Hosting Cumberland County 4th Graders
Early on the first week of commission activity, I was blessed to host one of the stops for the DCI (Downtown Crossville Inc) 4th Grade Downtown Tour. The students from Brown elementary were scheduled this week and made several stops in the newly renovated Historic Courthouse. My part was to explain the county commission activity and share a little history of the county and the building.
Special Called Meeting – September 1
The first official County Commission meeting for 2026–27 focused on a crucial step: assigning all 18 commissioners to our respective committees. Committees serve as the engine of county government. This is where we examine issues in detail, debate solutions, and formulate recommendations before bringing them to the full Commission for a final vote.
This meeting also marked a major step forward for local transparency. We were able to use new electronic voting technology, and in the future, full video recordings of Commission meetings will soon be published online for public viewing. While citizens are always welcome to attend in person and share thoughts during a 3-minute public comment per person, these technical upgrades will make it even easier for everyone to stay informed.
I am honored to serve on five key committees this term to help move Cumberland County forward:
Debt Management Committee
Monitors compliance with county debt policy, submits the annual debt report, and recommends the debt service budget.
Budget Committee
Oversees county finances, sets budget policies, holds public hearings, and recommends the annual budget, property tax rates, and insurance contracts to the Commission.
Environmental Committee
Handles waste management, landfill and recycling operations, county road and bridge maintenance, speed limits, and building code reviews.
Health and Safety Standards Board
Works with the Codes Department to address complaints of county health and safety violations.
Investment Committee
Manages cash policies and invests unused county funds to maximize financial returns.
For more details regarding these committees as well as all the county committees, you can review this excerpt from the county commission rules document: Committee Descriptions
Committee Activity
Today, the Health and Safety Standards Board held their first meeting of the year. I have served on this committee for the past six years as a non-commissioner member. I was reelected to serve as chairman and we reviewed and acted on several ongoing property complaints. The Codes department brought forward a couple of new property issues to our attention.
Next week, the first Budget Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, September 8th at 4:30 pm in the 3rd floor Hearing Rm at the Historic County Courthouse.
Stay tuned for future updates here on Craig’s Notes. If I can assist you in any way, please let me know.
Craig
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