Cameron Sexton Announces $2 Million State Grant to Fix Cumberland County Courthouse

Image Credit: Speaker Cameron Sexton / Twitter

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

Cumberland County recently received $2 Million from the state in order to fix water damage that put the county courthouse at risk of possible collapse. 

At the end of this year’s legislative session, Gov. Bill Lee signed off on Tennessee’s annual budget which included a $2 Million appropriation meant to go specifically towards structural support repairs for the historic courthouse. 

The building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980 and is Cumberland County’s third courthouse. According to The Crossville Chronicle, the location “has been the sentinel of county government for more than a century.”

Built in 1905, the original part of the courthouse was unexpectedly closed in September of last year because two out of three roof support trusses had deteriorated over time. 

Due to this closure, the County Clerk’s office was moved into the former Progressive Savings Bank building which was initially meant to serve as an archival facility. The Clerk’s office will now remain at that location permanently. 

County officials were informed in recent months that repairs to get the building structure back up to par have been estimated at $3 million-$4 million and an additional $2 million-$2.5 million has been estimated specifically for courtroom renovations.

On May 15^th, House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25) and Sen. Paul Bailey (R-Sparta-District 15) showed up at a Cumberland County Commission meeting with a giant check signed by Gov. Lee.

“This year, @PaulBaileyforTN and I secured a $2 million appropriation through the budget to address renovations at the Cumberland Co. Courthouse!” Sexton later posted to his Twitter account, “We appreciate @allen_foster and the county commission for their continued support!”

The House Speaker also posted photos to his social media of himself, Sen. Bailey, and Mayor Foster holding up the check alongside members of the commission. 

“We are very blessed in our state, much like you are here, with finances,” Sexton stated during the meeting. “Your budget might be a little tighter sometimes than what the state is. We do have an opportunity to lend a helping hand when we can.”

Multiple rounds of applause followed Sexton’s announcement of the grant amount and Mayor Foster conveyed the county’s appreciation saying, “Thank you very much, we appreciate that.”

Official bids for structural repairs on the building as well as renovation bids for the courtroom are expected to be announced in the coming months. 

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.