🏛️ What Your Local Boards Decided: A New Roof for the Fair Building, Early Voting Starts Oct. 14, and More

Or: Didn’t Make It to the Courthouse? Here’s What Got Decided, in Plain English

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Most of us don’t have a spare Monday night to sit in the courthouse and listen to a county commission meeting. That’s all right. Think of this new series as the neighbor who did go, took good notes and will tell you over the fence what was decided and what it means for your house, your job and your business. No arguing, no opinions. Just what happened and what to do next.

Here’s what’s in this first Courthouse Corner: the County Commission approved a new roof and new restrooms for the Fair Building and picked its leaders, the road superintendent says road salt could be scarce this winter, what the lower county and city tax rates really mean for your bill, a state program that pays back part of the property tax for some seniors, disabled homeowners and disabled veterans, Dunlap’s new water and gas rates and a grant for a bike pump track, what’s on the school board’s Oct. 12 agenda, a state board’s review of the Dunlap Mercantile for the National Register, early voting dates for the Nov. 3 election and Tennessee’s new robocall rules.

We label each item Local (Sequatchie County or Dunlap) or Statewide (Tennessee rules that apply here, too). Local items come from public agendas, government websites and reporting by The Dunlap-Tribune, linked in each section.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Use the Fair Building? A new roof ($722,224) and restroom renovations ($144,000) were approved Sept. 21, paid for with grant money.
• Winter driving: Road salt may be limited this year, so keep a bag of ice melt or sand handy at home.
• Property tax bill: The county and city rates went down after the state’s reappraisal, but your bill depends on your new property value, too.
• 65 or older, disabled or a disabled veteran? Ask the Trustee’s office about state tax relief when you pay your 2026 bill.
• Voting Nov. 3? Early voting runs Oct. 14 to 29. Bring a state or federal photo ID. If you’re 60 or older, you can ask for a mail ballot by Oct. 24.
• School families: The school board meets Monday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Griffith Elementary.
• Tired of sales calls? Tennessee’s Do Not Call/Text list is free.

🏗️ Local: The Fair Building Gets a New Roof and New Restrooms

At its regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 21, the Sequatchie County Commission unanimously approved two bids for the Sequatchie County Fair Building on Heard Street, according to The Dunlap-Tribune:

• $144,000 to Skilled Services to renovate all the restrooms in the building.
• $722,224 to Turner Roofing to replace the roof on the entire building.

Budget committee chairman Jeff Barger said grant money is paying for the projects. The meeting agenda lists the work under the county’s CCF (Connected Community Facilities) grant. The building is used by the Sequatchie County Fair Association, the Sequatchie Senior Center, the Fellowship of Churches Food Bank and the Children’s Advocacy Center.

A few other things happened that night:

• County Executive Keith Cartwright was returned as commission chairman, and Commissioner Joyce Dotson was chosen as chairman pro tem. Both votes were unanimous.
• Barger told commissioners the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office sent a letter accepting the county’s 2026-27 budget.
• The commission approved a resolution setting its public comment policy. A separate resolution adopting procedural rules was postponed until November.
• The commission approved a proclamation naming September Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in the county.

What it means for you: If you’ve ever eaten a senior center lunch, picked up groceries at the food bank or browsed the library book sale in the Fair Building, this is your building getting a new hat and fresh washrooms. The budget committee chairman said grant money is paying for the work. For contractors and tradespeople, it’s a reminder that county jobs are bid out in public and approved at open meetings. The commission meets every other month, and its next regular session is in November.

👉 Read more (The Dunlap-Tribune: Commission approves fair building improvements) · Sept. 21 commission agenda

🧂 Local: Road Salt Could Be Scarce This Winter, and Missing Signs Add Up

Road Superintendent Eric Higgins gave the commission a heads-up at the Sept. 21 meeting. He said the county’s salt supplier indicated quantities may be limited this winter, and the price has climbed from about $80 a ton to $130 a ton in recent years. He also reported that stolen county road signs cost about $200 apiece to replace.

What it means for you: It’s a bit like Grandma keeping an extra sack of flour in the pantry before a snow. Nobody’s predicting a hard winter. It just pays to be ready. Keep a bag of ice melt, sand or kitty litter by the back door, and plan a few extra minutes on frosty mornings, especially on back roads and mountain grades. Businesses with walkways and parking lots may want to stock up early. If you notice a missing road sign, let the county know at (423) 949-3479. A missing stop sign or road name can slow down an ambulance looking for your house.

👉 Read more (The Dunlap-Tribune: Sept. 21 commission report)

🧾 Local: Lower Tax Rates After the Reappraisal. Here’s What That Really Means

Property tax bills became payable this month, so here’s a quick look at the rates behind them. Both were set in August after the state’s reappraisal of property values:

• Sequatchie County: $1.4582 per $100 of assessed value, down from $1.8366 last year. The commission approved it unanimously at a special called meeting on Aug. 17. County Executive Cartwright said each penny of the rate brings in about $74,000, up about $15,000 from last year, because of new homes and improvements.
• City of Dunlap: $0.5282 per $100 of assessed value, down from $0.648. Mayor Dwain Land said the new rate brings in the exact same amount of money as last year’s rate.

Of the county’s $1.4582, about $0.79 goes to the county general fund, $0.40 to schools, $0.18 to solid waste and sanitation, and the rest to capital projects and debt payments.

What it means for you: A lower rate doesn’t automatically mean a lower bill. Think of it like a church potluck: if everyone’s dish got bigger, each person takes a smaller spoonful, but the whole table still gets fed the same. Tennessee’s “certified tax rate” law is built to keep total taxes about the same after a reappraisal. The Comptroller’s Office explains that if your property’s value rose more than average, your bill may be somewhat higher. If it rose less than average, your bill may be lower. If your new value looks wrong to you, the Property Assessor’s office is the place to ask.

👉 Read more (The Dunlap-Tribune: Commission approves budget and tax rate) · Comptroller: How certified tax rates work

🏡 Statewide: Tax Relief for Some Seniors, Disabled Homeowners and Disabled Veterans

This one is a Tennessee program, and plenty of folks who qualify have never heard of it. The state’s Property Tax Relief Program pays back part or all of the property tax on your home if you qualify. According to the Comptroller’s 2026 brochure:

• Elderly homeowners must be 65 by Dec. 31, 2026. Disabled homeowners must be disabled by that date. Either way, you must own the home and live in it, and your 2025 combined income (you, your spouse and any co-owners) must be $38,470 or less.
• Disabled veterans and surviving spouses of disabled veterans who meet certain disability rules can also qualify. They fill out a consent form (F-16 or F-16S) so the state can confirm the information with the VA.
• You apply when you get your 2026 tax bill, through the county Trustee (or the city’s tax collector if you live in town). The deadline is 35 days after taxes become delinquent, and the taxes must be paid by then.

What it means for you: It’s not an exemption. You still get a bill and pay it, and the state reimburses part of it. If you’re already approved, the Comptroller says you’ll get a relief voucher along with your bill to take to the Trustee. If you have an elderly parent or a veteran neighbor, this is a good one to mention over Sunday dinner. Questions go to the state’s tax relief line at 1-800-221-9927.

👉 Read more (Tennessee Comptroller: Property Tax Relief) · 2026 brochure (PDF)

💧 Local: Dunlap’s New Water and Gas Rates, Plus a Grant for a Bike Pump Track

In case you missed it, Dunlap’s Board of Mayor and Commissioners gave final approval to new utility rates on Aug. 24, The Dunlap-Tribune reported. For residential customers:

• Minimum water bill (up to 1,000 gallons): $24 inside the city, up from $21, and $39 outside the city, up from $33.
• Water from 1,001 to 10,000 gallons: $6.95 per 1,000 gallons inside the city, up from $6.35, and $14.60 outside, up from $13.60.
• Natural gas: $8.05 per dekatherm, up from $7.67.
• Sewer rates did not change.

City financial officer Norman Hatfield said the increases are needed because of rising costs and a state requirement that cities account for wear and tear on their water and sewer systems. Commercial and industrial rates went up, too.

On a brighter note, the state announced grant money for a bicycle pump track park behind the former Ford Motor Company building, near the north entrance of the greenway. The project totals $700,000, with a $175,000 local match. Mayor Land said it’s for “bicycles, skateboards, small bikes with training wheels, for kids and adult riders.”

What it means for you: If you’re a Dunlap water customer who uses about 4,000 gallons a month, the new rates work out to roughly $5 more a month inside the city, by our math. Your own bill will vary with how much you use. Gas customers will notice it most once the furnace kicks on. Small businesses should check their meter size on the city’s commercial rate chart. And for the kids? A pump track is a loop of bumps and banked turns you ride without pedaling, a little like a roller coaster you power yourself.

👉 Read more (The Dunlap-Tribune: City utility rates increase, property tax decreases) · Pump track grant

🏫 Local: School Board Meets Oct. 12 at Griffith Elementary. Here’s the Agenda

The Sequatchie County Board of Education will meet in regular session on Monday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Griffith Elementary School, following a meal at 5 p.m., according to the agenda Director of Schools Sarai Pierce sent Oct. 2. It’s a week later than the usual first Monday because of fall break. Items on the agenda include:

• A first reading of updated policies on medicines at school, the emergency allergy response plan and the administration of an opioid antagonist (an emergency overdose-reversal medicine).
• Choosing a board legislative liaison.
• A discussion of the district-owned property at 76 Jones Drive.
• Approval of the three-year District Improvement Plan and TISA Accountability Report.
• A student highlight from Griffith Elementary.

The board’s next meeting is set for Monday, Nov. 2, with a working session on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Separately, the board’s September agenda included approval to bid out a roof project at the bus garage. A public bid notice published Oct. 1 asks for sealed bids to replace the roof on the bus garage at 14999 Rankin Ave., with metal roofing and some new trusses. Bids are due by 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at the board office, 878 Cordell Drive, and an on-site visit is required first.

What it means for you: If your child carries an EpiPen or takes medicine at school, the policy updates are worth a look. “First reading” means it’s a first pass, and the board votes again before anything is final. Board meetings are open to the public, and the agenda includes time for public comment. Local roofers and builders interested in the bus garage job should call the board office at (423) 949-3617 to set up the site visit.

👉 Read more (Oct. 12 school board agenda) · Bus garage roof bid notice

🏚️ Local, at a State Board: The Dunlap Mercantile Goes Up for the National Register

On Friday, Sept. 18, Tennessee’s State Review Board met in Nashville to consider 11 nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. The only one from our area was the Dunlap Mercantile at 15664 Rankin Ave. The Tennessee Historical Commission says nominations that meet the criteria go to the U.S. Department of the Interior for final approval.

WTVC NewsChannel 9 reported that the nomination calls the Mercantile Dunlap’s first brick commercial building, a general store for more than 80 years. Over the years it also housed a car business and a tomato cannery, and it closed in 1988. It has since been restored as a retail store and event venue.

What it means for you: A National Register listing is an honor. It’s a bit like a blue ribbon at the county fair for a building that’s stood more than a century. We haven’t seen the board’s vote posted yet, and we’ll pass it along when it is. In the meantime, it’s a fine excuse to walk downtown and look up at the old brickwork.

👉 Read more (Tennessee Historical Commission: 11 properties considered) · NewsChannel 9: The Mercantile’s story

🗳️ Statewide: Early Voting for the Nov. 3 Election Starts Oct. 14

Voter registration for the Nov. 3 State and Federal General Election closed at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5, the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office said. If you’re registered, here are the dates that matter:

• Early voting: Wednesday, Oct. 14, through Thursday, Oct. 29. Anyone registered can vote early just for convenience. No reason needed.
• Mail ballot requests: Must be received by the county election office by Saturday, Oct. 24. Mail voting in Tennessee requires a reason, and one of them is simply being 60 or older.
• Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3.
• Photo ID: Bring a Tennessee or federal photo ID, like a driver license, passport or military ID. Expired ones are OK for most voters. College IDs and city or county IDs are not accepted.

The ballot also includes three proposed changes to the Tennessee Constitution, each a yes-or-no question. Based on the official summaries, one deals with when courts may deny bail before trial for certain serious charges, one would bar a state property tax, and one would update crime victims’ rights. The Secretary of State’s office suggests reading them before you go so you’re not reading fine print in the booth.

Nearby, several towns also have their city elections on the Nov. 3 ballot, including Jasper, Kimball, South Pittsburg, Whitwell, Monteagle and Tracy City.

What it means for you: Early voting is like going to the grocery store on a Tuesday morning instead of Saturday afternoon. Same groceries, shorter line. For early voting hours and location in Sequatchie County, call the Election Commission at (423) 949-2431 (68 Spring St., Dunlap) or check the free GoVoteTN app. If you work long shifts or care for someone at home, early voting gives you two weeks of choices.

👉 Read more (Tennessee Secretary of State: Registration deadline and early voting) · Read the three amendments

📞 Statewide: New Rules for Robocallers, and a Free Way to Quiet Your Phone

A Tennessee law passed this year (Public Chapter 1029) put new limits on telemarketers. According to the Tennessee Public Utility Commission (TPUC):

• Since July 1, companies using auto-dialers with recorded messages must keep monthly counts of their sales calls and can’t make more than 10,000 a month to Tennessee homes.
• Starting Oct. 1, callers making 500 or more sales calls a month must keep records and report them to the TPUC twice a year. The first report is due April 1, 2027.

Tennessee also runs a free Do Not Call/Text list for home phones and personal cell phones. The TPUC says your number takes effect about 30 days after the end of the month you sign up, and it stays on the list until you remove it or the number is disconnected.

What it means for you: Think of the Do Not Call list as a “No Soliciting” sign for your phone. It won’t stop every call. The TPUC says it doesn’t cover charities, businesses you’ve dealt with in the past year, debt collectors or political calls, so expect those to keep coming until after Nov. 3. But it should cut down on most sales calls. Business phone numbers can’t be signed up.

👉 Read more (TPUC: Public notice on the new robocall rules) · Sign up for Tennessee’s Do Not Call/Text list

✅ Your Courthouse Corner Checklist

• ✅ Put early voting, Oct. 14 to 29, on the calendar, and set your photo ID by your keys.
• ✅ 60 or older and want to vote by mail? Get your request to the Election Commission so it arrives by Oct. 24.
• ✅ Read the three constitutional amendments ahead of time on the Secretary of State’s website.
• ✅ Look over your 2026 property tax bill. Questions about your property’s value go to the Property Assessor. Questions about paying go to the Trustee.
• ✅ Ask the Trustee about state tax relief if you’re 65 or older, disabled or a disabled veteran (or know someone who is).
• ✅ Dunlap utility customers: check your next water and gas bill so the new rates aren’t a surprise.
• ✅ Stock a bag of ice melt or sand before the first freeze.
• ✅ School parents: the board meets Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Griffith Elementary, and it’s open to the public.
• ✅ Add your phone to Tennessee’s free Do Not Call/Text list.

Practical rule: You don’t have to attend every meeting to stay in the know. Mark the dates that touch your wallet and your ballot, and when in doubt, call the office that handles it. They work for you.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Courthouse Glossary

• County Commission: The county’s lawmaking board, elected by district. It approves the budget, sets the property tax rate and votes on big purchases. Sequatchie County’s is chaired by the County Executive.
• County Executive: The county’s top elected official, a bit like a mayor for the whole county.
• Board of Mayor and Commissioners: The City of Dunlap’s governing board, made up of the mayor, vice mayor and three commissioners. (Some other towns call theirs a Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Same idea.)
• Chairman pro tem: The member who runs the meeting when the chairman is absent. “Pro tem” is Latin for “for the time being.”
• Quorum: The minimum number of members who must be present before a board can do official business.
• Resolution vs. ordinance: A resolution is a formal decision or statement by a board, like approving a grant. An ordinance is a local law, like a utility rate or zoning rule, and cities usually pass ordinances in more than one reading.
• First reading / second reading: Rounds of voting on the same item. A first reading is a first approval, not the final word.
• Budget amendment: A change to the budget after it’s adopted, moving money from one line to another or adding new money, such as a grant.
• Bid: A sealed price offer from a company to do a public job. Boards usually approve the lowest bid that meets the requirements.
• Trustee: The county official who collects property taxes. The Property Assessor sets property values.
• Reappraisal: When the county revalues every property. Tennessee law requires it at least every six years.
• Certified tax rate: The rate the state calculates after a reappraisal to bring in about the same total tax money as the year before.
• Comptroller: Tennessee’s state office that checks local budgets and runs the property tax relief program.
• TISA: Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement, the state’s formula for funding public schools.
• Constitutional amendment: A change to the Tennessee Constitution. It needs voter approval on the ballot.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I go to a County Commission or school board meeting?

Yes. Both are open to the public, and both set aside time for public comment. The County Commission meets at the courthouse in Dunlap. Its Sept. 21 agenda also listed a live stream on the BTC Fiber YouTube channel.

When does the County Commission meet next?

The Dunlap-Tribune reports the commission’s next regular session is in November. Its agenda calls it a “bi-monthly” meeting, meaning every other month. Agendas are posted under News & Notices on the county website a few days ahead.

Does the Fair Building project raise my taxes?

According to the budget committee chairman, grant money is paying for the roof and restroom work. The county’s tax rate was set back in August.

The tax rate went down, so why didn’t my bill?

After a reappraisal, Tennessee’s certified rate is designed to collect about the same total amount. If your property’s value went up more than average, your bill may be a little higher even with a lower rate. If you think your value is wrong, ask the Property Assessor’s office.

I missed the Oct. 5 voter registration deadline. Can I still vote Nov. 3?

Not in this election, according to the Secretary of State’s office. You can still register now for future elections at GoVoteTN.gov. If you moved within the county, call the Election Commission at (423) 949-2431 to ask about updating your address.

Does the Do Not Call list stop political calls and texts?

No. The TPUC says political calls aren’t covered. They should slow down after Election Day.

🔗 Other Resources

• Sequatchie County Government: News, notices and agendas
• City of Dunlap: Government and meeting agendas
• Sequatchie County Schools: Board agendas
• Sequatchie County Election Commission contact information
• Tennessee Secretary of State: Elections calendar
• How to early vote in person
• Guide to absentee (by-mail) voting
• Photo ID rules for voting
• Tennessee Comptroller: Property tax relief
• Sequatchie County Trustee
• TPUC: Do Not Call/Text FAQs

🌻 Good Government Starts on the Front Porch

Local government can sound like a lot of gavels and paperwork. Really, it’s just neighbors deciding how to fix the roof, keep the roads clear and pay the bills, the same choices every household makes, only bigger. The more you know, the less there is to worry about. So read up, mark your dates, and if something doesn’t make sense, pick up the phone and ask. You’ve got every right to.

We’ll be back with another Courthouse Corner as boards meet. Read Dunlap.Today and sign up for our newsletter for calm, clear Valley news, and find local businesses anytime on Dunlap.Directory.