Maryville, Tenn. — Nearly five months after Hurricane Helene struck East Tennessee, the impact continues to ripple through Cocke County. While many residents are still recovering from the devastation—52 homes were completely destroyed and 39 others severely damaged—a growing disagreement among local officials could affect the resources available for continued rebuilding efforts.
Macie Reed, the county’s property assessor for the past 11 years, has also been fulfilling the duties of the floodplain administrator in recent years. However, Reed has expressed concerns that managing both roles has become increasingly unsustainable, especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
“It worked back in 1988 when the county first combined the positions, but as the county has expanded, the responsibilities have become too much for one person to manage effectively,” Reed said.
Reed announced her intention to step down from the floodplain administrator role, citing the overwhelming workload that the current staff cannot handle. She believes that separating the two positions will allow both roles to be managed more effectively, ensuring that the county’s recovery efforts are carried out properly and thoroughly.
“I want to do this job correctly and thoroughly,” Reed explained. “I can’t do that and floodplain administration at the same time.”
In a growing county, Reed said the demands on the property assessor’s office this year have been four times greater than in previous years, a significant strain on resources. As floodplain administrator, Reed was tasked with issuing permits and guiding residents on how to rebuild, all while assessing flood damage to homes. During the recovery process, Reed encountered complexities she had never faced before, including the concept of “substantial damage estimates,” a term she had never heard before Helene’s aftermath.
Despite Reed’s decision to resign from the floodplain administrator role, Cocke County’s leadership has been reluctant to move forward with hiring a replacement. During a county leadership board meeting on Tuesday, members voted against a resolution that would have transferred the floodplain administrator position to the mayor’s office. Several members voiced concerns about the financial impact of hiring a new employee, with Chairman Norman Smith acknowledging that the county lacks the resources to fund an additional position.
“A lot of them are frustrated because the county doesn’t have the funding for another position,” Smith said. “If that position is moved from her, then somewhere funding is going to have to come to fund that position, and the county doesn’t have the resources at this point.”
The debate over funding and staffing comes with serious consequences. Without a floodplain administrator, Cocke County risks losing its compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which would result in the cessation of federal funding and an increase in flood insurance rates for all county residents.
“We don’t want to be in a position where we lose federal funding or see higher insurance rates for everyone in the county,” Reed said. “That’s why I’m willing to stay on for a few more months to make sure there’s a smooth transition.”
While Reed is prepared to remain in her dual role for a few more months, she emphasized that the situation cannot continue indefinitely. She intends to consult with the county attorney about her next steps if county leadership continues to delay moving forward with the hiring process.
Reed has made it clear that she is committed to helping the county through this transition and ensuring that both the property assessor and floodplain administrator roles are handled with the attention they deserve. However, time is running out, and the county’s leadership must decide how to move forward before the lack of a floodplain administrator puts the entire county in jeopardy.
