The Cumberland County Commission met last night for their regular monthly session. Resolutions of interest passed by members include:

Sheryl Webb and Nancy Hyder were appointed to serve on the Cumberland County Health and Safety Standards Board.

Agreement between Cumberland County and Fairfield Glade Community Club concerning delinquent tax lots – The county currently owns approximately 1,000 lots in the Fairfield Glade area because of unpaid delinquent property taxes by their former owners.  Some years ago, a court ruled that counties owning these types of lots could owe POA dues under certain circumstances (depending on deeds, etc.).  Since then, Cumberland County and Fairfield Glade have had a handshake agreement that the county would continue to accept lots that didn’t sell during the first stages of the delinquent lot process, and that Fairfield Glade would not attempt to charge the county POA assessments. This was a good, commonsense agreement between the two entities because if the county didn’t accept the lots, they would remain in a state of limbo. If the county accepts the lots, they can be sold and property taxes as well as POA assessments can be collected from the new owner. This contract puts the handshake agreement in writing.

Appoint members to the Industrial Development Corporation Board of Cumberland County/Crossville – Karen Cole, Joe Salvato, and Kevin Hembree with terms expiring April 30, 2027

The following budget amendments passed:

Highway Bridge Program for $75,000 – The TDOT State Bridge Aid Program has approved a high priority bridge replacement over Old Highway 28.  These funds will be used for preliminary costs including engineering, surveys, and right-of-way acquisition.

Highway Department for $300,000 – Income to the Road Department has been better than budgeted so Road Superintendent Scott Blaylock requested the revenue in his budget be increased as well as the hot mix line.

Central cafeteria fund for $55,000 – The school system received USDA funds designated for Equipment Assistant Grants.  This money will be used to replace the conveyor style dishwasher at Homestead Elementary.

General purpose school fund, school employee bonus in the amount of $346,000 – The Tennessee General Assembly approved a one-time non-recurring increase in pay for BEP funded certified personnel and nursing staff. The board of education expanded the program to all school employees. This resolution accepted and allocated funds to pay the bonuses. The resolution was approved 16-0-1 with Commissioner Cooper abstaining as he is a board of education employee.

COUNTY FINANCIAL REPORT

Cumberland County Finance Director Nathan Brock said Emergency Medical Services collections for the month were $494,365 which is $161,032 above the monthly budgeted amount of $333,333.  Year to date, the county is $698,490 ahead of projections with three months remaining.

Sales tax collections for the General Purpose School Fund came in at $897,298 which is $147,500 above projections. Year to date, the county collected $8,002,936 and are $895,455 above budget.

Property tax collections year to date are 98.4% of budget compared to 98.2% at this point last year.

Cumulative Hotel/Motel taxes are $492,102 which is 73.65% of the budget. The budgeted amount was revised down this year to $668,166 from $817,283. Last year, with the larger budgeted amount, the county collected $526,780, or 64.5% of budget, at this point.

Cumulative Prisoner Boarding collections are $305,409, or 50.7%, of the $602,396 annual budget.  Last year, the county was at $368,277, 49.6%, of an annual budget of $743,000.