UT County Technical Assistance Service

06/23/2026

We have some exciting news to share! 🎉

Effective July 1, CTAS is proud to announce two new Field Services leadership appointments: Heather Duncan as Manager of County Government Consultants and Gabe Looney as Manager of Technical Consultants.

These new roles are part of a thoughtful restructuring designed to better support our consultants and the Tennessee counties they serve. Heather and Gabe will continue in their consultant roles while also leading their respective teams — bringing both hands-on experience and fresh leadership to the table.

We also want to take a moment to recognize Jim Hart, who will be retiring later this year after nearly 20 years of dedicated service to CTAS and Tennessee's county governments. More on Jim's incredible legacy very soon.

Congratulations, Heather and Gabe — we can't wait to see what you'll accomplish! 👏

06/19/2026

Thank you, UT President Randy Boyd for sharing our impact. We love what we do for counties across the state and for all Tennesseans!

06/16/2026

📰 The June issue of County Officials E-News will be hitting inboxes soon! This issue contains important Save the Date information about the upcoming County Officials Orientation Program happening in late August as well as several articles on recent law updates. Check it out or see all of our latest news online: https://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/news

06/12/2026

Ready to better serve your community?

The Tennessee Language Center are offering FREE American Sign Language, Arabic & Spanish classes for county officials this Summer.

• 9 weeks | 2 hrs/week
• Online or in-person in Nashville
• Starts the week of July 6, 2026

Spots are limited—don’t miss out!
👉 Register now: https://tlc.tennessee.edu/city-county-language-assistance

06/11/2026

We look forward to working with Jim again!

UT has named an interim vice president who will serve when Vice President Herb Byrd retires in September.
https://www.ips.tennessee.edu/article/university-tennessee-names-interim-vice-president-institute-public-service-launches

06/10/2026

Congratulations to Wesley Robertson on 15 years of service to the UT Institute for Public Service and CTAS! We are grateful for Wesley's dedication, expertise, and the contributions he has made to Tennessee's county governments over the past decade and a half. Thank you, Wesley, for 15 years of making a difference!

[Photo description for alt text: Wesley Robertson receives his 15-year service award certificate, presented by a CTAS colleague, at a UT Institute for Public Service recognition event.]

06/08/2026

🙌 Jump Start Your Spanish with Our FREE 4-Day Intensive Class
If you want to condense nine weeks of Spanish learning into 4 days, this might be the class for you. This intensive, beginner-level course condenses nine weeks of learning into just four days—perfect for true beginners who want results fast.

The course is equivalent to our full Beginner 1 class. After completion, you’ll be eligible to continue with Beginner 2—either online or in person—during our regular Spring 2026 term, starting the week of July 6.

🗓️ Dates: June 23, 24, 25, and 26
⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. daily
🧑‍💻 Format: Attend in person at 193 Polk Ave., Nashville, or join via Zoom—your choice each day.

This hybrid course offers dynamic, hands-on learning through group activities, memory games, and interactive practice to help you gain confidence fast.

🚨 Registration deadline: June 16
Cost: FREE for County Officials

Complete the Request Form to start the process: https://utk.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9sGqq1CBMBxMkZ0

06/01/2026

New state law, new decisions to make. Public Chapter No. 1090, signed in May 2026, gives county commissions the authority to limit municipal planning and zoning outside city limits — and the Center for Local Planning (CLP) has put together a policy guide to help local governments understand what it means and what to do next. If your county is navigating these changes, CLP is ready to help. 📋

🔗 https://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/news/new-clp-policy-guide-what-counties-need-know-about-public-chapter-no-1090

05/28/2026

Deadline to Apply: TODAY!

We are excited to introduce the new Planning Commissioner Academy, a six‑month blended learning program from the UT Center for Local Planning, CTAS and MTAS. This program offers practical training in planning fundamentals, legal and ethical responsibilities, and effective decision‑making for local planning commissioners and BZA members.

The program is fully funded and limited to 30 participants. Apply by May 28 at tiny.utk.edu/planning-commissioner-academy.

05/26/2026

🚨Maury County is HIRING! They are seeking qualified candidates for an open BOE Payroll Accountant position. Learn more or apply: https://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/county-employment