DAYTON, Tenn. -- Rhea County commissioners on Tuesday night agreed in principle to support a welding school in Dayton, but must take a formal vote at their meeting June 15.
Commissioners acted a day after Dayton City Council members said they would help support a welding school operated by Chattanooga State Community College if the county would, too.
Dayton Mayor Bob Vincent said Monday that the Southeast Tennessee Development District has provided $140,000 for equipment, and that the local support would be $2,000 a month.
Councilman Steve Randolph said he believes a welding school is important for the county, and Mayor Vincent added that TVA's efforts to meet emissions regulations will increase the need for welders.
At Tuesday's commission workshop, Bill Hollin offered a resolution to support the school and split the cost 50-50 with Dayton.
County Executive Billy Ray Patton said he and Mr. Vincent met with officials from Chattanooga State, who approved of the building chosen for welding training and said they planned to hold day and night classes.
County commissioners also took up the budget, which is $700,000 to $800,000 out of balance.
"We're looking at three options: cut spending, increase the property tax or look at a wheel tax." Commissioner John Mincy said. "But we're at a point where about 70 percent of the budget is employee salaries and benefits."
Commissioner Tommy Smith asked about adopting a wheel tax, but Mr. Hollin responded that "we could do that, but (the voters) could pass a referendum against it."
Finance Director Billy Graham said if commissioners wanted to lay off employees, it would cost 20 jobs to balance the budget.
The Budget Committee will meet next week before the commission's business meeting.
Commissioners also discussed writing to the Tennessee Health Agency objecting to Life Care Centers' request to build a nursing home on a site next to the railroad and industrial park in Dayton.
Mr. Mincy said he felt the commission had been misled when the board approved sale of the nursing home. "They showed us how much better" a new facility would be, he said.
Mr. Hollin added that when commissioners visited other Life Care facilities, they "weren't in a swamp. They weren't near a hospital."
But Commissioner Tracey Taylor warned against taking formal action.
"I think we can all do what we want, but when we get involved as a commission we're interfering with private business," he said.
Mr. Raper agreed. "I don't think this board has a right to tell them where to build."
Commissioners agreed to ask County Attorney Carol Barron to draft a letter that they could sign if they wanted, but agreed that the matter would not be placed on the agenda for formal action.