DV

David Veridal

Commissioner

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Aug 31, 2026.

Want every word Veridal has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Veridal said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

critical↓Jan 2026[22]

Jail financing and the $70 million bond question

The county avoids lease complications but no dollar figure was discussed.

high↓Jan 2026[11]

Hurricane recovery and bridge repairs

No net cost to taxpayers — insurance paid $49,875 and the grant covers the remainder.

critical↓Jul 2026[10]

Zoning amendments threatening Meat Jack and small businesses

Unclear — but Hope says the rules could put his family business out of operation.

high↓Jan 2026[6]

Wastewater service for Cosby, Hartford and Wilton Springs

About $4 million ARPA-funded project; $277,000 paid so far.

critical↓Aug 2026[6]

Contaminated well water on Sparks and Good Hope Roads

A water line quote came in at $153,000 plus $1,300 per tap; new wells run $50,000-$60,000 each.

high↓Jan 2026[6]

Smoky Mountain Innovation Park and economic development

About $4 million in grant-funded work with no local match for county taxpayers.

medium↓Aug 2026[5]

Pigeon River rafting threatened by I-40 construction

$50,000 from rafting fee revenue, which retains a surplus of its roughly $300,000 annual budget.

medium↓Feb 2026[4]

Bike trails and Innovation Park development

No cost to local taxpayers — grant funds cover the work, including a potential $5 million EDA grant matched by the state.

critical↓Feb 2026[3]

Federal appropriations and FEMA flood recovery

Potentially millions in unreimbursed disaster costs the county is trying to recover.

low↓Jun 2026[2]

Rezoning 1692 Deerwood Road to commercial

medium↓May 2026[2]

Lithium battery disposal

medium↓May 2026[2]

Highway department temporary offices

The lease covers office space for another year until the rebuilt highway building is ready.

medium↓Jun 2026[2]

Lithium-ion battery fire safety

high↓Jun 2026[2]

One-year moratorium on data center facilities

No direct cost; the pause buys time to write zoning rules that could limit energy and water use by such facilities.

high↓Jun 2026[2]

County Elderly Tax Match Program

A flat $50 match for about 925 eligible seniors, budgeted at a fixed cost even though the state's contribution won't be known until September.

medium↓Jul 2026[2]

Speeding and cut-through traffic in Cosby

New speed limits and enforcement could generate ticket revenue while improving safety.

medium↓Jul 2026[2]

Proposed French Broad River boat ramp and park

Free land, and the conservancy would pursue a no-cost grant for a master plan.

high↓May 2026[2]

County attorney contract length

The county pays $50,000 a year under the retainer, but litigation pushes total legal spending higher — over $126,000 this year.

low↓Jul 2026[2]

Landfill-adjacent property timber

Potential timber revenue from county-owned land.

high↓Jul 2026[2]

FY2026-27 budget and flat tax rate

No property tax increase; roughly 3% more in county payroll starting in January.

Decisions during term (113)

Recorded while Veridal was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

approvedAug 17, 2026

Election of meeting chairman

approvedAug 17, 2026

Approval of previous minutes

approvedAug 17, 2026

Election of notaries

approvedAug 17, 2026

Sheriff's Office annual financial report

approvedVoted yes10-0Aug 17, 2026

Budget transfers and amendments — county

approvedVoted yes10-0Aug 17, 2026

Budget transfers and amendments — school system

approvedAug 17, 2026

A2I ankle monitor agreement for Sheriff's Department

approvedVoted yes9-0Aug 17, 2026

$50,000 for Pigeon River rafting engineering study

approvedVoted yes9-1Aug 17, 2026

Extension of $5 million bond anticipation note (Series 2024)

deniedVoted no3-7Aug 17, 2026

Initial resolution — notice for up to $70 million jail bonds

approved8-0Aug 17, 2026

Highway department property lease (Erby Contractors and Debbie Irving)

approvedVoted yes10-0Aug 17, 2026

Timber bid notice for landfill property

approvedVoted yes10-1Aug 17, 2026

EMA vehicle replacement grant resolution

tabled12-0Jul 20, 2026

Motion to return zoning amendments B, C, D, and E to the Planning Commission

tabled12-0Jul 20, 2026

Amendment to county zoning resolution to define temporary uses

approved12-0Jul 20, 2026

Motion supporting issuance of a business license to Jamie Phillips (Timberline Lawns)

approvedVoted yes12-2Jul 20, 2026

Adoption of FY2026-27 budget and $1.4993 tax rate

approved13-0Jul 20, 2026

Application for refund of taxes — Jeffrey V. Mayernic

approved13-0Jul 20, 2026

Acceptance of donated ballistic vest for K-9 Atlas

approved13-0Jul 20, 2026

Agreement for mental health patient transports

Voting record (20)

19 yes1 no

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesAug 17, 2026

Extension of $5 million bond anticipation note (Series 2024)

Voted yesAug 17, 2026

Budget transfers and amendments — county

Voted yesAug 17, 2026

Budget transfers and amendments — school system

Voted yesAug 17, 2026

$50,000 for Pigeon River rafting engineering study

Voted noAug 17, 2026

Initial resolution — notice for up to $70 million jail bonds

Voted yesAug 17, 2026

Timber bid notice for landfill property

Voted yesAug 17, 2026

EMA vehicle replacement grant resolution

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

Adoption of FY2026-27 budget and $1.4993 tax rate

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

Reappointing Lee Willis to Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals

Voted yesMay 18, 2026

County attorney contract amended to two years

Voted yesApr 20, 2026

Tax refunds

Voted yesApr 20, 2026

County budget transfers and amendments

Voted yesApr 20, 2026

School system budget transfers and amendments

Voted yesApr 20, 2026

Surplus property

Voted yesApr 20, 2026

Hazard mitigation grant application — West Broadway floodproofing

Voted yesApr 20, 2026

Digitization grant application — county records

Voted yesJan 20, 2026

approve the recommendation of the attached transfers and amendments and waives the reading of the same for the School System

Voted yesJan 20, 2026

approve the recommendation of the attached Sourcewell Contract for printers for the County

Voted yesJan 20, 2026

approve accepting the Quarterly Revenue & Expenditures Report for Cocke County Circuit Court

Voted yesJan 20, 2026

approve the recommendation of the attached transfers and amendments and waives the reading of the same for the County