JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (Aug. 26, 2025) – During its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Aug. 25, the Washington County Commission formally accepted a $3.725 million non-matching grant from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) to support Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
According to County Mayor Joe Grandy, TEMA funds will be used on multiple rehab/rebuilding projects. The county has so far received $6.816 million from the state to address impacts from the September 2024 storm and resulting flooding.
“We are grateful to TEMA and to Gov. Bill Lee for this grant — and for all the funds we received since Hurricane Helene devastated our county almost one year ago,” Grandy said. “This has been vital to getting our businesses, infrastructure and community back on track.”
Washington County Office of Judicial Commissioner
The legislative body also approved the creation and funding of the Washington County Office of Judicial Commissioner and Judicial Commissioner Program.
This initiative will create five judicial commissioner positions to perform duties such as issuing arrest and search warrants, setting bonds and appointing attorneys for indigent defendants. These new positions are intended to ensure 24/7 access to these essential services, especially during hours when the County Court Clerk's Office is closed. The program will be budget-neutral, as it is funded by the dissolution of the county’s night clerks program.
"This new program is a significant step forward for our community," Grandy said. "It's about making our judicial system more responsive and accessible. By having magistrates available 24/7, we can ensure that justice is served swiftly and that critical legal processes are not delayed. This ultimately benefits our law enforcement officers and the public by enhancing safety and efficiency."
The county commission will be responsible for appointing the commissioners, who will serve a one-year term with a 90-day probationary period. Applicants for the position of judicial commissioner, also commonly known as a magistrate, shall have a law and justice, legal studies, or criminal justice background, and/or a minimum of two years of court system experience as a clerk, night clerk, magistrate or licensed attorney.
At its July meeting, the commission appointed Patrick Collins, Kayla Facemyer, Sandra Jarrett and Steven Summey as magistrates. A fifth appointment to the commission is expected to be made by Judge Johnathan Minga, per his role as administrator of the program, in the coming weeks and announced at the September meeting of the county commission.
Honoring 50 Years of Service
The commission also presented Charlie Baines, a volunteer firefighter with the Nolichucky Volunteer Fire Department, with a special proclamation. Baines has been with the department since October 1975, including 19 years as fire chief (2006-2025).
After 50 years of service as a firefighter, Baines retired earlier this year. His tenure also included 19 years as president of the Fire Chiefs Association.
Baines’ dedication to Washington County was far-reaching, including joining the Washington County Sheriff’s Office before taking additional courses to carry his experience to Washington County-Johnson City Emergency Medical Services in 1996. He served with EMS for approximately five years before being selected by then-Washington County Mayor George Jaynes as the solid waste/recycling director, a position he held for 20 years.
“Charlie’s decades of service are a testament to his selflessness, leadership and unwavering commitment to the people of Washington County,” Grandy said. “Charlie has always answered the call to serve. We are grateful for his dedication and the countless ways he has made Washington County stronger.”
In other business on Monday, the Washington County Commission:
- Approved a resolution to join the State of Tennessee and other local governments as participants in the Purdue/Sackler Opioids Settlement. This is a significant step in addressing the impact of the opioid crisis in the county.
- Approved a resolution to approve up to $100,000 from the capital projects fund for body camera, car camera and radio upgrades for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
- Approved a proclamation recognizing September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, highlighting the county's commitment to mental health initiatives.
- Approved an agreement with the Town of Jonesborough regarding planning services.
- Reappointed Bill Graham as a member of the Washington County Board of Zoning Appeals.
- Appointed Jonathan Bailey and reappointed Johnny Deakins to the Washington County Regional Planning Commission.
The next regular meeting of the Washington County Commission is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m. in Courtroom 7 of the George P. Jaynes Justice Center, located at 108 W. Jackson Blvd. in Jonesborough.
###