Blount County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Budget Committee forwards $1.3M in funding items to Blount County Commission

The Blount County Budget Committee on Aug. 11 forwarded five funding items to the full Commission, including a $1,234,478.54 reappropriation for highway capital projects. All items passed with 5-0 votes except one, which passed 4-0-1 with Chairperson Mitchell abstaining.

Budget Committee actions

The committee forwarded the following items with favorable recommendations:

• **Resolution 26-08-001:** $49,895 for a covered storage building for Blount County Sheriff's Office vehicles (5-0).
• **Resolution 26-08-002:** $17,090 for an HVAC replacement at the Operations Center (4-0-1, with Chairperson Mitchell abstaining).
• **Resolution 26-08-003:** $13,500 for County Clerk workstations (5-0).
• **Resolution 26-08-004:** $1,234,478.54 reappropriation for Highway Capital projects (5-0).
• **BCSO JAG grant application:** $19,216 for the Sheriff's Office (5-0).

The committee also approved the minutes of its July 9, 2026 meeting by a 5-0 vote.

Commission meeting

The full Board of Commissioners met Aug. 18. Minutes are not yet published, so outcomes are not known. The agenda included:

• Resolution 26-08-017 to regulate ambulance service in Blount County.
• Resolution 26-08-001 (the $49,895 storage building increase) and Resolution 26-08-004 (the $1,234,478.54 highway reappropriation).
• Resolutions 26-08-013, 26-08-034, 26-08-035, and 26-08-036 to dedicate ARPA-funded utility assets to the Knox Chapman, Friendsville, South Blount, and Tuckaleechee utility districts.
• Resolutions 26-08-014 and 26-08-015 establishing 2027 medical and dental plan funding rates for self-funded plans.

A Commission workshop on Aug. 11 had also proposed a 10% pay increase for all county employees (Resolution 26-08-019), but that item was not listed on the Aug. 18 agenda.

Coming up

• **Animal Center Advisory Board** (Aug. 25): The board will approve minutes from June 2, 2026, receive a staff report, and take public input. No major decisions are listed.
• **Planning Commission** (Aug. 27): The commission will review a site plan for Out of Eden at 2928 U.S. Highway 411 S, a concept plan for cluster developments by D.R. Horton, a final plat for Manor in the Foothills Phase 4 Unit 3 (39 lots) off Best Road, a resubdivision of Lots 2 and 3 Stone Construction Group (6 lots) off Big Springs Road, and a proposed zoning resolution for data centers. No public hearings are scheduled.

Committees set 2027 health insurance rates; commission to weigh 10% pay raise

Blount County's Human Resources and Insurance committees approved funding rates for the 2027 self-insured medical and dental plans, forwarding them to the full commission with favorable recommendations. The HR committee also approved an amended employee handbook and a transition to a new healthcare advocacy provider. The full commission is scheduled to consider those rates, along with a proposed 10% pay raise for all county employees, at its Aug. 11 workshop.

Committee decisions

The Human Resources Committee met July 28 and voted 9-0 to approve the 2027 medical and dental plan funding rates, recommending them to the Insurance Committee. It also approved, by the same vote, the amended Blount County Employee Handbook and a transition of healthcare advocacy and care navigation services to Rightway Healthcare, Inc. The committee deferred elections for chairperson and vice chairperson until Sept. 1, 2026, and approved the July 15, 2025 meeting minutes.

The Insurance Committee, also meeting July 28, approved the 2027 medical and dental premium funding rates by 4-0 votes and recommended them to the full commission. It likewise deferred its chairperson and vice chairperson elections until after Sept. 1, 2026, and approved the July 15, 2025 minutes.

Other recent meetings

Two meetings were held in early August but have not yet published minutes, so no decisions are available.

• The Public Services Committee met Aug. 4 to discuss two properties: 621 Cusick and 856 Disco Loop Rd.
• The Board of Zoning Appeals met Aug. 6 to consider a special exception request for a private construction and demolition debris compaction facility at 10127 Chapman Hwy, Seymour.

Coming up

The Blount County Commission workshop is set for Aug. 11. The agenda includes:

• Resolution 26-08-019: a 10% pay increase for all county employees
• Resolutions 26-08-014/015: adoption of the 2027 medical and dental plan funding rates for self-funded plans
• Resolution 26-08-017: regulation of ambulance service in Blount County
• Resolution 26-08-013: transfer of ARPA utility assets to Knox Chapman Utility District
• Resolution 26-08-012: compensation for Election Commission members

The Budget Committee also meets Aug. 11 and will consider three capital transfers totaling $80,485:

• $49,895 for a covered vehicle storage building for the Blount County Sheriff's Office
• $17,090 for an HVAC replacement at the Operations Center
• $13,500 for County Clerk office furniture

The committee will also discuss applying for a $19,216 Justice Assistance Grant for law enforcement equipment, with no local match required. July 2026 financial reports are provided for information only.

Commission advances $8 million Alcoa South Plant purchase; Budget Committee sends $5 million Parkway item to full vote

The Blount County Commission voted 12–3 on July 9 to forward Resolution No. 26-07-001, an $8,000,000 budget increase for debt service and the general fund to purchase the Alcoa South Plant. Five commissioners were absent and one abstained. The same workshop meeting unanimously approved a $73,800 litter grant application, a $27,800 library repair appropriation, and a $4,027.21 health department grant.

Budget Committee recommendations

Earlier on July 9, the Budget Committee voted on several items for referral to the full Commission. The $8,000,000 South Plant purchase resolution was forwarded without recommendation after no second was offered. The committee recommended $5,000,000 for Pellissippi Parkway right-of-way acquisition on a 3–1 vote. All other items passed 4–0:

• $2,154,682.10 in various department reappropriations
• $465,375 for a Substance Use Residential Treatment Facility
• $263,332 for Blount County Library maintenance
• $27,800 for library plumbing repairs
• $4,027.21 State DGA Grant for the Health Department
• $1,575,000 School Security Officer grant application
• $73,800 Litter Grant application

The committee also approved its June 11, 2026 meeting minutes 4–0.

Board of Commissioners agenda (July 16)

The Board of Commissioners met July 16, but minutes have not yet been published. The agenda called for votes on Resolution 26-07-001 ($8,000,000 Alcoa South Plant purchase), Resolution 26-07-002 ($5,000,000 Pellissippi Parkway right-of-way), a $1,575,000 grant application for 21 school security officers at $75,000 each, a $73,800 FY27 litter grant, and Resolution 26-07-004 ($465,375 in federal opioid funds for a Substance Use Residential Treatment Facility). Outcomes will be reported once minutes are available.

Public Services Committee (July 7)

The Public Services Committee met July 7 to approve draft minutes from April 7, 2026, hear public comment, and take up three old business items: 2025 Morganton Road, 621 Cusick, and 1120 Chula Vista. No further details on those items were provided in the agenda. Minutes have not yet been published.

Veterans Affairs Committee (July 8)

The Veterans Affairs Committee met July 8 to review updates on a VA outpatient clinic coming to Maryville in 2027, new legislation expanding interment eligibility at Tennessee State Veterans Cemeteries, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act regarding sleep apnea and tinnitus, the 2027 VA COLA projected increase, and Tennessee Veterans Connect. Minutes have not yet been published.

Technology (IT) Committee (July 16)

The IT Committee met July 16 to approve minutes from April 16, 2025, receive an update from the I.T. Department Director, and set the agenda with public input. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

The Blount County Planning Commission meets July 23 to review several subdivision and replat applications, including the Clyde Kidd Estate resubdivision (4 new lots off Old Niles Ferry Road), Anderson Property Lots 1–5 (5 lots along Old Niles Ferry Road), a replat of Lots 1 and 2 Charles Farmer and Ann Farmer Property (4 lots off Huffstetler Road), and a replat of Tracts 4–6 Spurgeon Property (2 lots along Sevierville Road and a remainder over 5 acres). The commission will also review Resolution 26-06-022, which recommends regulation of data centers.