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The Hamblen County Commission’s Finance Committee Monday permitted a Construction Change Directive for the new Hamblen County Health Department complex on Buffalo Trail.

The Directive is for $5,345.

County Mayor Chris Cutshaw said that the money will be used for removal of framing from the previously installed refrigeration units in the building when it was used as a Food City grocery store.

“These are obstructing installation of roof curbs,” Cutshaw said. “There is framing on the top for the air conditioning units to sit. When the (AC units) were removed, it was thought that all of this could be reused. Once it was discovered that they could not, therefore the change (directive).”

Cutshaw said that in order for these to be removed, a mechanical contractor and a roofing contractor must be involved. Cutshaw said that when the new equipment came in, it was hoped that it would fit in.

“It does not,” he said. “Therefore, we have this change directive.”

When Commissioner Wayne NeSmith asked if there would be more change directives, Cutshaw said he imagines that there would be more.

“I would be wrong in saying that there wouldn’t be any,” Cutshaw said. “It’s way too early to know this. Every corner you turn, there’s something that may change, they may move a fire extinguisher or a water fountain because of something.”

A budget amendment from the Hamblen County Board of Education for an increase of $88,600 was passed. This does not affect the county’s maintenance of effort. This includes an Early Literacy Grant of $14,000 and a Tennessee All Core Tutoring grant of $74,600. An RBT position for behaviors was to be added here after adding three RBT positions in January.

School Budget Supervisor Jared Ladd said that these RBT positions had been contracted out in the past. This money is being transferred from other contracted services so that this position can be hired in-house.

A reclass of ISM funds where a lower bid was received on a construction project will be budgeted into supplies and materials, according to Ladd.

A $3,400 budget amendment from Circuit Court Clerk Teresa West to move from reserve funds to purchase additional technology items was also approved for the commission agenda.

In the Justice Center/Public Safety Committee, Jarron Dowalter of BurWil construction said that progress for the final finish of the ongoing Justice Center project is continuing.

Dowalter said that two doors that construction crews had problems with will be shipped April 17 and installed in a timely manner. This will not anything with the proceedings of courts or anything else happening in the Justice Center at that time. A stain differentiation in the already-installed doors required the change.

Floors with a rough texture in the lower jail cells are being mitigated this week, Dowalter said. All Audio Visual “punch list” items have been completed, he said. Security camera systems were checked for every camera position by Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office personnel, according to Dowalter.

Seeding of grassy areas will also take place in spring, he said.

In the Public Service Committee, the proposed Road Paving List for nine miles and 14,000 tons of road paving later this year was approved with the caveat that any additional roads that need to be paved would be done after these spring paving projects are completed.

Chairman Mike Richardson said that how roads are decided on by conditions of roads, as well as TDOT reports of daily travel. All paving projects are bid out.

Surplus items for Assessor of Property Keith Ely and Hamblen County Clerk Peggy Henderson were approved for inclusion.

All items were approved for inclusion for the County Commission meeting to be held Thursday, February 19.

Hamblen County Finance Director Amanda Hale addressed the FY 27 budget plan. Hale said that the plan is no different than in previous years.

A Saturday, May 16 all-day budget workshop will be held in the Large Courtroom of the Courthouse for different departments to present their budget requests.