Interaction with State Offices and Departments

At the state level, county highway officials will find that they interact regularly with employees (agents) of the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Comptroller’s Office.  In 1995, the legislature added a new section to the CUHL which created a presumption that the chief administrative officer of each county highway department is authorized to sign binding agreements with the state department of transportation on behalf of the county.  The presumption is only overcome by provision of notice by the county legislative body that the chief administrative officer does not have the authority to sign the agreements.  The department of transportation must acknowledge receiving the notice for it to be effective.  T.C.A. § 54-7-116.