Sparta city officials interviewed the final candidate for their open city administrator position Friday. Mayor Jeff Young and city aldermen met with McMinnville Public Works Director Brad Hennessee to discuss the position in more detail. Young said after the meeting he would like to see the next city administrator establish connections within the first month of employment. “I want it ... Read More »

The Putnam County Commission’s Short-Term Rental Committee discussed the structure of a potential permitting system for Airbnbs Thursday. Kathy Dunn serves as the committee chair and commissioner of Putnam County’s 11th district. “We just made some suggestions to the regulations that were proposed to the planning commission and some of us had concerns,” Dunn said. “We wanted to clarify some ... Read More »

Rennova Health Systems has temporarily closed Jamestown Regional Medical Center. That according to a statement provided by Fentress County Executive, Jimmy Johnson. JRMC Chief Executive Officer Michael Alexander said in the statement the hospital was closed “due to the loss of participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.” “We expect to resolve the related issues and to resume normal operations ... Read More »

Cookeville hopes to use grant funding to plant over 80 trees along Tennessee Avenue. Public Works Director Greg Brown said the city has already budgeted $2,500 for the project if they receive the grant. “The grant would pay for 85 trees and one sign that would be installed to acknowledge where the funding came from,” Brown said. “Basically it’ll start ... Read More »

The Smith County Commission will host a public hearing next week to discuss a proposed 59-cent property tax increase. 5th District Commissioner Linda Nixon represents the Gordonsville and Lancaster communities. She said the proposal comes after commissioners cut nearly $1 million from the 2019-2020 budget proposal. “I mean it’s just down to bare nothing, and we can’t let the county ... Read More »

Crossville has officially sold the Inn of the Cumberlands property for $130,500. City Attorney Will Ridley said during Tuesday’s council meeting a portion of the money will go back to the city. “The city will be reimbursed for a substantial portion of back taxes at the beginning of next month from the chancery court clerk,” Ridley said. “The county, thanks ... Read More »

The Upper Cumberland Regional Airport will use grant funding to design and study new above-ground fuel tanks. Manager Dean Selby said a new ‘fuel farm’ would accommodate the airport’s recent increase in traffic. “We’re looking at increasing the capacity to where we can service the increase traffic we’re having and be able to handle possibly even more in the future,” ... Read More »