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Funding for a pair of non-profits was part of the topic of the commission’s budget committee meeting on Tuesday.

ALPS Adult Day Services’ Director Mahon Fritts presented information about the facility and also its need for funding.

“We serve adults who are unsafe to be left alone,” he said. “In 1986 the founders came together and realized the need for caregivers for folks with Alzheimer’s.At that time, it was called Alzheimer’s Lakeway Program services and they quickly realized there were so many other diseases that affected adults which caused them to be unsafe to be left alone. They shortened the name to ALPS and opened the facility to any diagnosis.

“The last three years have been tough for everyone and everyone is asking for an increase, but just like everyone else the cost of living has gone up. The funding we request from Hamblen County for our folks 100% of it helps offset our sliding scales.”

Fritts explained how much participants pay each day for ALPS’ services.

“It costs us approximately $140 for every person that walks into our doors for a full day,” he said. “That includes nursing care, two meals, a snack, safety security and a day full of activities.

“We only charge families between $40 to $80 for benefits. Our average private pay for a Hamblen County resident is $40 a day to come to us and that means we have to come up with $100 a day for every individual. 100% of Hamblen County funds goes to that.

“What the county gets back and benefits from our mission is unmeasurable.”

Commissioner Peggy Howell asked how many people ALPS serves on a given day.

“We average about 27 people per day. We are currently serving around 60 families and 75% of those families are Hamblen County citizens.”

“And United Way helps?” Howell asked.

“Not at all.” Fritts answered.

Commissioner Stan Harville asked where the service gets other funds to run its operations.

“We do a huge fundraiser campaign throughout the year from golf tournaments to walks. Our biggest fundraiser of the year is our Walk of Remembrance and it’s our 32nd year doing the walk. We have a holiday market and the festival of trees that is a very popular fundraiser. We also try to write as many grants as possible, as well as getting funding from the city.”

“My goal as the director is to make it possible for anybody in this community to come to ALPS for as little or zero dollars out of pocket,” he said. “In doing that I have been able to get our private pay rate down to $44 a day.”

Commissioner Debbie A’Hearn asked about the lack of a relationship between the United Way andALPS.

“Is there a way United Way could help and they just don’t? I’m a little lost be United Way usually helps a lot of nonprofits,” she said.

“It’s a long story,” Fritts said. “United Way used to give ALPS some funding but about five or six years ago now the board of the United Way decided to no longer fund ALPS.”

After Fritts left, the committee discussed the $2,000 increase to ALPS budget.

“I asked Mahon the question ‘why does the United Way support ALPS’ and he said ‘they just don’t’ but I know the reason why they don’t.” A’Hearn said.

Commissioner Chris Cutshaw agreed.

Howell questioned the two about the reasoning for United Way’s decision.

“ALPS is a wonderful and great thing and we need ALPS, I don’t know if we could encourage Mahon to go before United Way,” A’Hearn said. “There are rules of the United Way and you have to follow those rules to be able to ask for money and I wish he would do that. We can’t make him, but he would get a lot of money from the United Way.”

“His reasons are his personal reasons and I know those reasons because I worked at the United Way, but I just wish we could encourage him to go to the United Way.”

Committee Chair Bobby Haun asked A’Hearn if Fritts’ reasons were valid.

“It’s just certain rules. It’s not anything wrong. Mahon isn’t doing anything wrong. It’s just he has an opportunity to follow the rules of United Way and he could get more money but he chooses not to explain to United Way (ALPS) total incomes or salaries and that’s his choice and United Way you have to do that and he chooses not to.”

“There are several nonprofits that do the same and I just wish he would because he could get more money.”

Cutshaw said that it could also be the decision of the ALPS’ board.

Ultimatel,y the committee voted to approve the $2,000 increase in budget, bringing the county’s contribution to ALPS to $7,000.

The Morristown Task Force on Diversity alsocame before the committee to ask to be funded by the commission.

The Director Dr. Alpha Alexander explained the origins of the task force to committee members.

“The task force has been in the community for 14 years,” she said. “Our theme and mission is ‘unity in the community.’”

“We originated under the former city mayor Barbara ‘Sami’ Barile out of the city office and when she decided not to run for a second term, we were based out of Rose Center and after a while we decided to apply for our 501(c )(3).

“I would have to say we have two signature events that we are known for and that is our MLK Breakfast that is held every year for the past 14 years and the Juneteenth event that we have hosted for the past four years.”

“We had over 1,000 people attend our Juneteenth event last year and we look forward to this years which will be held Monday June 19 at the Downtown Farmer’s Market.”

Alexander described other efforts that the task force has done in the community.

“Some other events we have supported include the grave clean up at Rock of Ages Commentary for black veterans and also have helped with HOLA Lakeway’s food festivals.”

Harville praised the task force for the good it brings to the community.

“With working at HC*EXCELL I have worked with them with an art project and some different things and they do a tremendous amount of good and they are somebody we definitely do some good.”

County Mayor Bill Brittain mentioned that the amount the task force requested exceeds what the county gives other agencies that it has funded for several years.

The task force requested a total of $10,000 and the committee voted to approve a total of $5,000.

The Morristown Composite Squadron requested $3,000 in funding from the county which was denied due to lack of information and also its absence for its budget presentation.