Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Author Archives: Rafferty Cleary

Porter Recommends Sticking With Private Vendor For Jail Medical

A study by Mayor Randy Porter suggests that Putnam County could save $133,000 on medical services at the jail. The figure represents the difference between what the county pays a private vendor and the cost for in-house medical services. Despite the savings, Porter said the county’s deal with a private vendor would be the better option. “We probably got a ... Read More »

Two More Precincts Could Close In Putnam County

Two more voting precincts could possibly close in Putnam County. The election Commission recommended Wednesday to close Poplar Grove and Cornerstone. The commission voted to close the Brotherton precinct last month. Election Commission Chairman Phil Adams said consolidating the precincts would save tax dollars and keep election workers more active. “We have some precincts that have such low numbers that ... Read More »

Algood Budget Tabled As Council Questions Raises

Disagreements over raises for employees prevented Algood City Council from passing a budget Tuesday. Mayor Lisa Chapman-Fowler said she couldn’t support a budget that gives a 10-percent raise to administrative positions. “I respect everybody who does their work here and I anticipate that supervisory work is maybe a little more complex,” Chapman-Fowler said. “However, for everyone else to receive a ... Read More »

Body Recovered From Dale Hollow Lake Tuesday

Crews recovered a body from Dale Hollow Lake Tuesday afternoon. Clay County Emergency Management Agency Director Natalie Boone said the crews located the body during a training operation on Monday. “They were able to go down with an ROV (remote operated vehicle) and verify that it was in fact a body,” Boone said. “It was a little bit challenging because ... Read More »

Non-Profits Request Nearly $88,000 From Putnam County

The Putnam County Non-Profit Committee has recommended giving $72,800 to 15 organizations next fiscal year. Budget Committee Chairman Ben Rodgers said his committee will consider approving the recommendation next week. “It’s still a recommendation to the full commission and that’s why I encourage you all to look at these and study them,” Rodgers said. “There’s support behind what each one ... Read More »

Putnam Employees Facing Possible Insurance Increase

The cost of medical insurance could be going up for Putnam County employees. The Fiscal Review Committee recommended on Monday the approval of a motion to accept a 5.93-percent increase. County Mayor Randy Porter said he actually expected a larger increase from Blue Cross Blue Shield. “Our claims for this past year, compared to the year before, were over $1 ... Read More »

Cookeville Man Crashes Vehicle Into Front Porch

A Cookeville man faces charges after crashing his vehicle into the front porch of a home Monday. The Tennessee Highway Patrol said 49-year-old Daniel Dorantes experienced a medical emergency while driving on Nashville Highway. The medical issue caused Dorantes’s Ford Explorer to leave the roadway and strike a utility pole before coming to a final rest on the front porch ... Read More »

Committee Votes To Begin Studies For Jail Expansion

A Putnam County committee has voted begin phase two of the jail expansion project. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said Monday that some studies need to be done on the jail property. “We’ve got have geotechnical services done, core drilling, and a survey of where all the electrical is,” Porter said. “To be able to get some really good budget ... Read More »

Monterey Sewer Project Goes Out For Bids

A project to update Monterey’s aging sewer lines will get underway soon. Nathaniel Green is the consulting engineer for the city. “It seems that the culmination of efforts that we’ve had since 2014 to get a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) up here and apply it to sewer and water is coming to fruition,” Green said. “We’ve actually let the ... Read More »

Planning Commissioners Agree On Road Improvements For Development

A developer can move forward with building 10 homes near Bee Rock after agreeing to widen a road that leads to the property. The Putnam County Regional Planning Commission approved last week the preliminary plat for the 76 acres on San Hall Road. Patrick Rinks is the Putnam County Planning Department engineer. “I guess the question is what’s acceptable as ... Read More »