The Walker County Board of Commissioners handled several county projects, property matters and resolutions during its latest meeting, while Chairwoman Angie Teems provided updates on ongoing work across the county.
Among the updates, Teems said the county’s Data Center Study Committee is planning a field trip to visit multiple data centers in the Chattanooga area. The committee has been examining issues surrounding data center development as Walker County considers how such facilities should be regulated in the future.
Teems also addressed the county’s current data center moratorium as commissioners considered Resolution R-067-26. The resolution corrects the effective date contained in R-055-26 and ratifies and confirms the date of the moratorium.
Teems said outside counsel determined the issue was a simple error involving a mistyped date. Commissioners approved the correction without discussion, establishing February 5, 2027, as the date associated with the moratorium.
Several county facility projects were also discussed.
Flood damage restoration at the county tax building in Rock Spring is nearly complete. According to Teems, the damage was covered by insurance, leaving the county responsible for only a small deductible.
Teems also said none of the properties involved are being leased through privately owned property owners.
Work is also moving forward at Adventure Acres Park, where a new pedestrian bridge has been installed. Once asphalt work is completed, the bridge will be available for public use and will provide an ADA-accessible route to the park’s walking track without requiring visitors to travel through the main portion of the park.
Teems said Walker County will also be rolling out an updated comprehensive plan soon.
Meanwhile, restoration work at the Walker County Courthouse is expected to begin soon following the completion of contractor walkthroughs. The project will focus primarily on the courthouse stairwells and the third and fourth floors. The work is expected to take approximately four to six months to complete.
Commissioners also approved a variance request from Michael Camp allowing a third house on approximately 10 acres.
Under new business, commissioners approved Resolution R-066-26, establishing Walker County’s holiday calendar for 2027.
Resolution R-068-26, involving the abandonment of a county right-of-way associated with Tax Map and Parcel numbers 0327038 and 03271038, was also approved without discussion.
Commissioners additionally approved Resolution R-069-26, transferring certain real property interests between Walker County and the Walker County Development Authority for construction of a new Walker County Fire Rescue administration building and a new Fire Station No. 1.
Teems said the existing Fire Station No. 1 is more than 30 years old and is in poor condition. She said repairing and expanding the existing facility would cost significantly more than moving forward with a new facility.
Funding for the new fire administration building and Fire Station No. 1 will come from the 2026 SPLOST.
The property transfer clears another step toward replacing the aging station and developing new facilities for Walker County’s fire and emergency operations.