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Bradley County committee asks state to let road crews assist other counties during emergencies
Summary
The Legal & Legislative Committee voted to request the Tennessee General Assembly narrowly amend the Uniform County Highways Law so Bradley County’s road superintendent can dispatch crews to aid other counties during declared emergencies without waiting for a full county commission vote. The change responds to safety concerns after storm damage delays.
The Bradley County Legal & Legislative Committee voted March 25 to ask the Tennessee General Assembly to amend the Uniform County Highways Law so local road superintendents can send county crews to assist neighboring counties during emergencies without waiting for a county commission vote.
The motion followed testimony from Josh Booker of the Bradley County Road Department, who said the county’s current statutory framework can create life‑threatening delays. "With the way the county uniform highway law is right now, the road department would have to wait on the county legislative body to have a vote on whether or not Bradley County could send the road department to help," Booker said, describing heavy tornado damage he has studied and the importance of rapid road clearance to allow emergency responders access.
County legal staff identified the controlling statute (cited in the meeting as "547202") and explained why the language was adopted: to prevent inappropriate use of county equipment and materials. Counsel told the committee that while the statute permits other governmental entities to contract for road work, the existing language requires authorization and a cost estimate that make immediate emergency aid impractical. Counsel recommended a narrow emergency exception and an official emergency designation to limit potential misuse.
Commissioner Hughes moved that Bradley County request the General Assembly narrowly amend the Uniform County Highways Law to allow local road departments to aid other counties during times of emergency; Commissioner Slater seconded. The motion passed on a unanimous recorded vote of the committee (record noted as 4-0).
Next steps: staff were asked to draft a letter of support and return with proposed statutory language so the county’s representatives can seek the change in the General Assembly. Legal staff suggested specifying the triggering conditions (for example, a gubernatorial or local emergency declaration) to limit the amendment to genuine emergencies.
Actions: A formal request to the General Assembly will be prepared asking for a narrowly drawn emergency provision that permits sending road crews under an official declaration without the delay of a county legislative vote.
