Jonesborough's Board of Mayor and Aldermen on April 14 approved a package of financing, grant-funded purchases and consulting contracts intended to fund long-term water and sewer upgrades, while also adopting the town's parks master plan and approving several operational contracts and purchases.

The board approved an initial resolution authorizing indebtedness not to exceed $2,469,730 through the Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund (using a public building authority as conduit) to fund a new sewer line, pump replacements, cured-in-place sewer lining on Bowman Avenue and John Green Road, and water-line and equipment upgrades. The board also approved a related loan resolution under the same transaction and a separate general-obligation bond issuance not to exceed $1.2 million tied in the agenda to the Jackson facility project.

Why it matters: the town and staff said the projects are long-lived and justify a 25-year financing term and lower rates available through the municipal fund. The measures pair local borrowing with federal grant support to increase system redundancy and protect customers from service interruptions.

The mayor said the projects will improve reliability. Mayor Chuck Vest described the generator purchase and related system work as essential: "This is the redundancy that we have lacked since inception of our water plant," he said during discussion of a USDA-funded generator purchase.

Key details and supporting actions
- Financing: The board approved an initial resolution authorizing up to $2,469,730 in indebtedness to fund water and sewer projects, using the Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund with a public building authority as a conduit. Staff cited an interest environment and 25-year financing to match useful life of infrastructure.
- Loan execution: The board approved a resolution authorizing the loan agreement and related documents for the same principal amount and transaction structure.
- Bonds: The board approved a resolution authorizing general obligation bonds in one or more series up to $1,200,000 associated with the town's Jackson facility obligations.
- Grants and generators: The town accepted a USDA disaster grant for approximately $994,000 and approved a bid of $631,000 to purchase four generators and transfer switches for the water department. Staff said the balance of grant funds (about $360,000) could be used to reimburse in-house installation work and potentially fund a dedicated maintenance position for pumps and generators under a forced-account reimbursement arrangement with USDA Rural Development.
- Consulting and engineering contracts: The board approved an administrative consultant and an engineering services agreement (Community Development Partners for administrative services; GRW as engineer) to support state or federal infrastructure funding for major utility projects.
- Interlocal agreement: The board approved a multi-party agreement recognizing the town's wastewater authority role and formalizing service relationships with Washington County.

Other operational and community decisions
- Jackson Theater and alcohol rules: The board approved first reading of an ordinance amending the municipal code (Alcoholic Beverages, Chapter 2, Beer) to align the Jackson Theater with other local businesses; the accompanying Jackson Theater alcohol-sales policy was discussed but deferred until the ordinance completes second reading and required public notice.
- Parks and recreation: The board adopted a parks and recreation master plan and approved new rental fees for parks and wetlands water park. The board also approved a seasonal pay-and-bonus structure for Wetlands Water Park staff intended to improve hiring and attendance rates.
- Waste and equipment: The board authorized replacing town garbage totes with a new black tote model, approved ordering 100 units now to meet short-term need and noted that the vendor recycles old totes.
- Facilities and contracts: The board approved a contract for utility bill printing and mailing services; it approved a HVAC purchase for a municipal facility to be funded by insurance proceeds; and it approved a revised lease agreement with Jonesboro Locally Grown for the farmers market.
- Sidewalk planning: The board directed staff to develop plans and cost estimates for replacement or repair of the sidewalk on West Main Street between Second Avenue and Washington Drive; staff and engineers will return with options and estimates.

What happens next: staff will finalize loan documents and pursue the USDA reimbursement approvals for generator installation. The Jackson Theater ordinance requires a second reading before the policy can take effect; staff will work with the recorder and town attorney to set the required public notices and, if necessary, a called meeting for second reading.

Votes at a glance (summary of formal actions taken)
- Initial resolution authorizing indebtedness (not to exceed $2,469,730) to fund water and sewer projects ' Motion to approve by Alderman Wolf; second by Alderman Countermine; outcome: approved.
- Resolution authorizing loan agreement under the public building authority conduit (principal not to exceed $2,469,730) ' Motion to approve by Alderman Wolf; second by Alderman Dixon; outcome: approved.
- Resolution authorizing general-obligation bonds (not to exceed $1,200,000) ' Motion to approve by Alderman Dixon; second by Alderman Countermine; outcome: approved.
- Approval of multi-jurisdictional wastewater agreement with Washington County ' Motion to approve by Alderman Wolf; second by Alderman Dixon; outcome: approved.
- Approval of contract for utility bill printing and mailing services ' Motion to approve by Alderman Wolf; second by Alderman Countermine; outcome: approved.
- Approval of administrative consulting services (Community Development Partners) and engineering services (GRW) for state/federal infrastructure funding ' Motions to approve (Alderman Dixon moved administrative services; Alderman Countermine moved engineering services); outcomes: approved.
- Approval to purchase four generators and transfer switches (bid $631,000) using USDA grant funds ' Motion to approve by Alderman Wolf; second by Alderman Dixon; outcome: approved.
- Approval to order 100 replacement garbage totes (black color) ' Motion to approve by Alderman Wolf; second by Alderman Countermine; outcome: approved.
- Adoption of parks and recreation master plan; approval of new park rental fees and wetlands water park pay-bonus structure ' Motions to approve by Alderman Dixon and Alderman Wolf; outcomes: approved.
- First reading of ordinance to amend alcoholic-beverage code (Jackson Theater) ' Motion to approve first reading by Alderman Wolf; second by Alderman Countermine; outcome: approved (first reading). Theater alcohol-sales policy deferred pending ordinance second reading and notice.
- Approval of HVAC purchase for municipal facility (insurance-funded) ' Motion to approve; outcome: approved.
- Approval of revised lease with Jonesboro Locally Grown ' Motion to approve; outcome: approved.
- Direction to staff to develop plans and cost estimates for West Main sidewalk segment ' Motion to approve; outcome: approved.

All actions above were approved by voice vote at the meeting unless otherwise noted in the minutes. The board did not take final action on the Jackson Theater alcohol-sales policy; staff and the town attorney advised pairing policy action with the ordinance second reading and required public notice.

Ending: Staff were tasked to return with contract documents, detailed cost estimates and any required public notices for the items needing further action. Several items (notably the Jackson Theater ordinance and alcohol-sales policy) will return to the board for a second reading or follow-up meeting once notice requirements are met.