August 10, 2026 Committee Meetings

Hamblen County committee meetings, August 10, 2026: The Justice Center Public Safety Committee approved Change Order No. 26, a package of credits and deductions on the Justice Center project. The project manager described credits for unused allowances, moisture mitigation, doors, and other items, and said the architect had agreed to cover about $653,000 in disputed or miscellaneous costs; negotiations with the construction contractor were still ongoing. The project’s total cost, including land, furniture, fixtures, and equipment, was reported at more than $106 million through July, with an expected reduction as items are finalized. In Finance Committee, members approved joining the Purchasing Cooperative of America at no cost to the county, and approved budget actions including $26,000 for office desktops, monitors, and scanners; $5,190.93 for patrol-car upfitting beyond the $174,000 already budgeted for three vehicles; and a $4,000 allocation to repair a county van for data-processing use. A $72,000 change order for Brandy Drive paving and a $17,500 asphalt overlay on Robin Circle were also approved. Other approved actions included surplus sale of a replaced Cherokee Park truck through GovDeals and restoring $4,500 in mower-sale proceeds to the parks budget.

The Finance Committee also approved a budget amendment using grant carryovers and reserves, including county opioid-grant funds for the Miller Boyd playground. The Public Services Committee discussed a proposed one-year moratorium on high-intensity electrical-load facilities, including data centers, while the county develops zoning regulations addressing utility demands, land use, and safety concerns; no committee vote is shown in the transcript, and a public hearing and further ordinance process were noted. The Personnel Committee approved longevity-pay submissions.