[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",5978722,"mediaKeyId","5809538-93b813327e52ac2097e61dcc139f5bac","parentId",5809538,"title","Commission confirms board appointments, adopts employee handbook changes and clears surplus items; staff explains SRO accounting","audioSeconds",1526,"startMs",1801000,"endMs",3327000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809538-93b813327e52ac2097e61dcc139f5bac&start=1801&end=3327","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809538-93b813327e52ac2097e61dcc139f5bac/thumbnail_1801000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5978722/Hamblen-County/Tennessee/Commission-confirms-board-appointments-adopts-employee-handbook-changes-and-clears-surplus-items-staff-explains-SRO-accounting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978722-31d6c4327e45ff23e1c65eb6e581ab87/orig.mp4?Expires=1775376810&Signature=acyIUv1~Jb4VgRcLpYKtnPc8a1XG7CIOkU8Do5~EoFIX0db5KAdoZPg5OfE54frz-wWD-Z0EeBsN7ZCzq4b~sOJvOtUAkP53ZRsIRsnYwAdmss-LWuC3JSFphP0pKWHasXk4ToZrXwqMV2puXLDsTfE3k1be18O66reC~vrPgYskXv4G0PzXSkQs~wSAyYeCqNyPR18F53NKzJlfxIOXqLR6ds-ToaJ~AQX16eJdNIDDyga683UVahHMW5eiKDrhez5bAKKOP5JwC-AxF8lMNuF5h4NSBODl08WJqsBMvQW4YbKROvQJYWrRN7v-p3EILiiaULFJHewMpmdyXVEGWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hamblen County, TN","date","2025-09-19T00:00:00Z","article","Hammond County commissioners handled several personnel and administrative items on Sept. 18, including reappointments, committee appointments, and policy updates.

The commission reappointed Matt Lacey to a three‑year term on the Morristown‑Hamlin Solid Waste Board, with the term expiring Oct. 31, 2028. The full commission also approved the appointment of Tim Waller to the planning commission to fill the vacancy left by long‑time member John Hoffer.

The Personnel Committee presented revisions to the county employee handbook; the full commission approved the handbook changes by roll call vote. The Public Services Committee moved and the commission approved surplus declarations for sheriff’s‑department equipment.

County staff clarified an accounting question during the meeting: Amanda (county administrative/finance staff) explained that School Resource Officer (SRO) salaries and related expenses are being tracked in an account labeled “special patrols” so the costs remain separate from the sheriff’s department general ledger. \"That's the SRO money that we talked about before. The county audit said that I could use the special patrols department to keep the SRO's salary benefits and all their expenses separated out of the sheriff's department,\" Amanda said. She added that the county will move funds via a budget amendment at a later date to reflect the correct accounting entry.

All appointments and the handbook revisions were approved by roll call as recorded in the meeting minutes; the commission did not place conditions on the appointments during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 18, 2025 County Commission","oneSentenceSummary","The commission reappointed Matt Lacey to the solid waste board, appointed Tim Waller to the planning commission, approved revisions to the employee handbook and surplus items for the sheriff's department, and staff clarified that School Resource Officer costs are tracked under a \"special patrols\" line pending a budget transfer.","taxTitle","Hamblen County, Tennessee","taxId",73399,"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},5978727,"Commission awards Cherokee Park electrical contract; approves health-department change order and $5,000 parks budget amendment",227,2724000,2951000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809538-93b813327e52ac2097e61dcc139f5bac&start=2724&end=2951","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809538-93b813327e52ac2097e61dcc139f5bac/thumbnail_2724000.jpg","/articles/5978727/Hamblen-County/Tennessee/Commission-awards-Cherokee-Park-electrical-contract-approves-health-department-change-order-and-5000-parks-budget-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978727-ea77982ccb805ccd62a945ca56eb2b04/orig.mp4?Expires=1775376810&Signature=IG-uz57vwLmgt3F6STlWQoPbvEqGpui6IB6fxSjmkk4us4cC6oBQqv7q30hE4shlFW9mHGbR-ciU766ZfFDC9v5RMHgjSOS~QnY~K96~TpBVsXZuwQG5XhFz758VfBQiFs2vClVL5c0xnbVyhJChrLoUvql-y1neqKxATBKbZaknHqDsrsB3Wbeg89d~uMJ~JljpMo0KnA1w1a-TWdngW7iNmbXzESFRc8JCRTCXaSehRzk58uRazF69TfXuKP879CoFHxJKrQJzraOMvx48zqNVGHb70TvWKhwpyKJ71vmhcFhu9x7yAtDDZl3c~wx0yFfMuhmHCKq6c7weRd9Lrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hammond County Commission approved several finance-committee items on Sept. 18, including an award of contract ITB 20-2601 for the Cherokee Park Campground electrical update and a construction change order for the Hammond County Health Department.

Finance Committee Chairman Rodney Long presented the bid results and moved to award the Cherokee Park Campground electrical project to Miller Electric LLC; the commission approved the motion by roll call. The item was presented as the lowest/responsive bid per the agenda’s procurement procedure; the meeting record does not include the contract value.

The commission also approved Construction Change Directive Number 1 with the Hammond County Health Department after committee recommendation. No dollar amount for the change directive was read into the record during the public session.

In a separate finance action, commissioners approved Budget Amendment No. 1 to Fund 101 (parks and fire boards) in the amount of $5,000. During discussion, staff and commissioners said the amendment would be applied toward a vehicle purchase for Cherokee Park — the county had previously budgeted funds and sold equipment (such as surplus utility carts) to help cover part of the cost, and the amendment represents the remaining amount needed to complete the purchase.

All three measures passed on the consent or regular calendar votes recorded by roll call. The meeting record does not show contract signatures or final execution dates; follow-up procurement paperwork and contract execution will proceed through county purchasing procedures.","The finance committee reported awards and amendments: Miller Electric LLC received the bid for Cherokee Park Campground electrical work (ITB 20-2601); the commission approved a construction change order with the health department and a $5,000 budget amendment to purchase a truck for Cherokee Park.",{"_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},5978731,"Commission approves rezoning of 2702 Calvin Road (Resolution 25-22)",57,2597000,2654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809538-93b813327e52ac2097e61dcc139f5bac&start=2597&end=2654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809538-93b813327e52ac2097e61dcc139f5bac/thumbnail_2597000.jpg","/articles/5978731/Hamblen-County/Tennessee/Commission-approves-rezoning-of-2702-Calvin-Road-Resolution-25-22","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978731-4541f0b19cf98db73624e52e5dfc9650/orig.mp4?Expires=1775376810&Signature=KPzMY-bWYuqdWopaGcPu7aPNg35yVhv-TbTJ2TA64C6cp6E2ovX4qE5m0N8a-JmS-Bp8ieYAxYxOJhTKMpQieKtMOmfunaOv1nPj3uxUdky1YENQG-TYVgQLP8Q5T0exdYWMRqg7hV4gYU9eON8JJwfqVbGYnj~ZCj71R96q-Jldc4qkR9SGSACbMgwOOCPV89eyvFdWQWNVA5V1dZnr8ZvleM6G-jbw7V7IEMrOdA7vpRV5xksaRWT8q3Z~b21sptvv83OFuZTwdW0dCxUSBdfDpqww0aV19kAaAsvR0XbQGDzqNqvY-eTK9CaozgDbQKmln1czx2F2fnsyXQSi6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hammond County commissioners approved Resolution 25-22 on Sept. 18, amending the county zoning map to rezone District 02, tax map 024, Parcel 160112702 (2702 Calvin Road, Morristown) from C-1 to A-1.

The change was considered in a public hearing that the commission opened as part of the evening’s agenda. After pausing the hearing to reconvene the legislative body, a commissioner moved to approve the resolution, a second was entered, and the commission approved the measure by roll call.

The resolution was described on the floor as a standard amendment to the zoning map; no other substantive testimony opposing or supporting the rezoning was recorded during the public-hearing segment. Chairman Bobby Hahn called the roll to record the vote and announced the motion passed.

The rezoning alters the official classification for the specified parcel as reflected in the county’s zoning map. Commissioners did not provide further detail about proposed uses at the site during the meeting and did not attach conditions to the rezoning on the record.

Any implementation steps (permits, site plans or follow-up hearings) will proceed under the county's land-use permitting process and applicable zoning regulations.","Hammond County commissioners approved Resolution 25-22 to change the zoning of a parcel at 2702 Calvin Road from C-1 to A-1 following a public hearing and roll-call vote.",{"_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},5978735,"Hammond County reappoints Chris Capps as county attorney amid billing concerns",564,1112000,1676000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809538-93b813327e52ac2097e61dcc139f5bac&start=1112&end=1676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809538-93b813327e52ac2097e61dcc139f5bac/thumbnail_1112000.jpg","/articles/5978735/Hamblen-County/Tennessee/Hammond-County-reappoints-Chris-Capps-as-county-attorney-amid-billing-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978735-83dd27b4916780f9914ed6044bf253e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775376810&Signature=UeBCVx5bR17pwBpC25MEuxKbsySGiKs3ndr8ZAz9GL70R4sXuHWq2MFMKgSTV5qWsJbrY2Zqq8hnqErUbiujJHfFzzOMcb2DU2W~LNXbulr3LW-13wWrnqWJfy0mv86eQO4UTOJVaFE-Jh7X6uCKCep9AM9toitDNHzHijS5dvq7gxXfRNnj53LVqKiP1~inhAh0NVAMqBTtTD0BgVpnOlm3s85P-Etw4J4h5~LC404vl3OnJ1l4obU4rQKsn~60y7RhGphMW8Z~Kg9ar7F9Bc-4j4b0-TJ4gyaxoOBkpWHAFBpRef8TFlvGcsVdue5eNXrbnNMBt1~j6b1aoJ3yAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hammond County Commission on Sept. 18 confirmed Chris Capps to a one-year term as county attorney after receiving a written acknowledgment from Capps in his absence. The confirmation came by roll call vote after a commissioner nominated Capps and no other nominations were made.

The reappointment drew public criticism during the meeting. Gwendolyn Holden, a resident who said she lives at 8150 West Point Drive, urged commissioners not to reappoint Capps, saying his continued service would signal approval of past billing practices. \"If you again appoint Chris Capps, it shows us, all of us taxpayers, that you approve of a county attorney who bills the taxpayers twice for attending county commission meetings,\" Holden said during the agenda-comments portion of the meeting.

Commissioner Edna Green also raised concerns tied to litigation and billing, saying an extended legal matter had involved alleged \"double dipping.\" \"Mister Katz has been under lawsuit for 4 years for for pricing. In other words, double dipping,\" Green said during comments after the vote, and she asked for an attorney with \"ethical standards\" to advise the commission.

Mayor Cutshall told the commission that Capps could not attend the meeting because of a family appointment but had sent a letter indicating he intended to serve. The commission proceeded with a roll call confirmation. The clerk recorded the confirmation as passing and the mayor announced Capps confirmed to the post for the coming year.

Following public comment, commissioners asked that the county attorney appear at the next commission meeting to address specific invoice items and to provide the caption for pending litigation referenced in the consent-calendar invoices. Commissioner Green explicitly asked for the attorney to provide that caption at the next meeting; the mayor and other commissioners agreed to add the item to the next agenda.

No change to the confirmation vote was recorded at the meeting; the appointment stands pending any administrative follow-up.

The commission did not take additional formal disciplinary or investigatory action during the session; concerns were recorded in public comment and members directed staff to request the county attorney attend the next meeting to respond to questions about invoices and litigation captions.","The Hammond County Commission confirmed Chris Capps to a one-year term as county attorney after receiving a letter from Capps; public commenters and at least one commissioner raised concerns about past billing practices and asked that the attorney appear at the next meeting to address invoice details.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission confirms board appointments, adopts employee handbook changes and clears surplus items; staff explains SRO accounting

Commission awards Cherokee Park electrical contract; approves health-department change order and $5,000 parks budget amendment

Commission approves rezoning of 2702 Calvin Road (Resolution 25-22)

Hammond County reappoints Chris Capps as county attorney amid billing concerns