Time is ticking for McMinnville officials to help Heritage Alliance cash in on available funds to add two more Civil War markers to the current trail located in Warren County.
According to Alderman Jimmy Haley, funds are available through Tennessee Tech for placement of two more Civil War markers in Warren County by Heritage Alliance. A marker will be placed on Rebel Hill for the Battle of Rebel Hill, with a second at High Street Cemetery for Gen. Benjamin Hill.
With the markers placed within the city of McMinnville and on city-owned property, the city must allow easements in those areas.
“We have to make a decision on this pretty quick,” said Haley. “For the new grant, everything has to be turned in and approved by the end of this month.”
Getting the verbal request June 12 leaves the city with a couple of weeks to draw up a written easement and pass it before the board June 26.
“It’s kind of late for this information,” said McMinnville Mayor Norman Rone. “Why didn’t we get this sooner?”
Haley says they were notified late that grant money was available.
“We applied for it and thought we were denied,” he said. “We were notified recently that money was available.” 
The two markers would add to Tennessee’s Civil War Trails, which is a Midstate program that identifies, interprets, and creates driving tours throughout the state at Civil War sites. At the different sites, markers are placed that tell the history of the area and how it relates to the Civil War. Maps are used to guide tourists from marker to marker.
McMinnville Breakfast Rotary Club established Warren County as part of the trail in 2010 after it obtained a grant from International Rotary to purchase three markers. One was placed at the courthouse for the occupation of McMinnville, one at Pepper Branch Park for the use of industry and railroad, and one at Cumberland Caverns for saltpeter mining done there.
Breakfast Rotary, Magness Library and Heritage Alliance worked together to include Warren County in Tennessee’s Civil War Trails. Maps containing information of the local markers are located at the library, which is where the local driving tour begins.
Vice Mayor Everett Brock began a motion to allow the easement, but was stopped short by city administrator David Rutherford.
“It’s not that easy,” Rutherford said. “There are steps we must take.”
While Brock withdrew his motion, Rutherford says he will direct staff to begin the necessary steps to allow the easements.
For more information about the Civil War Trails program, visit www.civilwartrails.org.