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Article published Apr 11, 2008 Commission to decide on construction of new 9-1-1 center
By Joel Davis of The Daily Times Staff
The Blount County Commission will decide whether to grant approval to plans to build a new 9-1-1 center at the Sheriff’s Office training facility at its April 17 meeting. The commission, during its Thursday work session, unanimously voted to put the matter on the agenda.
The Blount County 9-1-1 center’s current site at Louisville Road by the U.S. 129 Bypass is for sale. The emergency communications board voted in September to locate a new 9-1-1 center in the basement of the proposed Sheriff’s Office training facility, which would be built on Honeysuckle Road behind the Alcoa-Maryville-Blount County Landfill.
General Sessions Judge William Brewer has asked the commission to approve the concept.
“It makes economic sense to put the property up for sale and return it to the tax roll,” he said. “... We propose to help build a facility down there.”
Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves asked about how the property would be marketed.
“I’m sure it will sell,” Pitts Reeves said. “I want to make sure it sells fairly and openly.” The emergency communications board owns the current property and has the authority to sell it.
“We just need some blessing for placing the facility on county property,” said Commissioner Scott Helton, who also sits on the emergency communications board. When the basement facility for the new 9-1-1 center is built, the Sheriff’s Office plans to build a shell on top of the site that will eventually be finished into office and classroom space.
The County Commission will also be discussing changes to the county ethics policy to bring it in line with state regulations.
Commissioner Mike Walker brought up concerns, based on legal advice received during a recent county government day at the Tennessee General Assembly, that the county has gone beyond what the state allows by including language in the policy addressing complaints beyond perceived conflict of interest and gifts of value.