Blount County commission approves grants, budget moves, appointment and schedules zoning hearing

The Blount County Board of County Commissioners on April 17 approved a package of grant applications and budget resolutions, confirmed a mayoral appointment to the county Public Building Authority and set a zoning public hearing for May 8.

The actions included approval of a Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) grant application for the Blount County Sheriff’s Office for $185,000 (no matching funds required); authorization to reapply for a Hazard Mitigation Grant of $381,945 to purchase three trailer‑mounted generators with a 12.5% local match of $47,743.12 for operations centers in Blount County, Maryville and Alcoa; and a $167,700 budget increase (Resolution No. 254001) to appropriate sheriff training funds to enter into a contract for engineering services to design a new firing range training center. The commission also adopted Resolution No. 254019 to sell inherited property as surplus and confirmed Mayor Ed Mitchell’s appointment of Kevin Ross to the Public Building Authority to fill a vacancy through July 31, 2029.

Why it matters: the grant approvals add state funding for public safety and emergency operations; the budget increase directs sheriff training funds to site planning for a new firing range; and the zoning hearing could change land use for a parcel along U.S. Highway 411.

Votes and key details - Motion to set the meeting agenda as published: carried (15 yes votes). - General consent calendar: adopted (15 yes votes). - Budget consent calendar: adopted (15 yes votes). - Confirm mayoral appointment of Kevin Ross to the Public Building Authority (term to expire 07/31/2029): motion by Commissioner Bright, second by Commissioner Giles; carried (15 yes votes). - Blount County Sheriff’s Office THSO grant application, $185,000 (no match): motion by Commissioner Bledsoe, second by Commissioner Giles; carried (15 yes votes). - Emergency Management hazard mitigation grant reapplication, $381,945; 12.5% match $47,743.12 to fund three trailer‑mounted generators for operations centers in Blount County, Maryville and Alcoa: motion by Commissioner Carver, second by Commissioner Webb; carried (15 yes votes). - Resolution No. 254001, budget increase of $167,700 to appropriate sheriff training funds for engineering services for a new firing range training center: motion by Commissioner Michaels, second by Commissioner Joplin; carried (15 yes votes). - Resolution No. 254019, sell inherited property as surplus: motion by Commissioner Bright, second by Commissioner Webb; carried (16 yes votes). - Set a zoning public hearing to amend the Blount County zoning map from R‑1 (Rural District 1) to R‑A‑C (Rural Arterial Commercial) for a 3.19‑acre portion of a 5.01‑acre tract described in the caption (transcript lists the location as “52025204 U.S. Highway 411 South, tax map 100, parcel 9.03”): motion by Commissioner Bright, second by Commissioner Carver; hearing set for Thursday, May 8 at 5:45 p.m.; carried (16 yes votes).

The commission’s votes were procedural and carried with recorded voice tallies (counts provided by the clerk); individual board member roll‑call votes were not read aloud in the transcript.

Background/context: several items were referred to the full commission with favorable recommendations from the Budget Committee (3‑0) before the full‑commission votes. The emergency management grant is a reapplication of a hazard mitigation package originally presented in November 2022. The zoning item was scheduled for a public hearing; no final rezoning decision was made at the April 17 meeting.

Next steps: the zoning hearing is scheduled for May 8 at 5:45 p.m.; the Hazard Mitigation Grant reapplication will proceed through the grant process and the engineering contract for the firing range will be procured under the appropriated funds when the county executes the contract.