Powell council backs countywide 1¢ sales-tax push to fund new senior center; new officer sworn in
January 19, 2026 | Powell, Knox County, Tennessee
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Mayor opened the meeting and the council handled routine business before a senior-center representative asked the council to go on record supporting a county-wide special-purpose one-cent sales-tax initiative to fund construction of a new senior center. The presenter described the current facility as not ADA-compliant, with limited parking and a multi-level layout that restricts usable space for seniors.
"We want the council to go on record as supporting a 1 cent sales tax ... to fund the building of the new senior center," the presenter said, adding that the senior group has purchased the VFW building and adjacent land and has paid for architectural plans. The presenter stated an "architectural number for 2025" of "7.3" and said the group hoped to keep its share "under 8"; the transcript did not specify monetary units for those figures.
Council members asked clarifying questions about the need and the estimate, and discussed the initiative's geographic scope. The presenter said the initiative must be countywide and explained that it would appear as a fifth cent in Park County's sales-tax structure; the presenter also noted that other towns (Cody and Meeteetse) were considering senior-oriented measures for the same ballot.
Council member Marini moved to support the Powell Senior Center one-cent sales-tax initiative and the motion was seconded. The mayor called for a voice vote: "Aye" was recorded and the motion carried. Council asked staff and the senior-center group to continue coordination with the other municipalities to develop ballot language and to bring the formal intergovernmental approvals forward.
Separately, the chief introduced Jason Holderness as the new officer to fill a vacancy; council members welcomed him and completed the swearing-in formalities.
What happens next: staff will continue drafting ballot language and coordinating with neighboring towns and the senior-center organizers on formal approvals and the initiative timeline.
"We want the council to go on record as supporting a 1 cent sales tax ... to fund the building of the new senior center," the presenter said, adding that the senior group has purchased the VFW building and adjacent land and has paid for architectural plans. The presenter stated an "architectural number for 2025" of "7.3" and said the group hoped to keep its share "under 8"; the transcript did not specify monetary units for those figures.
Council members asked clarifying questions about the need and the estimate, and discussed the initiative's geographic scope. The presenter said the initiative must be countywide and explained that it would appear as a fifth cent in Park County's sales-tax structure; the presenter also noted that other towns (Cody and Meeteetse) were considering senior-oriented measures for the same ballot.
Council member Marini moved to support the Powell Senior Center one-cent sales-tax initiative and the motion was seconded. The mayor called for a voice vote: "Aye" was recorded and the motion carried. Council asked staff and the senior-center group to continue coordination with the other municipalities to develop ballot language and to bring the formal intergovernmental approvals forward.
Separately, the chief introduced Jason Holderness as the new officer to fill a vacancy; council members welcomed him and completed the swearing-in formalities.
What happens next: staff will continue drafting ballot language and coordinating with neighboring towns and the senior-center organizers on formal approvals and the initiative timeline.
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