City of Hartsville-Trousdale County

The Budget & Finance Committee meeting agenda included opening the meeting, reviewing the minutes from the January 20, 2026 meeting, and reviewing financial statements for January 2026, specifically the Trustee Cash Balance Statement and Financial Summaries. Key discussion points involved proposed budget amendments across multiple funds, including General Services, Ambulance Services, and General Purpose Schools, covering items such as insurance recovery, medical insurance premiums, TISA funding, and purchasing a new solid waste truck. Discussion items also covered potential pool renovations requiring a 50/50 match grant application, and the need for Commission direction on the distribution of Wheel Tax funds (currently allocated to Jail, Education, and General Capital Projects).

The meeting addressed several operational and financial matters. Key discussions included reviewing solid waste dumpster fees, where the body moved to lower the rate back to $63 per dump, as the previous proposed increase was considered a significant burden. There was also discussion regarding the finalization of the Smith County Landfill contract terms. In terms of equipment, an update was provided on a necessary $21,115.13 transmission replacement for a 2016 Western Star truck, and plans to implement transmission fluid testing to prevent future failures were noted. Additionally, maintenance issues were discussed, including ice damage at the landfills, necessary courthouse window repainting requiring a sky lift rental, and the progress on renovating the grand jury room for use as a meeting space. Furthermore, the department took over pesticide control for county buildings, achieving better results with their own product selection, and personnel staffing shortages for mowing season were highlighted.

The Budget & Finance Committee agenda for the meeting included opening the meeting, reviewing the minutes of the November 17, 2025 session, and receiving the Purchasing Report for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2026 (October-December). Key financial discussions involved reviewing Trustee Cash Balance Statements and Financial Summaries for December 2025. The agenda also listed numerous proposed budget amendments across several funds, including General Services, Solid Waste, Ambulance Services, and General Purpose Schools, covering items such as TCI Training Grants, Opioid Contributions, vehicle purchases, school scoreboards, and insurance recovery appropriations. Discussion items included the Wheel Tax and any other general topics, followed by public comments.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and pledge of allegiance. Key discussions included an update on the engineering report, noting progress on several projects such as work near Highway 25 and the Thompson Lane project. Progress on the Browning booster pumping station was discussed, pending final state comments and water line modeling accuracy. The committee reviewed and prepared to finalize standard specifications for contractor protocols regarding line extensions and subdivision development. Updates were provided on the water treatment plant design, which is moving ahead on schedule. The water loss report for January indicated a slight decrease, and detailed data on gallons pumped versus water loss over previous fiscal years was reviewed, linking higher loss figures to a specific high-pressure line leak near State College. The board addressed CD renewal options, ultimately moving to approve a seven-month term with a specific interest rate. New business involved gaining authority to prepare specifications for painting the TVA tanks as required by a sanitary survey. Board members also discussed public concerns regarding service cutoffs due to expired debit cards for autopay, debating the policy on cutoff notices and the feasibility of moving solely to bank draft payments to avoid card-related issues and associated fees.

The work session convened to address several items. Discussions included the procedures for candidate petitions for various fee offices, with specific deadlines noted. A key agenda item involved adding a resolution for the adoption of a master plan for the park, which will serve as a reference for pursuing funding and project implementation, though major decisions on specific elements like volleyball courts were deferred. Updates were provided regarding citizens' concerns about mud and wet roads due to recent rain and thaw, noting an upcoming meeting with representatives from Embridge and Michael to address these issues. Furthermore, discussions centered on Ordinance 339202601 and the first reading of Ordinance 340 202602, which concerns the consolidation of zoning regulations (HTC CG combined zoning). Significant time was dedicated to explaining the implications of adopting the new Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning type, emphasizing that it is an optional framework for future developments to tie site plans directly to zoning approvals, potentially streamlining or modifying the review process for developers.