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Business Roundtable 1-18
Warren County charts more progress
DriverTestingWEB
This kiosk for driver services was located at Warren County Administrative Offices for nearly five months while our Driver Testing Center on Vervilla Road was closed by the state.

I conducted a third annual interview with County Executive Herschel Wells Sr. regarding the progress of Warren County looking back one year and forward one year. 
It is amazing the level of positive activity, coupled with state and federal compliances, that has been accomplished with the backdrop of no property tax increases for 14 years.  As a major growth state, Tennessee has been blessed for the last year and a half with sales tax surpluses. Warren County is already ahead $58,000 fiscal year-to-date on top of a gain from the prior fiscal year. 
In addition, the County Trustee’s incentive plan to pay property taxes early has resulted in 54 percent of total taxes already being collected as of Jan. 11 or about $7 million. This provides a huge cash flow benefit on running the county business.
Gov. Haslam was in Warren County in January. With the new state legislature back in session, the governor noted he will be asking for an increase to the state gasoline tax earmarked for funding new roads and bridge infrastructure across the state. That is likely to happen given the growing needs in this important economic area. 
Herschel favors this increase and notes the need prevalent across our county. There is Hennessee Bridge over the Collins River near Midway that is to be widened this year, as one example.
The county bond rating remains strong. Warren County is financed through its annual operating budget which includes a debt service account to make payments due. The county does not have a cash reserve per se.
One new challenge has just been added. The county (and city) will have until Dec. 31, 2019 to assure all county buildings are fully compliant with the American Disabilities Act.
ADA requires walking ramps, automatic door openers, ADA-approved bathrooms, proper ADA signage, etc. Two new committees have been created to guide and interpret the compliance needs. Failure to comply could result in gas tax collections being withheld.  New, unplanned expenses will have to be recognized eventually with this mandate.
What to do capacity wise with Warren County jail remains a top priority. A jail specialist is now doing an analysis of potential options on how best to deal with our current inmate population (321 with 78 women) going forward. 
Expansion will be a choice. Longer term use of the aging National Guard Armory may be a choice. This topic will receive due priority from the county executive and County Commission. This obviously will affect future financing and budgets. Drug-related crime continues to top the list of causes for a high inmate population.
Herschel has talked recently with Gen. Max Haston of the Tennessee National Guard.  Our existing armory is now the oldest in Tennessee. Our new armory is “next up.” It will be dependent on the new Trump administration being installed and running.  Realistically, this probably means gaining funds will be in the following federal fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2017 and not before.
Warren County is waiting on the state to approve closing part of old Highway 70 near the Warren County Airport that would allow budgeted expansion there. Planned are new hangers and a new fuel farm.  These additions will result in higher revenues including the ability to fuel larger planes that occasionally land here. 
Fuel sales (and tax thereof) is a meaningful benefit of our airport. Given no airport in Manchester and landing limitations at Tullahoma, Warren County Airport does a surprising amount of business. This is boosted by Bonnaroo, Bluegrass Underground, and large plants. This expansion is expected this year.
Recapping, Herschel cites the following highlights and disappointments for 2016:

1. Donating the 4.3-acre land tract immediately adjacent to TCAT at McMinnville for the new $5.5 million advanced robotics training center. This donation will create a “Pioneer Advanced Training Corridor” in our midst, sustaining major growth for the future.
2. Placing a state kiosk in the County Clerk’s Office to access and process documents needed for a TN driver’s license, while the state Driver Testing Center was closed. The kiosk was removed when the Driver Testing Center reopened.
3. Passing, along with the city of McMinnville, a $2,000 monthly fee this year to “save” our Driver Testing Center. 
4. Herschel noted all capital projects with Warren County Schools are now complete.  He is especially complimentary of the new Wellness Center at WCHS for team sports, band, and clubs. The center does include a weightlifting center.
5. A disappointment is the state lawsuit from CSX Railroad is still tying up $41 million in escrow from fuel tax collections. CSX is lobbying to avoid paying this usage tax. The suit is now in the upper courts. This is tying up needed capital funds (our small share of the $41 million) that Warren County could be using for rail bed repairs and rail bridge repairs. This is a similar fuel tax airlines pay when flying in and out of Tennessee.
In looking at 2017, Herschel identifies the priorities as being:

1. Complete the planned airport expansion.
2. Resolve the railroad lawsuit and return to normal service
3. Support and launch the new ART Center at Motlow-McMinnville
A key question to Herschel is will he consider running for a second term in 2018 when the full Warren County Commission is also up for re-election. He is deliberating that consideration. Herschel says he will make public his decision at the end of 2017.
BRAC congratulates the progress being made with stern budgeting at Warren County government. The accomplishments are most noteworthy. Challenges remain for the County Court to address. We are thankful for the effort and success.