Commissioners adopt bylaw amendment clarifying road-naming process

The Bedford County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 13 adopted Amendment No. 1 to Rule 9 of its bylaws, changing language about naming bridges, dedicating roads and county buildings so that "the highway superintendent submits a list of all county roads for approval by the board of commissioners." Commissioner Vick, who offered the amendment, framed it as a statutory compliance issue, citing state law and guidance from county advisors.

"In that language, it says the county legislative body is charged with classifying public roads," Commissioner Vick said during debate, referencing Tennessee TCA 54-10-103 and a CTAS letter he said supported the interpretation. Vick told colleagues the amendment removes a committee-level step that, in his view, conflicts with the statute and the authority vested in the commission.

Other commissioners asked about the process for receiving the road list if it bypasses the rules committee. Vick said the list "comes directly to the commission" and suggested it could be placed under other business on the agenda. After discussion, the clerk conducted a recorded vote; the amendment passed 13 ayes, 2 noes and 2 pass votes, meeting the 0.667 approval threshold required for adoption. The clerk said the county will distribute a clean revised copy with the change incorporated.

The board’s action alters internal procedure for how the county receives and considers highway-superintendent road lists; it does not change statutory authority itself, which commissioners discussed as the basis for the revision.