SEVIERVILLE — Sevier County commissioners are set to consider key measures that would absorb the Northview-Kodak Fire Department into the county's fire/rescue services and expand county control over planning and zoning in unincorporated areas. The County Commission will convene for its October regular meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the Sevier County Courthouse.
A resolution on the agenda proposes merging the Northview fire department with Sevier County Fire/Rescue. This comes after representatives of the Northview-Kodak Fire Department (NKFD) approached the county earlier this year. The volunteer department previously received funds from the city of Sevierville, which helped staff a station around the clock. This funding arrangement began when Sevierville did not have its own fire station serving the northern part of town. However, with the city now having opened its own fire station in Kodak, that specific funding has been eliminated.
Sevier County Fire/Rescue was established in 2023 with the goal of providing round-the-clock paid fire protection to unincorporated regions of the county. Since its inception, the county's fire/rescue service has already absorbed the New Center Volunteer Fire Department, the Wears Valley Volunteer Fire Department, and the Sevier County Volunteer Fire Department. The proposed agreement would add Northview to this list of integrated departments. Negotiations between the county and Northview department representatives have been ongoing for months, with particular attention paid to the future of the paid firefighters who previously worked for the smaller department. Vice Mayor Matt Rudder stated that those individuals will have an opportunity to come work for the county, provided they meet the necessary requirements.
In a separate but significant measure, the commission will also consider increasing its authority over planning and zoning within unincorporated areas, a move that would impact the cities of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. State law had previously allowed cities to exercise some power over areas adjacent to their city limits through regional planning commissions. In Sevier County, only Pigeon Forge and Sevierville currently utilize this authority, which extends to their urban growth boundaries—areas eligible for annexation. While the county developed its own zoning and planning regulations that also applied to these areas, an amendment to state law enacted this year provides Sevier County with the opportunity to bring these regions entirely under county authority. The commission will vote on a resolution Monday to take advantage of this change. Vice Mayor Rudder commented that the county believes the change would benefit county residents not residing within city corporate limits. Representatives from Pigeon Forge and Sevierville declined to comment on the proposal.
Additionally, the Pittman Center Volunteer Fire Department has sought assistance from the county, citing difficulties in maintaining enough volunteers to adequately respond to fire calls within its jurisdiction. The county has established a task force to collaborate with Pittman Center on this issue, and the group continues to meet to find a resolution. Rudder noted that “We’ll need additional time to work through that” situation.
Other items on the County Commission's agenda for Monday include a resolution to pursue further legal action against a wedding chapel operating in an area zoned for residential use. Commissioners will also consider a resolution to extend the county's contract for downtown parking at a lot owned by Citizens National Bank for an additional two years.