Last night, the Cumberland County Commission voted unanimously to petition the state to rename the Scott Creek Bridge on Highway 127 North in memory of David “Dave” Warren Garrett. He was born on December 28, 1948. He grew up in Fentress County but moved to Cumberland County after a deployment in the United States Army from 1968 to 1971. Dave helped to build and man the Rinnie Volunteer Fire Hall. On February 25, 2023, Garrett was in a vehicle accident on Highway 127 North at the Scott Creek Bridge in Cumberland County. Garrett passed away from injuries sustained. Over thirty-five individuals from Dave’s community signed a petition to rename Scott Creek Bridge in memory of him.

In other action, commissioners approved an agreement between Putnam County for automatic aid regarding fire services for Cumberland Cove, Cumberland Lakes, the Jim Garrett corridor, the Dripping Springs corridor, Clarkrange Highway from Dripping Springs east to the county line, and the Glade Creek area.

Commissioners adopted the residential and commercial building codes for the county.

The county commission allocated $2,281,199 for repairs to the old courthouse.

The commission appointed John Stubbs, Ricky Smith, Carl Deskins, Mark Norrod, and Sam McAdoo to the building codes board of appeals.

Members appointed Mark Naser to serve as fleet maintenance supervisor.

Wayne Shadden and Charles Daugherty were reappointed to the wildlife and fisheries committee with terms expiring November 30, 2027.

The commission re-appointed Sean Stephens to serve on the Cumberland Plateau Water Authority.

In the finance report to commissioners, emergency medical service collections came in at $404,077, which is above the budgeted monthly amount of $366,667. Year to date, the county is $203,761 ahead of budgeted projections with total collections of $2,037,092. Sales tax for the board of education was $1,294,789 against a budget of $1,377,439 for a difference of $82,650 below budget. Year to date, the county is $207,717 below budget. Property tax collections are good and comparable to 24.49% last year. Hotel/Motel collections are $567,364 and were $550,753 in the prior year. Prisoner boarding collections from the state stand at $110,536.