News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Employee stipends and extending sewer to Tennessee Avenue among the Putnam County plans on spending its American Rescue Plan funding.
Mayor Randy Porter shared his recommendations to the county commission Monday. Porter said county employees that worked in-person during the pandemic should receive a one-time bonus.
“Most of our employees were there everyday still working serving the public, and so, I know that final definition will not allow folks that work from home to be receiving the money,” Porter said. “They put their selves at risk, they put their families at risk and I think we need to make sure that we take care of our county employees with some of this money.”
Porter said emergency workers would receive a $2,000 bonus and $1,200 for full-time employees. Porter said part-time employees will also get a stipend, but a figure has yet to be determined. According to Porter, the county currently has half of its $15.5 million allocation.
“You got the folks that worked at the convenience centers. Those folks are part-time,” Porter said. “Some at EMS, some at law enforcement and fire, so I want to come up with something to do with those.
As for Tennessee Avenue, Porter said Cookeville wants help extending sewer to the new Expo Center and fairgrounds location. Porter said the area could also be the home of a new school bus garage and county maintenance facility.
“They’re dedicated and going to run it,” Porter said. “They just asked if we could help them some on it. So we’ll be bringing that to you in a future project.”
Porter said he plans to present a budget amendment for the American Rescue Plan stipends during October’s commission meeting. Porter said he wants checks out to employees by the end of October.
The amount of the bonuses could fluctuate as Commissioner Kathy Dunn said the county should explore a larger dollar amount. Porter said the initial recommendation served as a starting point with the Fiscal Review Committee able to make changes.
Porter said water and broadband extensions are also a focus in the spending plan.
In other business, Commissioner Mike Atwood will continue as the commission chairman. No other nominations were made Monday. Commissioner Jim Martin will serve as Chairman Pro Tempore. Commissioner Ben Rogers was elected as Parliamentarian.
The Fiscal Review Committee appointed its chairman for the next year. Commissioner Chris Cassetty will continue to serve in the position as well as Commissioner Jonathan Williams as Vice-Chairman and Commissioner AJ Donadio as Secretary.
The county’s Planning Committee chair seat will stay with Dunn. Vice-Chair will remain with Commissioner Andrew Johnson as well as Commissioner Teresa Tayes as Secretary.
The county’s Road Committee will consist of the same four members. They are Commissioners Johnson, Danny Holmes, Grover Bennett and Dale Moss.
Donadio was appointed as the Nominating Committee Chair. Moss will serve as Vice-Chair and Cassetty was named Secretary.
The commission also approved the transfer of a 2009 Dodge Caravan to the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport.
