Tag Archives: Representative Ryan Williams

Cookeville Mechanical Contractors President Garry Floeter named the Small Business Champion of the Year by the National Federation Of Independent Business. Floeter said he was speechless when he learned he had been chosen after some 50 years of business in Cookeville. He said the award was not only a result of the success of his company, but his passion in ... Read More »

State officials trying to figure out how a reporting error could have left Cookeville’s revenues short during the summer sales tax holiday. The law eliminating the sales tax on groceries required that cities and counties not lose any revenue from the legislature’s decision. Representative Ryan Williams said Cookeville showed a shortage of some $620,000. “The finance team at City of ... Read More »

State Senator Paul Bailey plans to advocate for the equalization of shared sales tax between local governments and the state as the new legislative session begins Tuesday. Bailey said the portion of sales tax allocated to cities has been frozen since the state raised its collection percentage to seven percent. He said the state sales tax was raised in 2002 ... Read More »

Putnam County will provide families of First Responders who die while on duty the chance to remain on the county’s health insurance for up to two years. Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said this idea began as a law enforcement bill in the state legislature. Farris said in 2021, the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association partnered with other emergency services, and the ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland officials continue to push to have sales tax revenue taken away by the state in the early 2000s restored to local municipalities. Representative Ryan Williams said he feels good about the chances of having the funds restored, but Governor Bill Lee will have to champion the issue.  A 2002 state budget crisis caused legislation to allow the state ... Read More »

Representative Ryan Williams wants to explore solutions for improving traffic flow in downtown Cookeville. Williams said that there has been a desire for some time to better east to west routes through the city. He said that over the years there have been two traffic studies that recommended making Spring Street and Broad Street one-way roads. Williams said that making ... Read More »

State reimbursement for Putnam County’s tornado-related tax short falls has been put on hold. Representative Ryan Williams said Governor Bill Lee’s office and FEMA have recommended to wait and see if excess revenue could fill the gap instead. “The costs associated with the tornadoes will be in by the end of this calendar year, which leaves a quarter left in ... Read More »

COVID will likely decrease the some $4.5 million of proposed state funding for counties that lost property tax revenues from the March tornado outbreak. Representative Ryan Williams along with other state officials are working on a budget request for the relief. But, Williams said budget constraints have caused some uncertainty. “In regards to all the monies that are flowing around ... Read More »

Local official concerned about rumors of other Middle Tennessee municipalities bringing homeless residents to Putnam County. Representative Ryan Williams said he spent part of Wednesday tracking the rumors. “Some of the reports that I am behind the scenes getting is that we are having instances where maybe surrounding counties or municipalities are finding creative ways of eliminating the problem in ... Read More »

Families searching for safe summer fun can visit Dogwood Park for free movies. Cookeville’s annual After Dark Movies In The Park event is returning, but with some changes. Leisure Services Director Rick Woods said spaces six feet apart will be made to encourage social distancing. “The movies are free,” Woods said. “It’s a really fun time, it’s a great atmosphere, ... Read More »