LOOKING BACK
Projects blanket county
Year brought success,
challenge in variety
of unexpected events
F
rom roadwork to reconstruction,
projects have sprung up across the
county.
Loudon County Mayor Rollen
“Buddy” Bradshaw views 2019 as a
year that has posed both challenges
and successes in the county. The most
visible challenge began April 23 when
the Loudon County Courthouse caught
fire.
“That’s kind of been in everybody’s
forefront, so to speak,” Bradshaw said.
“This was one of the hardest budget
processes I’ve been in since I’ve been
in office as well. Both of those coming
pretty close to the same time were quite
a challenge for everybody involved.
I’m very pleased with the progress
we’ve made as far as we’re saving our
courthouse. We’re in the process now
of physical reconstruction and repara-
tion. Even though it was a difficult, hard
time and it was a tragedy, we’re coming
out of the ashes from it. Like a phoenix,
we will rise.”
Talks about stabilizing and recon-
structing the courthouse in two phases
have been a priority, and the stabiliza-
tion process began in mid-November.
Discussions of what will become of the
future courthouse annex have been
ongoing.
The jail addition, which will be
completed in January, was an obstacle
during budget season.
“I think we’ve handled it as well as
can be handled,” Bradshaw said. “Of
course, the big budget conversation
was the need for new personnel at the
(Loudon County Sheriff’s Office) both
on the road as well as when the new
jail’s occupied. I don’t know if that
could’ve been handled any better than
we handled it. The commission, budget
committee, as well as the sheriff’s
department, we came together and
through some pretty heated conversa-
tions, we came together and found
some common ground, and, looking
back, I think that was a success. Come
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Natalie McQuilkin | Loudon County Magazine
Johnson & Galyon Construction crews mobilized at the Loudon County Courthouse in
November to start the stabilization process for the courthouse.
2020, that’s also going to be a hard
conversation once we talk budget talks
again.”
Despite the projects the county has
juggled this year, Bradshaw is proud of
the county’s growth in residency.
“We’ve been very fortunate with
our quality growth,” Bradshaw said.
“We continue to grow as a county, and
people are coming to Loudon County
to either relocate or retire, so growth is
huge. That’s also huge as far as our tax
rate goes.
“We live in one of the absolute most
Loudon County Magazine Winter 2020
beautiful places on the planet, and
our cost of living is so reasonable,” he
added. “Every county that touches us,
we are a minimum of 18 cents cheaper
on a property tax. Some of the counties
that touch us, we’re almost close to a
dollar cheaper in some places. Our cost
of living is good. Our beauty is unparal-
leled. People like it here. Loudon coun-
tians are some of the friendliest people
that I’ve ever been around. I’ve traveled
all over the U.S., and it’s hard to beat
here. I think that’s just part of our draw.
We have everything that you can need