County Sees Blowback After Reallocating COVID Relief Funds for New Football Field

Officials in Hamilton County, Tenn., are receiving blowback after approving the reallocation of $1 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to pay for a turf field at the Howard School of Academics and Technology. 

The Urban League of Great Chattanooga and Sankofa are against the plan, positing that the funds should be spent elsewhere. 

According to ABC 9, Hamilton County Commissioners voted to divert $1 million it got from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan to pay for a turf field at the Howard School.

However, that money was originally earmarked for the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga and Sankofa before commissioners diverted it. Both organizations work with disadvantaged people of color to address economic and community disparities.

In a news release, Urban League President and CEO Candy Johnson and Sankofa executive director Rebecca Suttles say the money was diverted "without notice or discussion."

The groups say that the money was originally intended for those "disproportionately impacted" by the COVID-19 pandemic, and they say the decision to reallocate the funds was a last-minute idea that wasn't properly discussed. The women also say the reallocation violates two Tennessee laws.

"The County’s abrupt decision to reallocate funds was done with a lack of transparency and in contravention to both Tennessee Code Ann. 8-44-103 and 8-44-105," said a statement from the groups. "Furthermore, the actions taken by the board of commissioners failed to align with the County’s own rules of procedure and practice. In the end, there was no public notice about the resolution and no opportunity to provide public comment at least 48 hours prior to the meeting."

Some commissioners at the Nov. 15 meeting also expressed opposition to the idea. 

"Leadership at Howard School may feel that there's a much greater need at that school currently than a artificial turf field," Hamilton County commissioner David Sharpe said at the Nov. 15 meeting where the decision was made. "I can see the benefits of having an artificial turf field there. And I believe that we'll talk about that in the future. And that's something that I could be supportive of. This is about process and good government. That's why I'm so frustrated. The people in this community deserve better than that. And it's happening far too regular.