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Cocke County Legislative Body
Members of the Cocke County Legislative Body appear ready to appropriate $100,000 to keep the Newport Animal Shelter open, but only if an agreement can be reached with the City of Newport and Friends of the Animal Shelter. The Friends group which owns the facility is preparing to close the operation on June 30, after Newport opted out of it's lease and included just $60,000 in it's new budget, toward the shelter operation. In the past Cocke County has contributed just $60,000 annually to the city operation, and the Friends group says that is inadequate to operate the facility. Last year the city contributed $230,000 toward the operation even though only 25 percent of the animals arriving at the shelter, come from the city. At a recent meeting involving the Friends, and city and county officials, April Clevenger proposed to funnel the operating funds through her non-profit organization. City officials seem ready to contribute $100,000 to the facility operations, but only if the funding is made directly to the Friends non-profit group, without Clevenger's involvement. Cocke County Sheriff Armando Fontes told the body that animal control is a public safety issue, pointing out that the number of animals brought to the shelter from the city last year totaled 389, while 1,361 were brought in from the county. "We've had quite a few instances of bites and maulings because people don't take care of their animals the way they should. I've been told by the city they are looking for equality, and I think if the city and the county each give $100,000, that solves the problem. That would be the smart solution because if you try to build a shelter itself, you are looking at a cost of $500,000 or more," the sheriff suggested. The Cocke County Finance Committee is scheduled to address the funding arrangement at it's meeting next Monday. Finance Director Anne Bryant-Hurst said a tax anticipation note may be required to fund the shelter until property taxes start coming in later this year, or money could be transferred from the capital outlay fund. The body approved a resolution which establishes Tourism Districts. Partnership President Lucas Graham said the resolution provides a tax incentive to investors. Those who develop tourism venues would receive one-half of the incentive that a new manufacturing operation would receive. The Tourism Districts are; Hartford and Edge of the Smokies, Downtown Newport, Rankin Bottoms and Douglas Lake, Seven Peaks and English Mountain. Finance Director Anne Bryant-Hurst said the budget is very tight, primarily because medical expenses in the jail this year have reached $500,000, and funds from other areas had to be transferred for those costs. Sheriff Armando Fontes said medical decisions can only be made by a doctor and nurse, and much of the cost came from a need to transfer patients to out-of-town facilities for treatment. Sheriff Fontes asked for $48,500 for a replacement litter crew van, so that a second crew can be put on the road. He said state officials have questioned the reduction of litter that has been gathered, since one of the vans was wrecked last year. The operation is heavily funded by a state grant. Funding for the van will come from the capital outlay budget. The sheriff also reported that the needed area in the jail for attorney/client meetings, has been completed. Looking ahead to the new budget, Mayor Crystal Ottinger said "the expenses appear to be greater than the revenues." And she said some local businesses are expected to ask for rebates on personal property taxes they have paid, because some of the equipment has been idle. The Commission again rejected a motion to rescind a resolution which established a Fire Civil Service Board. The new county bridge on Old River Road was named the "Tommye Dene Jones Bridge". The members also adopted a public records policy for the Cocke County Clerks office. Larry Roosa also addressed the commission regarding county maintenance of Campbell Road, in the Dutch Bottoms community. That issue is to be more fully addressed at the July meeting of the CLB.
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Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageThursday, April 29, 2021
US 411 Project News
Mill Creek Wildfire Update
More Bad News For Smokies' Fans
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Mill Creek Wildfire doubles in size
Goodbye Smokies?
Keep Cocke County Beautiful
Cocke Co. High School Remote Learning today!
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
The fireflies are coming!
Burnout Operations on MillCreek wildfire today
Gas prices drop
Tennessee keeps all US House seats
Monday, April 26, 2021
Boat accident victim ID'd
Traffic stop yields drug arrest
Cocke County Wildfires
Friday, April 23, 2021
Leaving WNPC
Mathis announces candidacy
Newport drug roundup
Cruise Against Cancer
Jobless numbers
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