July 23, 2026 County Commission

Hamblen County Commission meeting, July 23, 2026: Commissioners approved additional piping work totaling $135,000: $44,250 for Brady Drive and Jenny Lane, $72,500 near the Meadows at Kidwells Ridge Road and Tara, and $18,250 under Bryce Pike. The Bryce Pike work was described as replacing an 18-inch pipe and restoring the roadway. The commission also approved construction change order directive No. 9, though no amount is clear in the transcript. Other approved items included an additional code-enforcement position, one position for Hamblen County Schools, and budget amendments with legible amounts of $2,800 for the Sheriff’s Department, $1,191.38 for other facilities, and $100,000 for public health and welfare projects; another codes-compliance amount is garbled.

The commission approved an opioid-abatement grant application for Breath of Life Ministries after a motion to table it failed. The discussion identified a $35,400 request for an additional driver and van and noted $85,000 in existing funding; the organization works with Recovery Court to transport people to work and other services. Commissioners also appointed Dr. Tom Hyde to fill the District 1 commission seat. Public comments raised county taxes, deputy pay, and disputed compensation for missed Road Commission meetings, but no related spending action was identified.