls for the question. Is there a second to call in for the question? Second is heard. Commissioners were voting on ending debate. Takes a two thirds majority. If you're in favor of ending debate, we'll give the clerk a second to get it, put in place. You'll vote yes to end debate. You'll vote no to keep debating the motion to amend.

May 2.

Commissioners we got commissioner Wells made the second to the previous question. Alright. Commissioners, and if you're in favor of ending debate on the motion to amend, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no. Alright. Commissioners, so this is a motion to to move the previous question. And what that means is it's a motion to end debate on the pending motion. The pending motion being the motion to amend. So if you want to end debate on the pending motion, you will vote yes. If you want debate to continue on the motion to amend, you will vote no.

Any further questions?

Mister chairman, there are 18 yes votes and three no votes.

18 yes, three no. The motion carries. Debate has ended on the motion to amend. We are now voting on the motion to amend the the amount on the resolution to 225,000 for the appropriation. If you're in favor of amending the resolution down to 225,000, you will vote.

$2.25. I

I think you said half. Alright. If there's no any objections to construing this as 275,000 well, 275,000. Alright. Commissioners, if you're in favor of amending this down to 275,000, which would be half, vote yes. If you're not in favor of moving it down to 275,000, you'll vote no.

Commissioner Webb. Mister chairman, are four yes votes and 17 no votes.

Four yes votes, 17 no votes. We are now back on the motion to adopt the resolution as amended or sorry, not as amended. The resolution as presented, it's at 550,000. Commissioner Acreage, you're recognized.

Thank you, mister chairman. We were told that that was the three year average for the expenditures. How much was in this fund any of those years?

Someone from the schools wish to come address that question.

Are you asking how much was allocated in those funds?

Well, yes. And in advance of the failures, how much did the commission issue prior?

Do you know that off the top of your head, Brian?

Mister Baldwin?

Commissioner, I can't tell you the amounts, but it it goes back to the prior practice of where most of these most of these HVAC units were funded out of fund one forty one and Esser funds fund one forty two. So the money was appropriated in the annual budget process, and so the money was already sitting there, so that replacements could be made. So you you you approved it in the annual process. You didn't see it like this coming through January.

So an assumption was made that we were going to automatically add this money to their budget from their normal budget process. Correct. This body chose to allocate $1.77 upon need for a reason. And this really goes back to that reason of the assumption being made that it's just okay to come ask for money to be allocated when we don't have a current need when it was something we were budgeting for before in our regular fund. I have a I have a real problem with the expectation for something we know that's happening not being in our annual budget, and we can just come and get more money that we've never done before.

This body has never done this before. Fund one seventy seven was intentionally unappropriated so that it could be appropriated upon request for actual needs. It's it's not supposed to be a part of the budget for how we run things. It was supposed to be per project. So in the past, when you did it the other way, there was no time delay.

You just had to ask for it in the annual budget. Is that accurate? So we're being placed behind an eight ball here of, oh my goodness. If we don't approve this, these kids are gonna go without heat and air because, well, an assumption was made, and and now we're supposed to write the check. It's it's not a real cool way to do things.

I I I change in the practice of the way we're doing our budget and come in here and ask for funds in addition to a budget a month after the budget year started, it's just it it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. If we if we've got this three year average and we know how much we were spending, why wasn't that presented to us as part of the budget? I would I would like to make a motion to amend this down to zero based on the way that we're being treated, but all I have to do to do that is just say no. So that that tends to be where I want to be. There there hasn't been a request that has come before this commission in the eleven years that I've been a member where we've turned down an HVAC system that that had failed and we needed to replace it.

That we haven't ever refused to fund one. It is it is offensive for it to be handled this way. That that's all I gotta say about that. Thank you.

Thank you. So would you prefer for us to use 141?

Miss Spence. Miss Spence, I'm afraid he's he's yielded his time. We've gotta go to the next speaker. Commissioner King, you're recognized?

For mister Baldwin, maybe he can answer. Could they pay this, mister Baldwin, out of $1.41 and then we reimburse it back out of the $1.77 fund?

That that would be an option. That's essentially how we handled the end of last year.

That would be simplest thing, and there ain't no money sitting there, and they won't they can pay for it, and we'll reimburse it when they got a need for it. Right?

Verify that it's a true capital expense. Yeah. We we we could do that. We we'd have to work, we'd have to work together to figure out what appropriation would be available in January. There's a there's a few more moving parts than that, but, technically, that is possible.

So but the budget, they still got the same amount of money budget they've had the last three years to do what they do. The only difference is now we can actually take money out January and give it back to them where before it was built into their budget and they never got it back.

Correct. The only thing I would clarify, commissioner, is in in this year's budget, working with the school board, with director Ridge at the time when we set the budget, it those funds are dedicated toward teacher pay raises and some other things. So it's not just sitting there like it has been Exactly.

But but that that those I don't think there's anybody on this commission that's not gonna vote if if they pay it out of it and say, hey. We had to take out $1.41 to spend a million dollars on our conditioner that's not gonna say give it back to them in the budget. That's what I would recommend we do.

Alright. Thank you, commissioner. Commissioner Reagan, you're recognized.

Thank you, mister chairman. Could I possibly ask mister Baldwin a question?

Go ahead, commissioner.

Mister Baldwin, can you oh, he's talking. Hang on. Mister Baldwin, sorry. Could you, tell me, I don't know, what was mister Duke budget last year for maintenance and facilities and repairs and all of that. Not last year. Last year. Not this year. Last year.

I don't have that.

Okay.

But I could you you can give me time to look it up, or I can get back to you and get that number to you.

I'm just curious because seems to me like that was larger last year than it is this year.

And and the the reason for that is, you know, that this is a good conversation that that you all are having. The reason for that is many of his expenses out of fund one forty one are eligible capital expenses out of one seventy seven.

Oh, okay. I I think I remember you telling me

that.

So part of it's the shift.

Yeah. I think I think I remember you telling me that when we had our our when we had our budget meeting Right. This past summer. Thank you very much, mister Baldwin. I appreciate you.

Thank you, commissioner. Commissioner Michaels, you're recognized?

Mister chairman, if you could have mister Baldwin say what he just said one more time a little louder.

Mister Baldwin?

I'm sorry, commissioner. Do you mind?

You said that in in last year's budget that these funds were allocated to the schools for HVAC repairs. Since then and before this new budget came out, the comptroller says, hey. For these repairs, you can use one seventy seven.

Not repairs. Full replacement. Yeah. Well,

yeah. You get what I'm saying. Yep. These these projects, new projects, are eligible for January. It would be absolutely asinine for any of us up here to think that we needed to put that back in January and spend it out of January when we when we don't have to split the dollars.

That's that's crazy. So, obviously, we're going through a new process of something that is has always been just allocated to that in their budget. We're we're beating a dead horse here. We give them they're not asking for for what that three year average was. They're asking for $200,000 less than the three year average, and they and and more than likely, we're gonna see that come back to us again for that or for more or for not as much. So give them give them the money. Again, I'm gonna call for the question.

Commissioner Michaels calls for the question. Is there a second from commissioner Hannah to call for the question? Again, commissioners, the motion is to call for the question is to end debate. So if you are in favor of ending debate on the motion to adopt the resolution, you will vote yes. If you're not in favor, you will vote no. Does anybody need clarification? Alright, commissioners. We're voting on ending debate. Again, if you're in favor of any debate, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 17 yes votes and four no votes.

17 yes, four no. The quest motion carries. Debate has ended. We are now voting on the motion to adopt resolution number 2508007. If you are in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero seven, you will vote yes. If you're not in favor, you will vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 18 yes votes and three no votes.

18 yes, three no. The motion carries, and resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero seven is adopted.

Resolution number twenty five eight zero zero eight, budget increase highway, $544,490.91. Appropriate highway capital funds to purchase a new paver. Referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee five zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number 2508008 from commissioner French, second by commissioner Reagan. Any discussion? Commissioner Aker, do you recognize for the first first time on the motion to adopt?

Thank you, mister chairman. I looked up a quick Google search on my phone and basically challenge anybody else to do the same thing to look at how much asphalt pavers are. And this request is $50,000 more than the range that you get given when you do that research. I believe that it would be appropriate in the future for us to get to see the make and model number of what we're purchasing so that we can, have a look into that a little bit deeper, since this number is literally higher than the range that's quoted online for what it should cost to buy a new paper. I don't know that that means I'm opposed to it, but I do know that means we've got some things happening that don't seem to make a whole lot of sense when we don't have a make and model detail on our information that we're given.

I'm I'm certain that it is a Caterpillar because we seem to really like Caterpillar equipment and working with Stowers equipment company. But even the caterpillars that you find online in excess of 500,000 is a is a pretty big deal. And we should have the benefit in our packet of getting to see what we're buying instead of just listing it as a paver. I don't think this is the appropriate way to handle that. You can take it however you want from there.

That's just a point that needed to be brought up, I thought. Thanks.

Thank you, commissioner. Any other discussion? Say none. If you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero eight, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 21 yes, folks.

21 yes. The motion carries. Resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero eight is adopted.

Resolution number twenty five eight zero zero nine, budget increase, Blount County Schools, $437,992. Appropriate education capital funds to replace gym floors at both Fairview Elementary and Friendsville Elementary. Referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee five zero.

Have a motion oh, let me see. Have a motion to adopt resolution number 2508009 from commissioner Giles, Second by commissioner Reagan. Any discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five zero eight zero zero nine, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 21 yes votes.

21 yes. The motion carries. Resolution number 2508009 is adopted.

Resolution number 20 58010, budget increase, Blount County Schools, $419,979.63. Appropriate education capital funds to replace fire alarm system at ECCA. Refer to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee five zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one zero from commissioner Carver. Second by commissioner Acord. Any discussion? Commissioner Giles, you're recognized for the first time on the motion to adopt.

Thank you, mister chairman. My questions about this particular resolution has nothing to do with the budget committee and coming back with a favorable recommendation. But as I read through the details for this particular thing, it talks about the system at ECCA being antiquated and risk and so forth. The first and most important question is, until we get this finished, are our students at risk at ECCA?

I'll direct that to the schools. Is there somebody from the schools that wishes to address the question?

Missus Spence, you might just wanna slide your chair up here.

I'm not Sorry.

Pull up your chair. No. You're fine. That's a legitimate question. They are not. The system is is old. It's antiquated. It's outdated. There are lot of nuisance alarms, and, unfortunately, parts are no longer available. So that's why the full replacement is needed.

K. Are there similar systems in some of the other schools that will have to do these upgrades also?

Yes. I I I can't say for sure, but I'm assuming just like everything else, all of these schools, they're different ages. The equipment was installed at different times, so they'll fail at different times. So, we did carpenter's mill last year.

Okay. But I'm hearing that our children are not these children are not at risk at this point in time.

No,

Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. A question that you might or might not be able to answer. Has this was this particular project bid?

It was.

It was bid?

It was bid.

Reason I'm asking is I look through the the specifics around materials and labors and so forth. The labor rates on these things seem Mhmm. Exorbitant. $92.92 dollars an hour. Mhmm. $65 an hour for things like that. And I I say that to say in the bidding process, was this the low bidder? How how did we get here? How did we get to this particular group? Because I think it's I think it's the the Firelight system. How did we arrive at using them versus something else?

So this was a 2023 bid, I believe, with one year contract for option years. Doesn't necessarily mean it was the low bidder. I didn't pull the bid tab.

Okay.

I know it's formally bid, but we don't always go with the low bid if, you know, the services aren't up to par. There are different factors that come into play. We try to, but I can't say for sure that this was just that was the only factor Okay. In that decision because there are other things that come into play.

And the final question that I had, I think, anyway, is how did we come to know that the system was antiquated? Was there a fire survey done by the state fire marshal, an audit? How do we Correct.

Yes. So they the state fire marshal makes his way around inspecting. I'm not quite sure how often, but makes his way through the schools, and it was recommended that that system be replaced.

And do they do that survey at all the schools?

They do? Yeah. They make their way through all of them.

Yes, sir.

Okay. And I'm assuming that this is the one that is the worst shape at this point, that's why we're choosing to spend the dollars here and not at some of the other schools?

Yes. So this one was actually planned last year, and then Carpenter's Middle School took precedent. So we we took care of Carpenter's Middle last year and pushed ECCA to this year.

Okay. Again, if we extrapolate this out over 21 school system, that's $10,000,000 over the next few years. Is there have we planned what this looks like? And do all of the schools have to get these upgrades or just some of them? And I'm not looking for specifics at this point. I'm just curious.

So as they fail, yes,

they'll

all need upgrades. That is a piece. It's broken out into different you have we have the roofs, gym floors, different pieces broken out and and planning for that and and fire systems. That would be one of them.

K. Thank you.

Yes. The the fire marshal comes around every school annually. It's always a fun event for the teachers. So they make recommendations, upon their visit, and sometimes that includes a a system or, you know, they look at the panels and expect everything. So

Okay. Alright. As I said, I'm I'm just concerned about the the hourly wage rates for for this particular project. Actually, in this particular case, the labor is much more than mature not much more, but, a little bit higher than the materials. Obviously, very much in support of this. This is what we need to keep our students safe, just questioning the dollars. Thank you very much for your response.

Alright. Thank you, commissioner. Any further discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one zero, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 21 yes votes.

21 yes. The motion carries, and resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one zero is adopted.

Resolution number 258012, budget increase Blount County Schools $300,000, appropriate education capital funds to set aside funds for architect fees for multiple planned projects for fiscal year 2526. Referred full commission with the favorable recommendation by the budget committee five zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one two from commissioner Reagan, second by commissioner Davis. Any discussion? Commissioner Acord recognized for the first time on the motion to adopt.

Thank you, mister chairman. $300,000 out of fund one '77 for things that were not really being told about is another fund one seventy seven question that I have. I'm unaware of any new buildings that we're building this year, this fiscal year, to need architectural fees. Would like to know more about these multiple projects that we're going to need $300,000 to pay architects to design for us when we're not building buildings.

Alright. Does someone from the schools wish to come and or mister Baldwin, either one?

I'll defer, but I I will I will would like to share this if I could. As we were working on the annual budget process with the school board and the the new director of schools, one of the things that, the architect and engineer lobby is strong, and that they had it, there's now a TCA requirement that any capital project changing to a building, a roof, the tracks, the theater, anything like that that we're gonna do, if it's a project over $50,000, it requires, stamp drawings, architects. And so if that's the case, we we collectively looked at the annual revenue for January being around $6,000,000 or so of what would be spent on projects like that and took 5% of that. 5% is a pretty usual and customary amount. What we're seeing, it's about the amount we're paying for the health department renovations.

So we took 5% of that 6,000,000, and this that's how we came up with the 300,000.

I understand that. What what I don't understand is if we're putting a new roof on a on a building that already exists, unless we're changing the design of that roof, we should already have stamped drawings.

So there are some some new projects this year. And and, again, you know, anytime we're putting up walls, changing an interest configuration, so that might not even reach $50,000, we have to have the state fire marshal come in. He requires that you have architect stamped drawings. We do have a few entrances that we're gonna work on this year. That's been an ongoing process, making the entrances more secure.

Some of the older schools, you know, you're walking visitors walk right into the school. So that's gonna require an architect. The auditorium at Heritage High School is gonna require an architect. Common area bathrooms, things like that. Things that are planned for this year, they they will require architects to to have a plan.

So what do we what do we pay architect per hour of creating stamp drawing?

I think it might be based on a percentage of the project cost. It's it's based on the estimated project cost, and I'm not sure what the purse the going rate is for about 5%. Okay. About 5% on overall project cost.

So we build a $10,000,000 project. We're paying 5%

Mhmm.

Automatically.

That's correct. Yeah. That's a pretty pretty good Wow. Estimate. Yes, sir.

Government at its best. Yeah.

Thank you, commissioner commissioner Michaels. Alright. Any further discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one two, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, are 21 yes, folks.

21 yes. The motion carries. Resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one two is adopted.

Resolution number 258013, budget increase, Blount County Schools, a $125,000. Appropriate education capital funds to set aside funds for contingencies for multiple plan projects for fiscal year 2526. Referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee five zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one three from commissioner Davis, second by commissioner Carver. Any discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one three, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 20 yes folks and one no vote.

One yes, one no. The motion carries. Resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one three is adopted.

Resolution number twenty five eight zero one four, budget increase Blount County Schools $200,000. Appropriate education capital funds to purchase culinary equipment for the newly built culinary building at William Blount High School. Referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee five zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number 2508014 from commissioner Carver, second by commissioner Davis. Commissioner Acreage recognized for the first time on the motion to adopt.

Thank you, mister chairman. Has this gone out for bid yet, or we just, padding our fund from $1.77 thinking that it might cost that much?

Someone from the schools or mister Baldwin wanna answer that question?

It has been bid out. Hopefully, you have a copy of the the bids in your packet. If not, I can get that to you, but it has been bid out.

Okay. Thank you very much. You're well.

Alright. Commissioner Wells, you recognized for the first time on the motion to adopt.

And I apologize. I don't have it up in front of me, but could you tell us what the actual bid price was?

It was right at $1.68 500. Now that may not be to the penny, so that's gonna be roughly the total cost.

So the the we have a a bid price at $1.68. So tell us why it's $200,000.

So the bid was only good for seven days. It's a and we bid it on July 30. There is language in the quote about price escalation due to inflation, tariffs, really anything that you can think of that could possibly impact the cost. So all things go well, you're you're just spending what's all we're gonna buy is what we have bid out. However, the price could change. It it may have already changed since we got the quotes. Best case scenario, it's exactly how it is right now. We don't spend it. It rolls back into fund balance, but that project's ready to go. It needs new equipment.

So what we don't wanna do is halt the project and not be able to get the new equipment in there so that we can actually get this thing up and running.

Yeah. No problem with that. I just wonder why 25% contingency was necessary as opposed to a five or 10% contingency. Considering you're just thirty days out from the original bid, it seems like it would be holding a price if they want your business. I mean, if you got from 5% more contingency, that seems reasonable. 25% seems a little bit much. That's all. Mhmm. So I just was curious as to why we would allocate that much more. Is there any reasoning for the 25%? I mean, why is why is it not 30% or 35%? I mean, what's the reasoning for 20

Well, I didn't put it in that. You know, this

is I know. But

Though I'm assuming they rounded up, which is not uncommon when you're putting a budget together. And I know this is a little bit different from when since January, you all were, you know, were coming in front of you from just a normal government accounting budget budgeting standard, you know, you're not gonna say, I'm gonna spend a $168,751.02, and that's what I'm gonna plug into a budget. So I don't have a problem

I don't have a problem allocating the funds because I know it's gonna go back in the fund balance. But just going in forward, in particular, in this particular case because when we were in an emergency mode and we're talking about HVAC and emergencies, I had no problem. Yeah. What I what I don't want us doing is is is is allocating money way above and beyond just because we don't know for sure. I mean, if we're saying a typical contingency for us in this particular kind of equipment, our purchasing department should have some sense of what that normally range kinda looks like. And if they're telling us or telling you or somebody else that at 25%, maybe somebody over here knows what that particular range might should look like over a thirty day period

Mhmm.

I mean, I don't have a problem. And if it was a one seventy five or one eighty or whatever

K.

That that five to 15% contingency might be reasonable. Just seemed 25% seems a little high to me. That's all. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Alright. Commissioner Hanney, recognized for the first time on the motion to adopt.

First, I wanna say thank you, Britney. I think you're doing amazing.

Oh, thank

you. For someone who sells equipment, and I'm also working with several Knox County schools. And I see the process that you guys have to go through now, and I really appreciate being able to see that process because now I see both sides of it as commissioner and as somebody who's working with schools. But someone who does sell equipment, I will say that right now with the tariff issues, it's day to day for us. We have if equipment's coming from Switzerland, it's got a 39% tariff cost, and my, company that I sell from is taxing half of that percentage to my customers.

So I do understand with what's going on with the tariffs that day to day that changes. And so I don't see anything wrong with that 25% knowing what I know and dealing with what I have to deal with because it is a game we play daily because we don't know what that cost is gonna be. So I do appreciate what you're doing.

Thank you.

Thank you, commissioner. Commissioner Giles, you're recognized for the first time on the motion to adopt.

Thank you, chairman Anderson. My understanding were three bid three different companies bid this particular project. And the $1.68 5, is does that include just equipment or is that installation also?

Installation is included.

It does include. Okay. Mhmm. Reason I ask is if you look at the bids, there's a significant diff almost $50,000 difference between the low bid and the high bid. And if you look at the detail, low bid, I don't think included any installations.

They did not. You're correct.

Once again, just just to make sure, think I heard you say if the 200,000 is approved and we spend $1.80, that 20,000 goes back into fund balance.

That's correct.

K. Thank you, ma'am. You're welcome.

Commissioner Aker for the second time on the motion to adopt.

Thank you, mister chairman. So after failing to do the proper due diligence asking the question of the actual price previously, I do want to make the point that the whole reason for the preceding agenda item is to provide for instances when you go over so that you don't have to make an absurd pad to the request. The absurd pad is not supposed to be there as a result of the $125,000 contingency that we just awarded. Y'all need to make up your mind. Do you wanna pad the heck out of them and tell stories, or do you want to do it the way we set aside?

We created that contingency fund to avoid these kinds of proposals. A an appropriate number for this would have been maybe three to 5%. And then if it goes over, it comes out of the contingency fund that that's what it's there for. The These kinds of abuses of one seventy seven are why we don't include it in the annual budget process and try to appropriate it as needed. It's it's not it's not cool for all of this money to to be going out, and it and we don't have anything for it.

If you had a bid for a $190,000 for this that was the one you are going with. The $10,000 extra is too much when you've got the fund that we just created for you with the preceding agenda item. Mhmm. We either need to vote no on the preceding agenda item, or you all need to stop doing this because it's not cool.

Okay. The contingency fund was for the construction projects. So this is equipment.

It says it actually says set aside for contingencies for multiple planned projects.

Yes.

Well, this is a plan this is a planned project.

It is, but this is equipment. So it's a different

line You're using fund one seventy seven to buy this equipment.

Yes. A different line item, but, yes, correct.

The contingencies is for the projects that you do with fund one seventy seven so that we don't have this constant buildup of additional money.

Okay.

That is why we did it that way. That's why that other fund existed. We set that other fund at $300,000 initially. It got reduced from your all's office. It didn't get reduced by us, but it needs to be reduced to nothing if we're gonna pad everything that we bring with contingency opportunities.

We we're looking at a process for that in the future. Miss Vince wasn't even, employed at the time. This was put on the board agenda at $200,000, so I don't think it's fair to be saying, you know, directly to her, saying y'all and this because she wasn't even a part of it. K? But we have a process moving forward in the future. We'll figure this out. We'll make sure it makes sense. So K.

So our job as what we've been elected to do is be the stewards of the citizens of Mont County's money. And it's it's not cool to be asking for so much more than what we know it's going to cost when we also have a fund set aside for when it costs more than what we were planning on. And like was said previously, your vendor, if they want your business, is gonna honor their price, or we don't need to buy it from them.

And all I'm asking you is to give us a chance to try our process because I've been doing this job for two, three months. She's been doing it for a few days. Give us a chance to prove that that we can do a

better job.

I'm sure this is getting ready to be awarded. There's not any doubt in my mind. I just need you all to understand that what you're asking for, you're asking for the same money that that adds up in different categories, and that one category was designed for this kind of thing. And I have

no appetite to spend the money on anything other than what it's this commission approves it to be spent on. And whatever it doesn't get spent on, it goes back to fund balance. But we will work on a process that aligns more closely in the future to the actual quote bid, whatever we get to make sure that we're doing it the right way and that we're not presenting any, idea or any perception that we're trying to pad anything. Does that make sense?

Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you.

Alright. Thank you, commissioner commissioner Michaels, for the first time on the motion to adopt.

So when this agenda item hit hit the floor after the last agenda item that we just voted on, I had similar sentiments of what commissioner Acord has brought to our attention. However, I was prepared to move forward and vote for this, and I still am because we have got to give this administration the benefit of the doubt. There are people coming in days days ago, and school just started three two weeks ago. We there are some things that that were brought up tonight such as these two this this item and the last item that have brought some things to our attention. If nothing more, the contingency needs to say for for projects and equipment.

No. So that that is something that we can notate and come back and we'll do better with next time. We're we're in a process that that we're transitioning. We're building relationship. We're building trust.

And so we have we have to give it. You know? So I I do understand, commissioner, your your guard, but at the same time, I think this this will be fine. We'll just move forward. If we have questions from from miss spent from miss Spence or or, you know, superintendent Ridge, we we have a whole month between now and next month that we can call and talk to them.

And if we need to go sit down with them and find out what their new policies are and how they're gonna change some things. And that way we can get on the same page. And and so I I I I know we just need to we just need to move forward and stop browbeating people

for for this. Thank you, commissioner commissioner Bennett, for the first time on the motion to adopt.

Thank you, mister chairman. Just a quick question clarification. We just voted on the contingency plan right before that, so that really actually could have been zero if we hadn't passed. So they would have had to have some contingency for this project. Is am I not correct?

Yes.

Okay. That's you. Just make sure I was alright.

Alright. Thank you, commissioner. Commissioner McMahan, you're recognized for the first time on the motion to adopt.

Again, real quick. I just, again, would like to thank the superintendent and and this young lady here that's been in the firing line for much too long to to make assumptions about, quote, padding. I I don't think these people have that in them. We've talked about checks and balances within our government. I think these people have our our school system at heart, And I I think we need to allow them to do the professional thing and assumptions about certain things need to be stopped. Thank you.

Thank you, commissioner. Commissioner Giles, for the second time on the motion to adopt.

Thank you, chairman Anderson. Much along the same lines as my fellow commissioner over here. Some of the suggestions thrown out about giving these opportunity these folks an opportunity, I did just that that. And just it's this might be a little bit off topic, but I spent in excess of ninety minutes today with a representative of Blount County Schools and with our chief financial officer for our county. And I could bore you to tears with everything that I learned in there, but when I walked away, my key my key takeaways were this is a very different administration.

I was covered up with information that I hadn't seen in the past, and that's not an indictment of the past group. I'm just saying I was given information and I was like, wow. I can't believe you're telling me that. And what I was told was we will cover you up with information as what as to what you want. They also acknowledge that the system is not perfect.

I don't wanna put words in either one of your mouth, and they are working very diligently on repairing that. So I walked out of that meeting with less questions than I went in, but a very high degree of confidence that we are headed down the right path to making this the way that we're supposed to have it. We are the stewards as commissioner Acord said of the tax dollars, and I don't want 1p to be spent more than it should. And sometimes these things, they get very convoluted to me. But the bottom line is I feel good about and it starts and ends with leadership. You've heard me say that before. I think the leadership is in place at school systems now. And, again, that's not an editorial on the past group. It's just saying that I like the way this is going. The in all the questions that I had were answered plus some.

They actually gave me more information than I wanted. And I was saying on a couple of occasions, I even made the comment, wow. You're you're sharing it with me? We wanna be we wanna be opening candies. We we want this to be a partnership. So I walked out of that meeting saying, this is this is a good thing. Hats off. Are you having fun yet, ma'am? My hat's off to you for fielding these things. And, director Ridge, thank you so much. And I I'm seeing I saw today in ninety minutes what I'm hearing is gonna happen in the future from some of the commissioners and from this leadership group here. And I'll share with the same thing. I'll tell you the same thing I told Brian last week. You're gaining our confidence. Don't lose it. Please don't lose it.

Oh, okay.

That's all I have. Thank you. And I'm gonna support the $200,000.

Thank you, commissioner commissioner commissioner Hannah, for the second time on the motion to adopt.

I just wanna say that I trust Brian, our finance director for the county. I trust Justin. I've known Justin for a long time, director Ridge for a long time. I was a single mom, and I couldn't afford my kid to play sports. And that school came alongside and really fathered my son. They've been great great to my son. And he's very transparent, and he has not been on this how long have you been on this for, Justin?

About three months.

And it's been brutal. He has faced some brutal, brutal things. But I know him to be an honest man, and I know he wants to do the right things. And it's been hard for him right out the gate. And I'm in agreement with Michaels and McMahan and Giles. We we have to give them an opportunity, and he is working with our own finance director. He's not trying to do anything in secret. He's not trying to, you know, pad the budget, if you will. Like I said, I I know him to be a good, honest person, and I know that he wants to do the right thing, and we have to allow him to prove himself. And, so I just wanted to say that hats off to you because I know it's been really hard.

Thank you, commissioner. Any further discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution twenty five zero eight zero one four, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 21 yes votes.

Thank you, madam clerk. The motion carries. Resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one four is adopted.

Resolution number 258015, budget increase, Blount County Schools, 45,264, appropriate education capital funds to purchase a new fuel truck for school maintenance department. Referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee, five zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one five from commissioner Acord, second by commissioner Carver, commissioner Giles for the first time on the motion to adopt.

Thank you, chair chairman Anderson. I have a question about this, particular resolution, please, with somebody from school system. I mean, miss Spence. This this is an example of what I was talking about earlier. In this in the documentation with this, it states that this truck is for, and let me quote her, to purchase a new fuel truck for a school maintenance department. Is that accurate?

Yes. Well, it's no. It's not. It's a new truck, but it's not gonna be the fuel truck. So this will become the foreman's vehicle, and then it'll be a domino effect. And so the oldest truck in the fleet then becomes the fuel truck. The 1997 GMC Sierra, that's gonna come that's gonna roll out a fleet, and it's gonna be auctioned off

Okay.

As surplus equipment.

There will not be addition in addition, it'll be in in place of That's correct. Yeah. So you won't add a not add a number

to the to the fleet. One's gonna roll out. Yes.

The other thing that I'm not sure I really understand is I looked into the detail. We're buying this from Allen j Chevrolet in Sebring, Florida.

Mhmm. Why? That's a cooperative purchasing. So we can piggyback off of state contracts. That's a great deal. That's a great price for that vehicle. And so we get the benefit of bulk purchasing through state contracts.

Okay. Do local peak folks have the opportunity to bid this?

They do. Well, they have an opportunity on the state the state of Tennessee's contract, and so then we can then look at different cooperative purchasing and see where the best deal lies.

Okay. Okay. So this is because of cooperative purchasing?

That is correct.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Any further discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one five, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 21 yes votes.

21 yes votes. The motion carries. Resolution number twenty five zero eight zero one five is adopted.

Resolution number 258027, a resolution amending the Blount County, Tennessee employee handbook of policies and work rules.