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Hamblen County Commission votes to abolish Road Commission; debate centers on pay, duties and legal language
Summary
After extended debate about payment rules and superintendent duties, the commission voted to amend the county—s private act to abolish the Hamblen County Road Commission effective Aug. 31, 2028, while several commissioners urged further review of the draft language.
Hamblen County commissioners voted to amend the county's private act to abolish the Hamblen County Road Commission, a measure the commission recorded as effective Aug. 31, 2028, after extended discussion over draft language.
The item (listed as 9a) was introduced in the finance committee and presented to the full commission by Commissioner Rodney Long. Long put the language in the form of a motion to repeal the private act governing the road commission and move administration of county road responsibilities under the Uniform County Highway Act and county administration, subject to state review.
Commissioner Edna Green raised multiple objections during debate, saying the draft did not explicitly require commissioners to be present in order to receive pay. "This does not say that they have to attend to be paid," Green said, arguing that the language went beyond abolishing the commission and also altered the superintendent—s duties, which had not previously been discussed.
Supporters said the draft verbiage had been reviewed by CTAS (County Technical Assistance Service) and Tennessee highway officials to avoid past mistakes in other counties that inadvertently abolished the entire road department, not just the commission. Speakers noted the road commission itself previously voted 6–1 to abolish itself; the private‑act amendment was presented as the implementation step of that decision.
After further discussion about repayment plans for alleged unlawful payments to some former road commissioners and questions about whether county attorneys had reviewed the draft, the commission voted by roll call to adopt the amendment. The approved motion will proceed through the required state review and, if accepted by the state, return to the commission for final implementation.
The commission's recorded debate showed disagreement over several operational details, including bookkeeping and the superintendent's job description; some commissioners asked to table the item for further edits while others urged prompt action. The motion as presented passed on the record.
