News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The state has identified land for an Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery.
The 90-acre property sits off the 320 exit of Interstate 40 in Cumberland County. Travis Murphy is the Assistant Commissioner for the Department of Veterans Services. He said the State Building Commission’s Executive Subcommittee meets next week to consider moving forward with purchasing the land.
“We’re really excited,” Murphy said. “We think this is a positive step forward. Clearly, we’re not at the end, but excited to take another positive step in the right direction. We think we’ll have some more positive news Monday after that Executive Subcommittee meeting.
That meeting takes place at 3:30 p.m. in Nashville. If approved, Murphy said the State of Tennessee Real Estate Asset Management (STREAM) team would begin contract negotiations and environmental testing.
“If all works out, it could take 90 to 120 days to get to an actual closing,” Murphy said. “Still a number of steps, but I think a real positive development in terms of getting to a place where we are continuing to move forward with the Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery.”
A total of $800,000 will go towards the purchase of the property. $200,000 from the Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery Association (UCSVCA) and $600,000 from state appropriations.
