The Greene County Commission will be asked Monday to consider a resolution that, if passed, would lead to providing $27 million for a new high school in the western end of the county.

The commission's regular monthly meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the county courthouse. Party caucus meetings are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at GreenBank, across the street.

The school funding resolution is sponsored by Commissioner John Waddle Jr. A similar resolution was recommended by the county school board, but the commission's Education Committee sent that resolution to the Budget & Finance Committee without a recommendation last month.

The budget committee discussed Waddle's almost-identical resolution last week, but took no position.

The resolution states, "in order to fund the construction of the new high school, it is recognized that either property taxes must be increased, the wheel tax must be increased, other revenue sources must be found or a combination of all the above will be necessary to provide adequate funding."
Director of Schools Dr. Joe Parkins earlier told the budget committee that he is pursuing other funding sources and hoped to be able to provide details at the commission meeting.

Parkins also discussed the possibility of delaying the need for a tax increase for a year or more, if a bill now being pushed by Republicans, including state Rep. David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville, is passed by the state legislature.

Hawk's bill and others would make excess lottery proceeds available for school construction. Opposing legislation sponsored by the Democratic House leadership would lower the grade-point average requirements for receiving and maintaining a lottery scholarship, using the surplus funds in that way.

The commission is also expected to hear from Andy Burke, president of the Regional Alliance for Economic Development, formerly called the Tri-City Alliance.

Burke is to give a report on the Alliance's progress and plans. Greeneville philanthropist and business leader Scott Niswonger, who is the current Alliance chairman, is also expected to speak, Burke said today.

The budget committee recommended approval of a resolution that would authorize payment of the county's $22,000 annual share of the Alliance's public sector support, pending a satisfactory report from Burke. Burke was unable to attend when the resolution came up in April, so the resolution was delayed.

A public hearing is scheduled at the start of the meeting, regarding a rezoning request by James Lyle Parton and Doris Lee Parton.

The Partons are seeking to have land they own on the 107 Cutoff near South Greene High School rezoned from A-1 general agriculture to B-2, so that they can operate a heating and air conditioning business there.

Ronda Sawyer, the county's state-contract planner, is on the agenda to comment. Sawyer recommended that the request be denied when it was presented to the county planning commission, stating that the use was out of character with surrounding neighborhoods, but the commission approved the request unanimously in April.

The commission will also be asked to appoint five members to the Greene County Equalization Board. The board is scheduled to begin hearings in June, regarding property owners who dispute recent values set for their property for tax purposes by state officials in the recent five-year reappraisal.

The appointees, according to the resolution, are: John Fillers, Ray Parton, James Reynolds Jr., Woody Stubblefield and Joseph E. Wildman. The resolution is sponsored by Commissioner Kevin Morrison.

The commission will be asked to approve a "fast track" infrastructure development program (FIDP) grant for American Technology Research Inc. (ATR) in May 2006.

Budget Director David Lawing said Wednesday that the $449,550 grant was sought in 2006, but was not received until this year, and thus was never budgeted.

The FIDP program is similar to an older program called the Tennessee Industrial Infrastructure Program. In this case, it is being used to provide improved water service for fire protection. According to the documentation, ATR provides fiberglass components for different uses, primarily boats.

According to the grant, the total cost of the project is $565,000, with $73,450 provided by the Cross Anchor Utility District.

The commission will also be asked to approve several resolutions at the request of state auditors, for accounting purposes.

Separate resolutions will be on the agenda stating the beginning balances, as of July 1, 2007, of various county funds, including: General Fund, Capital Projects, Other Capital Projects, Highway/Public Works, Education Debt Service, Solid Waste, Drug Control, and Debt Service.

The commission will also be asked to amend the budget to use $10,597 received from the state Administrative Office of the Courts, and combine that money with other funds to install audiovisual systems in courtrooms.

A resolution recommended by the Road Committee provides guidelines for adding or removing a road from the official list of roads maintained by the county.

The guidelines put in writing the definitions, policies and procedures used by the committee and the highway department.

In a related matter, the commission will be asked to add Cabe Court to the official road list, in a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Betty Ruth Alexander.

A resolution recommended by the Education Committee is on the agenda to make several changes within the school system budget for the current fiscal year.

The biggest item in this resolution moves $400,000 from the school system's general fund balance to use that money for a new cafeteria at Ottway School.

Several other adjustments included in that resolution are related to a $150,000 decrease in the amount of local option sales tax revenue that had been budgeted at the beginning of the year.

In the "public comment" section of the meeting, Robert Bradley has asked to speak about the Tennessee State Gospel Singing Convention, and Rustin Jones, a teacher, has also asked to speak.