Carroll County to Purchase New Radio Equipment

HUNTINGDON (March 9) — ​The Carroll County Commission met on March 9. Outside of multiple budget amendments and committee appointments, the most significant item on the agenda was the agreement to purchase $90,000 to purchase Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) radio equipment for the Carroll County Fire Department and emergency services. The goal is to have other first responder units migrate to the TCAN system.

​For several years, county agencies, along with local municipalities, have had various issues with the current radio system. With the advancement of technology, most local agencies and utility companies, as well as state agencies, are joining the TCAN system.

​TACN is a statewide radio system that provides communication connectivity infrastructure for local, state, and federal first responders. With TACN, first responders, including law enforcement, fire, EMS, and healthcare providers, have reliable communications capabilities for daily operations and the ability to talk to each other to coordinate at the local, regional, and statewide level to respond in the event of an emergency or disaster.

​TACN is made up of mobile and fixed radio transmission sites across the state so that, from Tennessee’s urban to most rural areas, first responders will have consistent communication coverage. No matter where you are in Tennessee, even when other means of communication fail, TACN offers seamless communication for our partners. TACN has built-in redundancy to ensure the network will still offer statewide coverage in the event any location becomes inoperable after a natural or man-made disaster.

​Other items on the agenda were:

Resolution 3-01-2026 adding Ewe Lane (0.2 miles) to the Carroll County Highway Road System.

Resolution 3-02-2026 authorized the submission of an application for Fiscal Year 2026 Community Development Block Grant Funds in an amount not to exceed $1 million.

Resolution 3-03-2026 reappointed Renee Ford and appointed Daniel Hollowell to the Carroll County Indigent Care Board.

Resolution 3-04-2026 reappointed Casey Drewry and Bradley C. Smith, and appointed Louanne Blakketter, Hal Eason, and Vicki Williams to the Carroll County Board of Equalization.

Resolution 3-05-2026 implemented a purchasing card program for the Carroll County Finance Office and Carroll County Fire Department.

Resolution 3-06-2026 authorized the county mayor to sign a project proposal with the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The project described is “from near Old Loop 22/Thorne Lane to South of SR-124 Old McKenzie Road Route: SR-22” for improvements to State Route 22, including miscellaneous safety improvements and a J-turn intersection, with the project being federally funded through the Highway Safety Improvement Program, and designated as State Project No. 09006-2219-94.

Resolution 3-07-2026 amended the General Fund Budget for the Health Department for funds to add a new clerical position to the Carroll County Health Department. The funds for the positions will be fully reimbursed by the State of Tennessee to Carroll County.

​Resolution 3-09-2026 amended the General Fund Budget for the Library to cover overages in a technology contract.

Resolution 3-10-2026 amended the Grant Fund Budget to account for an increase in State funds to the Office on Aging ($8,857) and a security grant for Carroll Academy ($121) to purchase a camera for a transportation van.

Resolution 3-11-2026 amended the Drug Fund Budget to account for overtime.

Resolution 3-12-2026 amended the General Purpose School Fund Budget by $19,653 from the fund balance.

The following were elected notaries: Daniel Brock, Michael Lynn Creasy, Courtney Crocker, Kathy Howell, Heather Leach, Matthew M. Maddox, Abigail Mortez, Alesia Osborn, Fran R. Ridley, Brian Shannon Shaw, Cheryl L. Shultz, Cassie Lynn Townsend, and Brian Winston.

The next regular meeting of the Carroll County Commission is on April 13 at 7 p.m. at the Carroll County Government Complex.