The Sevier County Budget Committee met Monday evening at 4:30 p.m. in the office of County Mayor Larry Waters. Ben Clabo, the chairman of the committee, directed the proceedings. The topics of discussion were as follows:
· Lifestar and the University of Tennessee Hospital are improving facilities at the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport in a countywide joint venture effort and agreed to appropriate $7,500. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville will also contribute $7,500 each for a total of $30,000. Lifestar will be contributing the telephone and computer lines, along with weather related equipment and hangar rental. Initially, Lifestar will provide part-time coverage to Sevier County during the normally busiest times of need, from Fridays at noon until Sunday night at midnight. Eventually, the plan is to have a Lifestar helicopter in Sevier County full-time.
· The state of Tennessee is mandating that Sevier County have a Global Information System (GIS), and have offered the county a grant for the amount of $701,000. Sevier County will contribute $45,000 taken from the General Fund. Eight additional agencies in Sevier County will also contribute $45,000 each to total $401,000. The agencies other than Sevier County are: the Sevier County Highway Dept.; the Sevier County School System; the Sevier County Electric System; the Sevier County Utility District; the Sevier County E-911; the City of Gatlinburg; the City of Pigeon Forge; and the City of Sevierville. The contract to have the work done costs $1.1 million. The state is offering the grant now, but if the county does not take it, they will still be required to have the work done, but will be responsible for the total cost themselves. There are approximately 14 or 15 other counties in the state of Tennessee who already have this system in place. The state informed Johnny King, the Sevier County Property Assessor that his office needs to be the hub for this venture. The GIS system will make available all roads and utilities locations. It will enable the Assessor’s office to reappraise land and see any improvements that may have fallen through the cracks in the past. The county is discussed what, if anything they should charge to the public for any images. The GIS system will be able to produce pictures, which are called “ortho images”. They are pictures taken aerially which can zoom in on a house and double check the square footage, or what is called “building footprints”. A “topo “(pronounced Tp), which shows the elevation of mountains, hollows and ridges, may also be obtained. It is not known at this time if they will be detailed enough for surveyors to use or not. the Assessor’s office
It’s not certain if the county will eventually need more software to run the program. David Taylor, of the Planning Commission has moved to the Health Dept., so if the Assessor’s office needed any additional space, it is readily available. Many agencies will benefit from this program, for example the 911 emergency offices will be able to easily locate any address, and the utilities where lines are located. The Committee agreed to give the authority to sign the contract with the State of Tennessee Finance and Administration Department and Sevier County.
The members of the Budget Committee are County Mayor Larry Waters; Vice-Mayor Ken Maples; County Assessor Johnny King; Ben Clabo, Chairman; Darrell S. Lee; Jeffrey McCarter; Ronnie Whaley; and David Norton.

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