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Votes at a glance: moratorium approved; library appointment and PILT amendment authorized
Summary
The commission approved a two‑year moratorium on BESS, crypto mining and data centers, appointed Charlotte Johnson to a library board seat (11 votes on a paper ballot) and authorized the mayor to amend a DOE PILT agreement contingent on higher assessor values; multiple budget, grant and contract actions also passed.
Here are the key formal actions taken by the Anderson County Board of Commissioners in the meeting:
• Moratorium on data centers, cryptocurrency mining and battery energy storage systems — Approved (motion originated to refer moratorium options to the law director; later amended and adopted as a two‑year moratorium). The board directed the law director and Planning Commission to prepare legal analyses, hold public meetings and return draft regulations. (See full article on moratorium.)
• Library board appointment — Charlotte Johnson was selected as the commission’s appointment by paper ballot; she received 11 votes, Katherine Scarbro received 3 votes and Sue Lasky received 2 votes. Johnson will fill the commission appointment to the library board for the unexpired term.
• DOE PILT authorization — Commissioners authorized the mayor to amend contract 26‑0114 with the Department of Energy to reflect an updated per‑acre value for the PILT request, contingent on the county and Roane County assessors agreeing to a higher valuation. The mayor explained the timing is sensitive and the amendment is intended to expedite the county’s PILT submission.
• Grants and contracts — The commission approved a DOJ grant pre‑application (up to $1 million over three years) to place a cross‑designated prosecutor, approved multiple school and non‑school budget amendments and appropriations, accepted opioid contract awards recommended by the opioid committee, and approved a fleet lease and surplus radio donations to neighboring EMS agencies.
• Veterans Museum agreement — The commission approved an agreement to accept restricted donated funds for the Tennessee Veterans Museum, with restricted use for museum operations and audit/tracking required.
• Other routine actions — The commission confirmed several appointments (animal shelter advisory committee, E‑911 board, conservation board, solid waste board), approved budget transfers and set a special budget meeting for June 16 to consider the FY2026‑27 proposed budget.
Notes on votes and procedure: Many items passed by voice vote or unanimous consent as recorded in the minutes. The library appointment recorded the paper‑ballot counts; the moratorium was adopted after amendment and voice vote during the meeting, and the PILT authorization included an abstention noted in the transcript. For budget amendments and contracts, individual items passed as presented in the meeting packet.
What to watch next: The Planning Commission and law director will draft moratorium language and regulatory options; the mayor and property assessors will finalize the PILT valuation to submit the amended request to DOE.
