Tennessee Code Title 54. Highways, Bridges and Ferries § 54-9-202

(a) Prior to the issuance of bonds, the county highway department shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, surveys and plans of proposed county highways, roads and bridges, or proposed project or projects, to be constructed, showing the location, design and construction of the proposed improvement project and the estimated cost of the project, based on current costs. When the surveys and plans have been approved by the county highway department, they shall be submitted to the department of transportation. They shall be reviewed by the department for feasibility, practicability and completeness as to design and type of construction for a permanent county highway, road or bridge improvement, in accordance with the established standards for state-aid highways and roads constructed under the state-aid highway program. If the department approves the surveys and plans, it shall certify its approval to the presiding officer of the county legislative body, who shall submit the surveys and plans for approval or disapproval to the county legislative body at either a regular or called session to be held not less than thirty (30) nor more than forty-five (45) days from the date of submission.

(b) Within five (5) days after the receipt of the surveys and plans, as certified by the department, the presiding officer of the county legislative body shall appoint a committee of no less than three (3), nor more than nine (9) members of the county legislative body, for the purpose of studying the surveys and plans, so that the committee may recommend approval or disapproval to the county legislative body. Within ten (10) days, the committee shall reduce its recommendations to writing and file them with the county clerk. Both majority and minority reports may be filed. At the meeting of the county legislative body, the plans, surveys, certification by the department and the recommendations of the committee appointed by the presiding officer shall be considered. If a majority of the authorized membership of the county legislative body approves, a resolution allowing the issuance of bonds, in accordance with this chapter, may be adopted. The county shall have no authority to change or alter, in any way, the surveys and plans approved and certified by the department, unless approved by the department.