🏛️ Courthouse Corner: Pikeville Keeps Its Water Rules, Bledsoe’s New Mayor Talks Jobs, and Your Property Tax Window Is Open

Or: What the Boards Around the Valley Decided While You Were Busy Living Your Life

Government news doesn’t stop at the county line, and neither do we. Folks in Dunlap shop in Jasper, work in Pikeville and drive through Whitwell, so this week’s Courthouse Corner takes a walk up and down the Valley. Think of it like catching up at the church potluck: a little news from every table, and nobody raising their voice.

Here’s what’s in this week’s roundup: Pikeville’s mandatory water restrictions are staying in place for now, Bledsoe County’s new mayor, a former Dunlap plant manager and welding teacher, laid out what he’s working on, the Marion County Commission picked its leaders and took up patrol cars and paving, Marion County’s towns tackled building codes, zoning and a fire truck for a neighbor, your 2026 property tax bill can be paid without interest through Feb. 28 and Sequatchie County took its ThreeStar community plan to the Governor’s Conference. We finish with dates to put on the fridge.

We label each item Local (Sequatchie County or Dunlap), Neighbors (Bledsoe and Marion counties) or Statewide (Tennessee rules that apply here, too). Facts come from public agendas, minutes, government websites and local newspapers, linked in each section.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• On Pikeville city water? No lawn watering, car washing, pressure washing or water play until the restrictions are lifted.
• Bledsoe County has a new mayor: Kris Frady says his door at the courthouse is open, and he’s working on jobs and water.
• Marion County: Chris Morrison is commission chairman and Logan Campbell is vice chairman.
• Property taxes: Tennessee bills can be paid from the first Monday in October through Feb. 28 with no interest, and partial payments are allowed.
• Voting Nov. 3? Early voting opens next Wednesday, Oct. 14, and runs through Oct. 29.

💧 Neighbors: Pikeville’s Water Restrictions Are Staying On for Now

The City of Pikeville told its water customers that mandatory water restrictions remain in place, The Bledsonian-Banner reported Sept. 22. Water plant manager Lavaughn Brock said that means no using city water for:

• pressure washing,
• washing vehicles,
• watering lawns, or
• play, like sprinklers and water slides.

Brock said recent rain brought levels up for a little while, but they dropped back below the restriction level within two days. “We need four to five inches of rainfall to get above the mandatory restriction and stay there for a while,” he said.

What it means for you: If you’re on Pikeville city water, treat it like the last bucket in the well during a dry August: drinking, cooking, bathing and washing come first, and the car can stay dusty a while longer. One rainy weekend helps, but by the plant manager’s math it takes several soaking rains to fill things back up, so don’t assume the rules end the minute the clouds roll in. For your business, it’s a good week to put off pressure-washing the storefront. If you’re not sure whether you’re on Pikeville’s system, check your water bill. These rules are for Pikeville city water customers, not Dunlap’s.

👉 Read more (The Bledsonian-Banner: Mandatory water restrictions remain for water customers)

🤝 Neighbors: Bledsoe County’s New Mayor Has Dunlap Roots and an Open Door

Newly elected Bledsoe County Mayor Kris Frady spoke to the Pikeville-Bledsoe County Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon on Monday, Sept. 28, at The Butter Dish, according to The Bledsonian-Banner. A few things he shared:

• He worked as a dairy farmer for a few years, then spent nearly 12 years as materials manager at Tecumseh Products in Dunlap, then 18 years in education, including as the welding instructor at Bledsoe County High School’s career and technical center.
• He said he’s been working closely with Pikeville Mayor Philip Cagle on bringing more industry to the area, pointed to an empty plant in the county and said there are water concerns to work on.
• “My sole purpose is to work for Bledsoe County, every aspect of it,” Frady said, and he invited people to reach out to him at the courthouse with ideas.

At the same lunch, representatives of TCAT Upper Cumberland said the Pikeville campus has 25 full-time nursing students plus industrial and electrical programs, and 25 students in dual enrollment. A ribbon cutting at the campus just off the bypass is being planned with the Governor’s office.

What it means for you: A new county mayor is a bit like a new preacher. The first few months are mostly listening and learning names. If you work in Bledsoe County or have kids who might train for a trade at TCAT, these are the folks deciding where the next jobs and classrooms go, and he’s asking for your ideas. Plenty of Sequatchie County folks will recognize the Tecumseh name, too.

👉 Read more (The Bledsonian-Banner: Chamber meets, hears from mayor)

⚖️ Neighbors: Marion County Commission Picks Its Leaders and Takes Up Patrol Cars and Paving

At a special called meeting on Sept. 17, all 15 Marion County commissioners voted to elect Chris Morrison as chairman and Logan Campbell as vice chairman, according to the county’s posted minutes.

The commission’s regular meeting followed on Monday, Sept. 28, at the Lawson Building in Jasper. Items on that night’s agenda included:

• budget amendments for the county, the Board of Education and the Highway Department,
• a change to the lease price on Sheriff’s Department patrol cars and a bid to install equipment in them,
• having the Highway Department pave part of First Street next to the Marion County Justice Center,
• abandoning a portion of Sequatchie Lane, and
• an update from the Marion County Adult Recreation Center (MARC) on its future plans.

The county hasn’t posted the Sept. 28 minutes yet, so we’ll report how each item came out once they’re available. SValleyNow recorded the meeting and posted the video.

What it means for you: The chairman runs the meetings, a bit like the fellow holding the gavel at a cattle auction, so you’ll see Morrison’s name on agendas this year. If you drive First Street in Jasper or live near Sequatchie Lane, those two items are the ones to watch. Abandoning a road generally means the county stops owning and maintaining that piece of it, so neighbors nearby will want to know the outcome.

👉 Read more (Marion County: Sept. 17 special meeting minutes) · Sept. 28 agenda · Meeting video (SValleyNow)

🏘️ Neighbors: Building Codes, Zoning and a Fire Truck for a Neighbor in Marion County’s Towns

Marion County’s small towns had a busy September, according to reporting by Jarrett Goodman in the Marion County Tribune:

• Powells Crossroads: The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the second and final reading of a new International Building Code.
• Whitwell: A new zoning ordinance on short-term rental units passed its first reading at the September meeting.
• South Pittsburg: The board started talking about updating the city’s zoning rules, agreed to donate a surplus fire truck to the City of Orme and heard updates on the Princess Theatre’s Green Room roof and sound system.
• Kimball: Robert Powell was introduced as the city’s new Parks and Recreation Director.
• Marion County Board of Education: The board unanimously approved a contract to repair the football lights at Bill Baxter Stadium.

What it means for you: A building code is like the recipe card everybody in the kitchen agrees to follow, so the cake doesn’t fall. It sets the basic safety rules for new construction. If you plan to build or remodel in Powells Crossroads, call town hall before you start. If you own or are thinking about running a short-term rental in Whitwell, the new ordinance still has another reading to go, so there’s time to learn what’s in it and speak up at a meeting. And the fire truck is just good neighboring: South Pittsburg had one it didn’t need, and Orme could use it.

👉 Read more (Marion County Tribune: Powells Crossroads building code) · Whitwell short-term rentals · South Pittsburg fire truck · Kimball parks director · Bill Baxter Stadium lights

🧾 Statewide (and Local): Your Property Tax Window Is Open Until Feb. 28

Under the rules explained by the Tennessee Trustee’s Association, county property tax bills are mailed in September or October to whoever owned the property on Jan. 1. Taxes are due starting the first Monday in October (that was Oct. 5 this year) and can be paid through the last day of February with no interest. A few more things worth knowing:

• Partial payments are allowed on the current year’s taxes, as long as the full amount is paid by the February due date.
• Sequatchie County taxes can be paid online through the Tennessee Trustee website. The payment processor charges a convenience fee, and the site says none of it is kept by the county. You’ll see the fee before you pay.
• If you bought property this year, the bill may go to the previous owner. Check your closing statement or call your title company to see who’s responsible.

What it means for you: Think of it like layaway at the old hardware store. You don’t have to pay it all at once, as long as it’s paid off by the deadline. If a lump sum pinches, splitting it across a few paychecks between now and February keeps you clear of interest. Business owners can plan the same way. Questions about your bill go to the Trustee; questions about your property’s value go to the Property Assessor.

👉 Read more (Tennessee Trustee: Property tax FAQ) · Pay Sequatchie County taxes online · Sequatchie County Trustee

⭐ Local: Sequatchie County Takes Its ThreeStar Plan to the Governor’s Conference

Janis Adams Kyser, executive director of the Sequatchie County-Dunlap Chamber of Commerce, represented the county at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s Governor’s Conference, Oct. 1 and 2, at the Chattanooga Convention Center, The Dunlap-Tribune reported. Kyser said what she learned will support the county’s work in Tennessee’s ThreeStar program and help it make the most of grant money available through the program.

According to the state, ThreeStar is a community development program that helps cities and counties plan for the future. Counties certify each year by documenting local activity and joining in goal planning every two years. Only active participants can apply for some other state rural development programs, and a ThreeStar grant is available to help a county finish one of the goals it has set.

“Economic development is about more than recruiting new businesses,” Kyser said. “It is also about strengthening the businesses we already have, preparing our workforce, improving our community and creating opportunities.”

What it means for you: ThreeStar works a lot like a 4-H record book. You write down your goals, keep track of what you did, and that record opens the door to the next ribbon, or in this case, the next grant. If you run a small business or have an idea for making the county a better place to live and work, the Chamber is the place to share it. Call (423) 949-7608.

👉 Read more (The Dunlap-Tribune: Kyser represents area at Governor’s conference) · About ThreeStar (TNECD)

🗓️ Local and Neighbors: Dates to Put on the Fridge

• Monday, Oct. 12, 6:30 p.m.: Sequatchie County Board of Education meets at Griffith Elementary. It’s open to the public.
• Wednesday, Oct. 14, to Thursday, Oct. 29: Early voting for the Nov. 3 State and Federal General Election.
  • Sequatchie County: Call the Election Commission, 68 Spring Street in Dunlap, at (423) 949-2431 for early voting hours and your sample ballot.
  • Bledsoe County: Early voting is at the Election Commission office in the courthouse, 3150 Main Street, Suite 700, Pikeville.
• Saturday, Oct. 24: Deadline for the Election Commission to receive an absentee (mail) ballot request.
• Sunday, Feb. 28, 2027: Last day to pay 2026 property taxes without interest.

What it means for you: Bring a state or federal photo ID to vote. If you’re not sure which polling place or ballot is yours, a quick call to the Election Commission will sort it out. Helping voters is what that office is there for.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Election Commission contact information) · Bledsoe County early voting notice · School board agendas

✅ Your Courthouse Corner Checklist

• ✅ On Pikeville city water? Hold off on lawn watering, car washing and pressure washing until the city lifts its restrictions.
• ✅ Find your 2026 property tax bill and write Feb. 28 on the calendar. Split it into smaller payments if that’s easier.
• ✅ Bought property this year? Check your closing papers to see who pays this year’s tax bill.
• ✅ Put early voting, Oct. 14 to 29, on the calendar and set your photo ID by your keys.
• ✅ Call the Election Commission if you want your sample ballot or early voting hours.
• ✅ Building or remodeling in Powells Crossroads? Call town hall about the new building code before you start.
• ✅ Have an idea for local jobs or businesses? Share it with the Chamber, or with Mayor Frady if you’re in Bledsoe County.

Practical rule: Every deadline in government has a phone number attached. Write the date on the fridge, and if anything’s unclear, call the office before the deadline, not after.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Courthouse Glossary

• Special called meeting: A meeting held outside the regular schedule for a specific purpose, like electing officers. It still has to be announced to the public.
• Chairman and vice chairman: The commissioners chosen to run the meetings. The vice chairman steps in when the chairman can’t.
• Board of Mayor and Aldermen: The governing board of many Tennessee towns, like Powells Crossroads. Dunlap’s is called the Board of Mayor and Commissioners. Same idea, different name.
• First reading / final reading: Towns vote on a new ordinance more than once. It only becomes law after the final reading.
• Ordinance: A local law, like a zoning or building rule.
• Zoning: Rules about what can be built or done on a piece of land, such as homes, shops or rentals.
• Short-term rental: Renting out a home or room for a few nights at a time, often through websites.
• International Building Code: A widely used set of construction safety standards that towns can adopt as their own rules.
• Road abandonment: When a government formally stops owning or maintaining a section of road.
• Budget amendment: A change to the budget after it’s adopted, moving money from one line to another or adding new money.
• Surplus: Government property, like a truck, that’s no longer needed and can be sold or given away under the rules.
• Trustee: The county official who collects property taxes.
• Owner of record: The person listed in the county’s records as owning a property on a certain date.
• Dual enrollment: High school students taking college or technical classes for credit before they graduate.
• ThreeStar: A Tennessee program that helps counties set community goals and opens the door to certain state grants.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

I live in Dunlap. Do Pikeville’s water restrictions apply to me?

The restrictions reported by The Bledsonian-Banner are for City of Pikeville water customers. If you’re not sure which system serves you, look at the name on your water bill.

When will Pikeville lift its water restrictions?

The water plant manager said it would take four to five inches of rain to get levels above the restriction mark and keep them there. Check with the City of Pikeville for the latest.

Do I have to pay my property taxes all at once?

No. The Tennessee Trustee FAQ says partial payments are accepted on the current year’s taxes, as long as the full amount is paid by the end of February.

Why didn’t I get a property tax bill?

Bills go to whoever owned the property on Jan. 1. If you bought it after that, the bill may have gone to the prior owner, but the taxes still stay with the property. Call the Trustee’s office to get a copy.

Can I watch county meetings without going?

Often, yes. SValleyNow records many Marion County and municipal meetings and posts them online. Agendas and minutes are usually posted on each county’s website.

What happened at the Sept. 28 Marion County Commission meeting?

The agenda is posted, but the county hasn’t posted the minutes yet. We’ll share the results in a future Courthouse Corner.

🔗 Other Resources

• Sequatchie County Government: News, notices and agendas
• City of Dunlap: Government and meeting agendas
• Marion County: 2026 commission agendas and minutes
• Bledsoe County Government
• SValleyNow: Local meeting videos
• Tennessee Trustee: Property tax FAQ
• TNECD: ThreeStar program
• Tennessee Secretary of State: Photo ID rules for voting
• Guide to absentee (by-mail) voting

🌻 Good Government Is Just Neighbors Taking Care of Things

Strip away the gavels and the Latin, and most of what happened this month is simple: a town saving water, a new mayor asking for ideas, a city handing a fire truck to a smaller town down the road, and a tax bill with plenty of time to pay. None of that needs worrying over. It just needs a date on the fridge and, now and then, a phone call. You’re doing fine.

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.