October 22, 2026 County Commission

At its October 22, 2026 meeting, the Hamblen County Commission approved the regular and consent calendars and several spending items. It approved a $21,530 Sheriff’s Department budget amendment for the Reserve Deputy Program, along with the program itself, and approved $2,850 for National Child Safety Council materials. The commission also approved a $225 hourly rate for County Attorney David Gratz. An amendment to keep the rates for Gratz and former attorney Capps at $175 during a 180-day period or until Capps completed his litigation work failed, 3–11. The commission approved a Board of Education budget amendment reducing the general-purpose school budget by $136,926.22.

Commissioners discussed oversight and reporting for county-supported organizations, including the Morristown-Hamblen Humane Society, and the county’s legal bills and pending litigation; no additional spending action on those matters was taken. Barbara Horton was reappointed to the Humane Society board, and the chair said Commissioner Neesmith would be proposed for a future appointment. The commission adopted the current local rules of order as written, with a vote of 13–1, and heard that a revised public-records policy would come to the commission next month. The chair also clarified that the county is not currently building a data center. Other board appointments and confirmations were approved.