Hawkins commission accepts legal aid in crypto suit

ROGERSVILLE — The Southern Environmental Law Center will help defend Hawkins County against a lawsuit filed by ExoticRidge Crypto Company. The Hawkins County Commission voted to accept the SELC's offer of pro bono services at its meeting Monday night. ExoticRidge's lawsuit follows the Hawkins County Board of Commissioners' ban of crypto mines and data centers at a September 2025 meeting. In the months since, ExoticRidge CEO Will Daugherty tried to assuage people's fears and convince the county to lift its ban. However, at a February meeting, the commission refused to budge. On March 31, the Beacon Center of Tennessee filed the lawsuit in federal court on behalf of ExoticRidge. The lawsuit argues that the ban unlawfully targets data centers/crypto mines. It also argues that the commission overstepped its authority and rushed procedures. At last month's commission meeting, SELC lawyers — including Tennessee Office Director George Nolan — offered to argue Hawkins' right to regulate environmentally harmful land uses. Per the retainer agreement, approved Monday, the SELC will defend against non-monetary claims in the suit; it says SELC anticipates helping in the litigation of constitutional, environmental and other issues. The county's insurance company, the Davies Group, appointed attorney Jeffrey Ward to defend against monetary judgements. The commission unanimously approved the retainer agreement, with Commissioners Danny Alvis and Jeff Barrett absent. The SELC's board of directors has also approved the partnership, Hawkins County Mayor Mark DeWitte said. Other updates The commission approved a $240,000 settlement from HolstonConnect. This follows a lawsuit which alleged that HolstonConnect failed to pay required franchise fees for its television service. HolstonConnect had argued it was a streaming service, exempt from the fees and already paying property taxes. In the settlement agreement, HolstonConnect denies any wrongdoing or liability to Hawkins County. In a budget committee meeting last week, commissioners discussed putting these funds toward buying land for the agriculture extension office. The towns of Church Hill and Rogersville also received settlements from HolstonConnect. The commission also: released a lien on an ambulance so the county's Emergency Medical Services can sell it; EMS Director Jason Murrell said the ambulance needs repairs, but it'd be better to sell it and put that money toward buying a replacement. set the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System employer contribution rate as 7.5% for the upcoming year, up from 7%; the minimum rate rose from 6.02% to 7.2%. agreed to apply for a $750,000 grant from Tennessee Housing Development Agency, with no local match; the money would provide housing repairs and reconstruction for low-income residents. This would be through the state's HOME program, so Hawkins County would not handle who receives the funds. The commission postponed approval of a contract with East Tennessee State University for forensic services. The school's Quillen College of Medicine, Division of Forensic Pathology has provided these services to the county for several years. However, DeWitte said the region's county mayors agreed the contract's rate increase was too high, and will renegotiate the contracts.