Hawkins County Commission approves participation in national opioid settlement and multiple budget amendments

The Hawkins County Commission on April 27, 2026 voted to participate in a national opioid settlement and approved a package of policies, budget amendments and appointments. The meeting, recorded as a regular session, showed 12 commissioners present and two absent; most measures passed by roll call.

The commission approved Resolution 2026/04/01 authorizing Hawkins County to participate in the national opioids settlement addressing six remnant defendants and approved the related settlement agreements. The motion was made by Commissioner Robbie Palmer and seconded by Commissioner John Gibson; the roll-call vote was 12 in favor, none opposed, with Commissioners Danny Alvis and Glenda Davis recorded as absent.

Commissioners also adopted a Delinquent Tax Acquisition and Parcel Disposition Policy (Resolution 2026/04/02). That motion, moved by Jeff Barrett and seconded by Tom Kern, passed by roll call, 12–0 with two absences. The body approved an application to seek a FY2026–2027 litter grant (Resolution 2026/04/03) and adopted a restated Debt Management Policy for the county (Resolution 2026/04/04); both measures passed unanimously among those present.

The meeting included several budget amendments. The General Fund amendment (Resolution 2026/04/06) passed on a roll-call vote with 11 yes and one abstention by Commissioner Chad Britton; Commissioners Alvis and Davis were absent. Budget amendments for Solid Waste (2026/04/07), the Highway Fund (2026/04/08) and the Highway Capital Projects Fund (2026/04/09) were approved unanimously among present members. A General Purpose School Fund amendment (2026/04/10) passed with one abstention by Commissioner Jason Roach.

The commission confirmed administrative items including approval of notaries public (Resolution 2026/04/11) — which passed with one abstention by Commissioner Jeff Barrett — and appointed the Equalization Board for the 2026–2027 term (Resolution 2026/04/12), which passed unanimously among voting members. The minutes of March 23 and the March 31 special called meeting were approved earlier in the session.

Commissioner Robbie Palmer recognized attorney Crystal Jessie to speak about potential representation of Hawkins County by the Southeastern Environmental Law Center in a lawsuit involving a cryptocurrency company; the minutes note the recognition and that the matter was discussed, but the minutes do not include a verbatim transcript of Jessie’s remarks. Multiple written reports were filed with the county clerk, including annual financial reports for circuit and general sessions courts, a juvenile court collections report, Hawkins County financial statements and audit findings from the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, and the Department of Education quarterly revenue and expenditure report presented by Matt Hixson.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn by Commissioner Robbie Palmer, seconded by Commissioner Chad Britton; the vote to adjourn was recorded as 12 yes. Public comments submitted for the meeting are on file in the county clerk’s office.