County debates $10 million windf

Loudon County Commissioners discussed at an Oct. 17 workshop how the more than $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds received by the county will be distributed.

County Finance Director Tracy Blair said the county has been promised $10.49 million and has already received $5 million. The balance is expected to be received within a few weeks.

Blair said initial requirements on how the money could be spent were complex. Subsequent changes to the rules allowed up to $10 million to be spent on just about anything related to a loss of revenue experienced due to the pandemic.

She said the remaining $487,000 is subject to some restrictions.

Commissioners have already voted to commit about $390,000 to performance bonuses for county employees. Depending on status, employees will receive either $1,000 or $1,500. Commissioners discussed whether to allocate an additional $107,000 to cover the taxes employees would have to pay, which would require a vote.

Commissioner Gary Whitfield said he wanted to support county employees but was also motivated to spend the $107,000 on equipment.

Other expenditures approved by commission include $500,000 for new patrol vehicles for the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office. The units are on back order and might not be delivered until next year, Sheriff Jimmy Davis said.

Davis has also asked for about $100,000 for cameras for officers and vehicles and another $200,000 for a scanner that would be used in the county jail.

Whitfield said he supported the additional expenditures on law enforcement equipment to help fight the war on drugs.

Commissioner William Jenkins asked Davis if LCSO had considered applying for grants for some of the equipment. Davis said grants were considered but someone to write the grants was not readily available.

Road Superintendent Billy Pickel said he could use money for roads but cautioned that paving was extremely expensive. He said he would be happy if his department could get two new tractors to replace older equipment near the end of its useful life. The two tractors would cost about $360,000, and delivery might take a year and a half, he said.

Commissioner Bill Geames said he wanted to make sure funding would be spent in areas that would help the most people. He said Loudon County Rescue Squad had requested about $700,000 to help pay for a new building that might cost over $1 million. He said the squad had about $300,000 to put toward the project.

Whitfield said he would support funding the rescue squad building and suggested the deed remain in the hands of the county.

Commission Chairman Henry Cullen said he thought the rescue squad building was a worthwhile project, adding that equipping the building would likely cost extra.

Commissioner Van Shaver said County Mayor Rollen “Buddy” Bradshaw expressed a desire to purchase a new phone system for the county office building at a cost of $250,000.

Commissioner Adam Waller suggested half the $10 million could be distributed evenly between all 10 commissioners to spend within their districts. Shaver said he might use all his share to fix roads in his district.

During an informal tally, all the commissioners present expressed support for the idea of an even distribution of $5 million between districts.

Blair said she had received many inquiries from nonprofit organizations seeking funding, and commissioners discussed how nonprofits might be selected and funded. Shaver said it was hard to choose between the several dozen nonprofits operating in the county, all of which are doing great work.

Commissioner Chase Randolph said choosing nonprofits might be easier if individual commissioners funded organizations within their districts using the $5 million split among commissioners.

Commissioner Rosemary Hines Quillen said she would like to concentrate on nonprofit groups that help children.