The Greene County Commission heard a request Monday for $15,000 for this year and the same amount for next year, to help offset the cost of holding the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) women's golf national championships here in 2011 and 2012.

Tammy Kinser, tourism director for the Greene County Partnership, made the request for the golf tournament funds on behalf of the GCP's sports council.

She asked that the money come from the portion designated for recreation from the county's 7 percent hotel/motel tax.

Kinser said Greeneville and Greene County has 600 hotel and motel rooms, and 700 to 800 "room nights" are expected to be booked for the championships.

Kinser said the funds would be used to advertise and promote the event, and to organize and facilitate the awards banquet, purchase banners, tents, postage, printing and other items for the tournaments.

She said expenses have already been incurred, mostly related to the cost of the visit to Greeneville by the NAIA site selection team.

Each tournament is expected to bring 24 teams with 129 players, Kinser said, and give national exposure to Link Hills Country Club and Greeneville/Greene County.

The indirect economic impact, she said, is expected to be $250,000.

She also noted that two fall invitational tournaments that will precede the championships are estimated to have an indirect economic impact of $85,000.

In response to a question from Commissioner Betty Ruth Alexander, Kinser said she did not plan to ask Greeneville for a similar amount.

In other commission action, County Mayor Alan Broyles proclaimed Saturday, March 20, as "Agricultural Day in Greene County."

The proclamation declared, "Agriculture has been, and continues to be, the backbone of the community and the economy and is a vital industry not only in Greene County, but in the United States."

The proclamation said Greene County is ranked number one in Tennessee for total cows and calves and total dairy cows, first in production of grass hay and alfalfa hay and is the leading producer of broilers, tobacco, vegetables, sheep and goats, and horses.

The county has 3,000 farms that have a total agricultural value (livestock and crops) of more than $76 million, with a total value to the local economy of $460 million.

Milton Orr, the University of Tennessee extension director for Greene County, said the extension office had 22,000 direct contacts with farmers last year, and 1.2 million indirect contact.

Orr said the aggregate value of cattle in Greene County rose by $587,000.

He introduced Melody Rose, the county's horticulture specialist.

Orr thanked the commission for the $25,000 contribution provided last year to set up an endowment for 4-H last year, and noted that the endowment, which is drawing interest through a UT investment program, was "largely responsible" for allowing the local office to increase 4-H programs and endeavors by 157 percent.

"We really appreciate that," Orr said.

Approval was given to a resolution requested by Trustee Dan Walker and recommended by the budget committee to allow persons to pay their 2010 property taxes in three payments, between Oct. 1, 2010, and Feb. 28, 2011. Walker told the committee that this may make it easier for some persons on fixed incomes to pay, and will not result in any additional costs for the county.

The commission also approved a resolution to let the county mayor apply for a litter and trash collection grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation, for an unspecified sum.

Then the topic of the golf tournament money came up again.

Commissioner Jan Kiker said Kinser had been under the impression that the commission might act on her request Monday evening.

Mayor Broyles said that "certainly wasn't the impression I got" when talking to her. Broyles said that the commission's "protocol" would require the request to be considered first by the Budget & Finance Committee, which he chairs. Broyles noted that there was no resolution drawn up.

Kiker noted that some expense had already been incurred, and Kinser confirmed this.

Broyles then said, "I feel we need some time" to consider the request, but said it can come up in April.

Commissioner Brenda Grogan then asked if it would "be appropriate" the commission could consider the first year's request that night.

Broyles said that the commission, as a body, can do "whatever you want to do," but his opinion, as chairman of the commission and of the budget committee, is that the normal process should be followed.

At that point, Commissioner Rennie Hopson made a motion to adjourn, noting that such a motion "takes precedence over any other motion," though no other motion was then on the floor.

Broyles then adjourned the meeting.