Hamilton County Commission approves package of resolutions, including conveyance of McDonald Farm for state park
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Summary
The commission unanimously passed a set of resolutions on March 26, 2026, including a resolution to convey about 1,300 acres of McDonald Farm to Tennessee for a state park and multiple procurement and grant-authorizing measures totaling several hundred thousand dollars.
Hamilton County commissioners on March 26 unanimously approved a slate of resolutions that include a land conveyance to create a state park, several procurement contracts and grant-authorizing applications.
The body passed Resolution 3 26-2, expressing the commission’s intent to convey approximately 1,300 acres of the McDonald Farm property (predominantly west of the rail line) to the State of Tennessee for the purpose of creating a state park. Clerk read the resolution and Commissioner Graham moved, with Commissioner Shipley seconding; the roll call was affirmative and the measure passed.
Commissioners also approved multiple other items in committee votes: Resolution 3 26-1 (accepting notary applications, bonds and oaths of deputy sheriffs); Resolution 3 26-4 (requiring adherence to the longstanding agreement that the Hamilton County mayor and Commission approve payment-in-lieu-of-tax negotiations affecting county ad valorem revenues); Resolution 3 26-5 (authorizing a design contract not to exceed $105,000 with MBI Companies Inc. for Harrison Center kitchen renovations); Resolution 3 26-6 (relinquishing county interest in a 2014 Ford Explorer to the Etowah Fire Department K-9 team); Resolution 3 26-7 (a $5,600 FY2026 amendment for Office of Emergency Management training supplements — $800 each for seven employees); Resolution 3 26-8 (security repairs and upgrades at the Juvenile Court Detention Center totaling $99,182.60); and Resolution 3 26-9 (a $249,996.97 video security and retention project for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office via cooperative purchase).
In public works and zoning business, the commission approved Resolution 3 26-10 to apply for a U.S. Department of Transportation grant not to exceed $719,400 with a required 20% local match, authorizing the county mayor to sign necessary contracts. Finance approved Resolution 3 26-11 to apply for $392,000 through the Tennessee Public Parks Grants program (TDEC) for the Causeway Trail at Chester Frost Park, a project the resolution lists with total cost $490,000 and a 20% county match.
Several motions were made and seconded from the floor and each item was adopted following roll-call votes recorded by the clerk. The roll-call responses listed Commissioners Chauncey, Ebersaw/Ebersole/Eversol (transcript variants), Graham, Helton, Highlander, Mackey, Shipley and Chairman Smith as voting affirmatively on the recorded items.
County leadership framed the McDonald Farm conveyance as a generational parks investment. County Mayor and others described economic benefits tied to the park plans, with differing numerical estimates cited during announcements.
The commission recessed at the meeting’s close until March 11 at 4:00 p.m.