Blount County Board of Commissioners: 10/20/2026

The Blount County Board of Commissioners meeting was held October 20, 2026. Commissioners approved several budget actions with procurement or capital implications, including $1,395,572.15 in general administration capital funds for the courthouse roof replacement. Staff reported receiving six bids; the two lowest were about $5,000 apart, and the purchasing office was vetting the low bidder before proceeding. The commission also approved $343,400 in highway capital funds for engineering and right-of-way acquisition for a federally funded FLAP project; staff said the grant is 100% reimbursable and that a later construction bid would return to the commission for consideration. A $1.5 million highway aggregate allocation was also discussed and approved, with clarification that transfers within a department require mayoral approval. Other approved items included education grant and capital appropriations, $79,878.75 for sheriff’s office training software, and funds for training academy gun-range repairs; no vendor award was identified for these items.

On policy matters affecting future development and potential vendor opportunities, the commission referred a proposed moratorium on major subdivisions to the planning commission, and approved forwarding a proposed temporary moratorium and impact study for advanced computing and data-center development to that body. Commissioners also approved, 16–4, a resolution calling for a public hearing on fixed automated license-plate-reader technology, amended to include committee consideration; discussion cited the county’s Flock contract, which speakers and commissioners said runs through November 2028. No vote to terminate or amend that contract was taken. The hearing was set for November 17, and public comments raised privacy, data handling, system oversight, and public-safety concerns.