Here is today's news, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland: From the Cleveland Daily Banner… Autumn Hughes reports: Bradley County is looking at a milli
Here is today’s news, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland:
From the Cleveland Daily Banner…
Autumn Hughes reports: Bradley County is looking at a million dollars in savings, based on the county commissioners’ approval of a resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation refunding bonds.
The resolution authorizes “the issuance of general obligation refunding bonds of Bradley County, in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $22,300,000 in one or more series; making provision for the issuance, sale and payment of said bonds, establishing the terms thereof and the disposition of proceeds therefrom; and providing for the levy of taxes for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the bonds.”
County Mayor D. Gary Davis introduced the proposed resolution at last week’s work session.
Commissioner Milan Blake said this will save approximately $1 million, but depends on the market conditions.
Chris Bessler with Cumberland Securities said the bond issue is being structured to combine two series, and it will save the county money.
Also from The Banner…
Larry Bowers reports: The Polk County Board of Education is taking progressive steps toward addressing what they see as a major need in the county, the replacement of one or two antiquated schools in Benton.
The Polk County Commission last year purchased a tract of property adjacent to Polk County High School for an education complex. The school board is exploring the possibility of building a school to replace Benton Elementary or Chilhowee Middle School.
There is also a strong possibility both schools will be replaced with an elementary/middle school complex.
But, for the immediate future, county funding is not available.
This is not halting preliminary planning for brick-and-mortar needs in Polk County.
At Monday evening’s school board meeting at Copper Basin High School, the eight attending board members approved a contract with MBI Companies of Knoxville and Chattanooga for an assessment of Polk County’s new school needs.
From The Banner…
Autumn Hughes reports: The Bradley County Election Commission is including funding requests for new technology in its 2019-20 budget request.
Election commissioners met Monday to review the budget and conduct other business.
Administrator of Elections Fran Green said she is awaiting a few final numbers before the budget can be finalized, but reviewed the technology needs. She said the budget includes a funding request for electronic poll books to be used at the early voting locations and Election Day voting precincts. Green said these are not the Poll Pad devices the Election Commission had previously tested; the Bradley County Commission last year denied the funding request for Poll Pads.
Green said the Rutherford County Election Commission bought laptop computers and used special software to help streamline the election process. Instead of poll workers flipping through printed pages of registered voters, each voter’s name can be searched and found by any of the poll workers using an electronic poll book.
Green said it will cost approximately $16,000 to buy two electronic poll books per precinct and six extras.
Election commissioners voted to include laptop computers in the funding request. They also voted to approve the 2019-2020 budget Green proposed.
In news today…
Bradley County Sheriff’s Office Investigators have identified and arrested two men involved with several construction site thefts.
After the execution of search warrants at two Bradley County residences, Detectives recovered a large amount of power tools including generators, reciprocating saws, circular saws, a table saw and numerous other pieces of construction tools. A utility trailer and other enclosed trailers were also recovered throughout the investigation.
As a result of the investigation Joshua Burdin, 32, of Cleveland and Mark Brewer, 50, of Cleveland were both charged with Theft over $10,000.
Brewer was additionally charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
All property recovered has been accounted for and returned to the victims of the construction site thefts spanning from Chattanooga to Cleveland.
The case is currently continuing and other charges are pending the completion of the investigation.
