Fentress Highway Loan Denied After Supervisor Takes Hard Stance
The Fentress County Commission approved a $2.1 million dollar capital outlay note for the new agriculture pavilion Monday night. The note did not include money for the highway department. Road Supervisor Joey Reagan asked for $1.5 million to upgrade county roads. Reagan was unwilling to budge on that number during the meeting. “I believe he […]
Cookeville In Works To Widen West Steven Street To Ease Traffic
Cookeville Public Works is working on a plan to widen West Stevens Street in an attempt to help with an increase in traffic flow. Director Greg Brown said the work would facilitate east to west traffic as more people seek other driving routes apart from the main roads. “To try to distribute the traffic between […]
McMinnville Planning Wants Community Input On Downtown Streets And Sidewalks
McMinnville wants to create more user-friendly streets and sidewalks in its downtown area. These are the final days for community input on the community development draft. Community Planner Katie Kemezis said they want the plan to reflect the needs and wants of the community. “This ensures that whatever recommendations are actually implemented by the city […]
Fentress Highway Department Wants To Pave 15 Miles Of Gravel Roads
The Fentress County Highway Department wants to pave 15 miles of gravel road over the next year. Road Supervisor Joey Reagan said he will ask the county commission to allow the department to take out a $1.5 million capital improvement loan. Reagan said this will better serve the county’s most rural residents. “The majority is […]
Rep. Windle Says UC Needed More Assistance In Governor’s Budget
State Representative John Mark Windle said that more could have been done to help the Upper Cumberland in the 2021 state budget. Windle said that broadband infrastructure was cut from $200 million to $100 million by Governor Lee. Windle said rural Tennessee is seeing an influx of new residents but they need the bandwidth for […]
Funding For Infrastructure And Roads Included In Approved State Budget
Upgrades to roads and more infrastructure for counties are some of the Upper Cumberland benefits of the state’s new budget. That is according to State Representative Ryan Williams. Governor Bill Lee’s $42.6 billion budget passed Thursday. “Our state was one of seven states to show positive economic growth through the midst of COVID, which is […]
Fentress Waits To Allocate $642,000 To Highway Department
Fentress County voted to take no action Monday night on allocating all $642,000 of Governor Lee’s Infrastructure grant to the highway department. The highway department was short $219,000 on gas and motor fuel tax revenue, however commissioners did not want to take action without guidance on how the money could be spent. County Executive Jimmy […]
Progress Made On Roads, But Crews Prepare For More Accumulation
While a peeking sun and a slight increase in temperature helped clear roads, crews are preparing for another evening of service Wednesday with a third round of winter weather on the way. Putnam County Road Supervisor Randy Jones said state and primary roads are in good shape for now, but secondary roads are still icy. […]
Low Temperatures Make Salt Less Effective On Roads
Road crews are battling to keep roadways clear with low temperatures making salt less effective. Van Buren Highway Superintendent Randy Oakes said salt is used to lower the freezing temperature of water on streets, but temperatures dipping into the teens does not stop ice from forming. “It doesn’t work really good,” Oakes said. “When the […]
Most Secondary Roads Remain Treacherous Across UC
Majority of the state roads in the Upper Cumberland are clear with some slick spots, but some primary roads and most secondary roads remain treacherous. According to Overton County Dispatch, the only road way clear in the county is Highway 111 going into Livingston. Electric and road crews have been working all night to restore […]
