During the Cumberland County Commission meeting last night, members learned Aaron Elmore resigned as finance director. Elmore was selected by the county commission three months ago to replace Nathan Brock, who retired from the position. A search will get underway soon for a replacement for Elmore.

In the resignation letter, Elmore said he “grossly underestimated the scope of the position and the differences in governmental accounting and private sector accounting.”

In action taken by the county commission last night:

·       Matthew McClanahan and Kira Updike were recommended and approved for two-year terms on the agriculture extension committee.

·       Authorizing the road superintendent to apply for a grant that, if received, will help pay for a road study.  Among other details, the study will detail condition, striping, priority, and costs associated with each road.

·       A resolution approved funding for the purchase of the vacant lot between the courthouse and the library for $230,000.

·       Authorizing the county mayor’s office to apply for the Tennessee Housing Development Agency grant for up to $750,000 with zero match.  If received, the grant will provide for renovations to homes for low-income individuals.

·       A resolution authorized the county attorney to negotiate a settlement with residents on Byrd’s Creek Drive concerning a bridge that was allegedly damaged when the county failed to clean out a bridge over Highland Lane.

·       Several routine budget amendments including for the sheriff’s office, central cafeteria funds, and general-purpose school funds.

In a financial update to the county commission, emergency medical services collections were $314,082, which is below the budgeted monthly amount of $366,667. Year to date the county is $102,233 ahead of budgeted projections with total collections of $2,668,898. Sales tax for the board of education was $1,630,073 which was $69,863 above budget. These were the December cash register receipts. Year to date, the county is approximately $200,000 below budget. Property tax collections are good at 67.22 percent of the budget year to date. Hotel/Motel collections are $730,601. Prisoner boarding collections from the state stand at $150,511.