Blount County commissioners advance resolution on property-owner rights after debate over enforcement and liability

Blount County Commission moved Resolution 2501014—described at the meeting as "a resolution protecting property ownership rights of citizens of Blount County"—forward to the full commission by a recorded tally of 15 yes, 1 no and 1 abstention at the Jan. 7, 2025 workshop meeting.

The resolution, introduced at the workshop, says that when county staff or officials deny a requested use of private property they should provide the petitioner a written citation to the specific ordinance that prohibits the activity. Proponents told the commission the measure responds to complaints that county staff sometimes deny uses that are not clearly prohibited by ordinance.

Proponent Commissioner Acord said the resolution grew out of complaints from residents and social-media posts and framed the proposal as a protection of…