Robbinsville – Graham County will operate on a budget totaling $15,762,076 for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
The county’s Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the budget as presented by county manager Becky Garland at Tuesday’s meeting. No one was present for the public hearing concerning the budget.
No significant changes were made after the board met June 5 about the budget.
Court is moving
A jury trial scheduled for August in Graham County will have to be moved elsewhere, as the jury deliberation room inside the Graham County Courthouse is too small to practice social distancing.
Garland has been scouting locations and is hoping to secure the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center, with an estimated cost of $14,000 for a 10-day trial. That figure does not include the price of the Sheriff’s Office staffing all the entrances of the facility for security.
But thus far, attempts to discuss the cost of using the facility have been unsuccessful. Garland noted that the county has continually funded the non-profit organization.
“I feel like there should be some reciprocation,” Garland added.
Other news and notes
* Shelly Forman with VAYA Health informed the board via teleconference that of 500 Graham County residents served recently by the organization, 274 had no insurance. VAYA assists those without medical insurance with urgent care, disability and opioid treatment costs.
* The board hoped to have an update on the status of Fontana Village Resort, but an originally-scheduled visit from a representative with the Tennessee Valley Authority – who has taken over the lease of the property – fell through.
* Garland presented the financial report, noting that the balance ending May 31 was $9,237,412.81. Revenues for the county in May were $1,376,954, with $450,000 of that figure coming from restricted CARES Act funding. The county does have a surplus for 2019-20 of $642,498.37, but a slight drop in sales tax of $182,581.15 (down from $186,082.53 in 2019-20).
* During the manager’s report, Garland discussed a conversation she had with Graham County Recreation Director Ronnie Williams. At the time of the meeting, the 2020 Smokey Mountain Youth Football Conference season was up in the air, but late Tuesday night, the league announced the decision to cancel the season outright.
* The board unanimously approved a $3,000 study of the failing HVAC system at the Graham County Department of Social Services. MBI Companies of Knoxville, Tenn. will be doing the study about how to improve the system.
* Turner and Company, CPA of Murphy was unanimously awarded the 2020-21 audit, at a cost of $49,900. The county has used the firm for the last 10 years.