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Mark DeWitte, second from left, who chairs the County Commission's Personnel Committee, proposed a new salary scale Tuesday that would benefit county employees who are paid from the general fund, but increase payroll expenditures by $514,659 after a three year implementation period. Other committee members include (L-R) Bob Edens, DeWitte, Dawson Fields, and Larry Clonce.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Hawkins new proposed salary scale would cost $514K after three years

Commission Mark DeWitte proposed implementing the new salary scale gradually over the course of three years, which would increase payroll expenditures by $171,553 each year over the next three years just to get current employees up to where they belong on the new pay scale.

Feb 13, 2019 at 4:30 PM
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Hawkins ponders policy continuing health insurance for families of first responders killed on duty

Hawkins County commissioners spent about a half hour discussing a health insurance benefit for sheriff's deputies they hope they'll never have to use, but there are still many questions to answer before a policy is approved.

Feb 9, 2019 at 3:30 PM
Hawkins County Veterans Services Officer Danny Breeding, (center, arms folded) watches from the audience as the County Commission discusses is reappointment Monday evening.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Breeding reappointed Hawkins vet officer following heated debate

Among the reasons mentioned by commissioners Monday for replacing 69-year-old Vietnam War veteran Danny Breeding were his age, the fact that he ran for county mayor in 2018, and giving a younger veteran an opportunity to do the job.

Jan 29, 2019 at 8:45 PM
Hawkins County Mayor Jim Lee told county commissioners Wednesday he didn't see how he can justify renewing the county's $175,000 contract with Hawkins County Central Dispatch.
jbobo
Hawkins County Public Safety Committee

Hawkins mayor questions if county should continue funding Central Dispatch

Hawkins County Mayor Jim Lee told county commissioners Wednesday he didn't see how he can justify renewing the county's $175,000 contract with Central Dispatch. But, there are far reaching consequences of not renewing that mutual aid contract.

Jan 17, 2019 at 10:58 AM
Hawkins County Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to adopt the "Jackson Law" which requires commission approval of any new landfills in the county before they could be constructed and opened.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Hawkins Commission approves resolution tightening its control over new landfills

The Jackson Law states that no new construction will be initiated for a landfill without the approval of the county legislative body unless the landfill only accepts waste generated by its owner and all such waste is generated in the same county as the landfill.

Dec 20, 2018 at 1:57 PM
Dani Cook makes her case before the Hawkins County Commission Monday why it should oppose service downgrades planned in Kingsport and Bristol by Ballad Health. Following a lengthy public hearing Monday Hawkins County commissioners approved four resolutions opposing Ballad Health restructuring plans that will affect trauma care, Kingsport's NICU, and local cancer treatment.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Hawkins Commission approves resolutions opposing Ballad Health service downgrades

VIDEO & PHOTO GALLERY: Following a lengthy public hearing Monday, Hawkins County commissioners approved four resolutions opposing Ballad Health restructuring plans that will affect trauma care, Kingsport's NICU, and local cancer treatment.

Updated Dec 19, 2018 at 8:31 AM
Bradley Creek Road was created in the early 2000s to improve the route used by heavy trucks to access the landfill, but it is also heavily used by non-commercial vehicles as well. A speed limit increase from 45 mph to 55 mph was recommended by the commission's Road Committee at the suggestion of highway superintendent Lowell Bean. Photos lifted from recent Times News video.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Bradley Creek Road speed-limit increase rejected by Hawkins Commission

A request to increase the speed limit to 55 mph on Bradley Creek Road near Church Hill was rejected by the Hawkins County Commission on Monday after Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tony Allen said the change would be unsafe.

Dec 18, 2018 at 10:00 PM
While inspecting the facility beer board members (L-R) Raymond Jesse, Danny Alvis, and Jeff Barrett located three apparent security aids under the bar including a pipe, an aluminum baseball bat, and a wooden club, held by Alvis and engraved with the name “Bufford” — possibly named after famous Sheriff Bufford Pusser.
jbobo
Hawkins County Beer Board

Infamous Hawkins bar approved for beer permit under new management

While inspecting the facility beer board members Danny Alvis, Jeff Barrett and Raymond Jesse located three apparent security aids under the bar including a pipe, an aluminum baseball bat, and a wooden club engraved with the name “Bufford” — possibly named after famous Sheriff Bufford Pusser.

Dec 5, 2018 at 6:46 PM
The Tennessee Valley Authority donated 85 truckloads of large rock for the Laurel Run Park shoreline repair project, shown here Tuesday, which would have cost the county about $50,000 to purchase. But, the dry season has ended, the river level is now too high, and the ground near the bank is saturated and unsafe for heavy equipment. The county missed its weather window of opportunity to complete this project in 2018.
jbobo
laurel run park

Hawkins misses window of dry weather to begin Laurel Run Park shoreline repair

The park's 2,500-foot-long shoreline has eroded between six and 10 feet during the past eight years. Trees that were once 5-10 feet inland have either been washed away or are teetering on the bank of the Holston River, and the walking trail is only 3-5 feet from the bank in some places.

Dec 5, 2018 at 9:00 AM
Surgoinsville resident Teresa Greer, standing, explains to the Hawkins County Commission's Environmental Committee why she and other concerned citizens want the commission to adopt a Jackson Law resolution. Seated in the front row are Republic Services environmental manger Derek Bouchard, left, and operations manager Scott McConnelee, right.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Adoption of 'Jackson Law' in Hawkins wouldn't stop expansion at Carters Valley Landfill

County Attorney Jim Phillips told commissioners Monday that the Hawkins County Commission's contract signed with BFI in 2001 prohibits the county from imposing any restriction or regulations on the landfill operation beyond what is required by federal law.

Dec 4, 2018 at 9:15 AM
The wheel tax exemption resolution was introduced by Commissioner Syble Vaughan-Trent, shown here reading the resolution during Monday's County Commission meeting, affects disabled property owners 65 and older who are actively on the state's Tax Relief Program.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Exemption of $40 wheel tax for disabled seniors referred to Hawkins Budget Committee

The proposed wheel tax exemption would be a revenue decrease of $48,800 from wheel tax collections. Commissioner Valerie Goins expressed concern about cutting revenue from the 2018-19 budget which is already using about $95,000 in savings to balance.

Nov 29, 2018 at 10:15 AM
The Holston Valley Medical Center emergency room where its Level 1 Trauma Center is currently located.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Hawkins schedules Dec. 17 public hearing on Ballad trauma center downgrades

Hawkins County commissioners won't consider a resolution opposing Ballad Health's plan to downgrade Kingsport's Trauma Center until the public voices its opinion on the subject in the presence of Ballad officials next month.

Nov 27, 2018 at 5:30 PM
John Metz left was elected chairman of the Hawkins County Budget Committee this past weekend while Valerie Goins, center, was elected secretary and Charlie Thacker, right, was elected vice chairman.
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Resolution would provide health insurance to family of Hawkins first responders who die on the job

Commissioner Jeff Barrett introduced the resolution which would give the wife and children of full time county employees who are also first responders (police, fire and rescue) health insurance for two years if the first responder is killed in the line of duty.

Nov 25, 2018 at 8:00 PM
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Hawkins officials concerned about patient transport times after Kingsport trauma center downgrade

"If we put all our time and resources into getting them to change plans they've already set in stone ... I don't want to look back and say we've had 8-10 months and we're not prepared for the transport of patients (to Johnson City).” — Commissioner John Metz

Nov 23, 2018 at 8:30 AM
The Hawkins County Commission's new Budget Committee met for the first time Monday since the newly elected commissioners and mayor took office Sept. 1. (L-R) John Metz was named chairman, Valerie Goins was named secretary, Charlie Thacker was named vice chairman, Raymond Jessee, Mike Herrell, Keith Gibson, and Rick Brewer
jbobo
Hawkins County Commission

Budget Committee members express concerns about new proposed wheel tax exemption

County Clerk Nancy Davis said that based on the 1,220 Hawkins County residents in this year's tax relief program, assuming each of those people has a vehicle to tag, would amount to $48,800 in lost revenue.

Nov 19, 2018 at 9:30 PM
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