The June 2024 meeting of the Cumberland County Commission was Monday night with all in attendance except Commissioners Charles Seiber, and John Patterson.  With Commissioner Walker’s resignation, the commission now has 17 members for purpose of a quorum, with nine being required to pass a resolution.  This will remain in place until Wiley Potter is sworn in after the upcoming August elections as Mr. Potter was the only individual to qualify to run for the open seat.

I informed the Commission that I have reappointed Steve Stone as a board member for Middle Tennessee Natural Gas.  Due to courthouse construction, the VSO has temporarily relocated across Main Street to the Milo Lemert Building.  The office is in the back right of the building if entering from Main Street.  The Finance Department has moved from the third floor of the courthouse to the first floor, where the VSO was formerly located.  The Finance Department must stay in the courthouse for technical reasons, or we would have left the VSO in the courthouse.

Finally, our Codes Director has completed all certifications required for residential inspection.  The state allows one year on the job to get this completed, but he finished much quicker.  This is particularly impressive considering all the work it has taken to get the new department up and running.  Well done, Josh Selby!  Our Codes Inspector has one test remaining for his certification as well.  That will be coming soon!

Resolutions
The following resolutions were considered by the Cumberland County Commission.  The sponsor of the resolution is in parenthesis.

RESOLUTION 06-2024-1 – TO ACCEPT OFFER(S) TO PURCHASE DELINQUENT TAX PROPERTY OWNED BY CUMBERLAND COUNTY (HOLBROOK).  There was one tax property to be sold, but the offer was withdrawn on Friday, April 14, so no action was taken.

RESOLUTION 06-2024-2 – TO APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD (FOSTER).  In a unanimous vote, Kaye Randolph was appointed to a second term of three years, and Jim Oswald and Dinah Goodwin were appointed for a first term of three years.

RESOLUTION 06-2024-3 – TERMINATING CURRENT LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE MILITARY MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF UPPER CUMBERLAND, INC. AND ENTERING INTO A NEW LEASE AGREEMENT FOR USE OF THE STONE BUILDING (GIBSON).  This resolution, approved 15-0, terminated the lease on the first floor of the courthouse with the Military Museum, and granted a new lease for the stone building on the corner of the parcel across from the Chamber of Commerce.  This works well for both parties as it will give the museum more access, and will free up space needed in the courthouse during construction.

RESOLUTION 06-2024-4 – APPROVING RIGHT-OF-ENTRY REQUEST FROM THE CITY OF CROSSVILLE FOR THE LAKE TANSI FIRE STATION (GIBSON).  This resolution gave the City of Crossville access to the Tansi Fire Station for work to be completed on the sewer system.  It was approved unanimously.

RESOLUTION 06-2024-5 – SUPPORTING EXPANSION AND UPGRADES TO INTERSTATE 40 AND ROAD ACCESS IN EAST CUMBERLAND COUNTY TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRAFFIC NEEDS OF FLATROCK MOTORSPORTS PARK (MALL).  A lot of road work is needed on I40 and other access roads for Flatrock Motorsports’ major events.  This resolution supports the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) expanding Interstate access and road upgrades in East Cumberland County to accommodate traffic from Flatrock Motorsports Park, and to better serve the community.  It was passed 15-0.

RESOLUTION 06-2024-26 – APPROVING THE CONVERSION OF THE INTEREST RATE ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BOND, SERIES VII-B-2 FROM BANK RATE TO DAILY RATE (STONE).  This resolution was on last month’s agenda, but there was a problem with the resolution that had to be corrected.  The corrected resolution was approved unanimously.

The following routine budget amendments were approved by the Commission for various county departments:

• RESOLUTION 06-2024-6 – GENERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS (YORK).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-7 – FEDERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, FEDERAL 911 BUDGET REVISION (YORK).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-8 – CENTRAL CAFETERIA FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, PRIVATE FUNDING FROM NO KID HUNGRY (YORK).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-9 – GENERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, DIDD GRANT (YORK).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-10 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, CTE GENERAL FUND (YORK).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-11 – CENTRAL CAFETERIA FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, YEAR-END REALLOCATIONS (YORK).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-12 – FEDERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, FEDERAL 901 BUDGET REVISION (YORK).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-13 – GENERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, REALLOCATE FUNDS (YORK).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-14 – CENTRAL CAFETERIA FUND, LINE-ITEM BUDGET AMENDMENT, YEAR END CLEAN UP (YORK).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-15 – GENERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, REALLOCATE RESOURCES (YORK).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-16 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, HEALTH EDUCATION INCENTIVE CONTRACT (SHERRILL).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-17 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, COUNTY BUILDINGS, ART CIRCLE LIBRARY ROOF (COOPER).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-18 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, COMPLEX PAVING (PATTERSON).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-19 – DEBT SERVICE FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, VARIOUS DEPARTMENT OVERRUNS (COOPER).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-20 – HIGHWAY FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, OPERATION OVERRUNS (COOPER).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-21 – SOLID WASTE FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, VARIOUS DEPARTMENT OVERRUNS (COOPER).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-22 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, VARIOUS DEPARTMENT OVERRUNS (COOPER).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-23 – OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, RAILROAD AUTHORITY (COOPER).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-24 – OTHER GENERAL GOVERNMENT SPECIAL REVENUE FUND 127, BUDGET AMENDMENT, CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FUNDS (COOPER).
• RESOLUTION 06-2024-25 – OTHER GENERAL GOVERNMENT SPECIAL REVENUE FUND 121, BUDGET AMENDMENT, CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FUNDS (COOPER).

Financial Update
The Cumberland County Codes Department issued 34 building permits, 9 general mechanical permits, 14 general plumbing permits, and one unheated basement permit in May 2024.  A total of $37,582 in fees were collected.  EMS collections were $416,231, which is above the budgeted monthly amount of $366,667.  Year to date, EMS is $61,272 ahead of budgeted projections with total collections of $4,094,605.  Sales tax for the BOE was $1,342,565 which was $139,699 below budget.  Year to date, collections are $447,821 below budget, but as of now, are still above actual collections last year.  Property tax collections are at 100.42 percent of budget year to date, compared to 100.28 percent at this time last year.  Hotel/Motel collections are $1,042,729 of the $1,308,411 annual budget, and were $1,069,669 in the prior year at this point.  Prisoner boarding collections from the state stand at $322,460 (ten months of revenue).

Thank you for being part of the solution and for the opportunity to serve as your County Mayor.  If you are interested in hearing my thoughts and views on news, events, and activities in Cumberland County, please subscribe to my newsletter, and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

Thank you.

Allen Foster
Cumberland County Mayor
http://allenfoster.com