It promises to be a year of change in Warren County government as a new sheriff and county executive will be seated in 2018.
Sheriff Jackie Matheny and County Executive Herschel Wells will be stepping aside this year and their replacements will take office Sept. 1.
Gazing into the future, local officials with the city, county and school system have established goals for the upcoming year. Chief among their concerns is a federal mandate to make all government buildings ADA compliant by December.
“They knew how to get it done by tying it to gas funding,” said Wells. “It’s all got to be done by Dec. 19.”
Wells says it will cost the county an estimated $260,000 to get facilities such as the courthouse and county administrative building ADA compliant.
Another main concern for the county is a multi-million dollar expansion at Warren County Jail. Wells says an architect has been picked and he thinks work can begin this summer.
“We hope to have plans in April, get bids in May or June, and get it under way in July,” said Wells.
Director of Schools Bobby Cox says school officials have developed strategic planning goals. He says those goals include: 1) improving literacy and grade-level reading, 2) continuing to build a good learning environment and school culture, 3) continuing to improve ACT scores and high school academies, and 4) continuing to improve salaries and benefits for teachers and staff.
When it comes to ACT scores, Cox said the current average is up to 18.9. He said that’s improved from 18.4 in 2015 and 18.6 in 2016.
“Making progress with your ACT scores is a slow process,” said Cox. “Our goal is 21. If you’re going to college, the ACT is the score that counts.”
The high school academies are aimed at putting students on an appropriate path for their future after high school. That can include a college prep curriculum, courses geared toward entering the workforce, or both.
Cox said creating a healthy school environment is always a priority. “We’re working on positive behavior support rather than punitive measures for negative behavior.”
As for building projects, upgrades at West and Bobby Ray have moved atop the list. The goal is to start work over the summer when students are out of school.
McMinnville Mayor Jimmy Haley says he has not finalized goals for 2018, but says he will be looking to continue positive momentum from 2017 that includes expansion plans at McMinnville Civic Center, street paving and sidewalk improvements, and work with the newly created Tourism Development Board.
“We must continue the progress we have made through team work and partnerships so we can build a better tomorrow for all our residents,” said Haley. “My board has been great. My department heads and employees are all team players. My citizens have been supportive. All the community players, organizations and agencies have all pitched it with rolled-up sleeves, because we believe in McMinnville.”
