Fentress County Executive Jacob Rosenbaum said his transition period focused on continuity and administrative preparation.
Rosenbaum said the transition process began immediately following the election through consistent communication with current leadership and county staff. Rosenbaum said he has spent several hours each day at the courthouse to ensure a seamless transfer of responsibilities before officially beginning his term.
“The current county executive, Mr. Jimmy Johnson, has been excellent to work with,” Rosenbaum said. “He invited me over to his office the following week and I’ve been at the courthouse for a couple of hours pretty much every day.”
Rosenbaum said his previous experience as the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Board provided a foundation for understanding county operations. Rosenbaum said he recently attended training in Murfreesboro alongside the outgoing executive to meet key state contacts and incoming officials.
“He is actually the only retiring county mayor who went with his successor to the training that happened this week and to the county mayors’ conference,” Rosenbaum said. “So, it was really good having him there to sort of do the handoff and make the introductions to the key people at the conference hall. So, I’m really, really appreciative of everything he’s done for me.”
Rosenbaum said he has been meeting with department directors to review the timelines and requirements for various open grant applications. Rosenbaum said while he will eventually sign off on all documentation, there are currently no applications requiring immediate narrative development.
“I’m very familiar with the duties of the position, but the way in which you go about it and address certain situations in the day-to-day matters infinitely more than what the rules surrounding the position are,” Rosenbaum said. “And so just observing the way that he has interacted with people, with the community, the way he’s handled certain problems has been a tremendous asset to me over the years.”
Rosenbaum said the transition from an observer to a leader involves a shift in how he manages large-scale staff and builds relationships with the county commission. Rosenbaum said he plans to hold one-on-one meetings with every department director during his first week to establish vision statements and long-term goals.
“I believe that the people of Fentress County want to see their community make progress while preserving the heritage that we are so proud of and what the community is built on,” Rosenbaum said. “I’m humbled to have that kind of result, but I believe that it is the burden of trust that they put on you. It’s more than just a mandate to govern the way you see fit. It is two-thirds of the people who voted in the election saying, ‘We are going to extend our trust to you for the next four years and believe that you can do this job responsibly and get results for the people of this community.'”
Rosenbaum said he intends to initiate long-term planning projects and seek professional assistance to secure future funding for the county.
“I would like to tell you that I still believe what I claimed in the campaign, that Fentress County’s best days are ahead and we are working towards that goal every day,” Rosenbaum said.
