County Mayor’s Notes – September 15th, 2025
Thank you for taking the time to read my County Mayor’s Notes. Before I share details from the County Commission meeting, I want to highlight a few things that have happened since my last update.
Sheriff’s Office EMR Program
On September 10, the Sheriff and I signed one of the most significant documents of my time as Mayor. It officially launched a groundbreaking program that makes Sheriff’s Deputies part of our medical first response team. This is now one of only two programs in Tennessee that trains deputies as Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) and equips them with AEDs and medical bags. Since deputies and police are often first on the scene, this gives them the tools to save lives. I know the relief that comes when first responders arrive during a medical emergency. This program will bring that relief faster and it will save lives. Thank you to Sheriff Cox for taking this on, the County Commission for funding, EMS for training, and the deputies for stepping up to volunteer. There is more to come.
September 11 Ceremony
I had the honor of speaking at our September 11 ceremony, reading the plaque at our memorial dedicated to the memory of those we lost. September 11, 2001, forever changed our nation. We remember the innocent lives taken, the courage of first responders, and the resilience of the American spirit. In light of recent tragedies, we are reminded how fragile life is and how important it is to stand united, honor sacrifice, and never take our freedoms for granted. May we never forget.
Community Complex Grant
I want to thank Speaker Cameron Sexton for securing five million dollars for the Cumberland County Community Complex. This funding will go toward upgrading the arena, creating restrooms, and making other important improvements. We deeply appreciate his hard work and dedication to our community, ensuring our facilities match the excellence of the events and programs held here. Thank you, Cameron, for this outstanding investment in Cumberland County and for being a great friend and neighbor. I appreciate all you do for us.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
As Mayor, I proclaimed September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Cumberland County. Let’s work together to break the stigma, support one another, and save lives. Each year more than 1,200 Tennesseans are lost to suicide but together we can reduce risk through awareness, education, and support. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 for free confidential help any time.
Cumberland County Military Museum
I attended the Military Museum open house celebrating its reopening after a major remodel. Huge thanks to the Borings for keeping this place going all these years, and to the new board members who have picked it up and ran with it. They have gone above and beyond in tough circumstances to make this happen. It was an honor to present the board with a plaque in appreciation of their hard work. I am proud we have this museum in our community to honor our veterans.
Association of County Mayors
I had the privilege of attending the 2025 Association of County Mayors Annual Conference in Murfreesboro and representing Cumberland County on the ACM Executive Board. It was a productive few days hearing from state and federal leaders, including the Tennessee Department of Veteran Services, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, United States Representative John Rose, and our very own Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton alongside Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally. Sessions on finance, property updates, workforce development, and outdoor recreation offered valuable insights for county leadership. Thank you to the ACM team and all speakers for an informative conference. It is an honor to serve alongside fellow county mayors in shaping policies that benefit our communities.
Steak and Potatoes Field Day
I had a great time attending the 2025 Steak and Potatoes Field Day at the UT Plateau AgResearch and Education Center. The event offered valuable insights for beef cattle producers, fruit and vegetable growers, and landowners. Thank you to everyone who made this day possible.
Fourth Grade Walking Tours
I had a great time meeting the students from North Cumberland Elementary, my alma mater. We talked about Cumberland County’s history, our courthouse, and all the ways the county works to serve the community. The kids were curious, asked great questions, and were genuinely interested in how their county runs. I love seeing young people so engaged and excited about our community. Their energy and eagerness to learn reminded me why serving this community is so meaningful. The hornets that decided to fly around certainly livened things up too. Thank you to everyone at North Cumberland Elementary for welcoming me and sharing your bright ideas and smiles today. Thank you to Downtown Crossville Inc. for organizing these tours.
Cumberland County Commission Meeting – September 15
The monthly meeting of the Cumberland County Commission began with all in attendance except Commissioner Baldwin. During special recognitions, I turned the floor over to Dr. Warner, CCHS principal. Dr. Warner announced that our very own Commissioner Nancy Hyder is the winner of this year’s CCHS Hall of Fame! Congratulations Commissioner Hyder. Well done and well deserved!
Resolution 09-2025-21 was added to the agenda regarding the potential creation of a City of Crossville Emergency Medical Service. The County Commission passed the resolution unanimously opposing the City of Crossville’s plan to create a separate municipal EMS service. The resolution notes that Cumberland County EMS already provides award winning countywide ambulance coverage, including three ALS units and one BLS unit stationed inside the city, with an average response time for just over seven minutes. There is an additional ALS unit stationed a few seconds outside the City of Crossville on Genesis Road.
The Commission expressed concern that a city run EMS would increase costs, fragment coverage, and force the county to remove ambulances now stationed in Crossville. This would likely lead to slower response times, higher property taxes, and the loss of nonemergency transport services. The resolution emphasizes that Cumberland County has made major investments in advanced equipment and training and that its EMS has received multiple state and regional awards for excellence.
The Commission urged city leaders to engage in formal discussions with the county before making changes that could create higher costs, weaken public safety, and place patients at greater risk.
Resolutions
The following resolutions were considered by the Cumberland County Commission. The sponsor of the resolution is in parentheses. Detailed information for each resolution can be found here.
RESOLUTION 09-2025-1 – TO APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE (FOSTER). Margie Taylor was appointed, and Kim Tabor reappointed, to the Cumberland County Audit Committee for two-year terms. This committee is charged with reviewing the annual audits of the county and discussing the results with various department and elected officials. The vote was unanimous in favor.
RESOLUTION 09-2025-2 – TO APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE ETHICS COMMITTEE (FOSTER). Deborah Holbrook, Chris King, George Harrison, Valorie Douglass, and Josh Selby were appointed to the Ethics Committee in a unanimous vote. All terms will expire on September 30, 2026. The Ethics Committee convenes as needed to investigate credible complaints against an official or employee charged with violating the code of ethics.
RESOLUTION 09-2025-3 – TO APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT/PURCHASING COMMITTEE (FOSTER). Nancy Hyder, Charles Seiber, Jack Davis, and John Patterson were appointed, 17-0, to one-year terms on the Financial Management Committee. This committee meets frequently with main task of approving the best and lowest bids for various county projects.
RESOLUTION 09-2025-4 – ACCEPTING AND EXECUTING THE NEW ACT AMENDING TENNESSEE CODE ANNOTATED, TITLE 67, CHAPTER 7, PART 2, RELATIVE TO THE MINERAL SEVERANCE TAX (SHERRILL). You may recall from last month, but State law was amended allowing county legislative bodies to set a tax rate on sand, gravel, sandstone, chert, or limestone severed from the ground. This is called the Mineral Severance Tax. All money from this tax is to be spent on county roads for construction, maintenance, and repair of the county road system. The current rate is 15 cents per ton. The resolution would have raised the rate every five years until it gets to thirty cents per ton after July 1, 2035. The total of this tax budgeted to be collected this fiscal year is just over $88,000. The intention of the fee is to give more funding to the roads without all of the responsibility falling on the property tax payers. For instance, the Commission approved seven more employees in the current budget without recurring funds to do so. This could help offset the cost of between 1-2 of those employee salaries. Last month, the resolution failed in an 8-7 vote (motions require 10 votes to pass, but this one, by law, requires a 2/3 majority of 12 votes) with Commissioners Isham, Gibson, Seiber, Davis, Lowe, Baldwin, and Cooper voting against. Commissioner Sherrill asked that this be placed back on the agenda this month. The vote failed again this month 8-8-1. Voting for were Commissioners Hyder, Shanks, Wilson, Sherrill, Maxwell, Holbrook, Mall and Patterson. Voting against were Commissioners Potter, York, Isham, Gibson, Seiber, Davis, Lowe, and Cooper. Commissioner Threet passed.
RESOLUTION 09-2025-5 – TO AUTHORIZE A TWELVE DOLLAR AND FIFTY CENT CHARGE BY THE CLERK OF EVERY COURT IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY HAVING JURISDICTION OF STATE MISDEMEANORS AND FELONIES FOR THE PURPOSES AUTHORIZED AND SET OUT IN TENN. CODE ANN 40-3-106 (GIBSON). This resolution would allow a $12.50 charge in court proceedings of state misdemeanors and felonies. The money would be collected for providing support services for the purpose of promoting public safety at the sole discretion of the district attorney general for the 13th Judicial District. The resolution passed 17-0 (this resolution also requires a 2/3 vote of the County Commission, 12 votes, for passage instead of the normal 10 votes).
The following routine budget amendments were approved by the Commission for various county departments. Details of each resolution can be found here.
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-6 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, SHERIFF – JAIL (ISHAM)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-7 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT (HOLBROOK)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-8 – GENERAL FUND, BUDGET AMENDMENT, COUNTY COMMISSION (THREET)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-9 – TO AMEND RESOLUTION 09-2022-8 ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 TO REVISE THE CONSTRUCTION ALLOCATIONS FOR TDEC AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT PROJECTS (MALL)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-10 – AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF INTEREST-BEARING GENERAL OBLIGATION CAPITAL OUTLAY NOTES OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY TENNESSEE (THREET)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-11 – RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION GRANT, BUDGET AMENDMENT (MALL)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-12 – FEDERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, MCKINNEY VENTO GRANT ORIGINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT (MALL)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-13 – RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION GRANT, BUDGET AMENDMENT (MALL)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-14 – GENERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, PUBLIC SCHOOL SECURITY GRANT, BUDGET AMENDMENT (MALL)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-15 – SPECIAL EDUCATION STATE PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, PRESCHOOL GRANT, BUDGET AMENDMENT (MALL)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-16 – GENERAL PROGRAM SCHOOL FUND, TEACHER BONUSES, BUDGET AMENDMENT (MALL)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-17 – PERKINS RESERVE CONSOLIDATED FEDERAL FUND, INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS, BUDGET AMENDMENT (MALL)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-18 – PERKINS FEDERAL FUND, INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, BUDGET AMENDMENT (MALL)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-19 – STATE/FEDERAL GRANT: GEAR UP, INCREASE SALARIES, SUPPLIES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BUDGET AMENDMENT (MALL)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-20 – AUTHORIZING CUMBERLAND COUNTY TO JOIN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN AMENDING THE TENNESSEE STATE SUBDIVISION OPIOID ABATEMENT AGREEMENT AND APPROVING THE RELATED SETTLEMENTS AGREEMENTS (MALL)
- RESOLUTION 09-2025-22 – MOU TO ALLOW HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO CONTRACT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Financial Update
In August 2025, the Cumberland County Codes Department issued 34 residential and 2 commercial building permits, 25 general mechanical permits, and 31 general plumbing permits. A total of $41,731 in fees were collected.
The EMS service collected $360,485 which is below the estimated monthly income of $433,333. We are currently below our year to date estimated collections by $13,737. Sales tax collections for August, which reflect sales from two months prior, came in a t $1,504,002 which was $15,762 above estimated revenue. Property tax collections are at 0 percent, which is normal for this time of year. Hotel/Motel tax collections stand at $124,462 year to date, versus $139,307 last year. This represents 10.37 percent of the annual budgeted amount of $1,200,000. Prisoner board payments for having state inmates at the county jail are $0 year to date versus $44,526 last year. The total budgeted amount is $397,823 annually.
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
allenfoster.com 