JASPER, Tenn. - It took months for Marion County leaders to negotiate a contract with Solid Waste Disposal in Jasper to run the county's landfill, and now they have decided what to do with $1 million in annual revenue from the deal.
County commissioners voted unanimously to earmark the money for future projects at the site of a proposed career and technical school on U.S. Highway 41 in Kimball, Tenn.
Finance Committee Chairman Don Adkins said early last week that the county had received the first installment of that $1 million, and the committee recommended using the money for the school site on the 150-acre Holland Farm property.
A second payment is expected soon, officials said.
County Mayor John Graham said he recommended the board invest the full amount in the school.
The money will not be used for the first building the county is planning to construct but for future projects and structures, commission Chairman Les Price said.
"We can also use that money for grant matching or whatever we need," he said. "We'll be ready to go."
Groundbreaking for the first building at the proposed school was postponed several times last year, but county leaders' hopes are high once again that it will be a reality.
The initial building will be 12,000 square feet and serve about 250 students, officials said.
The most recent projections have the first building opening in January 2014.