Claiborne County Commission approves grant matches, multiple Family Justice Center awards and opioid-settlement acceptance

The Claiborne County Commission met Aug. 16 in Tazewell and unanimously approved a series of resolutions covering grant funding for local programs, a road addition and acceptance of an opioid‑litigation settlement.

Commissioners adopted Resolution 2021‑075 to provide Claiborne County’s remaining $39,285 local match for an ARC INSPIRE grant tied to a $500,000 ARC award (total project funding listed as $714,285). The resolution, moved by Commissioner Kim Large and seconded by Commissioner Charlton Vass, also formalized that the county had transferred a metal building purchased from Pump Springs Baptist Church (doing business as Servolution Ministries) to Helen Ross McNabb; the nonprofit will be authorized to use funds for operational costs related to the Women’s Jail To Work Program. The roll call vote was 21‑0 in favor.

The commission also approved multiple awards and budget adjustments for Family Justice Center programs: - Resolution 2021‑076 (moved by Commissioner Sherry McCreary, seconded by Commissioner Shawn Peters) added $50,500 in FJCP grant revenue and corresponding expense line items for District Attorney General clerical and payroll‑related costs; vote 21‑0. - Resolution 2021‑071 (previously approved July 19 and recorded at this meeting) accepts a VOCA award to fund a full‑time Victim Coordinator at the Family Justice Center; the grant totals $63,125, with $50,500 from the state and $12,625 assessed as county in‑kind match. - Resolution 2021‑077 (moved by Commissioner Mitchell Cosby, seconded by Commissioner Charlton Vass) added $12,000 in additional JAG funding for the Family Justice Center budget; vote 21‑0. - Resolution 2021‑078 (moved by Commissioner Kim Large, seconded by Commissioner Nathan Epperson) accepted a $10,000 Tennessee Safe Courts VOCA grant with no county match required; vote 21‑0.

On infrastructure and appointments, the commission approved on third and final reading Resolution 2021‑058 to add Magnolia Ridge Lane (0.3 mile, gravel) to the county road list; Commissioner Mitchell Cosby moved the measure, Commissioner Carolyn Brooks seconded, and the roll call vote was 21‑0. The commission also approved several notary public appointments and bond sureties as presented.

On litigation, the commission adopted Resolution 2021‑079 (moved by Commissioner David Mundy, seconded by Commissioner James Hatmaker) to accept a proposed bankruptcy settlement offer from Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals as recommended by the county’s attorneys, Jessee & Jessee; vote 21‑0. The resolution records the county’s agreement to the attorneys’ recommendation and authorizes acceptance of the settlement offer.

All recorded roll‑call votes on resolutions at the Aug. 16 meeting were unanimous (21‑0), and no substantive debate or amendments were recorded in the meeting minutes for the listed resolutions. The commission adjourned at the conclusion of the agenda.

The next procedural step for the grant items is administration by the county Finance Office and the named grantees (e.g., Helen Ross McNabb and the District Attorney General’s office) to set up budgets, portals and disbursements; the opioid settlement acceptance follows the attorneys’ recommended bankruptcy process and any further implementation will proceed under counsel guidance.