NEWPORT-The Cocke County Legislative Body (CLB) was informed during its regular monthly meeting at the Cocke County Courthouse on Monday by Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan, Jr., that the CLB's Budget Committee and the county mayor have adopted strategies to deal with projected shortfalls in the county revenue due to the Interstate 40 rockslide.

McMahan said these measures have been taken from part of the County Budgeting Law of 1957, which allows the county mayor and the finance director to take these actions in extenuating circumstances.

According to the document given to the CLB members, these measures have been taken to impound appropriations and expenditures in the General Fund and the Solid Waste/Sanitation Fund to insure that revenues and unreserved and unencumbered cash balances are sufficient to equal necessary expenditures including:

1. All offices and departments will be strictly limited to one-twelfth of each of its budget line items per month.

2. A hiring freeze will begin immediately for any vacant positions and this will remain in effect until January 1, 2010, when the hiring freeze will be re-evaluated.

3. District allocations made by each CLB member will be suspended until March, 2010, when the budget position has been re-evaluated.

4. All contributions from account 58500-316 will be paid in two payments with the first payment, up to one-half of the appropriation, being paid as requested by the organization. The second half of the contribution will be held until March after the majority of the property taxes have been collected and the budget position has been re-evaluated.

5. All Cocke County Purchasing Department policies and procedures will be strictly enforced.

According to the document, the Cocke County Budget Committee is taking these actions to allow enough time to adequately assess the impact of the Interstate 40 rockslide on the General Fund and Solid Waste/Sanitation Fund budgets.

The document stated that we hope these actions are temporary in nature; however it will be several weeks before we learn the actual impact on the county budget and we must begin positioning ourselves now to deal with expected shortfalls. The revenue analysis showing that a reduction of only three percent of the revenues that may be affected would almost wipe out our projected ending un-appropriated fund balance.

The document was signed by McMahan, Finance Director Anne Williams, and Cocke County Budget Committee Chairman Clay Blazer and Vice-Chairman Phil Killion.

CLB members present at the meeting were Blazer, Killion, Chairman Norman Smith, Bill Costner, Calvin Ball, Andrew Fowler, Jr., Henry Gregory, Love Henderson, Jimmy Lindsey, Scott McClure, Lonnie Ottinger, Tom Sutton, David Taylor, and Bill Williamson.

In other business, the Cocke County Fire Department (CCFD) honored three of its own for service rendered to the department as CCFD Chief Tim Etherton received a plaque for 35 years of distinguished service, Wayne Gunter received a plaque for 30 years of distinguished service, and Anthony Hance received a plaque for 29 years of distinguished service.

McMahan said it is an honor to present the plaques on behalf of the CCFD.

Cocke County Partnership (CCP) President Don Hurst informed the CLB that his goal right now is simple, so he continues to request that the state clear and open two lanes of Interstate 40 at the site of the rockslide as soon as possible.

"We still have lots of folks looking for back ways around the rockslide and so far it is not working out so well for them," said Hurst. "We counted 19 signs from Knoxville to here telling travelers in various ways about Interstate 40 being closed and some people have managed to bypass all of them."

Williamson asked Hurst when the bridge over the French Broad River on Highway 25/70 would be completed.

Hurst said the Tennessee Department of Transportation currently has it scheduled for completion in June of 2010.

Hurst also informed the CLB members that they each had a questionnaire to fill out for the CCP to assist in the completion of the county's 2010 plan of work.

"Planning for the future is a big part of what we do at the Partnership and your input is important to us," said Hurst.

Dr. Carol Hood informed the CLB that the Newport Animal Shelter is very thankful for its increase in its contribution to the animal shelter.

"It has made a big difference to us," said Hood. "We have had a record month for seeing animals come into the shelter."

Hood also informed the CLB that the animal shelter is going to hold another "Big Fix" program and it is presently scheduled for the National Guard Armory off Highway 321 on Saturday, February 27 and Sunday, February 28 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

McMahan read two letters he received in his office that were addressed to the CLB concerning the animal shelter and in both letters the citizens of Cocke County thanked the CLB for its donation to the animal shelter.

Hood finished by telling the CLB that the three animal control officers that are employed by the animal shelter are on the last stage for being deputized, which she believes will help with animal control situations.

The CLB's Finance Committee Chairman Clay Blazer requested approval of the county's budget transfers, which were unanimously approved by the CLB.

The CLB's Landfill Committee Chairman Bill Costner informed the CLB that the committee met, but due to the lack of a quorum and the budget crunch, the meeting is being reset for sometime in January.

The CLB's General, Public Safety, and Purchasing committees did not meet.

The CLB unanimously approved a property tax refund in the amount of $29 to Joseph Henry Smith, Jr.

The CLB approved the county official bond for Cocke County Highway Commissioner Randy Dyke.

The CLB also unanimously approved the following notaries and sureties including Amanda Lynn White-renewal-corporate bond and John William Myers-renewal-corporate bond.

Cocke County Attorney Fletcher Ervin informed the CLB that the federal lawsuit concerning the construction of a new jail has been dropped because the county's jail annex has now been recommended for recertification by the state.

CLB Chairman Norman Smith said the CLB wanted to thank Janice Sexton, the purchasing department, and Cocke County Sheriff Claude Strange for making the recertification possible.

The CLB and McMahan said they wish the citizens of Cocke County a Happy Thanksgiving.