Residents urge Blount County to repair Big Elm Bridge and fix neighborhood roads

Three residents used the public-comment period to press the commission for road and bridge repairs that they said threaten safety and emergency access.

Nora Mace (S4), who identified herself as living in District 7, asked whether Big Elm Bridge will be repaired and requested signage to warn drivers. She said the bridge closure directly affects about four homes and recounted being trapped when a fallen tree blocked a route: she asked that large signs be posted "by North Trigonier, by Trigonier, and by 7072 East stating Big Elm Bridge closed." Mace framed the issue as a safety concern for neighbors and emergency response.

Charles Osborne (S8), a farmer, described how the closure forces long detours for equipment and can delay emergency response; he said an earlier injury on a property required a helicopter evacuation to the hospital. "I got to ride the helicopter to UT," Osborne said, urging the county to restore a crossing so equipment and responders can reach farms more quickly.

A resident who identified himself as Jim (S9) pressed commissioners on the county's highway spending priorities and asked whether a portion of an upcoming $22,154,000 highway allocation could be used for local resurfacing. "If you give us about a a 10th of that, you can do our neighborhood," he said, then was cut off when his time expired.

What happens next: Residents requested signage and repairs; no formal county action was recorded during the meeting. The chair accepted the public comments and closed the period.