[{"_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",5979412,"mediaKeyId","5775496-96f3640828efa7e8e5893123b6b40ba5","parentId",5775496,"title","Hamilton County Commission to try 4 p.m. meetings on trial basis; $48,900 budgeted for change","audioSeconds",1291,"startMs",1955000,"endMs",3246000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775496-96f3640828efa7e8e5893123b6b40ba5&start=1955&end=3246","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775496-96f3640828efa7e8e5893123b6b40ba5/thumbnail_1955000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5979412/Hamilton-County/Tennessee/Hamilton-County-Commission-to-try-4-pm-meetings-on-trial-basis-48900-budgeted-for-change","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979412-2d2b5da293170cc00b56144171f2f974/orig.mp4?Expires=1770645295&Signature=a5PHW2WaY~wlX8-Y8JJFXxHksljbj4C78LCOLjMNfi8QahGKVgTLHay-PnHR7Z4wIzHjxR25giwFSGL8xFowO72NBcJXSrp2WPSajvUkrrsNpZvHRj95rs87NYUP8q29fD2rdrkVU5qklJ-9pv-0~c~sCQibMQeCkSDsb6SRte9cGpdAikSlclycnwgl1DRQ4~CE8H1czn4FVbRg8p7-MgjTl-eeN7X-S1vHK4MHh1HVkrMML7Dpa4uwwo-8b-TplXUtfMgspYIm-JX3NVN6mo3zZN7I1C0JN3WZUDt7t18iX9T6tU4D5rs9XUvf6yNd2nESd99E-kZk04l6rSwO7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hamilton County, TN","date","2025-09-18T03:29:55Z","article","The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 17 to hold its weekly meetings at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays on a 60‑day trial basis, beginning Nov. 5 and running through Jan. 7, 2026, and amended the general fund budget by $48,900 to cover costs associated with the change.

Supporters said the later hour is intended to increase public participation by giving working residents more opportunity to attend. “It’s about how do we get more citizens involved in our meetings,” Commissioner Eversol said during debate, urging the commission to try the revised schedule.

The trial had been amended during the meeting so that legal notices and department planning could be completed; the original resolution called for an Oct. 1 start date. Commissioner Hilton moved the amendment to begin Nov. 5; Commissioner Highlander seconded. Following roll call, the amended resolution passed.

Commissioners who spoke for the change said many peer counties start meetings after normal work hours and that a temporary trial will let the commission evaluate whether evening meetings draw greater public engagement. “I think the general consensus is that we should give this a try and see if we can get better participation from the public,” Commissioner Helton said after a legal‑committee briefing earlier that morning.

Opponents and cautious members questioned how the county will measure success and whether the added cost is justified. Commissioner Mackey said he would “reluctantly” support the trial but asked that commissioners develop measurable criteria tied to public participation and the use of taxpayer dollars. Commissioner Shipley called 4 p.m. an odd time because it falls at many workers’ shift changes: “04:00 is a weird time,” he said, noting that many peer governments meet at 5 p.m.

Public commenters reflected the split. Gary Bowles of Ooltewah, who identified himself during public comment, urged passage so “working citizens [have] an opportunity to attend and participate in commission meetings.” A regular public speaker, Money Bell, criticized the commission’s approach to public comment and decorum rules but did not address the logistics of the time change. Mikaela Winter of District 8 thanked commissioners for the vote and asked the commission to define specific, measurable outcomes to evaluate the trial’s success: \"I'm hungry for, in January 2026, when we look back on this trial, how will we know it was successful?\"

Discussion, direction and formal action were distinct in the record. Commissioners instructed staff and departments to prepare for the trial and an “after action” review at mid‑trial, but the commission did not set a formal rubric for success during the Sept. 17 meeting; several commissioners said they would develop metrics and return with recommendations at the planned review.

The motion to approve the resolution as amended was made by Commissioner Eversol and seconded by Commissioner Highlander; the roll call vote was recorded and the resolution passed. The county mayor’s office will implement the scheduling change and the budget amendment; the trial will conclude with a review and a decision whether to continue evening meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 17, 2025 - Hamilton County Commission Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 17 to hold its weekly meetings at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays on a 60‑day trial basis beginning Nov. 5, and amended the general‑fund budget by $48,900 to cover the change.","taxTitle","Hamilton County, Tennessee","taxId",3756,"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},5979403,"County approves up to $500,000 in 2024 bond proceeds for Red Bank recreation projects",166,3666000,3832000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775496-96f3640828efa7e8e5893123b6b40ba5&start=3666&end=3832","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775496-96f3640828efa7e8e5893123b6b40ba5/thumbnail_3666000.jpg","/articles/5979403/Hamilton-County/Tennessee/County-approves-up-to-500000-in-2024-bond-proceeds-for-Red-Bank-recreation-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979403-e4721de64472584efb0b3882346776e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770645295&Signature=ovhQasTGPBufVs0sZKCf17l-fSegR09-yRRmvJ5RSLwUbOygaGfEAdtpbiRiM4x3hmoTdjE-vBf6HxYhAJUrQWPH-rtnWXmt2wAAYU7SeF5z0RiSJJx~jO-nVP9uylMzvdczYQMdkyekicnP5cYWXiwLjJbjSqf9RHPhzom7mlUgU81bTnIhtEt9t74nO0sLqNKMxlWihAx-JKS2J4Auxv9pUzdHjVTb5tDJt2LLsevgb4j1ZBUTZ7zIJldIcfq8dtkN2zMjVp0UNiHVwFhAtIYd-MmvnVXIMdjwy5AvI1KU3fG2EwRoMs1tNI9qgXhj76WU2165upF35QQVZ8y9pQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 17 approved Resolution 925‑19, allocating up to $500,000 in proceeds from the county’s 2024 bond issue to support community recreation projects in the city of Red Bank.

Martin Granham, city manager of Red Bank, told commissioners the project grew from a multi‑year, data‑driven planning process in which the city established a goal of a “10‑minute walk to park” and developed a parks and recreation master plan. “It’s with great joy that I’m here this morning to speak on behalf of this project, this exciting and transformational project,” Granham said.

Red Bank officials told the commission the most pressing unmet recreation need identified in the master plan is a public basketball court — the city currently has none — and the planned investment centers on a basketball park and surrounding amenities. Granham said the project reuses underutilized city‑owned property, improves walkability (he said the project would increase the city’s walkability score by 12 percent) and connects to other active projects, including a recently awarded $402,000 Tennessee Department of Health diabetes‑prevention grant to develop trail connections on about 19 acres adjacent to schools, the pool and the community center.

Granham described additional local projects that would complement the new park: expansion of the White Oak Connector Trail, design work on a bike boulevard funded by a regional congestion mitigation/air quality grant, and plans for a north‑end park on the former Red Bank Middle School site. He invited commissioners to a future ribbon cutting, saying the city expects construction and completion in roughly a year.

Commissioner Sharp and others praised the city’s community engagement and planning process. Commissioner Graham asked commissioners to support the county grant application on behalf of Red Bank; Commissioner Graham and Commissioner Shipley moved and seconded the resolution. A roll‑call vote followed and Resolution 925‑19 passed.

The appropriation directs county bond proceeds to partner with Red Bank on the park and related recreation and trail investments. County staff and Red Bank will proceed with project design and implementation steps as outlined by city staff during the presentation.","The commission approved Resolution 925‑19 on Sept. 17 to allocate up to $500,000 of 2024 bond proceeds for community recreation projects in Red Bank, including a proposed basketball‑focused park and complementary trail work. Red Bank officials said the project will fill a local gap — the city has no publicly owned basketball court — and that the",{"_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},5979408,"Commission affirms decision not to defend deputy in two lawsuits; union counsel urges reimbursement",123,3317000,3440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775496-96f3640828efa7e8e5893123b6b40ba5&start=3317&end=3440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775496-96f3640828efa7e8e5893123b6b40ba5/thumbnail_3317000.jpg","/articles/5979408/Hamilton-County/Tennessee/Commission-affirms-decision-not-to-defend-deputy-in-two-lawsuits-union-counsel-urges-reimbursement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979408-7f77e116b039da3db594f7d5c6d37082/orig.mp4?Expires=1770645295&Signature=C6YX9hOj6~iDnKBlspMcdIWOVgYgLi12zsuERCIvLDQMZLvJmHfxsGJ1pauAeH9612y3c9RpXn7EYMkz79D4tqQPq56CGKj9Ui6YnRzDGmeZJVt15syECK5IeAbcm6NJLnLDi-0ItS096vWqER9C-cL0Vd~AxXOcUuvvWiZJQk1PxneX7uGuWqjPKVvSnb4mo4C-KTnzSJy7VWzDWKV3iOEdQv8cY7YAD1xzTjfR8rypsS185tAvaxAZVlzPQ0XxDIrPcVce4kL5eSaxwj4GZYnTZ8n0o~UUIwWrRRAQXSOdo-NmBv3TuPrbIcyNjoHhq2L-3-lXx5iC1gRR26SQPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 17 affirmed the county’s decision to decline to defend and indemnify Deputy Daniel Wilkie in two pending matters, passing Resolutions 925‑37 and 925‑38. The resolutions apply the county’s employee liability plan to the cases listed as Mitchell v. Wilkie and Wilson v. Wilkie.

Jim Maxim, counsel for the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, addressed the commission during public comment and urged denial of the resolutions. “Deputy Wilkie… was entitled to have an attorney during the litigation,” Maxim said, adding that a fellow officer accused of similar conduct had been provided a county attorney. He told commissioners Wilkie was later exonerated in federal proceedings and that the county attorney’s office nonetheless “refused to reimburse him.” Maxim asked the commission to “back your police officers” and to reimburse Wilkie for his defense costs.

The clerk read the two resolutions, described as affirmations declining defense under the county’s employee liability plan. Commissioner Highlander moved approval and Commissioner Chauncey seconded. After brief public remarks and no further standing public comment, the commission took a roll‑call vote and the resolutions passed.

The meeting record shows the resolutions were acted on as standalone formal actions; the county did not announce any immediate reversal or reimbursement at the Sept. 17 session. Maxim stated that appeals been submitted regarding the denials and urged commissioners to reconsider; the commission did not take additional procedural action during the meeting.

Motion and vote details: Commissioner Highlander moved approval of the bundle that included Resolutions 925‑37 and 925‑38; Commissioner Chauncey seconded. Roll call recorded a majority vote in favor and both resolutions passed.

This action relates to active litigation and to the county’s employee liability plan. Commissioners did not debate detailed merits of the underlying lawsuits on the floor during the Sept. 17 session; public comment from union counsel raised factual claims about prior representation and federal court findings that the commission did not resolve during the meeting.","On Sept. 17 the Hamilton County Commission voted to affirm the county's decision to decline defense and indemnification for deputy Daniel Wilkie in two pending matters (Mitchell v. Wilkie and Wilson v. Wilkie) under the county's employee liability plan. Union counsel said Wilkie was entitled to representation and urged the commission to reimburse","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hamilton County Commission to try 4 p.m. meetings on trial basis; $48,900 budgeted for change

County approves up to $500,000 in 2024 bond proceeds for Red Bank recreation projects

Commission affirms decision not to defend deputy in two lawsuits; union counsel urges reimbursement