Crossville Police report peaceful day on both sides of Stormfront meeting.

Protestors at white supremacists meeting 

at Cumberland Mountain State Park

Throughout the day, on Saturday, September 30th, 2017, the City of Crossville Police Department assisted the Tennessee State Park Rangers at Cumberland Mountain State Park, as approximately 50 members of a white nationalist, white supremacist, and neo-Nazi group met at the park throughout the day.

There were also approximately 50 additional people present, actively protesting the presence of those attending that meeting. The protesters and the meeting attendees maintained a peaceful visit to the area with law enforcement maintaining a presence, observing for any violent activity, in the interest of public safety.

The City of Crossville Police Department appreciates the peaceful demeanor of both groups, who enjoyed their freedom to exercise their opinions and beliefs, in a non-violent manner.

The City of Crossville Police Department will remain vigilant in the protection of the public and the protection of the property and rights of the citizens and visitors to the City of Crossville for the duration of any visit by either of these groups. If any violence is observed, we are asking that notifications be made to law enforcement as soon as possible, by dialing 911. The safety and protection of the general public will continue to be our top priority.

Crossville airport fly in weather superb, airport supporters honored, and many planes bring visitors

The annual Crossville Memorial Airport Open House and Fly-In was very well attended Saturday, September 30 with great weather, lots of planes, and a great crowd of visitors.

As part of the ceremonies, 5 men were recognized for their impact on local aviation history.  A permanent memorial has been built in front of the airport's main building and more names are expected to be added in future years.

Aviation recognition monument at Crossville

Memorial Airport.

Honorees this year include Ken Burnett, Cosby Harrison, W. E. (Bill) Mayberry, Curt Watson and James Whitson, Sr.  Boyd Wyatt Sr. was the first recognized at last year's fly-in.

Honoree's names on

the monument.

Ken Burnett was a long time member and chairman of the Crossville Airport Committee before it was disbanded.  Burnett became a licensed pilot in 1969 after serving in the Navy during WWII and Korea.  Mr. Burnett was very active in Crossville and served on the Cumberland Medical Center and Highland Federal Savings and Loan boards.

Cosby Harrison was a very long time Crossville businessman who started the world recognized Trade A Plane publication that was a national classified service for pilots.  Harrison had a plane, the first one in Crossville, that he crashed in 1935 and needed parts to repair it.  When he had difficulty finding what he needed, it gave him the idea for the Crossville based publication that he started with his wife on their kitchen table.  The explosion of interest in general aviation following WWII with a growth in military trained pilots who still wanted to fly.

W.E. Bill Mayberry, Jr. was a WWII veteran who also served in Korea.  Mayberry returned to Crossville and operated Mayberry's Furniture, still open on Main Street.  He was very active in the community and was elected mayor at age 28, was active in the Chamber of Commerce and many other local boards.  His son James currently serves as Crossville Mayor.  Mayberry a licensed pilot and spent 40 years on the Airport Committee.

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Curt Watson was a local football standout who went on to be a standout for the UT Vols, played two seasons in the NFL.  He then joined the Navy, went to flight school and before his military career was over spent 4 years flying with the world famous Blue Angels.  After leaving the Navy Watson continued flying for FedEx.  Watson's father, another Crossville mayor Dr. James Watson was also a pilot and Watson and his sister Trish both got the flying bug at the Crossville airport. Watson helped his alma mater CCHS get a jet mascot painted with Blue Angel colors.

James E. Whitson Sr. became the fixed base operator for the Crossville airport in 1960 and he served the local airport for 30+ years.  The airport is now known as Whitson Field in his honor.  It is estimated that he taught 1000 people to fly, He had well over 15,000 hours of flight time.  Whitson had a touch and could bring planes other thought beyond hope back to the sky.

Crossville Mayor James Mayberry, his brother William 

Mayberry and former Blue Angel Curt Watson.

Watson and the Mayberry brother's dad were 2 of those

recognized in a morning ceremony. 

Dave Kirk at the podium handed out the awards.  On the

right are members of the Whitson Family.

The crowd was large, the weather was great and everyone enjoyed looking at the plans and watching the takeoffs and landings.

WWII bomber, a B-25, lands at the fly-in

B-25 attracts a crowd of admirers.

WWII F4U Corsair.  The wings fold because the

plane was used on aircraft carriers.

The business end of the F4U Corsair fighter plane

A group of Corvettes was also on display

There was a line waiting to take an airplane ride 

around Crossville

Military Transport plane

State Park Stormfront meeting and protestors mostly quiet.

The news broke on Friday that a group of white supremacists planned a meeting in Crossville and once word got out with plans for protestors to attend the word spread like wildfire bringing unwanted notoriety to Crossville. 

The first problem came Friday night when word got out that the group planned a dinner and social event at a local Crossville restaurant.  As the word spread and people began to call the restaurant with complaints and bad reviews started showing up on their online presence, the restaurant decided to cancel the reservation of the group. 

Once the group was turned away, local police were called to the restaurant and no serious trouble was reported at that time.

Cars parked outside the CMSP recreation lodge Saturday

afternoon for the Stormfront meeting

On Saturday, the supremacist group reportedly tied to an organization called Stormfront planned a meeting at the Cumberland Mountain State Park and that brought a number of protestors who spent much of the day in the parking lot near the Park Recreation Lodge separated from the group meeting by some dozen or more law enforcement officers including park rangers, Crossville police, and sheriffs deputies.

A few of the park rangers separating the two groups.

Protestors at the Cumberland Mountain State Park were kept

away from the recreation lodge by rangers and law

enforcement.

Some of the protest signs

Protestors support each other.  A few were

singing "All we are saying is give peace a chance."

Late Saturday afternoon some 16 to 20 protestors remained at the park but appeared to be packing up at the time.  Reports said that the supremacist group had reservations at the state park restaurant for dinner.  The group does not have the state park recreation lodge reserved for Sunday but reports are the group planned a hike on Sunday. 

Cars from a number of states were spotted though many of the cars had been parked with their backs in so their license plates could not be seen. 

Crossville Police Department press release says they are ready for any problems this weekend

From Crossville Police Department:

Friday, September 29, 2017

On the morning of Friday, September 29th, 2017, the City of Crossville Police Department received information in reference to the possibility that members of a white nationalist, white supremacist, and neo-Nazi group could be meeting in the Crossville, TN area throughout the weekend.

Additionally, a militant political movement of autonomous, self-styled anti-fascist groups, could be arriving to protest such a meeting, though no protests have been scheduled that we have been made aware of.

The City of Crossville Police Department, working in conjunction with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Highway patrol have coordinated efforts to maintain the peaceful protection of rights for both of these groups and for those of the citizens and visitors of the City of Crossville should any violent protests arise.

We ask that those in attendance at any of the scheduled, or any unscheduled events maintain a peaceful and respectful decorum and, though all involved parties have a legal right to express their opinions and exercise their freedoms, our residents, visitors and law enforcement professionals needn’t suffer in the wake of any type of violence. Any legal, peaceful meetings and/or protests will be allowed only in public areas or in areas where specific permissions have been secured, from property owners/managers, by those organizing any said events and/or protests.

The City of Crossville Police Department will be vigilant in the protection of the public and the protection of the property and rights of all parties. If any violence is observed, we are asking that notifications be made to law enforcement as soon as possible, by dialing 911. At no time will public streets, sidewalks or property be allowed to be rendered impassable by any groups, for any reason. The safety and protection of the general public will continue to be our top priority.

Council October Work session includes discussion on animal control, shooting park board appointments and more

Crossville city council holds their October work session on Tuesday, October 3 at 5 PM in conference room 317 as they prepare for their regular October meeting.

The work session agenda includes discussion on items that may be on the regular agenda set for October 10.

Crossville City Hall decorated for Fall

Karen McMeekin of the group A Time 4 Paws will be presenting several proposals related to animal control including one to establish a community cat program, regulations on animal rescuing and an ordinance that would prohibit tethering of dogs for more than 2 hours per day and not at all between 7 PM and 7 AM.

Council will discuss appointments of members to the Shooting Sports Park board of directors based on the city's agreement with the group and the city's donation of property for the park's use. The city can appoint two members and Mayor James Mayberry is recommending those members to be James Petty and Glen McDonald.

Ground was broken on the Shooting Sports Park development recently and the project is moving forward.

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After hearing a presentation from the Tennessee Municipal League on a self-funded health insurance program they sponsor, the council will discuss what the next steps are that they want to take.

Council will discuss a request from the Cumberland County Playhouse for the city to provide a permanent water tap near the playhouse's water feature and preparing a gravel overflow parking area to be used for buses and overflow parking during peak show times. In exchange, the playhouse would donate 80 parking bumpers to the city.

The Grandview Utility District board has voted to request a ten-year renewal of their water purchase contract with terms identical to the contract set to expire at the end of this year.

John Conrad will make a presentation to the council concerning a proposed Crossville Greenway project of walking trails around the city. Several trails are under construction and planned by the group known as Friends of the Trails.

Council will also hear an update on the Cumberland Homestead Tower sewer connection matter.  

Arson Suspect Indicted, Accused of Trying to Solicit Murder of Witness

By Josh DeVine, TBI

Special Agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have obtained an indictment for an inmate of the Overton County Jail who stands accused of trying to solicit the murder of a witness in his pending criminal case.

On September 13^th, TBI Agents began investigating Calvin Booher (DOB 2-10-78). A year ago, authorities arrested Booher and charged him with Aggravated Arson in connection to several fires in the Livingston area.  Earlier this month, Agents developed information that, while incarcerated, Booher attempted to arrange for a witness in his arson case to be murdered.

On Monday, the Overton County Grand Jury returned an indictment, charging Booher with one count of Solicitation to Commit First Degree Murder. He was served with the additional charge last night at the Overton County Jail, where he remained in custody at the time of this release.

Booher at his initial appearance 

on arson charges 9-20-2016

Previous Jim Young Reporter story on arson charges against Booher from 2016.

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On again, off again, Downtown Crossville sidewalk grant application OKed by the city council.

After returning a similar grant award when the downtown Crossville improvement plan was abandoned several years ago, the Crossville city council approved submitting a grant application that could help pay for $1.5 million in downtown sidewalk improvements during a special called meeting.

Downtown Crossville sidewalks

City council has talked about improving downtown sidewalks for some 15 years, originally as part of the multi-million dollar downtown project, but little has been accomplished towards it during that time.  The cost has been a factor in the decision not to proceed.  The currently proposed grant will pay for 80 percent of the approved work.

The grant, called the Transportation Alternative Program, is a program of the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). The deadline to apply is October 3 this fall but awards will not be announced until around this time next year. If the city is successful, the bids are expected to be put out in November of 2019 and the construction phase runs from March to November 2020. Previously it was announced that TDOT planned to pave Main Street through Downtown sometime during 2020.

Crossville city manager Greg Wood, left, tells council about

the details of the proposed TDOT TAP grant project.

L-R: Wood, council members J.H. Graham, Danny Wyatt,

Mayor James Mayberry and Scot Shanks.

Because the project is essentially identical to the one that the city previously planned most of the design and right-of-way work is already completed but TDOT will still have to review the project once again. The project starts at the Lantana Road intersection of Main Street and continues to the north side of Neecham Street. The main work will include sidewalks, ADA compliant intersections, and additional improvements. The city will pay from some of the work that the grant won't cover from tax funds. 

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The total estimated cost of the project is just over $1.5 million and the city's match of 20 percent is around $316,000. In addition, the cost of lighting materials that city crews will install is $295,000.

Evan Sanders of grant consultant Community Development Partners told the council that because the design work is mostly complete that TDOT should look on that favorably and the city has an excellent chance of getting the project funded.

During the discussion before the vote, city manager Greg Wood asked council for permission to pursue a possible partner to install fiber optic cable along Main Street in the conduit the city will be installing for streetlight power and traffic light controls. Wood said that that would protect the lines from ice storms and strong winds.

In addition, the city will be meeting with a company that wants to make a proposal concerning saving enough energy costs to help pay for the new street lighting the city is looking at installing.

The motion to approve the submission of the application and necessary budget amendment was made by councilman J. H. Graham and seconded by Councilman Scot Shanks. An additional $43,000 was added to the grant request to fund pedestrian signals that TDOT requires according to Mr. Sanders.

Councilwoman Pam Harris could not attend the meeting but the remaining four council members voted in favor of the motion and the application will be submitted.

An additional 7 items on the agenda were handled in a single vote. Additional readings of previously approved ordinance readings. One action was to apply for funds to help defray costs of replacing the K-9 police dog Cain.   

Calendar of upcoming events at Crossville's historic Palace Theatre

Palace Theatre events through October.

Crossville's Palace Theatre

Looking for things to do? The Palace Theatre has a variety of great entertainment waiting for you. 

September 2017
9/29 (Fri)      Crossville Got Talent Show 7PM $10 (Call Fair Park Senior Center for Tickets)
9/30 (Sat)      Aaron Ingram, Matt Page, and Matthew Luther Live 7PM $12

October 2017
10/2 (Mon)      FFG Travelogue 7 PM
10/4 (Wed.) Bryan Symphony Luncheon 11 AM
10/7 (Sat)      Memory Road Live 7PM $12
10/14 (Sat)     Acoustic Gospel Music feat. The Jenkins Family 6PM $12 (Children 12 & under free)
10/20(Fri)      Anthony Woolbright feat. The Staph Band 7PM $12 adults $ 7
10/26 (Thurs) Old Time Preachers Quartet 7PM $15
10/27(Fri)      Adam Fisher & Erin James 6:30 PM $15
10/28(Sat)      Country in the Cumberlands Jim Adkins 6PM $18

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Tickets for most events may be purchased at the Palace or online by cash, check or credit card.               Palace Box Office hours are Tuesday – Friday 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
    All tickets sales are final.  Events listed are subject to change.

Order by phone 931-484-6133 or by internet at palacetheatre-crossville.com
Email - palace@crossvilletn.gov

Crossville Airport Open House Saturday includes honoring men who made an impact on the airport

The annual Crossville Memorial Airport annual open house lands Saturday between 9 AM and 3 PM at the airport off of Sparta Highway.

Photo from a previous fly-in 

Admission is free and airplane and helicopter rides will be available for purchase along with food and refreshments.  There will also be free inflatables for the kids and lots of aircraft to check out on the ground and in the air.

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In addition, 5 men who have made significant contributions to the airport will be recognized.  They include Cosby Harrison who started Trade-A-Plane; James E. Whitson who was the longtime FBO at the airport; Kenneth Burnett who was a pilot and longtime member of the airport committee, W. E. (Bill) Mayberry, Jr. another longtime pilot, former Crossville mayor as well as the father of current mayor James Mayberry; and Curt Watson, a CCHS and UT football standout who went on the serve as a US Navy flyer and member of the famed Blue Angels.

Colorized seal from original airport opening in 1934

The recognition ceremony for the honorees will start with music from the community band at 9:30 AM.

Crossville council to consider approval of Downtown sidewalk grant in Wednesday Noon called meeting.

The Crossville city council will meet in special called session Wednesday, September 27 at noon in Crossville city hall.

Current state of Downtown Crossville

sidewalks.

The main reason for the meeting is for the council to do a final review and vote on the Transportation Alternatives Program grant that the city is hoping to use to make improvements to the downtown sidewalks. The total estimated cost of the project is just over $1.5 million and the city's match of 20 percent is around $316,000. In addition, the cost of lighting materials that city crews will install is $295,000.

Crossville city council members L-R:

J.H. Graham, Danny Wyatt, Mayor James Mayberry,

Pamala Harris and Scot Shanks.

Because the project is nearly identical to the one that the city previously planned most of the design and right-of-way work is already done but the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will have to review the project once again. The project starts at the Lantana Road intersection of Main Street and continues to the north side of Neecham Street.

The grant is submitted this fall but will not be announced until next October. The bids are expected to be put out in November of 2019 and the construction phase runs from March to November 2020. Previously it was announced that TDOT planned to pave Main Street through Downtown sometime during 2020.

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Also during the called meeting council will also consider a grant application to the Stanton Foundation for $10,000 toward the purchase of a K-9 dog and bulletproof vest. The grant is specifically for departments that have lost a dog in the line of duty.

Additional agenda items for the called meeting are ordinance readings that have previously been approved including water plant improvements, closing Municipal Avenue, budget amendments and a change order for the Meadow Park raw water pump generator.   

Crossville Memories: Old IGA Grocery Store on Highway 70E Rockwood Highway

This was the scene September 24, 2009, as the Old IGA Grocery Store on Highway 70-E Rockwood Highway came down.  The store was one of the last grocery stores on the east side of Crossville.  The lot remains empty at the current time.   Photos by Jim Young-all rights reserved.

                            

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Cliff Wightman appointed president of Crossville's Tennessee College of Applied Technology

MEMPHIS (Friday, Sept. 22, 2017) -- The Tennessee Board of Regents appointed Cliff Wightman as the new president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Crossville during its fall quarterly meeting today in Memphis.

TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings recommended Wightman for the appointment, effective Oct. 1, following more than two months of work by a search committee that reviewed 17 applications for the position. The Board of Regents unanimously approved the recommendation.

Cliff Wightman

Wightman, who first began his association with TCAT-Crossville as a high school student dual-enrolled at the technical college, has been interim president since May 1 when former director Jerry Young was appointed the president at TCAT-Morristown. Wightman had been assistant director of the college since January 2015. (The Board of Regents changed the title of the technical colleges’ chief executive officers from director to president at its June meeting.)

Wightman began his career at the Crossville campus and with the TBR system in 2007 as a machine tool technology instructor, following an 18-year career as a machinist and engineering technician in the private sector, including 12 years at Delbar Products Inc. in Crossville. He served as TCAT-Crossville’s marketing and industrial training coordinator from 2012 to 2015 when he was elevated to assistant director.

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As assistant director, Wightman was partly responsible for day to day operations of the college and coordinated training in all areas of professional development for staff and faculty. He assumed full responsibility for operating the campus as interim president.

The new president said he is looking forward to leading the college. “I have served many roles with the college – starting as a student – and these different positions have given me a sound knowledge of what it takes to run the college,” Wightman said. “I have experience ranging from the teaching aspect to the finances and building projects. I also understand our need to maintain relationships with industry and the community, and to promote continuing education and partnerships with our community colleges. I firmly feel that my entire life has evolved into where I am today because of the education I received as a student here, and I can convey to area residents the need for skilled training to change their lives for the better.”

After his high school graduation, Wightman continued his studies at TCAT-Crossville and graduated from the machine tool technology program. He later earned an Associate of Applied Science in general technologies at Roane State Community College, a Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies at Tennessee Technological University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Bethel University. 

Wightman also attended the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology Leadership Training Academy and has been a presenter at the Tennessee Board of Regents’ New Faculty Institute. He has attended team member training at the Council on Occupational Education, the national accreditation agency for technical colleges. Wightman also serves on the National Education Team for Skills USA.

After former president Young’s move to Morristown, the Board of Regents appointed a 14-member search committee to assist in the search for a new president at Crossville. The committee was chaired by Regent Joey Hatch and included as members Roane State Community College President Chris Whaley; faculty, staff and students of TCAT-Crossville, and community and industrial leaders in the area.

Regent Hatch told the board that the search committee “was a highly engaged group. We met three times on campus. I couldn’t be more proud to present Cliff Wightman as the candidate Chancellor Tydings recommends. He is full engaged in his campus and the success of his students.”

The Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Crossville offers students certificate and diploma training in more than 15 career and technical education programs, from administrative office technology and automotive technology to surgical technology, truck driving and welding technology.  Visit TCAT-Crossville online at https://tcatcrossville.edu/

Cumberland Homesteads Apple Festival Saturday and Sunday at Homestead School/Tower

Started in 2004 as a fundraising project for the Cumberland Homesteads Tower Association this is the 16th year for the very popular Apple Festival.

The festival focuses on quality music and crafts with a family oriented atmosphere.  The food, from Barbeque to fried pies is not to be missed and you'll find typical country fare like beans and cornbread too.

The Apple Festival stems from the fact that apples were a staple food for the 252 Homestead families selected to participate in the program in the 1930s.  Many of those apple trees still remain on the Homestead farms.

Admission to the Apple Festival is $5.00 and Children 10 and under are free.  A visit to the historic Homestead Tower constructed in 1937-38 is included in the admission.  The tower originally housed the administrative offices of the Homestead Project along with a water storage tank and at the top of the tower was a lookout with a view of most of the original Homestead farms.

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Crossville Police Department earns $33,000 in awards for excellence

Crossville Police Chief David Beaty shared information about several recognitions the Crossville Police Department has earned recently with the Crossville city council.  

L-R Capt. Larry Qualls, Lt. Brian Tilley, and Chief David Beaty

of the Crossville Police Department.

Chief Beaty described the department as "back in our winning ways" adding "the real winners are the motorists in the community."

Chief Beaty explained that in August this year Lt. Brian Tilley and patrolman Daniel Coleman attended the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) Lifesavers Challenge where the department was awarded first place in the 26-45 officer department competition.  Beaty added that the department received a special recognition in preventing underage alcohol prevention that earned them $3000 in grant funds to continue those efforts.

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In the SAFE (Seatbelts are for Everyone) Campaign, the department was recognized with first place and a $10,000 award.  Beaty announced that the department also received a $20,000 grant from the THSO.  Beaty praised the efforts of the department's officers, "There's a lot that goes into these efforts, it's a team effort."

September 17-23 set as Constitution Week by Crossville Mayor James Mayberry and DAR

Crossville Mayor James Mayberry proclaimed

US Constitution Week and presented the

proclamation to members of the

Crab Orchard DAR.

US Constitution Week has been proclamed as September 17 through the 23 by Crossville Mayor James Mayberry.  The proclamation was read during the city council's regular September meeting.

Members of the Crab Orchard Daughters of the American Revolution sponsor the annual celebration locally and were present and received the proclamation.

This celebration of the Constitution was started by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1955, DAR petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into public law on August 2, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The aims of the Constitution Week celebration are to:

• Emphasize citizens' responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution.
• Inform people that the Constitution is the basis for America's great heritage and the foundation for our way of life.
• Encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.

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Anna Perez named Martin Elementary student of the month for cooperation

Crossville Mayor James Mayberry, left, presents

Anna Perez, 2nd from left with the Student of the Month 

award as her family looks on.

Anna Callejas Perez was recognized as the September student of the month for Martin Elementary School during the Crossville city council's meeting.  Anna, a 5th grader in Mrs. Kim Smiths class was recognized for the character trait of cooperation. Anna was nominated because her PE teacher Ms. Baxter noticed her outstanding display of cooperation in class.  Anna was also described as working well with her peers both in and out of the classroom.

Crossville Mayor James Mayberry made the presentation.

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Crossville city council approves industrial site price and sewer connection to Homestead Tower Museum

Crossville city council approved a number of items, including setting the price of the industrial property being developed by the city with help from the state and the county, a water sales contract for South Cumberland Utility District and a sewer connection to the Homestead Tower Museum.

Council approved a price per acre on property in the Interchange Business Park that will soon be the site of a 200,000 square foot building pad for quick use by a potential industrial prospect. As part of the project funded by state funds and city and county taxpayer funds, a certified price must be approved. The property was purchased several years ago by the city.

Proposed industrial site located in

Interchange Business Park at

I-40 And 127-N

Councilman Graham moved to set the price at $75,000 per acre for the 20-acre property that could house a company with up to 300 employees. Councilwoman Harris seconded the motion.

Engineering on the project is in the final stages and bids will be called for a bit later on in the year according to city engineer Tim Begley. Councilman Scot Shanks asked if the county would have a say in the price since they were funding part of the project? Mr. Graham addressed the question saying that there could be a lot of incentives for the purchase of the site.

City manager Wood said they were working on a matrix of incentives that may offset some of the price including a credit of up to $5000 per job hired by the purchaser. In addition, the matrix looks at capital investment and average wage. The motion passed unanimously.

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Crossville city council easily approved a renewal of the water sales contract between the city and South Cumberland Utility District. The brief discussion included information from city manager Greg Wood who advised the council that the SCUD board unanimously approved a request to the city for the renewal for a ten year period at the same terms.

Councilman J. H. Graham III moved to approve the request quickly seconded by Councilwoman Pamala Harris. The motion was approved by unanimous vote of the council.

Council also approved a request from the Cumberland Homesteads Tower Association for a connection to the city sewer. The tower museum has been operating on a septic system that has failed and the museum no longer has a public restroom facility for their visitors.

Cumberland Homestead

Tower Museum

Councilman Danny Wyatt moved that the city pay $10,371.47 to run the sewer line from where it is to the tower. This would install the line and would leave the cost of a grinder pump of around $5,000 that the CHTA is seeking from Cumberland County. The tower is leased from the county school system.

Mayor James Mayberry seconded Wyatt's motion. A budget amendment was added to the motion on first reading and the motion was unanimously approved by the council.