[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6478794,"mediaKeyId","5708170-aa31e483664d64a36da2509a4e0fb219","parentId",5708170,"title","Commissioners weigh community-center shelter duties and approve resolution to host Ducktown Law Court proceedings","audioSeconds",1102,"startMs",1522000,"endMs",2624000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708170-aa31e483664d64a36da2509a4e0fb219&start=1522&end=2624","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708170-aa31e483664d64a36da2509a4e0fb219/thumbnail_1522000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6478794/Polk-County/Tennessee/Commissioners-weigh-community-center-shelter-duties-and-approve-resolution-to-host-Ducktown-Law-Court-proceedings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478794-9e80d7958b1c27be5d5316ce70b5adcd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148454&Signature=ipLaZdzAbZYUUU8R4T3Fes0Z4a16z4pVO0FAgvpE4xEoTS7pVqzUvsT~I~dVgHV77Z9X3GM2gGPqHoQAAb37sA9e7Km~R4jPi5Gr-Xg3W9JUeUQXVE0ugYRUQQQxlae5tm9Sbo7TvZLobsDV4OdDBePw5YFmYw~2PSqgHj7uaumwR3Hqk~8ajcsMcVbjXjhX1xWMXAE84O6XSTMQN2I6s1-QLTFdXKQA9vxq42LVETI1bHbera1N6ng6wdbYGt-KEQPyMod63t~SWVlwLdMz6vZJyf9VrGAnkgMVSn3~DoV1qwF6mx3Yv0VlLiMqzfDYtPMk~7g3upyJbBF-wBAyrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Polk County","date","2025-09-03T12:52:40Z","article","Polk County commissioners spent significant time discussing the use of the Copper Basin Community Center both as a community shelter and as a temporary venue for Ducktown Law Court proceedings.

Several residents and a commissioner relayed concern after receiving a county letter that prompted questions about who is responsible for monitoring the community-center shelter when activated. A county official said the community center was built as a shelter and that the fire department uses the basement; historically, the fire department has staffed the shelter during activations to record shelter population and report numbers. A county presenter said the community center is county-owned and that the county has historically worked with the fire department on shelter operations.

Meeting participants reviewed a letter (on the record) that stated running an emergency shelter may be outside the scope of a particular organization’s operations. In response, commissioners discussed finding another entity or an individual to monitor the shelter when it is open. One motion on the record directed appointing somebody to monitor people at the shelter; the transcript records that motion and a second, but the provided excerpt does not include a named mover, a recorded roll-call tally or the final vote result.

Separately, the commission reviewed and read a formal resolution making the Copper Basin Community Center available for certain Ducktown Law Court proceedings while the county pursues building a new Ducktown courthouse. The resolution, read at length in the meeting, references private acts from 1911 and several Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals decisions and cites a statutory requirement (identified in the resolution text as section 16-2-505) for Polk County to have a location for the Ducktown Law Court. The resolution makes the center available for circuit civil proceedings on a designated monthly date, allows grand-jury proceedings there, and states the center is not suitable for criminal proceedings that would require secure inmate holding because it lacks sufficient security.

The presenter said Polk County is committed to building a new courthouse for the Ducktown Law Court and that the resolution will remain effective upon passage. The transcript shows the resolution reading and related discussion; the excerpt does not include a full roll-call vote tally for adoption, though motions and seconds appear in the record.

Ending: Commissioners discussed shelter monitoring and the court-resolution text; motions to appoint a shelter monitor and a motion to adopt the Ducktown Law Court resolution were recorded but the provided transcript excerpt does not include detailed vote tallies or recorded final outcomes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Polk County Commission Meeting 8/21/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners discussed the Copper Basin Community Center’s role as an emergency shelter and whether the fire department’s shelter duties fall outside its scope; the commission also reviewed and read a resolution making the center available for certain Ducktown Law Court proceedings until a new courthouse is built.","taxTitle","Polk County, Tennessee","taxId",73406,"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},6478798,"Commissioners move forward on RFPs for fire-station roof and South Polk compactor",76,1289000,1365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708170-aa31e483664d64a36da2509a4e0fb219&start=1289&end=1365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708170-aa31e483664d64a36da2509a4e0fb219/thumbnail_1289000.jpg","/articles/6478798/Polk-County/Tennessee/Commissioners-move-forward-on-RFPs-for-fire-station-roof-and-South-Polk-compactor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478798-c8ddb48e24c1883db42f9ee4eee625ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148454&Signature=acOdh-KiWbpPrciGIRosE4JNygnX7IUtlosdIJ0Ynzz23KORIt3Sdi-bSBoQTDAeT63roLvcrG6Ai3gTUpbIU~9~v9-oiYZizFnhjPETDg0xm7vhafycsQoAVEaquL5HuQGWO-ArJkhyhuekkULnMPeClHaeMwLVRBR5dNR07nuaTonr~UkQlIWaflhs2KUeWvG1qA4vx-rWDFXizFQ85vYH4636vMocog~I~dAX1jz180SWi421j0h-1nAAZ2iVvMZ7jjq75FiAcmgO~DPdZbKQBHHnxICcLvCs7dUXFQNcQje9Z7XLBdSuL8~y7iIASWtzTKkrwD729k3Jhsar7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Polk County commissioners discussed plans to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) for a new roof at the county fire headquarters and for a compactor at the South Polk transfer site.

On the fire-department headquarters, staff said the building’s flat roof needs replacement and that specifications are being prepared; the county hopes to install a single-ply roof similar to work previously completed at the election commission office. Staff said they would solicit bids once specifications from a contractor (identified as David Price in the discussion) are completed.

At the South Polk transfer site, commissioners discussed moving the existing packer box and installing a new 3-yard or 5-yard packer on a recently reinforced concrete pad. Staff noted the current unit is a 1.5-yard box that has seen heavy use, and that a new 3-yard box is generally recommended because a 5-yard unit can increase loading height and complicate user access for older residents. A preliminary cost range for a new packer was discussed at roughly $15,000 to $28,000 depending on size and specifications.

Staff said they planned to advertise the RFPs and return recommendations to the commission later; they referenced prior vendor relationships and said the county typically awards by best value. No formal contract award was recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.

Ending: Staff will finish specifications and issue RFPs; cost estimates and final award decisions were not made at the meeting and will return to the commission for approval.","County staff said they will issue requests for proposals for a replacement roof at the county fire headquarters and for a new compactor box at the South Polk transfer site; cost estimates for the compactor ranged from about $15,000 to $28,000 depending on size.",{"_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},6478802,"Commission nominates three incumbent planning commissioners to restore staggered terms under TCA code",80,1187000,1267000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708170-aa31e483664d64a36da2509a4e0fb219&start=1187&end=1267","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708170-aa31e483664d64a36da2509a4e0fb219/thumbnail_1187000.jpg","/articles/6478802/Polk-County/Tennessee/Commission-nominates-three-incumbent-planning-commissioners-to-restore-staggered-terms-under-TCA-code","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478802-316eec144a46647efa9e90c9e6fb92a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148454&Signature=j70YNcq~s2uCx7AsJif1h4Vno2H7vFfx1GQfEhNTgD4P29vdKbfbD3m-8QnbPu4XFSKX8tbc~fhz2ojDaMOPr2AFtRPB8005uHGNNauOdaGtp2U6N86AUK74d7gsoiztaEaVOT~iK1FouPiCHPxJXjuyHNouEYr~kyP~7Qxja6UCXGM2wYTc77lZEKrEH~nG7HJnxqDzILQ1E8OQywVZWo0Z9BMP4-yILoiOXoKbZElBOa-H7NwGHBYJoOzukblBK3A7yq9fVHokKtHTNi9gP4ld6Shs5TWpvP0bc3ZUGSg5p-5AiPgC-HgDGl5mxuDJwbXgNXiiTQe02msKvRMVPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Polk County commissioners discussed and nominated three members to the county planning board to correct the board’s term staggering and align it with Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) requirements.

County staff said the planning board had been operating on a mix of two- and four-year reappointments and recommended reorganizing terms into three sets so members’ expirations do not all occur simultaneously, consistent with TCA. The presenter recommended reappointing Mike Twirley, Gary Silvers and Mark Bishop to four-year terms this cycle so the board would fall into the required staggered pattern. The presenter said the recommended appointees agreed to serve.

A motion to reappoint those three members was made and seconded on the record; the transcript records the motion and a second but does not include a roll-call tally or a final recorded vote in the excerpt.

Ending: The commission recorded nominations and a motion to reappoint the three planning-board members to four-year terms; a recorded final vote does not appear in the provided transcript excerpt.","County presented a plan to bring planning-board terms into compliance with Tennessee Code Annotated, recommending reappointment of three incumbents to four-year terms and staggering future reappointments.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6478807,"Commissioners discuss ADA compliance, form accessibility committee and name representatives",129,624000,753000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708170-aa31e483664d64a36da2509a4e0fb219&start=624&end=753","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708170-aa31e483664d64a36da2509a4e0fb219/thumbnail_624000.jpg","/articles/6478807/Polk-County/Tennessee/Commissioners-discuss-ADA-compliance-form-accessibility-committee-and-name-representatives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478807-d09a0493cdfee540be6ba5037e05ef75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148454&Signature=CQqIt1c~SW5AYnAe9sm~vP5mAu7giFht0yrAkYpuPiFviDw~PPFK-PWcikZ6PHvDuJmlOWBZoFuL0z9riQO0dqu7x5lZ2YtWLKIiGvO2QHa37L0Y6q4mklCJwRIQNqGS6F5Mr0bpDjoereSJ1~Ii0J3nIS4LOD5raTQGJ52nti76BAbB4NFt~ZyI1M85KgHZBd0yCxsi0zmpDB3B8-0JoXKP6broU149qBeWdeuKT4-3QxKvqPy7899~J5MWJ-ehAx9HkrrYod2saEg8RL4XDugBSRvbbKukiIgL3tXnYuX41UZvhCKLcwoVcVGgTbv94mOY5oFjLQFbxIyBltNyog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Polk County commissioners addressed American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance paperwork and the county’s designated ADA contact during the August meeting.

The discussion arose after staff reviewed an open-records submission and related correspondence showing a previous ADA designee’s paperwork lacked a recorded signature. The presenter said the former designee’s termination left duties effectively shifted to a county employee who had not formally signed the required form.

As a next step, commissioners proposed forming a committee to inventory county accessibility needs and to coordinate with the Southeast Tennessee Development District (referred to in meeting materials) and school officials. The presenter said he had asked James Jones, director of schools, to recommend school-district representation and proposed committee members including William Wallace, Ben Brown (maintenance), Adam Stone and Commissioner Pittenger. The presenter also suggested adding an East-side school representative if recommended by the superintendent.

Meeting participants emphasized that the ADA-designation role for the county is unpaid and that some prior recordkeeping gaps—specifically a missing signature—needed correction. Commissioners discussed whether the ADA designation required a formal appointment by the full commission; one participant said they believed the role fell under an existing county job title rather than requiring a separate commission vote.

The group asked the buildings-and-grounds committee to walk the courthouse and other county buildings to compile a prioritized list of accessibility and repair needs and to report back. The transcript shows discussion and planning, but no recorded formal vote on an ADA appointment in the provided excerpt.

Ending: Commissioners agreed to pursue coordinated review with the development district and the school system and to assemble a buildings-and-grounds review; no formal appointment vote is recorded in the excerpt.","County commissioners reviewed ADA compliance paperwork, clarified a missing designee signature on a prior form, and proposed an accessibility committee including county staff and school-district representation.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6478812,"Polk County commissioners consider budget amendments, $30,000 for courthouse and building maintenance",126,356000,482000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708170-aa31e483664d64a36da2509a4e0fb219&start=356&end=482","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708170-aa31e483664d64a36da2509a4e0fb219/thumbnail_356000.jpg","/articles/6478812/Polk-County/Tennessee/Polk-County-commissioners-consider-budget-amendments-30000-for-courthouse-and-building-maintenance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478812-cae5dc409b7905514cd4421011f4ad72/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148454&Signature=W-N8W9GqXHvByNgzHj4nW~oWnlxKUIryExEejI19TBtkaXc5WVVyGEgC~qrG6esmA2O9t08qqKY2SqUeH3I-D6bVApRXif2CTmO8wb97ILKKKIxoUZ44exYNB0Ita~7gM4vBT~FeHG7akT9-Q-QqqvWQXs-kDg202eE5oW42R6T1xFeMBux4Ecsb8~6R7zJUUxT9sG6tFl8oGk0nGyMF2jKXAWEH7RAFyqbMrfgzWMAEIJILM1~E2JuHb28NZV8Fm3zWAYuF0D4gxQX9nnAwDZJrxYELsQ3tAPY4Wib5A5vLF~vvfvCRqall3M-rKroI~1nlbaUN~V1Kw5ulJxxZEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Polk County commissioners discussed several budget amendments and an allocation of $30,000 for county building maintenance during their August meeting in Ducktown.

The amendments listed a $965 purchase for a security camera and security system for the downtown office, a $196.80 line item described as an annual membership for new equipment in the account office, a $310 credit-card machine purchase, and an adjustment to the legal-services line to ensure attorney fees could be paid if needed. A separate budget item, described as “Fund 188, amendment number 1,” would allocate $30,000 for ongoing county building maintenance projects, including flooring and painting in the mail room and a large courtroom, and repairs to tile and lighting.

The county official presenting the items described recent unplanned maintenance costs early in the budget year, including approximately $4,000 to replace a heating and air unit and said the $30,000 allocation would cover a number of planned and reactive projects. The presenter noted previously completed work in other county buildings and said the maintenance account balance would remain available if not used during the year.

A motion to approve the listed purchases and amendments was made and seconded on the record; the transcript records the motion and second but does not record a roll-call vote tally or a final vote outcome in the portion provided.

Clarifying details mentioned during the discussion included the types of projects planned (flooring, painting, tile and lighting replacement in the big courtroom, mail room work) and the recent unplanned cost for HVAC replacement. The presentation named the downtown office as the location for the proposed security system.

The commissioners did not attach new conditions to the legal-services line beyond ensuring funds would be available to pay outside counsel if items arising from executive session required it. The budget items and the $30,000 building-maintenance allocation were presented as part of routine financial housekeeping and upkeep planning.

The commission did not discuss a detailed timetable for each maintenance project during the recorded discussion; staff said a buildings-and-grounds committee walk-through had been completed and that further prioritization would be shared via email and at committee meetings.

Ending: Items were presented and motions recorded; the transcript does not include vote tallies or a recorded final disposition for these specific amendments in the excerpt provided.","Commissioners discussed several small budget amendments including purchases for office security and a credit-card machine and reviewed a $30,000 allocation for county building maintenance and courthouse repairs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners weigh community-center shelter duties and approve resolution to host Ducktown Law Court proceedings

Commissioners move forward on RFPs for fire-station roof and South Polk compactor

Commission nominates three incumbent planning commissioners to restore staggered terms under TCA code

Commissioners discuss ADA compliance, form accessibility committee and name representatives

Polk County commissioners consider budget amendments, $30,000 for courthouse and building maintenance