Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Monroe County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
5 issues in roads
Airport runway light replacement
Leftover TDOT Aeronautics grant money — $15,600 — was re-budgeted to pay engineering for replacing the airport's runway lights.
Highway fund and broadband budget amendments
Nearly $1 million in state aid will pay for paving five to six miles of designated state-aid roads, plus bridge work and materials. The Highway Supervisor cautioned that paving costs $120,000–$140,000 per mile.
Citico Creek Road closure and repair
July storms washed out a 13-mile stretch of Citico Creek Road in the Cherokee National Forest, and the Forest Service closed it July 24. Because the federal government owns and maintains the road, the county is asking Congress to steer emergency repair money to it — residents rely on it for access, emergencies, and tourism.
SSG Ryan E. Haupt Memorial Highway designation
A stretch of Highway 322 outside Sweetwater will be named for the late businessman and community supporter, with state signs to follow.
Boiling Springs County Road maintenance dispute
A resident says the county has been maintaining a half-mile stretch of road built under TVA Project 7106 without ever adding it to the official county road list, complicating surveys and property records. He asked the commission to formally add the .26-mile segment with a 40-foot right-of-way.