[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6622342,"mediaKeyId","2786103-395cb34be9aa7c005ffbfdaec0cc3b93","parentId",2786103,"title","Whistleblower alleges real estate fraud and federal crimes during Roane County public comment; commissioners decline immediate response","audioSeconds",472,"startMs",448000,"endMs",920000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2786103-395cb34be9aa7c005ffbfdaec0cc3b93&start=448&end=920","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2786103-395cb34be9aa7c005ffbfdaec0cc3b93/thumbnail_448000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6622342/Roane-County/Tennessee/Whistleblower-alleges-real-estate-fraud-and-federal-crimes-during-Roane-County-public-comment-commissioners-decline-immediate-response","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622342-2b4d6b1bcad2fecf44a1df090311af99/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443130&Signature=NgEx9F6GyhtY~n1kT0Hh-UWl1hm8ATD2cFmNKbxlkvHKhwvDylu9dVIs9EzAwJTfJy7X-HyCPmSSce04q4p1VPZHjew4Z9BEAmdLbEXABwHTctpkaQLj9VopjurisVyGwRkFz1yEa3uxtec8uvPheg7ZS-B1RN~32a~L1xVEQKin~G2tVL-lSRnRK5b-EfSy9F5fkNCVKtf52PcU3GxRYhNootAA~8fG5j7MP~LMUSyCAv6~SU7m90k4YzbE56PjDU7OU7uJOhRABZNYoRbubORQ7fzIUvVKu99DaP0clC-JV-iW9sNQaeZOoqa56OUvXukAieet~marEow~eGDxHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Roane County, TN","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","At the start of public comment, a resident identifying himself as Rocky Joe Houston spoke at length and alleged a large, ongoing real‑estate fraud and related federal crimes by various named local officials and other parties. Houston said he served as a whistleblower and that he was presenting written legal notices and multiple exhibits to the commission and named individuals in the room.

Houston referenced federal statutes (title 18) and alleged obstruction and failure‑to‑report offenses; he named an attorney and local law‑enforcement officials and said he had submitted more than three dozen documents and exhibits to the clerk and to individuals in the room. The commission chair and county attorney declined to respond to the allegations on the spot; the chair and several commissioners said the matter appeared to be a civil or criminal matter that would require review by the county attorney and potentially by courts or law‑enforcement authorities outside the commission’s purview.

County staff accepted copies of the documents and told Houston the commission would not respond that night but that the materials would be reviewed (the transcript records the clerk and county attorney agreeing to follow up). Houston asked for a formal response; commissioners said they would take the documents under advisement and involve the county attorney as necessary.

Ending: The transcript records the county attorney saying he had nothing to report at that time and that the commission would not respond immediately; any follow‑up would occur through the county attorney’s office or appropriate legal channels.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Roane County Commission Meeting - March 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment a local resident, Rocky Joe Houston, alleged extensive real estate fraud and federal‑level misconduct involving local officials and judges; commissioners and the county attorney declined to respond immediately and accepted documents for the record.","taxTitle","Roane County, Tennessee","taxId",71285,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6622347,"Commission, schools debate capital‑planning options and RFQ for facilities study; public building authority suggested",200,4000000,4200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2786103-395cb34be9aa7c005ffbfdaec0cc3b93&start=4000&end=4200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2786103-395cb34be9aa7c005ffbfdaec0cc3b93/thumbnail_4000000.jpg","/articles/6622347/Roane-County/Tennessee/Commission-schools-debate-capitalplanning-options-and-RFQ-for-facilities-study-public-building-authority-suggested","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622347-50dbf06dc6448d3363edb6a2076ca27d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443130&Signature=YBPXLkMZGM1Fs6w5qtIZ1pxuOqBAGQEYzSSyBiKFexbUSBNiF7i5byWlpPejrpqNBCfTSOncNPcoVng5q4fEwDqCN-eM3tU-v2NlmxrOryPJMI~TJdpPCQ~cPaSWT0b1ZCzly0yi7suC4ap0AENsGoYAJsOEz34A3fbJpSKXQL4zvQqznPrkCMqTjRhYlM6YtlZRw67w0Vbo7e3TRlNHNhZiDK~cV7vsVuMWGIQ4vRykB7jJKjXcP1l3FU85UL36j7XMJymQmVI718gk2dlIOW5P7wmgeQib387cCoUGzy5Jhvoo8n2QdY0BI1EpnJCYUmObbasaLH~EX9u-rczWEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Roane County commissioners and school officials spent an extended portion of the March 25 meeting discussing long‑term school facilities needs, deferred maintenance and a proposed request for qualifications (RFQ) to identify a firm to produce a capital improvement plan.

County staff and the county executive said the school system’s building assets total about $330 million and that industry practice is to set aside roughly 2–4% of building value annually for maintenance; at 3% that would be about $9.9 million per year. Commissioners and staff noted the school system is currently spending about $1.2 million on maintenance, of which roughly $750,000 is payroll. Commissioners and others repeatedly emphasized that a full assessment of deferred maintenance should be part of any study, because it is difficult to consider new construction without knowing the cost to maintain existing buildings.

The school board has directed the director of schools to prepare a scope and seek RFQs for a firm to study long‑term capital needs. Commissioners discussed how a steering committee or liaison structure could follow the consultant’s work and suggested safeguards in the RFQ so that a firm that prepares the study would not later be allowed to bid on construction contracts for the same project.

Several commissioners proposed setting up a Public Building Authority (PBA) to provide technical review and reduce politicization of major projects. A commissioner cited State law (TCA) language permitting a county public building authority as an instrumentality that may finance, construct, maintain, lease or dispose of public buildings and infrastructure; that speaker described PBAs as boards of professional volunteers who can provide financial and technical oversight. County legal staff advised the commission that the school board retains statutory responsibility for decisions about school locations and facilities; the commission’s legal role is limited to ensuring the school budget is balanced and to deciding whether to provide funding or borrow on the school system’s behalf.

No formal vote to adopt a capital plan or to create a PBA was taken at the meeting. The commission agreed to continue the conversation at a future meeting after members had time to review the RFQ scope and related materials.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to circulate the RFQ scope and related documents before the next meeting so the full commission can review options and provide guidance.

","Commissioners and school officials discussed a proposed RFQ for a long‑range capital plan, deferred maintenance shortfalls and options such as a public building authority to provide technical oversight; no binding decision was made and the committee agreed to revisit the item.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6622351,"Roane County Commission approves most routine measures; suit over Broken Arrow Point fails for lack of votes",3241,1454000,4695000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2786103-395cb34be9aa7c005ffbfdaec0cc3b93&start=1454&end=4695","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2786103-395cb34be9aa7c005ffbfdaec0cc3b93/thumbnail_1454000.jpg","/articles/6622351/Roane-County/Tennessee/Roane-County-Commission-approves-most-routine-measures-suit-over-Broken-Arrow-Point-fails-for-lack-of-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622351-df009811e42b56bac47895fbb4f744e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443130&Signature=F~u8bq520aFPKmWYsY9LteRTmF3xbAkxSHGVCvDke-sy8JqLw4jeJeNXJhl0b83OdQ596D73~kyuQUpu3EIf61V7p7K~uVI2xcKiD0EFTo6Zk-OkAHO7z9W3Egx~NT6QVTgrUibwWuBv2XyqRP9zYejFFHK6PCgLsoJrx71JaB2Noz4PewMJhgEMHdJeT3UGhYS~Pg1Uq6JqHGzuOwLQU4jEQvzJx0aUHwyY7sh-eEVZnSD-5RGV8YMAxfK8U1qzH-VJ68DP1A~mQx-PPXKxVOhdHk8TsthHnIjHWELcW8ucEks0g2IMAKR7cfMjfeWLxHbEeExSMpWgQaV2hm7COw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Roane County Commission on March 25 approved multiple routine resolutions, reappointments and contract extensions but failed to authorize the county attorney to file suit over road and tree conditions at Broken Arrow Point after the motion did not reach the required eight favorable votes.

The commission approved reappointments to the Industrial Development Board, accepted a surety bond for a youth services officer, adopted several county resolutions including grants and procurement policy changes, approved a three-year contract for the sheriff’s office and extended the county’s ambulance billing contract. A separately introduced resolution instructing the county attorney to file suit regarding Broken Arrow Point failed for lack of the required majority vote.

The actions included: reappointment of Jeff Nichols, Quentin Craig and James Owens to the Industrial Development Board; approval of a $2,500 surety bond for Martin Franklin Miles as a youth service officer; passage of Resolution 3‑25‑01 (education support for Tennessee Department of Health employees), Resolution 3‑25‑02 (increased internal controls for purchasing), Resolution 3‑25‑03 (authorization to submit a full Appalachian Regional Commission grant application for Raleigh Capric Campground improvements), and Resolution 3‑25‑04 (apply for a waste reduction grant for the Roane County Solid Waste and Recycling Center). The commission also adopted a salary resource guide for elected officials, approved a three‑year contract for the sheriff’s office, and extended the county’s ambulance billing contract with Bridal Bureau System, DBA Ambulance and Medical Billing.

On the Broken Arrow Point item, several commissioners expressed concern about property‑rights implications and about whether filing suit was the appropriate remedy. Commissioners and the county attorney discussed that liability for dangerous conditions on county roads turns on whether the county had been put on notice; the attorney indicated expert testimony (forester/engineer) would be required to establish imminent danger if suit were pursued. The motion to authorize filing suit received fewer than the eight votes the commission’s rules require and therefore failed.

Votes and formal motions were recorded as part of the meeting minutes; routine items were typically approved by voice vote with the clerk announcing “motion carries 13.” The Broken Arrow Point motion drew sustained public and commissioner discussion before failing to reach the required affirmative threshold.

Ending: The commission scheduled continued discussion on other items later in the meeting; the full minutes will carry the official tally for each motion.

","At its March meeting the Roane County Commission approved a series of routine resolutions, reappointments and contracts; a proposal to authorize the county attorney to file suit over Broken Arrow Point failed after not receiving the required majority.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Whistleblower alleges real estate fraud and federal crimes during Roane County public comment; commissioners decline immediate response

Commission, schools debate capital‑planning options and RFQ for facilities study; public building authority suggested

Roane County Commission approves most routine measures; suit over Broken Arrow Point fails for lack of votes