Cumberland County Commission Meeting
The September 2023 meeting of the Cumberland County Commission was held tonight with all in attendance except Commissioners Walker, York, and Hyder. Commissioner Patterson was late so we started with a quorum of 14.
During the special recognition section of the evening, it was my pleasure to recognize the SMHS FFA Livestock Judging team. The team recently placed first in the 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest and the State Livestock Evaluation. We had Brayden Webb, Lillie Illes, Bella More, Brody Lowe, and Coach Keith Cole in attendance. Next up for the team is the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest that will be held in November in Louisville, KY.
It is important to note that Mr. Cole is retiring after many years of working with our Cumberland County youth. He has been the FFA Advisor for 28 years! Thank you, Mr. Cole, for all that you have done and continue to do! People like you make a big difference in the lives of our youth, and we certainly appreciate you!
Sheriff Cox also recognized Devyne Templeton, a deputy of two years, with a Life Saving Award. Deputy Templeton responded to an accident and found a vehicle burning with a 36 year old female and a 4 year old child inside. The Deputy was able to free both by cutting the safety belts. Just after both were rescued, the vehicle became completely engulfed in flames. Deputy Templeton’s actions saved the lives of both individuals.
We are blessed to live in a community with outstanding law enforcement, City and County, and to live where people back the blue. Thanks to Deputy Templeton for his heroic actions. We appreciate you!
September of each year means the election of County Commission officers. Under New Business, I was unanimously elected Chairman, and Nancy Hyder was elected Parliamentarian. Commissioners Lowe and Wilson were nominated for Chair Pro-Tem, with Wilson receiving 7 votes and Lowe receiving 5, and both abstaining. It takes a majority for a vote to pass, so no one was elected, and we will try it again next month.
Resolutions
The following resolutions were considered by the Cumberland County Commission. The sponsor of the resolution is in parenthesis.
RESOLUTION 09-2023-1 – TO ACCEPT OFFER(S) TO PURCHASE DELINQUENT TAX PROPERTY OWNED BY CUMBERLAND COUNTY (HOLBROOK). The following delinquent tax properties were approved in a 14-0 vote in favor of accepting the offers to purchase and will now go back on the tax rolls.
Offeror(s) Property Address Price Ad
Arthur & Maria Wilkinson
21 England Terrace-90K B 52.00 $455.00 $45.00
Carnation Investments LLC
120 Sunderland Circle-90C E 7.00 $437.28 $45.00
11 Sunderland Ct – 90C E 14.00 $437.28 $45.00
Jesse & Kayla Gellatly
933 Veho Circle-150J L 38.00 $270.70 $45.00
David Pierre
2024 Tres Circle-150G F 13.00 $276.10 $45.00
RESOLUTION 09-2023-2 – TO APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE ETHICS COMMITTEE (FOSTER). Debora Holbrook, Teresa Boston, George Harrison, Valori Cox, and Travis Cole were appointed unanimously, with Commissioner Holbrook abstaining. Note that Commissioner Patterson arrived around the time of this vote making the quorum 15.
RESOLUTION 09-2023-3 – TO APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT/PURCHASING COMMITTEE (FOSTER) (VOICE VOTE). Nancy Hyder, Charles Seiber, Jack Davis, and John Patterson were appointed unanimously.
RESOLUTION 09-2023-4 – TO APPOINT MEMBER TO THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION (FOSTER). Shane Flowers was appointed to the Regional Planning Commission unanimously.
RESOLUTION 09-2023-5 – TO APPOINT JOYCE RORABAUGH AS CUMBERLAND COUNTY ARCHIVIST (FOSTER). Joyce Rorabaugh was reappointed to as Archivist unanimously.
RESOLUTION 09-2023-6 – TO GRANT BEN LOMAND COMMUNICATIONS, LLC EASEMENTS (BEAN POT CAMPGROUND RD, HEBBERTSBURG RD NEWTON RD) (COOPER). Easements for Ben Lomand to set equipment in exchange for free broadband for the county were approved 15-0.
RESOLUTION 09-2023-7 – TO APPROVE THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN (HOLBROOK). The plan was approved unanimously. It will be online at the county website on the Parks & Recreation page shortly.
RESOLUTION 09-2023-8 – APPROVING SITE DEVELOPMENT GRANT MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE INTERCHANGE BUSINESS PARK (SHERRILL). Crossville Mayor Crawford and I meet with the Chamber Director every week to discuss Economic and Community Development issues as the Chamber is contracted to help with economic development work. One of things we talk about is the county partnership with Crossville on the building pad at the industrial park on 127N across from Shoney’s. We get a lot of Requests for Proposals that come in from businesses looking to locate here. The problem is the vast majority of those RFPs are looking for a building that is already constructed. Not having an existing industrial building keeps us from responding to the majority of projects/companies that are looking to expand or relocate here.
We have kept in contact with the State about all of this and we asked the Chamber to help get the word out concerning the pad. It’s in a GREAT location and has all of the utilities and other features that are requested. In February 2023, Chamber Director Ethan Hadley hosted a familiarization tour for ECD project managers, TVA, MTIDA, and the UCDD.
Not long after that tour the state reached out and told us about an upcoming pilot program, as the pad site would be an ideal candidate. We recently got the grant details. It is one of the best grant deals I’ve seen. The maximum grant amount is $5M with a match of ONLY 5%. That is because we are a Tier 3 County (economic status), and because we went through the process to get the pad site certified some years ago.
The minimum size requirement for the building is 100,000 square feet expandable to 200,0000 square feet. Applications are due on October 13, community presentations for selected applications will be in November. with award announcements in December and contracts starting in January of 2024.
Demonstrating a continued strong partnership with the City Council and Mayor would go a long way in helping secure this grant. Assuming the award is $5M, if we partner with the city, the cost would only be $125,000 each to get $5 million.
We may never see this again depending on the success of the pilot and available funding from the State. The resolution was approved 15-0.
The following routine budget amendments were approved by the Commission for various county departments:
- RESOLUTION 09-2023-9 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, SHERIFF – JAIL (MAXWELL).
- RESOLUTION 09-2023-10 – SANITATION FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, WASTE PICK-UP (SHERRILL).
- RESOLUTION 09-2023-11– SOLID WASTE FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT (STONE).
- RESOLUTION 09-2023-12 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY (SHERRILL).
- RESOLUTION 09-2023-13 – GENERAL FUND, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (FEDERAL THROUGH STATE GOVERNMENT) (SHERRILL).
- RESOLUTION 09-2023-14 – GENERAL FUND, COUNTY COMMISSION (SHERRILL).
- RESOLUTION 09-2023-15 – GENERAL FUND, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS (SPECIAL PATROLS) (PATTERSON).
- RESOLUTION 09-2023-16 – CENTRAL CAFETERIA FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, PANDEMIC-EBT GRANT (STONE).
- RESOLUTION 09-2023-17 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, ISM REVISION (YORK).
- RESOLUTION 09-2023-18 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, CTE PERKINS RESERVE (PATTERSON).
- RESOLUTION 09-2023-19 – FEDERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, CTE PERKINS BASIC (MAXWELL).
- RESOLUTION 09-2023-20 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, ISM BUDGET 2023-2024 (SHERRILL).
Financial Update
Finance Director Nathan Brock delivered the final Commission update of his 35 year career tonight. He thanked the taxpayers of Cumberland County for making it possible. Congratulations on a job well done, Nathan. Enjoy your retirement!
EMS collections were $398,947 which is above the budgeted monthly amount of $366,667. Year to date, after two months, we are $72,380 behind budgeted projections. Sales tax for the BOE for the first month were $1,434,099 against a budget of $1,432,873 for a difference of $1,226 above budget. Hotel/Motel collections were $161,132 and were $151,331 in the prior year. Prisoner boarding collections from the state were approximately $63,000.
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.com
allenfoster.com 