Commission votes to ask state to allow local road departments to assist other counties during emergencies

The Bradley County Legislative Body voted April 6 to send a letter to the county’s state legislative delegation asking for a narrow amendment to the Uniform County Highways Law to allow local road departments to assist other counties during emergencies.

A commissioner reporting for the Land Legislative Committee explained the recommendation and said the committee voted to submit the letter. The commission moved, seconded and approved the recommendation by roll call; the clerk recorded the vote as 13 in favor, none opposed and one absent.

The motion does not itself change county policy; it directs staff to submit the committee’s proposed letter to the General Assembly. The county attorney was asked to research related eligibility questions on a separate item (HCI eligibility for certain organizations) and will present an opinion at the committee’s next meeting on April 13.

Commissioners framed the letter as a targeted change to state law to give local road crews clearer authority to aid neighboring jurisdictions during declared emergencies; no specific statutory language was read into the record at the meeting.