Warren County commissioners are financially on board with reopening the state’s Driver Testing Center until June 30, 2017.
The resolution to partner with the city of McMinnville and pay $2,000 of the $4,000 a month in rent for the building located at 594 Vervilla Road passed unanimously Monday night.
Commissioners David Rhea, Ron Lee, Diane Starkey, Carl E. Bouldin, Ken Martin, Teddy Boyd, Blaine Wilcher, Michael Shane Wilcher, Michael Martin, Charles Morgan, Linda Jones, Tommy Savage, Gary Martin, Scott Rubley, Randy England, Carlene Brown, Wayne Copeland, Carolyn Miller, Morris Bond, Terry Bell, Carl D. Bouldin, Tyrone Sparkman and Kenny Roberts were in attendance. Commissioner Gary Prater was absent.
McMinnville Mayor Jimmy Haley was also in attendance.
“I am proud of the partnership and the sense of community displayed by the unanimous vote of the County Commission in support of the deal to reopen the Driver Testing Center,” said Haley. “Our community is stronger when the city and county work together and this partnership – which now has full approval from both entities – displays this strength.”
McMinnville officials voted on Sept. 13 to enter into an agreement with the state to pay the entire $4,000 in rent until June 30 to give the state time to consider restoring funding for the facility in its 2017-18 fiscal year budget. The county’s contribution of half will be a financial reimbursement agreement between city officials and county commissioners.
There is no date set for the center to reopen.