Commission hears plan to transfer eviction-diversion grant funds to Chattanooga Bar Association for expanded mediation

Hamilton County officials presented a resolution to appropriate $27,500 from a 2022 National Center for State Courts eviction diversion initiative grant to fund indigent mediation services provided by the Chattanooga Bar Association. County and court officials said the transfer would expand mediation services to qualifying cases across general sessions, chancery and circuit courts, transitioning a successful pilot program to an outside nonprofit agency.

Circuit Court Judge Alex McVay and Sean Johnson, the county court chief administrative officer, described the program and recognized staff who coordinated the pilot. Judge McVay clarified that the program provides mediation services — not medical medication — and praised Preet Grewal, the county’s housing stability facilitator, for his work partnering with landlords, tenants and volunteer mediators. "Preet ensures that both landlords and tenants understand what is going on in the court system," McVay said, and the judge noted Grewal will conclude county service later in the month.

Sean Johnson told commissioners the transfer is intended to expand a pilot that helped litigants reach agreements without judicial rulings and to make mediation services available through a nonprofit provider. The resolution (925Dash29) would appropriate $27,500 from the grant balance to the Chattanooga Bar Association to continue mediation offerings immediately across multiple trial courts.

The item was presented and will be taken up at the next commission meeting; no formal vote occurred at this session.