Tag Archives: Mayor Randy Porter

Putnam County has gotten the money from the $98 million bond paying for the jail expansion and new school project. Mayor Randy Porter said the money will be repaid over 25 years coming out to about $5 million a year. ‘I wanted to get the bond issued as soon as I could, very concerned about the inflation that’s going on ... Read More »

Putnam County’s oldest veteran 101-year-old Lehman Riggs passed away Thursday. Mayor Randy Porter said Riggs was one of the nicest individuals he ever met. “I got to know him over several years, and he was just a good, christian man,” Porter said. “Very humble, kind, gentle, but he was very dedicated to the Honor Guard and serving veterans and their ... Read More »

Progress on the new Patton House Doll Museum and Veterans facility is on hold while waiting for construction prices to fall. The building off Highway 70 was decimated by the March 2020 tornado. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said bids for construction came back some double and triple the amount they were expecting. He said that the architect has examined ... Read More »

By a 23-1 vote Monday night, Putnam County Commissioners approved a $98 million bond proposal to fund jail expansion and a new K-8 school. Commissioners spent very little time debating the proposals Monday night, which have been discussed for several years. Only District Four Commissioner Theresa Tayes voted no. Commissioner Cindy Adams cited a concern with maxing out the bond ... Read More »

The new Putnam County fairgrounds location will have the potential to host more than just the fair. Mayor Randy Porter shared the first proposed plans for the facility with county commissioners Monday night. He said that the 160-acre location will house an expo center, a conference building, and venues for concerts and tournaments. “The premiere part of the site will ... Read More »

Cookeville Art Studio and Gallery celebrated its 60th anniversary with a celebration on Friday afternoon. Secretary Terri Ritter said it’s been special to have the organization serve the Upper Cumberland for six decades. “It’s such a blessing,” Ritter said. “Because the whole desire of this is to reach the community with culture and with art and to bring people in ... Read More »

The Veterans Wall at the Putnam County Courthouse will receive some updates for safety and accessibility. Mayor Randy Porter said the county plans on making a pathway that’s ADA-compliant to provide better access for veterans visiting. “We’re going to fix a place in the courthouse lawn,” Porter said. “Make a walkway that will come in behind the wall, as it ... Read More »

Mayor Randy Porter said he’s optimistic about prospects of retailers coming to the Putnam County Fairgrounds site. Commissioners approved to move forward with Nashville-based Baker Storey McDonald for the fairgrounds at their meeting Monday night. The developer is now seeking out potential retailers for the site. Porter said it has several groups its in communication with. “And they’ll work with ... Read More »

Putnam County anticipates the population to have increased by 7,000 once final census numbers are released. Mayor Randy Porter said the total tally should come sometime September. “The census numbers are actually going to be outdated by the time we get them, because we have so many people moving here,” Porter said. “Our estimates that I am getting are that ... Read More »

Putnam County’s certified tax rate will likely fall some 55 cents due to property value increases. County Mayor Randy Porter shared preliminary projections with County Commission’s Budget Sub-Committee meeting Thursday night. The current property tax rate stands at 2.926. Porter projected the number at 2.37.  That would still increase revenues by almost 1.1 million dollars. Porter said the change comes ... Read More »