Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Let us pray. Lord, you know, we just thank you for the opportunity of coming into your throne room and knowing that you hear us and you take the time to listen to our request. And, Lord, we just pray your blessings on the meeting tonight. Let the decisions made, the opportunities are brought forth. Lord, let them do for the betterment of the people of Blount County. And, Lord, we just ask your blessings on the commissioners, on everyone, and, Lord, may your will be done. We ask in Christ's name. Amen.

Alright. Welcome everyone to the Board of County Commissioners meeting for Thursday, 06/19/2025. At this time, we will have the emergency evacuations procedures announcement. Alright. Madam clerk, please take the role.

Mister chairman, you have 14 members present. Seven members are absent.

Thank you, madam clerk. Commissioners Acord and Bledsoe had a conflict and could not attend tonight. Commissioners Hannah and Wells let me know that they were going to be late, and I will declare that a quorum is present. We'll move on to, recognition welcome recognition of special guests. First of all, I'd like to recognize in attendance, we have India Bramlett, who is a Blount Countyan, and she is a miss Chattanooga teen volunteer.

So thank you for being. Any other special guests to recognize commissioners? Alright. Seeing none, we'll move on to item a, setting of the agenda. Chair will stand for a motion to set the agenda as published.

I have a motion from commissioner Bright, second from commissioner French. Any discussion on setting of the agenda? Seeing none, if you're in favor of setting the agenda as published, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no. Has every commissioner voted?

Mister chairman, you have 14 yes votes.

14 yes votes. Motion carries, and the agenda is set as published. Item b, general consent calendar. Chair will stand for a motion to adopt the general consent calendar. I have a motion from commissioner Carver, second from commissioner Giles. Any discussion on the general consent calendar? Seeing none, commissioners oh, commissioner Bowers, you're recognized for the first time on the adoption of the general consent calendar.

Thank you, mister chairman. On our regionalcom comprehensive plan, we're just gonna basically moving that down the road to next month.

Yeah. Commissioner, right now, I think the status is it doesn't have any sponsors, and the options are gonna have to come before this commission again to either adopt or reject or, more likely, I I think there'll probably be a resolution to send some changes and amendments to that back to the planning commission, but it will take us taking that action perhaps next month for them to consider it and then send it back to us. Oh, go ahead, commissioner.

We're just not up against the time crunch on the vote for it.

No. I've had some discussions. I don't think we have any time deadline. The planning commission has a time frame whenever they have to consider it, and and it's sixty days whenever they're sent an amendment or whenever they were sent the original plan. Thank you, commissioner. Anyone else on the adoption of the general consent calendar? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting the general consent calendar, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Commissioners Joplin and Hannah, do you all wish to vote? I'll take care of that from here till you get signed in. Mister chairman, there are 16 yes votes.

16 yes votes. Motion carries, and the general consent calendar is adopted. Next, we have item c, public input on items on the agenda. I have one card for items on the agenda. Harry Groshjohn, please come forward. Speakers, please remember you have three minutes to speak. Please tell us your name, the district in which you live. Tell us which item you're speaking about, and you have three minutes.

Thank you, mister chairman. I'm in District 2, and I'm speaking on the appropriations. I don't know what item that is on the budget. But, on on page one of the, this is from the reports of the trustees report financial report on the expenditures to date for the month of April. I didn't get a chance to call and ask him about it, so I thought I might give you a pop quiz, mister chairman, see if anybody else is looking at that report.

And I thought it was rather unusual that we have an item that's marked other on this budget report and that it has a original original ARP, which appropriation of a minus a $106,000, and it has an available budget. It's it's lost another $149,000. And this is the this is about the one, two, three, four. Seventh item on the list of expenses for county general, and the $4.75 900 is the account number. If you could help me out, tell me how where I would learn what those account numbers are, that'd be good to know.

But that's that was my concern only so, anyway, that's I pray that you would have a successful meeting tonight, and I thank you for your time.

Thank you, sir. Anyone else who wishes to speak to items on the agenda, please raise your hand at this time. Alright. Seeing none, we'll move on to item d, budget consent calendar. Chair will stand for a motion to adopt the budget consent calendar. I have a motion from commissioner Carver to adopt the budget consent calendar, second by commissioner Caldwell. Any discussion on the budget consent calendar? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting the budget consent calendar, vote yes. If If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 16 yes votes.

16 yes votes. The motion carries, and the budget consent calendar is adopted. Item e, elections, appointments, confirmations. There is one item. Madam Clerk, please read the one item.

Confirmation of mayoral appointment for Blount County purchasing agent Carrie Barrett.

I have a motion to confirm the mayoral appointment of Carrie Barrett for Blount County Purchasing Agent from commissioner French, second from commissioner McMahan. Is there any discussion? If you're in favor of confirmation, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Commissioner Michaels? Thank you. Mister chairman, there are 16 yes votes.

16 yes votes. The motion carries, and Carrie Barrett is confirmed as Blount County purchasing agent. Congratulations. Item f, unfinished business. There is one item. Madam clerk, please read the item.

Blount County Public Library board of trustees, three year term, appointment of two members. Anna Graham, educational and leadership experience served on the director search committee, Megan Womack, fundraising experience, Kathleen Christie, retired reference librarian, Blount County Public Library, Don Russell, educator, and Kyle Anderson, name submitted by commissioner Bright.

Alright. Thank you, madam clerk. I'll now open the floor for nominations. I think there was a nomination made last time, but we'll just start over, from a blank position, and I'll take nominations. Commissioner Bright.

I'd like to nominate Kyle Anderson.

For nomination of Kyle Anderson. Commissioner Webb, you're recognized?

Yes. Anna Graham.

Anna Graham has been nominated. Any further nominations? Commissioner French, you're recognized?

Chairman, Mister I'd like to nominate Kathleen Christie.

Commissioner French nominates Kathleen Christie. Any further nominations? Seeing none, or is there any objection to ceasing nominations? Hearing no objection to ceasing nominations, commissioner Michaels, you're recognized.

Mister chairman, are these individuals here tonight present?

If you're miss Graham is here. Mister Anderson is here. Is miss Christie here? Is that

the country?

Okay.

Alright. Thank

you. Alright. Again, hearing no further nominations and hearing no objection, nominations are now closed. We are now in discussion. Any discussion before we take a vote? Okay. Hearing none, commissioners, we have two vacancies. You will select from the names Anderson, Graham, or Christie. Please tell us two names when your name is called. Alright. Commissioner Clark.

Okay. Commissioner Anderson.

Anderson and Christie.

Commissioner Bennett? Commissioner Bowers? Commissioner Bright? Commissioner Caldwell? Commissioner Carver?

Commissioner Davis? Anderson and Christie? Thank you. Commissioner French?

Anderson and Christie.

Commissioner Giles? Commissioner Hannah? Anderson and Christie? Commissioner Joplin?

Anderson and Christie.

Commissioner King? Commissioner McMahan? Yeah. Commissioner Michaels? Commissioner Reagan?

Commissioner Webb? Chairman Anderson, 14 votes.

No. No. No. It's, panel Anderson. Not chairman. He said chairman. No.

I'm just gonna switch.

Okay. Go ahead. Okay. Sorry.

Sorry. Too many Andersons. Chairman Anderson, the vote is 14 for Kyle Anderson, seven for Anna Graham, and 11 for Kathleen Christie.

Thank you, madam clerk. I will declare since that, meets the threshold for a majority that Kyle Anderson and Kathleen Christie are elected to the library board. Thank you to all our nominees. Thank you to our board, and, move on to the next item. Item g, new business. Madam clerk, please read the first item.

Resolution number 256004, budget increase central services, $510,000. Appropriate general county capital funds to modernize courthouse elevators. Referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee four zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number 256004 from commissioner Giles, second by commissioner McMahan. Any discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five six four, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 16 yes votes.

16 yes votes. The motion carries, and resolution number twenty five six dash four is adopted.

Resolution number 256Dash006, budget increased schools, $2,449,384.34. Appropriate education capital funds

for

capitalized expenses incurred in the current fiscal year. Referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee four zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number 25 dash six dash zero zero six from commissioner McMahan and a second from commissioner Davis. Davis. Any discussion? Commissioner Reagan, you're recognized.

Thank you, chairman. Just be reminded that I will be abstaining from this vote.

Thank you, commissioner. We'll put down commissioner Reagan abstaining for cause. Any further discussion? Seeing none, commissioner Bowers, you're recognized. Thank you, mister chairman. It looks

like we're real reallocating some of these capital projects from one forty one to one seventy seven. I just wonder what's changed in the last six, eight months that we're able to do that. You might be able to answer that. Thank you.

Direct that question to our finance director, mister Baldwin.

Yeah. Thank you, mister chairman. Commissioner Bowers, we've gone through a process over the last several months of working with the comptroller's office as well as our county attorney, going through the process of defining capital. We've brought in CTAS, and got some help on our capital policy. Our capital policy essentially and the way we're treating all of these purchases in the first place, they were already capital. We've already capitalized them. They're on the books. And so it was, are they eligible for fund one seventy seven, do or they have to be in fund one forty one? We came to a very clear conclusion that these are fund one seventy seven eligible. Comptroller guided the process to to help us through this is exactly how you fix this.

You do it in the current fiscal year. We can move all these over. And if approved tonight, we'll move all these expenses over out of fund one forty one to fund one seventy seven.

Alright. Commissioner, any further? Go ahead, commissioner.

I just wondered why we didn't do this before with comptroller's office to manage this.

Mister Baldwin?

Yeah. Thank you. Commissioner, we're in the process of, litigation currently on fund one seventy seven. That has, driven this this, conversation and required that we go get the the the the expertise needed to dial this in and be very exact and to provide a foundation for future expenses to make sure we don't we do this exactly right.

Alright. Commissioner Jones, you recognized for the first time.

Thank you, mister chairman. I would direct these questions, I believe, to mister Baldwin also. Who are we in litigation with around fund one seventy seven will be my first question. Second question, has there been a process or procedure put in place so the same type of thing doesn't occur in the future that happened over the last few months? Like my fellow commissioner here, it's what's what's changed? And I'm and as I said, is there a process in place that we will eliminate the opportunity for this to happen again?

Yeah. Commissioner, the, city of Alcoa is who sued us, regarding the use of funds $1.77. I probably should not speak about the exact details since we're currently in that litigation. But what I'll tell you is the process that we've gone through has reaffirmed our use of fund one seventy seven that we've been doing it correctly, and we've been probably far too conservative according to the comptroller's office.

Go ahead, commissioner.

So has that process been documented? So we'll know how

to we'll know how to proceed in the future. Our our current policy is already documented that way. Thank you.

Alright. Thank you, commissioner. Commissioner Regan, you're recognized. Thank

you, chair. I jumped the gun, and I spoke misspoke on the wrong resolution. So I'm going to redact that I'm going to abstain on this one. Sorry. I I was ahead.

Duly noted, commissioner. Thank you. Any further discussion on resolution twenty five six dash six? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number 25 dash six dash six, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 16 yes votes.

16 yes votes. The motion carries, and resolution number 25 dash six dash six is adopted.

Resolution number 256007, budget increase schools, $1,000,343.290 dollars and 21¢. Appropriate Tennessee state grant funds for the 2025 summer school program. Referred full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee four zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number 25 dash six dash seven by commissioner Davis, second by commissioner Giles. Commissioner Reagan, you're recognized.

Now I will abstain. Thank you very much.

Thank you, commissioner Reagan. Duly noted. Any further discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number 25 dash six dash seven, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Chairman, there are 15 yes votes and one abstentions. I didn't know. We got. Okay. Commissioner Wells, did you want to go yes? Okay. And I'll mark it. Commissioner Wells voted yes. So that changed it.

Alright. We'll call that 16 yes and one abstention. Motion carries, and resolution number 25 dash six dash seven is adopted.

Resolution number 256001, fiscal year twenty five twenty six tax rate resolution referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee four zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number 25 dash six dash zero zero one by commissioner Giles, second by commissioner Davis. Any discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number 25 dash six dash zero zero one, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 17 yes votes.

17 yes votes. Motion carries, and resolution number 25 dash six dash zero zero one is adopted.

Resolution number twenty five six zero zero two, fiscal year twenty five twenty six appropriation resolution referred to full commission with a favorable recommendation by the budget committee four zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number 25 dash six dash zero zero two from commissioner McMahan, second by commissioner Carver. Any discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number 25 dash six dash zero zero two, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 17 yes votes.

17 yes votes. The motion carries, and resolution number 25 dash six dash zero zero two is adopted.

Resolution number 256003, fiscal year 2526, a resolution establishing capital outlay priorities referred to full commission with the favorable recommendation by the budget committee four zero.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number 25 dash six dash zero zero three from commissioner McMahan, second by commissioner Caldwell. Any discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number 25 dash six dash zero zero three, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 17 yes votes.

17 yes votes. The motion carries, and resolution number 25 dash 6 dash 003 is adopted.

Resolution number twenty five six zero one two, a resolution to enter into a binding memorandum of understanding for the highway department.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number twenty five dash six dash zero one two from commissioner French, second by commissioner Carver. Any discussion? Commissioner Hannah, you're oh, I'm sorry. I hit the wrong button. Commissioner Hannah, you're recognized.

Is there anyone here from the highway department or that can talk on this?

Anyone from the highway department that wishes to speak to this item? I don't believe so, commissioner.

I just have some concerns with this specific item just because we've never done something like this before. We've never passed money through us, and so I'm just wanting some more questions. I don't know if you could speak on it, Brian. I just have some real concerns with this specific item.

If you if you want to, state your questions, mister Baldwin's

Do you know who the principal holders are on this?

No. No, commissioner. What I can tell you about this is we've, worked with the highway department. They were approached by a combination of, TDOT, Pellissippi State, and a and a developer. I believe the name's in your memo.

I do not I do not know them or know who they are, but, about putting a signalized intersection in place that are initially, the request was for the highway department to manage the project. The the you know, the after some back and forth and the attorneys looked at it, where it landed was we could be a financial pass through from the Pellissippi State Board of Regents directly to to the developer, but not manage the project so as not to take on the risk. So it's a it is a it is a pass through, but my understanding, was that the Board of Regents cannot give money directly to a developer. TDOT didn't want any part of the, of the financial process, and so we are the pass through for the border regions for this project.

And commissioners, I'll just chime in and say you you got an email today from the county attorney's office that cleared this as far as our liability for the MOU. Commissioner, you're you still have the floor.

That that's all I have. Thank you.

Commissioner Davis, I accidentally hit your light. Did you wanna speak to this item?

Go ahead.

So with this bonding memorandum of understanding, MOUs are usually nonbinding. If this is binding, it it functions as a contract. And that means that so Craig Garrett said they were not responsible for the remainder of the monies if it goes over the 230?

That is my understanding.

To me, this MOUs, it's very vague written. If you go through not unless I'm missing something here, but the I mean, I guess I I just don't agree with it because it's it's vague. Who's managing the funds and who who owns the improvements once it's built? Do we know any of those answers?

I'll direct those to mister Baldwin.

Commissioner, I'll I'll do my best. The the funds are, these would be the last funds. My understanding is once the project is complete, then we're allowed that MOU specifies that then we're allowed to, once it's been signed off and approved by TDOT, we're then allowed to take the funds that we received from the board of regents and pass it through, and that was at the board of regents request. And I'm sorry. What was your second question?

Who's who's managing the funds?

Well, the the the funds would pass through our office here.

Okay. So county. And who owns the improvements once it's built?

It's all turned back over to TDOT. The the the signal, the actual signal itself will be turned over to the Merrillville, Alcoa, Blount County, signalized intersection group that manage, all most of the signalized intersections in the county. That this that's where the signal will go, but the infrastructure and everything else goes back to TDOT.

Okay. Alright. Thank you. Any

further discussion? Commissioner Michaels, you recognized for the first time?

Thank you, mister chair. I didn't know if if one of the sponsors of this resolution, surely they know a little bit more in-depth of how this came about and why we're why we're going this direct direction. If any of them would wanna chime in and

Commissioner Carver, are you gonna speak to that?

Yes. So the BZA had approved this for the gray, Gray Acres project. Helsinki Parkway was planning on expanding and improving that intersection. So they approached to try and get it all done together at one time. So they were gonna supply the funds to get this done.

It we'd be holding the funds. And then once it was all approved by TDOT, then it would be transferred over to that company. But we have no type of liability with that. We're just the the process where they can't give it to a private the LLC, but they can put it to the county to move the funds over. Did that answer your question? Alright.

Thank you, commissioner. Anyone else who wishes to speak to this item? Commissioner Hannah for the second time?

I'd like to vote to move it to next month because I would like to further investigate

this.

Alright. Commissioner Hannah moves to postpone this to next month's meeting. Is there a second? Second from commissioner Davis on the motion to postpone. I just made a Alright. Any discussion on the motion to postpone? Commissioner French, you're recognized on the motion to postpone for the first time.

Thank you, mister chairman. Don't know what the issue is with this. It's pretty cut and dried based on on the information we've received from the highway department. And if if you want further information, you you need to call the highway department and talk with folks there. They can explain this.

And just like commissioner Carver said, the facts are there. And I don't know if any of you have been down at that intersection, but that is a dangerous intersection. And it's gonna all it's gonna do is improve that intersection for people coming out of that side road. So, it it's pretty cut and dried as far as I'm concerned. Thank

you. Thank you, commissioner. Commissioner Hannah on the motion to postpone for the first time.

I just wanna respond to French. I'm not against the project itself. I'm not against the project itself, but I do think that when we start opening ourself up to this, then, you know, what if other people start asking us to be a passer through? We've never done it before. I don't know why we would do it now. It just feels a little off to me, and I would like to get some more information. I did contact the highway department and requested someone be here. That did not happen. So I did call the highway department.

Alright. Thank you, commissioner commissioner Davis, for the first time on the motion to postpone.

I called the highway department and didn't receive a callback about this, and I'm not comfortable with the MOU that's binding. That's actually a contract when it says binding. So that's all I have for this right now.

Alright. Thank you, commissioner. Any further discussion on the motion to postpone? Mister Baldwin, do you know when this project was going to be starting?

No, sir. I don't. I just know that we're the the last dollars in and that the plan was, if the MOU gets approved, then the next step would be to come back to this body and ask for the funds to then be, approved so that we can act as a pass through.

Thank you. Any further discussion on the motion to postpone? Commissioner Carver for the

first time on the motion to postpone. I'll just bring up one other subject or or statement. Combining both Pellissippi together with the apartment complex was gonna save money and save time. So it would cost more if it was two individual projects as opposed to making it one. So in that aspect, it's gonna be a cheaper cost in doing this project now as one as opposed to two. Right.

Thank you, commissioner. Any further discussion on the motion to postpone? Seeing none, if you're in favor of postponing this item one month to next month's meeting, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Jim, there are two yes votes and 15 no votes.

Two yes, fifteen fifteen no. Motion to postpone fails. We're now back on the motion to adopt the resolution. Any further discussion on the motion to adopt? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopt oh, sorry. Commissioner Michaels, you're recognized for the second time on the motion to adopt the resolution.

Thank you, mister chairman.

I I I get it, and I I am let me make this statement. I I understand that this will make that intersection a lot safer anytime we have a a a traffic signal in a intersection, especially that has that kind of volume of traffic. It's gonna be an asset. What I'm what I'm reserved about on this is the fact that we you know, if TDOT doesn't wanna hold the money, if they don't wanna touch it, why would Monk County government want to hold it? We we are here to serve the citizenry and be fiscal conservatives for them.

We're not a bank. And so, I'm not against the project. And but I do have some concern about about this. What does this do to our financial worksheet for the year? Can can somebody answer that question? If we're taking money in for a project that you know? And then we're passing it right through. I mean, Brian, does this affect our our balance sheet at all? Go

ahead, mister Baldwin.

Yeah. Commissioner, I I don't see this as a large impact to our balance sheet. It it would be timed so that the money came right in, went right out. It wouldn't sit. I don't think it it would cause the trustee's office a little bit of effort to make sure we track it, to make sure we charge interest while it sits there, some things like that. But it's a pretty small amount of money in the grand scheme of things.

Okay. Alright. That that that was my only question, and and you pretty much helped me with that. So I appreciate it. I will be in favor. Thank you.

Thank you, commissioner. Any further discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number 25 dash six dash zero one two, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister Chairman, there are 15 yes votes and two no votes.

15 yes, two no. The motion carries. Resolution number 25Dash6Dash012 is adopted.

Resolution number 256013, a resolution of the Blount County legislative body adopting the revised Blount County hazard mitigation plan.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number 25 dash six dash zero one three by commissioner Carver, second by commissioner Caldwell. Any discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number twenty five dash six dash zero one three, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 17 yes votes.

17 yes votes. The motion carries, and resolution number twenty five dash six dash zero one three is adopted.

Resolution number twenty five six zero one four, a resolution of the Blount County Commission to establish a Blount County Historical Commission.

I have a motion to adopt resolution number 25Dash6Dash014 from commissioner McMahan, second by commissioner Michaels. Any discussion? Seeing none. Oh, commissioner Michaels, you're recognized for the first time on the motions.

Thank you, mister chair. I just wanna recognize, we do have several individuals, and I'm not gonna start naming names because I don't know everybody's name. But we have several individuals here tonight from the historical museums and centers in our county. And, if you have a chance to talk to them, maybe maybe talk to them before they leave tonight. These people have been supportive of this resolution, and, I look forward to working with them in the near future for, preserving our history here.

Thank you. Thank you, commissioner. Any further discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of adopting resolution number 25 dash six dash zero one four, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister Chairman, there are 17 yes votes.

17 yes votes. Motion carries, and resolution number 25 dash six dash zero one four is adopted.

To set a date and time for a zoning public hearing to amend the zoning resolution of Blount County, Tennessee by modifying section 7.2 c to revise the open space requirement of cluster developments.

Chair has received from the clerk a suggested date of Thursday, July 10 at 05:30PM. Chair will stand for a motion to set that zoning public hearing at that time and date. Does the chair have such a motion? I have a motion from commissioner Wells, second from commissioner Hannah. Any discussion? Seeing none, if you're in favor of setting that zoning public hearing for July 10, 05:30PM, vote yes. If you're not in favor, vote no.

Mister chairman, there are 17 yes votes.

Thank you, madam clerk. The motion carries, and that zoning public hearing has been set. Moving on to item h, announcements and statements. The planning commission will meet on Thursday, June 26 at 05:30PM followed by board of zoning appeals at 6PM in the Blount County Courthouse, Commission Meeting Room 430. Commissioners, the deadline for drafted resolutions will be Wednesday, July 2 by noon due to Blount County government offices being closed on Friday, July 4.

The veteran affairs committee will meet on Wednesday, July 9 at 04:30PM in Blount County Courthouse Commission Meeting Room or sorry. Blount County Courthouse Room 315. The budget committee will meet on Thursday, July 10 at 5PM, followed by a zoning public hearing at 05:30PM, and a workshop committee meeting at 6PM, all in Blount County Courthouse, Commission Meeting Room 430. Commissioners, are there any further announcements or statements? Commissioner Webb, you're recognized.

Yes. Thank you. I don't know if very many of you have ever driven back to where the Blount County animal shelter is. But

you you need to

do that right now because it the road is awesome. Jeff Hedrick and his office dedicated workers have come out there, and and they have put new asphalt down all the way back through there. It looks so awesome. And and a lot of other people have helped out, volunteered. They have berms.

They've brought in the material for berms to hide some of the housing that's behind. You know, you don't want dogs walking all the time. So they even helped with that. But But if you get a chance to go back there and you always gotta go see the animals, the kittens, and the the dogs. But, anyway, I just wanted to say thank you to the, well, office one always says department. Highway department and anybody else that has volunteered their time, service, whatever it may have been to they're doing really well.

Thank you.

Thank you, commissioner. Any further announcements or statements? Alright. Moving on to item I, public input on items not on the agenda. I do have one card. David Townsend, please come forward. Speakers, remember you have three minutes. Please tell us your name, tell us the district in which you live, and please tell us what you're speaking to us about.

Yes. Thank you. My name is David Townsend. I'm, I live off Lively Road in District 2, and, I just wanted to make the commission aware of a recent, Tennessee General Assembly resolution that was passed back in May, past joint resolution 51, a resolution seeking almighty god's hand of ever present mercy and healing on Tennessee. This is a follow-up to resolution that was passed last year, resolution eight zero three.

This has made it an annual event that July is now dedicated as a month of prayer and fasting and returning to the lord in the state of Tennessee. And in case anyone is concerned with the separation of church and state, this is specifically annotated to say those that are spiritually inclined and physically able, and this is not compulsory in any way. But it starts out in the resolution with, what representative Fritz of the thirty second district calls leading indicators. And that is his way of saying, it is not right to say we're not that bad. We have a wonderful state here, and I'm very grateful for this state.

I'm very grateful for this county. But by a biblical standard, we are not in the favor of god. I know we have a wonderful economy and people are flocking here, but the standard in the in in the in the scripture of what shows the favor of god is peace. It's whole families. It's not drug problems.

It's not deputies being killed. It's not, people allowed to live and operate in a school system for twenty years and then get a slap on the wrist for doing what they do to our children. I submit that according to this and my personal opinion, we need god's mercy on our state and on our on our our county. And so in keeping with that, each county across the state has begun to organize solemn assemblies, not organizing by state by by denomination or anything like that, but just simply appearing as the people of god to ask for his mercy and to recognize our sins in the light of his holiness and how we all fall short of the glory of god, and we need him for all things. And I wanna make this commission aware of that.

And, on July 19, Bullent County will hold ours, just outside of this window on the Capital Steps. We'll be here at 10:30, July 19. That's a Saturday, and you are all welcome to be there. Some have already said they'd love to. I've spoken to you personally, but I wanted to make that aware, and I have, information. You can visit pray,thenumberfour,.us if you want. Pray4tennessee sorry. Pray,the numberfour, tn.us, and to find out more. And, of course, you can see me afterward if you're interested. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, sir. Does anyone else wish to speak to us on items not on the agenda? Yes, sir.

Good afternoon. My name is Henry Odum, and I'm here to update all the commissioners on all the hard work that Quentin Caldwell has already put in concerning this issue. He has been in touch with Jeff Hendrick and Scott Stewart. I come before you not in anger, but with a heartfelt plea for action regarding a long standing concern at 1140 Shula Vista Drive in Friendsfield. While the property was previously addressed by the committee as a visual nuisance resulting in a cleanup effort years ago, the situation has since evolved far beyond that.

We are now dealing with what is now a serious public safety hazard that can no longer be ignored. The structure is in extreme disrepair. The roof is sagging, the doors have fallen out, and animals freely enter and exit this perimeter. Most alarming, the home is unsecured and has attracted the neighborhood children who have been seen attempting to enter the home. Police have been contacted, and neighbors, including mister Doug Hayes, have personally intervened to prevent what could be a tragic outcome.

While I understand this property has been problematic for years, it is now at a tipping point. A strong wind could easily cause the structure to collapse. And if that happened, it would low likely fall onto our home directly impacting the side where our bedroom and bathroom is located. This is not a hypothetical risk. It is a real and growing danger, especially given the recent increase in the severe weather events.

My wife and I, like many of the neighbors, would like nothing more than to invest and improve in the property, but it's difficult to justify remodeling next door to a collapsing home. Former neighbors have ultimately chose to move rather than to face the challenge to sell or improve their home with such a hazard nearby. The impacts not only are a safety risk, but it's also property values and the quality of life of the neighborhood. According to the building inspections department, the city has the authority to order the structure to be torn down. I respectfully urge you to exercise that authority.

The extreme risk to our children, the proximity to the neighbor homes, and the progressive structural failure make this a matter of urgent concern. In closing, I leave you with this one thought. A property's owner's rights end when it encroaches on the safety and well-being of their neighbors. This is not just our problem. It affects every residence of the community, and it's increasingly getting worse. Thank you for your time, service, and your thoughtful consideration of this matter. And I do have several more pictures, and has several also. Thank you.

Thank you, mister Odom. Anyone else who wishes to address the commission items not on the agenda? Commissioner French, for what purpose?

Mister chairman, I'd I'd just like to ask the gentleman who just spoke to if he would stay afterwards. I'd like to speak with him.

Alright. Thank you, commissioner. Out of order. Alright. Mister Rothschild, please come forward. I apologize. I think I neglected to to call your card again unintentionally.

I should mister chairman. Harry Rothschild. I I I wanna just, say an endorsement to, mister Townsend from, Lionheart Restoration Fellowship and, their efforts in making, this July 19 recognition of the month of fasting and prayer for the state of Tennessee. I understand representative Fritz is gonna be here, the sponsor of the resolution, and perhaps even senator Pody. Last year, there were about 300 people that came to the courthouse steps to hear that resolution read by representative Fritz.

So I think that, you know, there is a a movement of repentance and seeking God's direction and mercy for Blount County by the citizenry. And I would hope that you all might recognize that same movement of the spirit. You know, when Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, showed up to counsel him on his wearing himself out, being the judge and the jury over the Israelites coming out of Egypt, he told him to pick leaders from each tribe of tens, fifties, and hundreds so as to have share that responsibility. His advice to Moses about those people who are to serve as representatives of the people of Israel was number one, those who fear God. And the second criteria was those who hate covetousness.

So I would hope that those of you who fear god and hate covetousness would show up on the nineteenth. Mister chairman, I thank you for your time.

Thank you, mister Rothjohn. Anyone else who wishes to speak to us to items not on the agenda, please raise your hand at this time. Okay. Seeing none. Thank you all for being here tonight and attending our meeting. If there is no objection, we will stand adjourned. We're adjourned.