This month's work session was fairly straightforward and so this report will be also. The most interesting thing was that Item #1 was dropped at the request of the school board. If you remember, it was about a simple reallocation of funds from personnel to contracted services for mowing. Hopefully soon someone will take up the mantle of attending and reporting on other local government meetings, including the school board, so that we will know why decisions like this are made and what alternative plans are in place.
Rezoning
Two parcels were rezoned, the second with some neighborhood opposition, but both passed (even though the owner of the second parcel never did actually say he would make his entrance off Stone Drive instead of the small road now serving as the entrance, which was what everyone wanted).
Public Comment
Chuck Pine expressed his appreciation to the commission that multiple recycling, including aluminum, metal, plastic, glass, and cardboard, is now available at the Raytheon Road transfer station. I would assume it is also available at the Kingsport transfer station.
Judge Jim Goodwin spoke about a residential program he either works with or started (I have not yet been able to uncover any actual information online) called Restorations, which the county partially funds. It has been in operation for approximately 18 months, having graduated 50 individuals who leave the program with job skills and money in the bank, and who have paid over $18,000 in court costs and fines during that time. Item 15 on the agenda tonight is about $147,500 opioid settlement money going to Sullivan County Restoration, which Judge Goodwin said primarily provides for participant needs.
Old Business
*Item 1 concerning reallocation of funds in the school budget was withdrawn.
*Item 2 is the moratorium on allowing data centers in the county, now proposed for only 4 months. Discussion included information that Bristol, TN has a 2-year moratorium enacted, and that a representative from BTES would be speaking at the business meeting coming up. It was placed on the regular calendar.
*Item 3 concerning the potential business incubator still had a lot of discussion and not many bones. Mayor Venable answered some pertinent questions about how it could be handled, and Hawkins County has agreed to share the guidelines of use that they use in their incubator (located in Kingsport). Placed on the regular calendar.
*Item 4 concerns the need for a contract with Blount County, TN for the holding of juvenile offenders. This has to be approved so that they can be held, as Sullivan County does not have facilities for that. Several Commissioners had educated themselves on this item and spoke favorably for its passage. Placed on the regular calendar.
New Business
*Items 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15 were placed on the consent calendar as they were primarily re-appropriations or acceptance of funds for various needs.
*Item 8 is to apply for a cybersecurity grant, but must be placed on waiver of rules due to it requiring a 30% ($10,500) match from the county.
*Item 14 is selling county-owned delinquent tax property. Four parcels with a delinquent tax debt of over $8,600 will be sold to Josh Barrett for $360. This was placed on waiver of rules.
Much to his credit, Judge Goodwin stayed to the end of the meeting and answered questions about Item 15 (the information which I included above).
Public Comment
Chuck Pine expressed his appreciation to the commission that multiple recycling, including aluminum, metal, plastic, glass, and cardboard, is now available at the Raytheon Road transfer station. I would assume it is also available at the Kingsport transfer station.
Judge Jim Goodwin spoke about a residential program he either works with or started (I have not yet been able to uncover any actual information online) called Restorations, which the county partially funds. It has been in operation for approximately 18 months, having graduated 50 individuals who leave the program with job skills and money in the bank, and who have paid over $18,000 in court costs and fines during that time. Item 15 on the agenda tonight is about $147,500 opioid settlement money going to Sullivan County Restoration, which Judge Goodwin said primarily provides for participant needs.
Old Business
*Item 1 concerning reallocation of funds in the school budget was withdrawn.
*Item 2 is the moratorium on allowing data centers in the county, now proposed for only 4 months. Discussion included information that Bristol, TN has a 2-year moratorium enacted, and that a representative from BTES would be speaking at the business meeting coming up. It was placed on the regular calendar.
*Item 3 concerning the potential business incubator still had a lot of discussion and not many bones. Mayor Venable answered some pertinent questions about how it could be handled, and Hawkins County has agreed to share the guidelines of use that they use in their incubator (located in Kingsport). Placed on the regular calendar.
*Item 4 concerns the need for a contract with Blount County, TN for the holding of juvenile offenders. This has to be approved so that they can be held, as Sullivan County does not have facilities for that. Several Commissioners had educated themselves on this item and spoke favorably for its passage. Placed on the regular calendar.
New Business
*Items 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15 were placed on the consent calendar as they were primarily re-appropriations or acceptance of funds for various needs.
*Item 8 is to apply for a cybersecurity grant, but must be placed on waiver of rules due to it requiring a 30% ($10,500) match from the county.
*Item 14 is selling county-owned delinquent tax property. Four parcels with a delinquent tax debt of over $8,600 will be sold to Josh Barrett for $360. This was placed on waiver of rules.
Much to his credit, Judge Goodwin stayed to the end of the meeting and answered questions about Item 15 (the information which I included above).
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