Press Release questions can be directed to:
Amy Cowden, Executive Assistant
Blount County Mayor’s Office
(865) 273-5700
**PRESS RELEASE **
Re: COVID-19 Update
April 1, 2020
BLOUNT COUNTY, TN
Public Access to Blount County Government Buildings will be altered effective April 1, 2020 via appointment only through April 14, 2020, to adhere with the Governor’s Safer At Home Executive Order No. 22 issued.
County Buildings, including the Courthouse, Justice Center, Operations Center, Animal Center and Adult Probation & Recovery Court, are limiting or eliminating in-person services. Government will continue to operate and employees are continuing to work for our citizens. Normal business hours at the Courthouse and the Justice Center are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
We respectfully ask that you call the Department you need to do business with directly to discuss your needs and make an appointment only if the business is essential and time-sensitive. Entry into all County buildings will be by appointment only. Most Departments have on-line or alternative options for completing transactions. Any outstanding candidate petitions are due by 12:00 noon on Thursday, April 2, will be accepted by Elections without an appointment.
Mayor Mitchell, “For the safety of our citizens and our employees, we must take stricter measures to ensure we’re doing everything to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. With more results coming in here in Blount County, we increased to 25 positive cases yesterday. There is no question we have to limit in-person contact. We have already been taking measures to ensure public and employee safety, but the Courthouse has continued to have a steady flow of people these last few days. We want citizens to understand that if their business can wait, it needs to wait.”
“We realize this may be an inconvenience for many people, but your elected officials are trying to do their part to help flatten the curve,” Sheriff Berrong said. “We are anxious to resume normal operations, but until the CDC and the state and federal governments begin lifting their recommendations for social distancing, we must do our part to keep our citizens safe. We will have deputies stationed at the main doors of the Justice Center and Court House to assist in the appointment process and to provide information. All persons entering either location, including employees will be checked to assure they are not running a temperature or showing symptoms of COVID-19. For further updates from the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, please follow us on our Facebook page, Blount County Sheriff’s Office.”
This is a team effort that requires the unified participation of everyone.
We are more than happy to answer your questions over the phone and help you determine an alternative method to accomplish your business. Call first or check out our website for details. www.blounttn.org
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Blount County Courthouse
**A drop box is located in the main entrance lobby
County Clerk’s Office (865) 273-5800
Tags can be renewed online, by mail or at the renewal kiosk at our main entrance
Drive-thru services available
The Governor’s Executive Order No. 15 allows for the extension of vehicle registrations “to delay the expiration of all valid motor vehicle registrations set to expire between March 12, 2020, and May 18, 2020. Such motor vehicle registrations shall instead expire on June 15, 2020; provided, however, that such registrations shall return to their original renewal schedules in subsequent years.”
Elections (865) 273-5920
Human Resources (865) 273-5780
Blount County Employee Business only
Juvenile Clerk (865) 273-5935
Juvenile Detention (865) 273-5959
Juvenile Court, YSOs & Other Services (865) 273-5945
Property Assessor’s Office (865) 273-5850
Property Record Cards are available online or can be emailed
Purchasing Office (865) 273-5740
Purchasing is currently available by appointment only. Call the office for more details.
Register of Deed’s Office (865) 273-5880
Deeds can be E-recorded & searches for recorded documents are available
Register of Deeds Office:
https://www.blounttn.org/1685/Business-Changes-due-to-COVID-19
Trustee’s Office (865) 273-5900
Taxes can be paid by mail, over the phone or online
Veterans Affairs Office (865) 273-5760
Veterans is currently available by appointment only. Call the office for more details.
These and other services exist for your convenience & help us all stay safe!
All General Questions can be directed to:
County Mayor’s Office (865) 273-5700
Blount County Justice Center
(All Departments are operating by appointment only)
**A drop box is located in the 24-hour Jail Lobby
Clerk & Master’s Office (865) 273-5500
General Sessions Clerk (865) 273-5450
Circuit Court Clerk (865) 273-5400
Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Main Line (865) 273-5000
- For an emergency, call 911
- To speak with a deputy, call (865)983-3620
Records Office (865)273-5003
- For incident reports, accident reports, background checks, or other records-related transactions, email reports@bcso.com
Criminal Investigations (865)273-5001
Court Services (865)273-5002
Adult Corrections (865) 273-5245
- Video visitation from the 24-hour jail lobby will be limited to 3 stations, and we will be enforcing the 10 person limit for gatherings. Onsite video visitation is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week. We strongly encourage citizens to access video visitation from home.
Narcotics (865)977-SANO
Blount County Court System to include Justice Center and Court House
During this period of suspension any court filing shall be lodged with the appropriate court clerk’s office by use of the drop box, email or fax. Attorneys and litigants shall use these methods to file rather than filing in person. Likewise, any document that needs to be delivered or presented to any judge or clerk’s office shall be delivered or presented by use of the drop box, email or fax. Such documents include but are not limited to violation warrants. If any filing or document relates to an emergency and requires an immediate signature from a judge, arrangements shall be made by contacting the judge’s office or the appropriate clerk’s office in advance of bringing any such filing or document to the Justice Center or Courthouse.
Blount County Operations Center
(All Departments are operating by appointment only)
Blount County Records & Archives (865) 380-4296
Blount County Highway Department (865) 982-4652
Blount County Planning & Development (865) 681-9301
Blount County Recycling Center (865) 268-3238 or (865) 982-4652
Recycling will continue to operate as scheduled. We ask citizens to utilize the drive thru services and exercise proper social distancing with staff members.
Blount County Soil Conservation (865) 983-2011
UT-Blount County Ag Extension Office (865) 982-6430
Blount County Animal Center
(865) 980-6244 - Adoption by appointment only
Blount County Probation & Recovery Court
Probation (865) 273-5990
Recovery Court (865) 273-5581