LAWRENCEBURG, TN — Lawrence County commissioners will consider a wide-ranging agenda Tuesday evening that includes a proposed yearlong moratorium on data centers, adoption of the county’s new certified property tax rate, more than $142 million in annual appropriations and several measures affecting emergency services, veterans and local agriculture.
The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 28. The agenda contains 16 original resolutions, several honorary measures and an addendum proposing that the Crawfish Creek Bridge be named the Joe Newton Memorial Bridge. The documents are meeting materials and do not include final vote results.
Proposed One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
One of the meeting’s most closely watched measures would impose a 12-month moratorium on the establishment, construction, development, expansion or operation of data centers and several related high-density computing facilities within Lawrence County.
The proposal specifically covers cryptocurrency mining facilities, artificial intelligence computing centers, cloud-computing operations and similar developments.
The resolution cites concerns about the potentially significant demands such facilities can place on electricity, water, wastewater systems, telecommunications, roads and emergency services. It also notes potential noise, heat, vibration, environmental and quality-of-life effects for nearby property owners.
The resolution acknowledges that Lawrence County does not currently have countywide zoning regulations, building codes or comprehensive land-use rules specifically addressing these types of facilities.
During the moratorium, a newly created Data Center and Land Use Study Committee would examine:
- Electricity, water and wastewater demands.
- Noise, environmental and quality-of-life concerns.
- Fire protection and emergency-response requirements.
- Road and transportation infrastructure.
- Economic-development and tax implications.
- Possible countywide or targeted zoning.
- Building codes and development standards.
- Potential locations for future high-impact industrial development.
- Whether Lawrence County should seek additional regulatory authority from the Tennessee General Assembly.
The commission chair would appoint the committee, which must include the chair of the regional planning commission. The commission chair and county executive would serve as ex officio members.
The committee would report its findings and recommendations before the moratorium expires. The measure is sponsored by Commission Chairman Shane Eaton and Commissioner Wayne Yocom.
Public concerns about a proposed data center have been raised during previous commission meetings. Minutes included in the packet show nine residents addressed commissioners about the project in May, with two residents speaking during the June meeting.
Property Tax Rate Following Countywide Reappraisal
Commissioners will consider accepting a certified property tax rate of $1.4825 for every $100 of taxable property value.
The rate was calculated by the Tennessee State Board of Equalization following Lawrence County’s 2026 property reappraisal. The previous rate was $2.0105.
The lower nominal rate is intended to generate substantially the same overall revenue from property that existed before the reappraisal, excluding new construction and improvements. It does not necessarily mean every property owner’s tax bill will decrease, since individual bills depend on how each property’s assessed value changed compared with the countywide average.
The state calculation lists Lawrence County’s total 2026 tax-base assessment at approximately $1.463 billion, compared with about $1.079 billion during the previous year.
A separate resolution would officially levy the $1.4825 rate and distribute it as follows:
- County General Fund: $0.8254
- Solid Waste: $0.0210
- Highways and Public Works: $0.1684
- General Purpose Schools: $0.3725
- General Debt Service: $0.0952
County Budget Tops $142 Million
Commissioners will also vote on the county’s appropriations resolution for the fiscal year that began July 1 and ends June 30, 2027.
The fund totals listed in the resolution amount to approximately $142.47 million. Education-related appropriations account for nearly $89.82 million of that amount.
Major allocations include:
- County General Fund: $28.65 million
- General Purpose Schools: $76.49 million
- School Federal Projects: $4.71 million
- Central Cafeteria Fund: $6.25 million
- Education Capital Projects: $2.12 million
- Highways and Public Works: $6.98 million
- Highway Capital Projects: $3.77 million
- General Debt Service: $6.38 million
- General Capital Projects: $3.34 million
- Solid Waste and Sanitation: $3.43 million
Within the General Fund, the largest category is public safety at slightly more than $11 million, followed by public health and welfare at approximately $7.4 million.
The General Purpose School budget includes approximately $48.14 million for instruction, $27.03 million for support services and $1.13 million for education debt service.
Nonprofit and Charitable Funding
The commission will consider approving $645,000 for nonprofit and charitable organizations serving Lawrence County.
The largest proposed contribution is $412,500 for Lawrence County Fire and Rescue.
Other proposed allocations include:
- Friends of Lawrence County Animals: $35,000
- My Ride: $35,000
- A Kid’s Place: $30,000
- The Shelter: $15,000
- Lawrenceburg Senior Citizens: $10,000
- Loretto Senior Citizens: $10,000
- Summertown Senior Citizens: $10,000
- St. Joseph Senior Citizens: $8,000
- Progressive Directions: $10,000
- Lawrence County Reserve Deputy Association: $5,000
- Sandcastle Library: $5,000
- God’s Storehouse: $5,000
- Buffalo River Services: $5,000
- American Legion Post 146: $4,000
- Limitless-Lawrence County TN: $1,000
The resolution also provides $15,000 in discretionary funding for the county executive.
Tourism-related contributions totaling $29,500 would include $15,000 for the West Gaines School Community Center, $4,000 each for the City of Lawrenceburg and Loretto Lift Up, $3,500 for the Council for Community Clubs and $3,000 for the Lawrence County Historical Society.
Hotel-Motel Tax Revenue
A separate resolution would distribute $401,740 in hotel-motel tax revenue to the Joint Economic and Community Development Board of Lawrence County.
Any collections exceeding that appropriation would be deposited into the County General Fund unless commissioners later approve another use.
Opioid Settlement Funding
Commissioners will consider allocating $348,087.41 from Lawrence County’s opioid-abatement settlement funds to three programs:
- $179,287.41 for 8 Oaks Recovery Inc. for a computer lab, treatment operations, renovations and infrastructure improvements.
- $100,000 for the Lawrence County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition for a student mental-health and behavioral-health social worker project.
- $68,800 for the Lawrence County School System to fund salary, benefits and training for a social worker at the J.C. Barnett Center.
The money would be restricted to eligible opioid-remediation purposes under settlement requirements and Tennessee law.
Relief for Livestock Producers
A proposed one-year Dead Stock Removal Relief Fund would provide $67,500 to help Lawrence County livestock producers with the cost of removing and properly disposing of deceased animals.
The county executive or a designee would establish eligibility, documentation and reimbursement procedures. The program would expire June 30, 2027, unless commissioners vote to extend it.
The resolution states that assistance would be subject to available funding and would not create an automatic entitlement to reimbursement.
Communications Tower at Fire Training Center
Commissioners will consider authorizing a long-term agreement with the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network for a public-safety communications tower at the Jason Dickey Fire Training Center.
The proposed lease covers approximately 0.2296 acres on Windsor Avenue and would have an initial term of 45 years. The state would not pay monetary rent because of the public benefits of the project and its obligation to construct and maintain the communications facilities.
The agreement would allow the state to install towers, antennas, telecommunications equipment, generators, fencing and related infrastructure. The state would receive 24-hour access and utility easements, with construction and improvements made at state expense.
County officials said the tower is intended to improve interoperable communications and emergency-response capabilities for local first responders.
Changes Proposed for Lawrence County EMS
The commission will consider moving Lawrence County EMS employees to a schedule consisting of 24 hours on duty followed by 72 hours off duty.
The resolution proposes an implementation date of October 23, 2026, allowing the department time to hire and train additional employees.
The attached policy exhibit would adjust employee leave and compensation to account for the new schedule.
Vacation accrual would change as follows:
- Employees with up to five years of service: from 12 to 10 hours per month
- Six to 10 years: from 15 to 12 hours per month
- More than 10 years: from 18 to 15 hours per month
Maximum vacation balances would remain unchanged at 160, 200 or 240 hours, depending on years of service.
Sick leave would decrease from 24 to 12 hours per month, while employees would continue to receive 24 hours of annual birthday leave.
The policy includes a new 20-step hourly pay scale. Base hourly rates would begin at $24.70 for advanced emergency medical technicians and $28.20 for paramedics. At Step 20, rates would reach $29.70 for AEMTs and $33.20 for paramedics.
Employees would receive one step of credit for each year worked at Lawrence County EMS and one-half step for each year of prior EMS experience.
Additional hourly supplements would include:
- Critical-care paramedic: 75 cents
- Shift supervisor: $2
- Field training officer: 50 cents
The exhibit proposes paying employees who work holidays for 24 hours at straight time rather than time-and-a-half. Treatment of employees whose regular shift does not fall on a holiday is identified in the document as an item for further discussion. The leave and pay details appear in the exhibits on pages 134 and 135 of the packet.
Veterans Service Office Position
Commissioners will consider creating another full-time secretary position in the Lawrence County Veterans Service Office.
The position’s salary and benefits would cost approximately $48,270 during the current fiscal year. County officials cited increasing administrative demands and the need to improve assistance provided to veterans and eligible dependents seeking federal, state and local benefits.
The accompanying budget amendment increases funding for salary, Social Security, retirement, medical insurance, unemployment compensation and Medicare expenses.
Additional Budget Amendment
The budget amendment exhibit on page 138 proposes a total General Fund increase of $120,772, funded by reducing the county’s projected fund balance by the same amount.
The amendment includes:
- $67,500 for the dead stock removal program.
- $5,000 in additional social, cultural and recreational contributions.
- Approximately $48,270 for the new Veterans Service Office employee and associated benefits.
The projected General Fund balance would decrease from approximately $12.4 million to $12.28 million.
Roads Could Enter County Maintenance System
The Highway Committee is recommending that four roads be formally accepted into the county road system:
- Michael Drive
- Miamis Place Road
- Narrow Road
- Liddy Lane
The resolution states that the roads have satisfied county requirements, including required financial contributions for future maintenance. Once accepted, they would become county-maintained public roads.
Library Board Appointment
Commissioners will consider confirming Lynn King’s appointment to the Lawrence County Public Library Board.
King would fill the vacancy created by Dustin Robertson’s resignation and serve the remainder of Robertson’s term, which expires June 30, 2027.
Students and Baseball Teams to Be Honored
Several honorary resolutions recognize local students and youth baseball teams.
Boone Gobble of Lawrence County High School is being honored following his election as National Senior Beta President for the 2026-2027 term.
The Lawrenceburg Public School Junior Beta Club will be recognized after winning national championships in the National Songfest Competition and Performing Arts-Large Group Competition at the 2026 National Beta Convention.
The club also finished fifth in Living Literature and ninth in Book Battle. Henley Gillespie placed third nationally in poetry, Etta Methvin placed sixth in digitally enhanced photography and Hudson Beckman placed ninth in fourth-grade mathematics. Sponsors Emily Wisdom, Brittany Evans and Carla Brodie are also recognized in the resolution.
Three state-champion youth baseball teams are on the agenda:
- The Lawrence County 8U Purple All-Stars finished 6-0 and outscored opponents 87-18 to win the state championship in Donelson.
- The Lawrenceburg 9U All-Stars went undefeated and outscored opponents 65-19. Pitchers Jay Burls Jr., Colt Parish and Liam Burnett combined for a perfect game in a 20-0 opening victory, and the team won the championship on a walk-off against Tullahoma.
- The Lawrenceburg 11U All-Stars won their fifth consecutive state championship, outscoring opponents 50-7. The team batted .460, collected 52 hits, stole 34 bases and finished with a 0.50 earned-run average.
A resolution honoring the Lawrence County High School Wildcats baseball team’s historic 2026 season has been moved to the commission’s next regular meeting.
Bridge-Naming Proposal Added
An agenda addendum adds a resolution that would name the Crawfish Creek Bridge the Joe Newton Memorial Bridge.