Unrecorded Lease Forces Partial Baxter Park Closure
Baxter working to finalize a new five-year lease agreement to reopen the old portion of Baxter Park after the city discovered the original 99-year lease was never recorded. Mayor Danny Holmes said the issue came to light approximately two weeks ago when an insurance agent notified the city that the property was no longer covered. […]
Baxter Council Lowers Tax Rate While Increasing Wages
The Baxter Council approved a $1 per hour wage increase for all city employees during a special called meeting Wednesday. The board also approved the state-recommended property tax rate of .692. Councilman Willie Allison said the council has a long-standing history of avoiding tax hikes for the community. “It’s my 16th year and we’ve never […]
Baxter Budget Funds Employee Raises Without Tax Increases
Baxter officials proposing a new budget that includes a $1 hourly raise for all full-time employees while maintaining the current tax rate for residents. Mayor Danny Holmes said the city prioritized the pay increase to help retain staff amidst rising cost of living. Holmes said aldermen would have to cut several departmental requests to balance […]
Baxter Board Approves Budget Addresses Rapid Growth
The Baxter Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the first reading of the town’s 2026-2027 fiscal year budget Thursday night. Mayor Danny Holmes said the board spent significant time reviewing the financial plan for the general, special revenue, and water and sewer funds. Holmes said the process of balancing the budget is never easy, “I […]
Baxter Wastewater Upgrade Done, Final Documents Next
The Baxter Wastewater Treatment Plant project officially complete following years of construction. Engineer Tom Bennett updated Aldermen on the final pieces of the major infrastructure improvements. Bennett said the completion allows the city to finalize closeout documents. “I was looking back since, I think, ’21,” the official said. “So that’s a long-term project that has […]
Baxter Wants To Leverage Industrial Growth, Attract Retail
Baxter officials are banking on incoming industrial growth and housing developments to secure new retail options for the town. Mayor Danny Holmes said retailers have indicated that increased population density and job numbers are prerequisites for setting up shop. The town is currently working to land a grocery store and chain restaurants to serve the […]
Anatolia Announces Baxter As First Tennessee Location
Anatolia Cabinet and Millwork will bring 56 new high-paying jobs to Baxter, the state announced Thursday. Anatolia’s new facility will use an AI-integrated production system, which will be the first and only factory of its kind in Tennessee. The new factory part of an estimated $9.6 million investment. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said Anatolia’s […]
Baxter Award Bid To Relocate Ditty Road Utility Lines
Baxter Aldermen have awarded an estimated $1 million bid to relocate utility lines along Ditty Road for T-DOT’s Portobello Industrial Access Project. T-DOT would not bid out the Portobello Industrial Access Project until the lines were relocated. Consulting Engineer Tom Bennett said he would not advise rebidding the project to relocate the utility lines, as […]
Baxter Harvest Festival Features Antique Motorcar Visit
Motorcar enthusiasts will have a great opportunity to see antique vehicles Saturday at the Baxter Harvest Festival. Baxter Mayor Danny Holmes said the antique cars are part of a group that will be traveling on the Nashville Eastern Railroad as part of the Nashville and Eastern Railroad Excursion. Holmes said this is the first time […]
Mattson Appointed As New Putnam District 7 Commissioner
The Putnam County Commissioners appointed David Mattson to fill the vacant seat in District 7 at Monday night’s meeting. Mattson said he is originally from Cookeville and studied engineering at Tennessee Tech. Manson is a contractor and engineer and currently runs his own business. Manson said he wanted to be a commissioner because he enjoyed […]
