County will meet on AFT

A resolution could be near in the dispute over Adequate Facilities Tax funding for Lenoir City Schools.

Loudon County Commission agreed Monday to hold a special called meeting before the 6 p.m. Aug. 16 workshop to decide how much is given to city schools.

Commission voted July 6 to reduce AFT funding for Lenoir City by 2.5% annually for four years and give that money to Loudon County Schools. The initial impact was thought to be $4,600 for the upcoming budget year, but was adjusted to $34,506 after further study.

Lenoir City Council in response authorized the city codes enforcement and planning department July 12 to not participate in the AFT documentation process.

“It’s just taking up a lot of everyone’s focus,” Matthew Tinker, county commissioner, said. “It had been working well since 2006 and I think some people just feel like it needed to be changed in order to help Loudon County Schools, which Loudon County Schools needs the money as well, but there are other ways to do it than taking from somebody else and giving to Loudon County Schools. That’s a problem I’ve had since I’ve been on county commission is it seems like we are constantly taking from one group and giving to another instead of trying to figure out a way to fund everyone as needed.”

Loudon County Mayor Rollen “Buddy” Bradshaw plans to speak with Lenoir City Mayor Tony Aikens to hash out an agreement. A proposal could be emailed to commissioners by Friday, Bradshaw said.

“I think it’s an opportunity for us to bring everybody back on the same page,” Bradshaw said. “I think both sides on this — and there should not be sides but there is — are wanting what’s best for our students and I think that sitting down, getting something to bring back to commission that’s mutually beneficial allows us to get back to the business to take care of our students and what’s best for our school systems.”

Bradshaw saw irony that each side is “fighting for what’s best” for students.

“That’s the thing about it, too, is that we do have some Lenoir City students in our county schools, but every — and those are Loudon County students, but Lenoir City also has some Loudon County students that aren’t necessarily Lenoir City kids,” Bradshaw said. “We’ve been working together ... for a long time with this partnership and it’s time we get back to business and continue that good working relationship.”

At one point Monday, David Meers, county commissioner, made a motion to freeze Lenoir City Schools at 12.5% and review the proposal after seven years. That motion was rescinded at Aikens’ request.

Meers said he simply wanted to resolve the issue.

Van Shaver, county commissioner, likened the issue to a “hostage situation.”

“Tony’s sitting there holding up the paperwork that we have to have to collect the AFT and wanting to force the county commission to come to the table to negotiate,” Shaver said. “I mean I don’t know how you see it any other way than a hostage situation. Let the paperwork go, then we can have clear, clean negotiations. But until the paperwork goes, I don’t even know why we’re having it. I’ve got a resolution written out right now to cut all funding off the Lenoir City Schools.”

No action was taken by Shaver because he said he felt he didn’t have the votes.

“I don’t know if you could have got a six vote for anything tonight to be honest,” Shaver said. “I don’t know if David’s vote would have passed. I don’t think it would have, I’m not sure, but I still am very uncomfortable with Tony telling county commission what they should and shouldn’t vote on. We’ll see what they come back with, but we all know what this is, they want it all and we’ve got to give and they’re going to hold paperwork until they get what they want.”

Representatives from both school systems were present, along with Aikens and Loudon County Chamber of Commerce President Rodney Grugin, who presented a resolution showing the chamber’s support for reversing the allocation change.

Lenoir City Director of Schools Jeanne Barker and Loudon County Director of Schools Michael Garren were both asked their opinion.

“When you look at the number of students we’re serving, I mean I certainly don’t want it to be reduced at all, that’s really where I’m coming (from),” Barker said. “That’s what I would like. Now I have not been privy to the other conversations that have been going on.”

Barker still felt compromise wasn’t out of the question.

“I believe it was three years ago that county commission decided to take about $800,000 per average year that we receive in the capital projects and move that to education debt, so for the last two years I’ve been getting zero for capital projects,” Garren said. “Yes, I need some funding to capital projects. It’s commission’s job to determine where that funding comes from, but yes, I need money back because we have needs.”

Henry Cullen, county commissioner, said he wants a quick resolution to the standoff, noting the dispute has “turned into who can slap who the hardest.”

In other news, Loudon County Commission:

• Denied rezoning 810 Old Midway Road from R-1 Suburban Residential District to C-2 General Commercial District.

• Amended the municipal and regional subdivision regulations of Loudon County, Philadelphia, Greenback and the regions of Lenoir City and Loudon.

• Donated by quit claim deed to Lenoir City Utilities Board a small parcel of land in Franklin Square in Lenoir City.

• Renewed membership on 19 county boards and committees.

• Passed a $59,180 East Tennessee Human Resource Agency grant to offset expenditures of Loudon County Senior Center.

• Passed a $16,000 Department of Energy grant for off-site emergency planning and response.