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Committee asks staff to revise ETSU campus lease after parking offer from adjacent owner

Sevier County Board of Commissioners Intergovernmental Committee · March 1, 2026

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Summary

Sevier County's Intergovernmental Committee heard a proposal Dec. 7 to approve a lease at ETSU and tasked staff to revise terms after learning the proposed lot would add about 40 spaces and an adjacent property owner offered to pay to gravel it for an estimated $65,000–$100,000.

The Sevier County Board of Commissioners' Intergovernmental Committee on Dec. 7 considered Resolution 23-XX-XX to approve a lease at the East Tennessee State University campus and directed staff to revisit lease terms after details on parking and private funding were presented.

Mayor Larry Waters recognized Allen Newton, executive director of the Sevier County Economic Development Council, to clarify the proposed lease. Newton said ETSU has requested additional parking since 2019 and that the proposed new parking lot would add about 40 spaces. Newton said the owner of the complex adjacent to the proposed lot offered to pay the cost to gravel the lot and estimated that work would cost between $65,000 and $100,000. Newton said the county and the city would oversee the project and approve the costs.

Commissioner Whaley recommended that Superintendent Smelcer and the Highway Department be given input on the project; Mayor Waters recommended extending the proposed lease term to six years. The committee asked Newton to revisit the terms, present them to the City of Sevierville, and return to the Intergovernmental Committee with revised language. Commissioner Carroll Rauhuff moved that Newton work on lease updates and bring the revised lease back to the committee; Commissioner Chuck Godfrey seconded and the motion passed unanimously (vote tally not specified).

Resolution 23-XX-XX itself was introduced for committee consideration but no final lease was approved at this meeting; staff were directed to return with revised terms and cost oversight arrangements. The committee adjourned at 5:48 PM.