The Anderson County Clerk’s Office has introduced a new AI-driven public-search platform that gives citizens fast, free access to approved County Commission meeting minutes — both recent and historical — through an online database.
Developed in partnership with Data Records Management Services using advanced legal search technology, the system allows residents to find specific topics, motions and discussions in seconds from any phone or computer.
“Public records should be easy to access and easy to understand,” said Jeff Cole, Anderson County clerk. “This tool removes barriers and helps citizens stay informed about the decisions that shape our county.”
What the tool provides:
• Keyword search across commission meeting minutes.
• Access to past and present county decisions in one place
• Faster, simpler access to official public records
• Greater transparency between county government and citizens
The service is free to the public and requires no login or special software.
The County Clerk’s Office said it remains dedicated to preserving public trust through open records, professional service and innovative solutions that meet the needs of a growing and engaged community.
“This is about making sure the people of Anderson County can clearly see and understand the work being done on their behalf,” Cole said. “Transparency builds trust, and this tool is another way we are working to earn and maintain that trust every day.”
Residents can begin searching at andersoncountyclerk.com
Sidewalks taking shape, mayor says they’ll be ready for festival
by G. Chambers Williams III
A construction crew pours concrete for the new sidewalks on Market Street on Friday (Feb. 13) in Historic Downtown Clinton. The $9.9 million downtown improvement project began in February 2025. - G. Chambers Williams III
Construction workers are busy pouring the concrete for the new sidewalks on Market Street in Historic Downtown Clinton as the city pushes to get them finished in time for the Clinch River Spring Antique Festival May 1-2.
“We should have the sidewalks ready and all store entrances open by the time of the festival, and we plan to have Market Street open for the street vendors, even though the paving probably won’t be done yet,” Clinton Mayor Scott Burton said late last week.
And despite some confusion about the upgrades on social media, the new sidewalks and store entrances will all be handicapped accessible as promised, Burton said.
Several Market Street merchants have posted over the past two weeks or so that they were having to close for a few days to allow the pouring of concrete for the sidewalks in front of their businesses – the ones that don’t have rear entrances available.
Burrville antiques at 355 Market Street was closed for several days while sidewalks were poured, but reopened Friday.
Retired Anderson County General Sessions Judge Don A. Layton has announced his candidacy for Anderson County commissioner in District 8.
Layton and his wife, Mary, have lived in the Oak Ridge community for more than 50 years, where they raised their children, Amy and Chris.
As a grandfather of three, Layton said he is deeply invested in the future of Anderson County families.
With a distinguished career spanning education, law, business and public service, Layton offers broad leadership experience to the residents of District 8, a news release said.
He began as an educator in Oak Ridge Public Schools and later taught at Roane State Community College.
Clinton resident Dr. Darryl Taylor advocates for age-appropriate materials to be available in the children’s section of the public libraries, during the Feb. 12 Anderson County Library Board meeting. - Courtesy ACTV
The Anderson County Library Board recently passed several measures inspired by a recent executive order and statements by state and national officials.
The new policies, approved Feb. 12, are separate from policies adopted in previous years regarding how individuals may challenge books, how parents may limit their children’s library cards, and which books may be placed behind the counter with only their covers displayed.
Those earlier measures preceded recent state and federal actions that prompted the latest votes.
One new policy calls for books in juvenile sections “to be reviewed to be in compliance with President Donald Trump’s executive order, Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s directive and the age-appropriateness law.” The directives are linked to library funding.
Jess Ann Cole, who made the motion, said librarians had already begun the review. However, she said she made the motion “so that we can really define what I thought was really clear in Hargett and Trump’s orders.”
“I think we can be thorough,” she said, encouraging librarians, community members and board members to help with the process.
Sawmill Road in Norris, which begins here at Orchard Road and now ends at the Norris industrial park, will be extended through the woods to connect with Norris Freeway (U.S. 441) behind Covenant Life Church. - G. Chambers Williams III
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is expected to award the first contract for construction of the Sawmill Road extension from an industrial park in Norris to connect with Norris Freeway (U.S. 441) in March, Norris City Manager Bailey Whited told the City Council last week.
It’s a project the city has been dealing with since 2019 or earlier, and which was nearly abandoned in 2022.
Since then, the state has been acquiring right of way for the project, and Whited said a contract award is imminent.
In July 2022, the City Council gave the project new life by voting to spend an additional $213,000 in city funds to help pay for right-of-way acquisition.
The project, whose actual construction will be paid for entirely by the state, would extend Sawmill Road from its current terminus off Orchard Road to Norris Freeway.
On June 20, 2022, residents and council members agreed during a public meeting on the issue that the city should go ahead with the project, and the council made good on that decision during its July 2022 regular meeting.
• Clinton Police Department responded to a shoplifting complaint at 6:16 p.m. Feb. 2 at Walmart, 150 Tanner Lane.
According to the incident report, a suspect was named. The offense is classified as theft of property (shoplifting). The case remains active, police said.
• A Clinton woman reported a fraud and criminal impersonation incident last week on Lantana Lane. According to a report filed at 10:05 a.m. Feb. 12, officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Lantana Lane on a complaint of fraud/scam.
The complainant told officers she was the victim of theft of property and criminal impersonation. The suspect was listed as unknown.
Motorists traveling on Interstate 75 South in Knox County should be aware of upcoming road construction that will temporarily affect traffic.
At approximately 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, rolling roadblocks will be in place on I-75 South beginning at Exit 117 (Raccoon Valley Road) as crews perform blasting activities near the Exit 112 (Emory Road/Powell) ramp.
The rolling roadblocks will allow crews to safely clear any debris that may land on the roadway. The closures are expected to last approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
The schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions.
Motorists should expect delays and use caution in the area as workers will be present.
