Washington County 101 Concludes
The most recent Washington County 101 course officially concluded during Monday’s meeting, with Grandy presenting the attendees with a certificate recognizing their participation in the four-week class.
“We had a great group of citizens join us,” Grandy said. “They asked insightful questions and were very interested in how their government operates. We look forward to offering Washington County 101 again in the future.”
Designed to give citizens an inside look at their county’s government, the course connects participants with county leaders and provides first-hand understanding of how the local offices operate. The four sessions covered a variety of topics, including law enforcement, court system, health, elections and services offered by the offices of county officials.
Washington County Commission Authorizes Participation in ICE Program
The Washington County Commission approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the county during its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Oct. 27.
The vote gives Sheriff Keith Sexton and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office permission to participate in ICE’s 287(g) program, which, according to Sexton, will reduce the time undocumented incarcerated persons spend in the county jail before being transferred into ICE custody.
“It’s not that anyone is going to be out hunting people down,” Sexton said. “We have always worked well with ICE and any federal agency. This will just get people who need to be out of our jail, it will get them out of there faster.”
Participation also makes the county eligible for the immigration enforcement grant, which reimburses costs related to immigration enforcement.
“The 287(g) program empowers our sheriff’s office to work with the Trump Administration to better protect our county and country,” Mayor Joe Grandy said. “It applies only to individuals who have already been arrested for other crimes. If you’re arrested in Washington County and it turns out you’re in our nation illegally to begin with, you’re a criminal illegal alien — and you should be deported, period. Partnering with ICE will close the revolving door, uphold the rule of law, free up jail cells, save our taxpayers money and make our citizens safer.”
The Washington County Commission’s Public Safety Committee previously voted to recommend the MOU’s approval to the full commission.
Honoring Emergency Services Personnel
Also on Monday, the commission observed a moment of silence in memory of Fred Kemp, Washington County-Johnson City AEMT and rescue technician, and Christopher Garrett, a lieutenant with the sheriff’s office.
The panel also approved proclamations honoring the county’s emergency services and communications staff for their service during Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
The first recognized the employees of the Washington County/Johnson City Emergency Management Agency for their “extraordinary dedication, courage and professionalism” when responding to the storm. Led by Director Evan Clyburn, the team’s around-the-clock efforts during the disaster included coordinating rescue operations, directing critical resources and providing vital support to ensure citizens’ safety.
Next, the commission approved a proclamation honoring Washington County Emergency Communications specialists/telecommunicators. During the storm, the team answered more than 1,000 calls for service. Despite this call volume, nearly 97% of incoming calls were answered within 15 seconds — surpassing the national standard of 95% of calls being answered within 20 seconds.
On Sept. 30, the communications team was awarded the Tennessee Emergency Number Association’s Dispatch Event of the Year for their exemplary leadership, unwavering commitment and dedicated service to the profession.
"The courage and commitment displayed by our heroic emergency management agency and emergency communications team were nothing short of extraordinary,” Grandy said. “Their commitment ensures the safety of our county, and their performance under pressure makes us incredibly proud. They are truly exemplary servants to our community."
In other business on Monday, the Washington County Commission:
- Approved the expenditure of up to $2.2 million for seven propane school buses, and for the design, engineering and construction of a new boiler/chiller system at Daniel Boone High School to replace the failing geothermal fields.
- Approved a health benefit premium structure for county employees that maintains the 90% county/10% employer/employee contribution ratio.
- Rejected rezoning the tax map 053, parcel 005.11 in the 15th civil district owned by Minga Properties from R-1 (low-density residential district) and A-1 (general agriculture) to PRD-2 (planned residential district). The rezoning request had previously been rejected by the Johnson City Regional Planning Commission.
The next regular meeting of the Washington County Commission is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 24, at 6 p.m. in Courtroom 7 of the George P. Jaynes Justice Center, located at 108 W. Jackson Blvd. in Jonesborough.
###