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The Blount County Highway Department is still months away from learning if the federal government will approve funding to improve three major county roads.

For years, Highway Superintendent Bill Dunlap has been pressing commissioners to fund a capital plan for upgrading Morganton Road, Old Niles Ferry Road and Ellejoy Road.

Now, there is a possibility that the federal government might appropriate funds for the projects.

"All three projects are in the new federal gas bill," Dunlap told commissioners at Tuesday's Agenda Committee meeting. "They passed an extension of the existing gas bill in October. I anticipate they will pass another extension for the next three or four months. What we get, and when we get it, I don't know."

In June 2008, a last-minute budget amendment by Commissioner Ron French to allocate $1 million, out of the general fund balance, to be used as matching funds to leverage an additional $4 million for the Highway Department plan failed. Instead, the commission eventually directed Dunlap to seek out grant opportunities and to report back.

The commission had given Dunlap permission to seek up to $20 million in federal grants with the understanding that the county would consider funding up to $5 million in matching funds.

In other business, the Agenda Committee also forwarded several budget items to the full commission for approval. The commission will consider approval of a $12.8 million appropriation request to build, furnish and equip the proposed Prospect Elementary School on Burnett Station Road. The funds would come from either 20-year general obligation bond or through a low- or no-interest loan program being offered by the Tennessee State School Bond Authority.

Commissioner David Graham offered an amendment to the request that specified that "anything other than a long-term fixed rate bond issue be brought back to the Blount County Commission for consideration and action."

The sponsor of the motion, Commissioner John Keeble, declined to accept the amendment. When brought to a vote, it failed 7-11.

Commissioners David Ballard, Ron French, Graham, Joe McCulley, Monika Murrell, Robert Proffitt and Reeves voted yes. Commissioners Tonya Burchfield, Gary Farmer, Steve Hargis, Mark Hasty, John Keeble, Gerald Kirby, Holden Lail, Peggy Lambert, Mike Lewis, Kenneth Melton and Steve Samples voted no. Commissioners Brad Harrison, Scott Helton and Mike Walker were absent.

"With all due respect, I think it's a moot point," Commission Chairman Steve Samples said. "... It's been approved as a fixed bond."

County Finance Director Dave Bennett said that the bond resolutions do give the county mayor's office to choose between variable rate and fixed rate bonds, but the county is budgeting for a fixed rate bond in the current circumstances.

Graham said the point is not a moot one.

"This variable rate has gotten us in trouble, and I want to make sure that with this school is a fixed rate bond we've approved," he said.

When questioned about the bond issue again, Bennett repeated his earlier statement. "The authority is there," he said. "I guess what it comes to is whether you believe what we're saying."

During comments at the end of the meeting, County Mayor Jerry Cunningham shot back at Graham.

"I'm tired of listening to him whine and complain," Cunningham said. "He has been continually invited down to my office to go through anything we have."