During Monday night’s Roane County Commission meeting, officials officially transitioned the title of the county leader from County Executive to County Mayor, aligning the local position with the majority of Tennessee counties following action by the State Legislature.

In other business, the commission approved fiscal year appropriations for 23 local nonprofit charitable organizations. However, a major agenda item regarding a proposed 25-plus-year lease for the nonprofit Planned Pet Hood at the Roane County Animal Shelter facility faced pushback. Commissioners voted to send the lease agreement back to the property committee for further review, with plans to revisit the request next month.

Upcoming Events and Announcements

• Official Swearing-In: The swearing-in ceremony for newly and recently elected officials is scheduled for August 21 at 10:00 AM, with additional details to follow via email.

• NRC Public Hearing: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold its final public hearing regarding TVA’s construction permit for the Small Modular Nuclear Reactor on the Clinch River Site on August 13 at 5:30 PM at the Pollard Auditorium in Oak Ridge.

• Employee Recognition: County Mayor Wade Cresswell recognized the combined 102 years of service provided by County Clerk Beth Johnson and long-time staff members Freida Smith and Tina Stroh. A public celebration honoring their decades of service will take place on August 26 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the Criminal Court Room.