Cumberland County Health Department
The Cumberland County Health Department (CCHD) will not be administering COVID-19 vaccines or testing on WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 17 due to inclement weather conditions and for the safety of employees and citizens. CCHD is closed tomorrow, but staff will be calling individuals who had scheduled appointments to reschedule at the next available time.
Cumberland County Commission Update
The February meeting of the Cumberland County Commission was held tonight with all Commissioners present except Commissioner Mall.
Resolutions
The following resolutions were on the agenda (resolution sponsor in parenthesis):
RESOLUTION 02-2021-1 –TO APPOINT MEMBER ON THE CROSSVILLE-CUMBERLAND COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU (FOSTER). This resolution, approved unanimously, placed Bett Wyatt-Davis on the Crossville-Cumberland County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
RESOLUTION 02-2021-2 – TO APPOINT A MEMBER TO THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS BOARD (FOSTER). This resolution replaced Bobby Rhea on the HSSB with Sheryl Webb as Mr. Rhea wished to resign from the board. The resolution was approved 17-0.
RESOLUTION 02-2021-3 – ACCEPT OFFER(S) TO PURCHASE DELINQUENT TAX PROPERTY OWNED BY CUMBERLAND COUNTY (HYDER). The following delinquent tax properties were approved for purchase and will now go back on the tax rolls. The commission approved the resolution unanimously.
| Offerer(s) | Property | Price | Advertising Fee |
| Lonnie Cravens | 103D A 004.00 | 442 Beachwood Dr | $1,082.50 | $45 |
| Lonnie Cravens Micheal Matthews | 104A H 017.00 | 150 Natchez Circle 99M B 011.00 | Cherry Circle | $455.60 $271.70 | $45 $45 |
RESOLUTION 02-2021-4 – GENERAL FUND, OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, BUDGET AMENDMENT – ANIMAL SHELTER $4,872.00 (MALL). This resolution amended the budget to accept various donations to the Animal Shelter. The resolution was approved 17-0.
RESOLUTION 02-2021-5 – GENERAL FUND, CIRCUIT/SESSIONS COURT, BUDGET AMENDMENT, $14,905.00 (KYLE DAVIS). This resolution moved reserved funds for technology in order to upgrade technology at the Circuit Court Clerk facilities. The resolution was approved unanimously.
RESOLUTION 02-2021-6 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, COMMUNITY DONATIONS, BUDGET AMENDMENT $5,000.00 (GIBSON). The Fairfield Glade Ladies Club donated money to support the College and Career Technical Education Program. The resolution to revise the budget to accept funds was approved 17-0.
RESOLUTION 02-2021-7 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS, BUDGET AMENDMENT $17,000.00 (GIBSON). This was a mid-year budget adjustment made to keep line items in balance for Special Education. The resolution was approved unanimously.
RESOLUTION 02-2021-8 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM START-UP GRANT, BUDGET AMENDMENT $37,693.60 (GIBSON). This resolution amended the budget for the school system to receive the Tennessee Middle School STEM Start-Up Grant and the Middle School Career Exploration Grant. The resolution was approved 17-0.
RESOLUTION 02-2021-9 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, EPA BUS GRANT, BUDGET AMENDMENT $96,620.00 (GIBSON). The school system was awarded an $80,000 grant as a part of the EPA Diesel Emission Reduction Act and will use the funds to partially fund a new bus. The budget amendment was approved unanimously.
FINANCIAL REPORT
EMS collections for the month were $314,227 which is $19,106 under the monthly budgeted number of $333,333. Year to date we are $405,263 ahead of projections.
Sales tax collections for the General Purpose School Fund came in at $977,133 which is $128,753 above projections. Year to date we have collected $5,827,485 and are $554,138 above budget. You may recall that the County Commission decided to have a third party conduct a revenue audit. The increase in sales tax revenues is due in part to that audit. We will know more soon and adjustments may be made to allocate the adjustments appropriately.
Property tax collections year to date are 63.8% of budget compared to 62.0% at this point last year.
Cumulative Hotel/Motel taxes are $409,491 which is 61.3% of the budget. The budgeted amount was revised down this year to $668,166 from $817,283. Last year, with the larger budgeted amount, we had collected $439,206, or 53.7% of budget, at this point.
Cumulative Prisoner Boarding collections are $200,733, or 33.3%, of the $602,396 annual budget. Last year we were at $325,923, 43.9%, of an annual budget of $743,000.
Vaccination Update
The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) announced that all Tennessee counties will begin REGISTERING those aged 65 and older and Phase 1b effective Monday, February 22, 2021.
TDH launched a new online scheduling tool to allow users to book their appointment for COVID-19 vaccination at participating health department sites when eligible. To access the system, click here: https://covid19.tn.gov/. If you have already registered for a COVID-19 vaccination, you do not need to re-register in the new system.
Updates to Tennessee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
TDH has updated the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan by adding pregnant women to Phase 1c. Although pregnant women were not included in the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, they are at increased risk for hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. Pregnant women may choose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as part of Phase 1c, along with others with high-risk health conditions. Pregnant women are encouraged to talk with their health care providers to help them make informed decisions about COVID-19 vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has guidance for pregnant women to help reduce their risk of COVID-19 at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html.
Phase 1b of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan includes operations personnel of first responder agencies along with teachers and staff members of schools and child care facilities.
Tennessee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan prioritizes those most at risk of illness and death from COVID-19. Tennessee will continue to move through phases of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan as vaccine supplies increase.
Tennessee COVID-19 Vaccination Plan:
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/COVID-19_Vaccination_Plan.pdf
COVID-19 Update (difference from previous day)
On February, 10 we had a large increase in positive cases in Cumberland County. A health department spokesperson confirmed the changes were due to data quality checks which involve cross-checking the addresses of cases and reassigning cases attributed to the incorrect county to the correct county.
This means our data will be inaccurate in per capita, positivity, etc. until 2/10/2021 data rolls off the averages.
You may also notice that positivity is up and down. I noticed this a while back while also noticing our “probable” cases increasing. Probable cases are counted in the positive cases. Probable cases are positive results from rapid tests that are antigen (not to be confused with antibody) based. The Health Department does not use these types of tests. As more and more testing is moving to clinics, etc., more probable results are showing in the reports. Negative tests
- If you feel sick, get tested.
- STAY HOME after being tested until you get your result.
- Wear a mask when appropriate. It is not a political statement; it is about everyone’s health.
- Practice social distancing.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Follow the guidelines provided by Governor Lee and the CDC.
- Be smart and avoid places you feel are unsafe.
The following are the numbers from the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) for Cumberland County as of the date of this newsletter. The change from the prior day, not my prior newsletter, is in parenthesis.
127 active cases (-7)
5,778 inactive/recovered (+21)
112 deaths officially reported (+0)
6,017 positive cases (+14)
133 cumulative hospitalizations (+1) *
23.36% positivity rate – 7-day average
96.03% Inactive/Recovered
11.71% cumulative positivity rate (positive cases / positive cases + negative tests)
9.94% of residents have tested positive
0.21% of residents have active cases
These numbers are intended to be a brief summary of the information provided by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). More detailed information can be found at the online dashboard: https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html
* Hospitalization data reflect the cumulative (total) number of cases of Cumberland County residents that were ever hospitalized AT ANY HOSPITAL from COVID-19. It does not reflect the number of people currently hospitalized.
COVID-19 Vaccination Pharmacy Locations
In addition to the local health department sites, Tennesseans may now seek vaccination appointments through approved community pharmacy locations. See the current locations by clicking:
https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19-community-pharmacy-vaccination-locations/
Vaccination and Testing Locations
COVID-19 vaccination and testing are both conducted at the Community Complex grounds on Livingston Road. Although both are on the same grounds, the locations are different. Vaccinations are held closest to the Taco Bell entrance on the Highway 127 side of the grounds, and are located close to the 3-way stop at Industrial Boulevard and Livingston Road. Testing is located closest to the Farmers Market entrance on the West Avenue (Highway 70N) side of the grounds.
Please watch the signs as they are located to help you get in the correct line.
COVID-19 Health Department Testing Information
COVID-19 testing will continue to be offered at the Cumberland County Community Complex (1398 Livingston Road, Crossville, TN 38571) Monday through Fridayfrom 10:00 am until 1:00 pm.
Self-testing for individuals over age 18 will continue to be offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Smartphone with internet and email are required for everyone on self-testing days.
CCHD will continue to provide COVID-19 testing on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the assistance of health department staff.
Health Department Information Line
The Cumberland County Health Department (CCHD) has opened a local information line at (931) 707-9007. The information line will be available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm.
COVID-19 Information and Vaccine Key Links
- State of TN COVID-19 Vaccine Resources:
https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19-vaccines/ - TDH COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/covid-19-vaccine-information.html - County Phase Status:
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/CountyPhaseStatus.pdf - Tennessee COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/COVID-19_Vaccination_Plan.pdf - Frequently Asked Questions:
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/COVID-19_Vaccine_FAQ.pdf - COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Calculator:
https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19-vaccines/eligibility/ - Click here for the TDH Quarantine & Isolation Calculator:
https://covid19.tn.gov/prevention/quarantine-isolation-calculator/ - A new dashboard has been released for each county. You can now view the Cumberland County COVID-19 dashboard here:
https://covid19.tn.gov/data/dashboards/?County=Cumberland - School level COVID-19 data is now available online. Click this link to see the information available for Cumberland County:
https://districtinformation.tnedu.gov/covid-information/search/-1/180
Thank you for being part of the solution and thank you 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 Twitter.
Thank you,
Allen Foster
Cumberland County Mayor
http://allenfoster.net
allenfoster.com 