Hamilton County commissioners approved a $144,000 grant application today to help a local business expand.

They also spent time discussing Tuesday's elections.

The grant, which will come through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, will help Southern Tool Steel with a $1.7 million expansion expected to create 25 jobs within a year of completion.

The commissioners also offered preliminary goodbyes to Commissioner Richard Casavant, who lost his re-election bid to James Fields, and congratulated Commissioner Bill Hullander, who won the GOP primary for county trustee.

But commissioners also blasted the low voter turnout in the elections.

"I was really surprised and disappointed there wasn't a bigger turnout yesterday," said County Mayor Claude Ramsey, who easily won the Republican primary. "It's a privilege and a responsibility."

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.