East Hamilton Middle/High School’s athletic complex may get real restrooms to replace portable bathrooms if the county commission approves a $25,000 bond expenditure from the county’s line of credit.
Commissioner Sabrena Smedley said today she wants to exchange $25,000 of her allocation of discretionary funds for county bond funds to get the project off the ground, which has already received $100,000.
“Initially, we thought this project was going to cost $100,000, but, unfortunately, it’s going to cost more,” Smedley said. “As you all know, contractors are very busy right and prices have gone up. I would really like to see this project through.”
Due to a state attorney general opinion issued last year, commission discretionary funds – like other general funds – cannot be used to fund school needs; only capital bonds may be used.
Mayor Jim Coppinger praised Smedley for how she worked out the finances for the project.
“This is kind of the way it should be done, and I applaud you for doing that, because there’s a number of reasons and I’m not going to get into that discussion too much,” Coppinger said. “In my humble opinion, she’s doing exactly the right way.”
While Coppinger did not elaborate on the use of county’s line of credit, Commission Chairman Chairman Bankston recently requested $2,467 of county capital bonds to help pay for a $3,400 athletic field striper for Ooltewah High School. Bankston did not offer to exchange any of his district’s discretionary money to tap the county’s $55 million credit line. Bankston’s request passed in a 5-3 vote.
The Hamilton County Commission will vote on Smedley’s request on Oct. 5.