Chairman Greg Matherly presides over the Washington County Commission's meeting which was broadcast on the county's YouTube channel.

Washington County to continue social distancing protocols

The mayor said Gov. Bill Lee’s decision this week to extend his state of emergency order to continue the suspension of various laws and regulations to deal with the pandemic gives local governments the “flexibility” to continue with its social distancing restrictions.

Updated Jul 1, 2020 at 9:23 AM

Washington County Commission

Governor to appoint a temporary judge in Washington County

County Attorney Allyson Wilkinson said sitting Judge Jim Nidiffer informed Lee’s office on June 19 that “he is not able to serve at this time.” As a result, she said he governor has the power to appoint a temporary judge to the elected position.

Updated Jun 23, 2020 at 8:46 PM

Washington County Commission

Washington County Commission to fill a vacancy

County Attorney Allyson Wilkinson said state law gives the commission 120 days to fill the position once the vacancy has been declared. Commission Chairman Greg Matherly said he expects the board to do that after McAllister attends his last commission meeting on July 27.

Updated Jun 23, 2020 at 8:40 PM

$The Washington County Budget Committee will hold a pub\ic hearing Friday on the county's proposed new budget in Courtroom 7 of the George P. Jaynes Justice Center. The hearing begins at 9 a.m.$

Washington County Commission

Public hearing set Friday on new county budget

The public hearing will begin Friday at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 7 of the George P. Jaynes Justice Center in Jonesborough. The County Commission is set to vote on the proposed budget at its regular meeting on Monday.

Jun 18, 2020 at 8:00 AM

Washington County Commission

Commissioners continue to struggle with new county budget

Mitch Meredith, the county’s director of finance and administration, repeated the comments he made last week that the growth rate for county property taxes remains flat, with Washington County estimated to collect $222,330 less in those revenues for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Jun 2, 2020 at 8:13 PM

More than 60% of Washington County property tax revenues come from inside Johnson City's corporate limits.

Washington County Commission

County commissioners given a bleak budget picture

“We have a challenging revenue picture before us,” Mitch Meredith, the county’s director of finance and administration, told commissioners at an electronic meeting.

May 29, 2020 at 12:00 AM

Washington County Commission

Officials encourage area residents to wear face masks

“Currently, our curve looks flat, but the challenge is to keep it that way,” Kirschke said during the commission’s weekly electronic update on the pandemic. “We are looking at ways to increase mask usage.”

Updated May 28, 2020 at 9:46 AM

Washington County Commission

County commissioners approve changes to downtown TIF

The new formula will decrease the county’s annual contributions over the next nine years of the TIF agreement with the city of Johnson City and the Johnson City Development Authority.

May 18, 2020 at 9:15 PM

Washington County Commission

Washington County commissioners to vote on TIF changes

The county’s Budget Committee is also asking commissioners to approve a separate resolution to change the debt ceiling in the TIF district from a fixed amount of $11 million to “an excess of 10% of the value of real property“ in the district.

May 17, 2020 at 8:00 PM

Washington County Commission

Health department looks to resume services

Minnick also told commissioners, meeting electronically for their weekly COVID-19 update, that the department’s primary care providers are also now seeing patients, “but not as many as usual.”

May 14, 2020 at 12:00 AM

Washington County Commission

Commissioners hear update on business re-openings, COVID-19 testing

Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy told county commissioners Wednesday that his novel coronavirus recovery task force has created a program to allow businesses to promote themselves as being “a safe place to dine, shop or get a haircut.”

May 7, 2020 at 9:00 AM

Washington County Commission

Washington County will vote again on school funding deal with the city

The do-over comes after Johnson City commissioners postponed a vote to accept the school funding arrangement at its meeting on March 12. City officials said key documents were either mislabeled or missing from their version of the agreement.

Apr 27, 2020 at 9:05 AM

Dr. David Kirschke, the medical director for the Northeast Tennessee Regional Health Department.

Washington County Commission

Caution is urged in re-opening the local economy

“We are not out of the woods yet,” Dr. David Kirschke, the medical director of the Northeast Tennessee Regional Health Department, told Washington County commissioners during their weekly electronic COVID-19 update. “You might say we are just getting into the woods.”

Apr 23, 2020 at 9:30 AM

Washington County Commission

No 'business as usual' after pandemic subsides

Dr, David Kirschke told commissioners it is difficult to say if the peak of the pandemic has hit in Washington County. He said that’s why it is important for the stepped up testing that Gov. Bill Lee has authorized across the state. A drive-through COVID-19 testing site will be open from 9. a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday on the campus of East Tennessee State University.

Apr 16, 2020 at 12:00 AM