Commission discusses TDOT land swap, five-year reappraisal plan and procurement for justice center

The commission discussed multiple administrative and capital-planning items including a proposed land swap with TDOT connected to industrial-park development, the county’s five-year reappraisal plan and an architect procurement for a justice center project.

Chair described a proposed swap of roughly five acres in the industrial park in exchange for approximately 1.4 acres adjacent to a new tech site owned by TDOT. The chair asked commissioners to authorize the mayor and county attorney to take the next steps and work with TDOT; discussion centered on what assets the county would convey, timing for transfer and the receiving party’s intention to develop the site quickly.

On appraisal, commission staff presented the standard five-year reappraisal plan and asked commissioners to approve it at the next meeting so it can be forwarded to the Division of Property Assessments in Knoxville and then to the state Board of Equalization in Nashville. The presenter said completing the reappraisal is expected to support one of the lowest local tax rates the county has seen.

Chair also introduced a request for qualifications to hire an architect for the proposed justice center and said the regional development district would help distribute the solicitation to a curated list of architects who build jails and similar facilities. A playground-purchasing cooperative and a rezoning resolution for a parcel to commercial were also presented as routine agenda items for future action.