Cumberland County Commission Meeting
The March 2024 meeting of the Cumberland County Commission was held tonight with all in attendance except Commissioners Walker, Seiber, and Davis.
Resolutions
The following resolutions were considered by the Cumberland County Commission. The sponsor of the resolution is in parenthesis.
RESOLUTION 03-2024-1 – ACCEPTING OFFER(S) TO PURCHASE DELINQUENT TAX PROPERTY OWNED BY CUMBERLAND COUNTY (HOLBROOK). The following delinquent tax properties were approved in a unanimous vote in favor of accepting the offers to purchase and will now go back on the tax rolls.
Offeror(s) Property Address Price Ad
Happily Ever After Homes, LLC
150G A 052.00
(2034 Shalako Dr) $263.90 $45
150G A 052.01
(2036 Shalako Dr) $264.20 $45
150P M 021.00
(5038 Chinook Ln) $280.30 $45
150P M 052.00
(6117 Pocahontas Ln) $276.80 $45
150P M 057.00
(6107 Pocahontas Ln) $262.80 $45
161B C 008.00
(422 Acoma Dr) $269.20 $45
161B I 045.00
(4002 Saponac Dr) $283.00 $45
161G A 012.00
(519 Algonquin Ln) $270.40 $45
162C B 015.00
(521 Brave Ln) $270.40 $45
RESOLUTION 03-2024-2 – TO UPDATE THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDING CODES SCHEDULE OF PERMIT FEES (FOSTER). The previously approved fee schedule for the county Codes Department did not include a fee for the inspection for life safety and fire codes issues. This is an inspection required at times by a third party when property changes hands and a Certificate of Occupancy is needed. For example, at times insurance companies require the inspection, or one may be needed because of lawsuits, etc. The standard Life Safety/Occupancy Inspection Fee of $250 was added to the Schedule of Permit Fees for county properties in a 15-0 vote.
RESOLUTION 03-2024-3 – APPROVING THE ADDITION OF A PLAQUE TO THE BACK OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL IN THE WAR MEMORIAL PARK (ISHAM). In February of 2024, the Building and Grounds committee convened and heard a request from the President of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1015, presented by Mayor Foster, to add a descriptive plaque to the back of the current Vietnam memorial. The plaque will be approximately 2 x 3 feet wide, made of bronze, and funded through donations made to the local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter. The full Commission voted to approve the resolution in a unanimous vote.
RESOLUTION 03-2024-4 – TO APPOINT TWO (2) JUDICIAL COMMISSIONERS FOR CUMBERLAND COUNTY, TENNESSEE (GIBSON). This resolution, approved 15-0, appointed Jennifer Phillips-Cross to a two-year term, and appointed Felicia Hedgecoth to a one-year term, as Judicial Commissioners.
RESOLUTION 03-2024-14 – OPPOSING GOVERNOR LEE’S PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS (THREET, WILSON, LOWE). This resolution was submitted by Commissioners Threet, Wilson, and Lowe against Governor Lee’s school voucher program. Several were in attendance at the meeting and gave their opinions during the public comment of the event. The opinions were basically split on the issue of vouchers. Some were against vouchers in general while others were open to the idea and wanted more information on the content of the final bill.
Since the resolution did not follow the normal commission process of going through committee before coming to the full commission meeting, a motion was made by Commissioner Patterson, and seconded by Commissioner Sherrill, to send the resolution to the Schools and Education Committee for discussion. The committee process is usually protected as it allows for the maximum amount of public input during two meetings before a vote on an issue is taken by the full commission. The vote to refer to committee failed 7-8. Commissioners voting to refer to committee were Isham, Hyder, Stone, Gibson, Sherrill, Mall, and Patterson. Commissioners voting against were York, Threet, Lowe, Wilson, Baldwin, Cooper, Maxwell, and Holbrook.
The next motion was to approve the resolution that opposed Governor Lee’s voucher program. The motion to approve the resolution was approved 10-5. Voting in favor of the resolution (and against vouchers) were York, Hyder, Threet, Gibson, Lowe, Wilson, Baldwin, Cooper, Maxwell, and Holbrook. Voting against the resolution were Isham, Stone, Sherrill, Mall, and Patterson.
The following routine budget amendments were approved by the Commission for various county departments:
- RESOLUTION 03-2024-5 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, COUNTY CLERK (COOPER)
- RESOLUTION 03-2024-6 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, CIRCUIT/SESSIONS COURT (SHERRILL)
- RESOLUTION 03-2024-7 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, CLERK & MASTER (COOPER)
- RESOLUTION 03-2024-8 – SANITATION FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, RECYCLING CENTER (STONE)
- RESOLUTION 03-2024-9 – HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT, BUDGET AMENDMENT (STONE)
- RESOLUTION 03-2024-10 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, VOCATIONAL INSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT (SHERRILL)
- RESOLUTION 03-2024-11 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, SAFE SCHOOLS (STONE)
- RESOLUTION 03-2024-12 – GENERAL PURPOSE SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, TISA FUNDS (STONE)
- RESOLUTION 03-2024-13 – FEDERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, STATE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANT (PATTERSON)
Financial Update
The new Cumberland County Codes Department has issued 78 building permits for residential construction since January of 2024 when it first began operations. This does not include mechanical/HVAC/gas, or plumbing permits. A total of $86,128 in fees have been collected that previously would have gone to the city codes department. EMS collections were $306,348, which is below the budgeted monthly amount of $366,667. Year to date, EMS is $41,914 ahead of budgeted projections with total collections of $2,975,246. Sales tax for the BOE was $1,630,073 which was $69,863 above budget. These were the December cash register receipts. Year to date, collections are $200,419 below budget. Property tax collections are at 95.52 percent of budget year to date, compared to 95.63% at this time last year. Hotel/Motel collections are $791,719 and were $787,092 in the prior year. Prisoner boarding collections from the state stand at $231,440 (seven 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 Twitter.
Thank you.
Allen Foster
Cumberland County Mayor
http://allenfoster.com
allenfoster.com 