[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6185271,"mediaKeyId","5082664-b3af128ecc11620f70a60142e89f2b90","parentId",5082664,"title","Animal shelter and health department projects advance; contractors pouring slabs and materials selected","audioSeconds",104,"startMs",3444000,"endMs",3548000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082664-b3af128ecc11620f70a60142e89f2b90&start=3444&end=3548","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082664-b3af128ecc11620f70a60142e89f2b90/thumbnail_3444000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6185271/Coffee-County/Tennessee/Animal-shelter-and-health-department-projects-advance-contractors-pouring-slabs-and-materials-selected","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185271-6ddb3fb93d1497cd68d22d0fb6399474/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145914&Signature=IE8BZCKmpiHys4xzIoHuGse3fRAYQ-dLBnHeizMCwlDGN0jiTA7hOML5DKZ0PuFZNMzz~lH2ZmOnnO~bxlv6u8ObOEj1X3HNVi2kyEIi-JB6MTPr7c2ryUgUfAY78XXRcgpH~tuXBPDgM-zcwZwHmNTHMiK2Q9mHoWUZ-Gz5Tyct~UAl2uBZmV4tVg7-BpIcVW9XLiMhE7fJ7lpXaZuAe2ru8fH5zq7-lm4-a~tQrBBIwcNLul7L7FhsbQYo-BtwEjssVb4SSS1Qm4qU1w198TaqauyVtqx-0Mpq7wrPS5sYDMtGAKhyleKy1c0LulRxG4aAKYaL4Ff04Uxu6tLoqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Coffee County, TN","date","2025-06-27T02:28:05.757Z","article","County officials reported progress June 24 on two capital projects: the new animal shelter and a county health department facility.

The updates matter for local services and facility timelines. The chair for capital outlay said the animal shelter contractor was “doing a pretty outstanding job,” that the slab is being poured and that the project is moving quickly. He said he visits the job site two to three times a week.

On the health department facility, commissioners said exterior panel colors, brick and window colors have been selected. Officials described an earlier delivery issue with the brick supplier that has been resolved; work was continuing on footings and foundations. “Everything else has been selected,” the commissioner said, adding that the project team is close to finalizing interior signage and other finishing details.

No formal votes or contract awards were recorded during the report. The capital outlay commissioner announced a scheduled July meeting for that committee and invited the public to attend for further discussion of the projects.

The commission did not provide a timetable for occupancy or budget updates during the floor report; contractors and project managers are continuing with the construction schedule and materials procurement as described.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6/24/25 Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners reported progress on two county capital projects: the animal shelter’s slab is being poured and exterior materials for the county health department building have been chosen; brick supply issues were resolved, and site visits are ongoing.","taxTitle","Coffee County, Tennessee","taxId",70973,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6185277,"Coffee County raises severance tax to 20¢ per ton after new state law allows increase",155,3088000,3243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082664-b3af128ecc11620f70a60142e89f2b90&start=3088&end=3243","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082664-b3af128ecc11620f70a60142e89f2b90/thumbnail_3088000.jpg","/articles/6185277/Coffee-County/Tennessee/Coffee-County-raises-severance-tax-to-20-per-ton-after-new-state-law-allows-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185277-93198278792a364cdc6183ebad0b410d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145914&Signature=bBf0wdg4sp7jpb-gqMrDojgxdY4ljsmxaIPgvvFTaX7XDsuhfZTb7pOrgRSSdZJ5KH5wVl8MvuDBBJtGleimBI27xfOgp9fzNP~4WuMBJ8e4rzE7lN1~j20v56-uA1swN~JlVQLvVE29NF7SG022Mw0ZGRj580Znh8VQ-LEHZL34xgUFuLZbHc6gw7G2kLvx00BpUrNp1NA4XEg0qc5~pezqj6dFJEy64toIu6XUwj4wU5OiZiFsVkNKrXnAIMJSb0ncMhBjjalPDEO1DP~DD9KQhH2TZiTXOKh5SKOKQD6xyFH2SQUFbP6zRr6DoQvzvLqqqihOsJpBnwFhpzF2Mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Coffee County Board of County Commissioners voted June 24 to increase the county severance tax on extracted material to 20¢ per ton, citing new state authorization to raise the rate by 5¢ for a five‑year period.

Commissioners said the change was modest but would provide additional revenue during the county’s budget process. The measure requires a two‑thirds majority to adopt; the commission approved the increase with 16 yes votes.

A commissioner briefed the body that the state legislature, and the governor, recently authorized counties to increase the severance tax by 5¢ per ton for a five‑year period, allowing the local rate to move from 15¢ to 20¢ per ton. “Not a whole lot of money, but every little bit counts as we know, during this budget process,” the commissioner said on the floor.

Formal action: motion by Commissioner DeFord, seconded by Commissioner Hodge; the commission approved the increase to 20¢ per ton with 16 yes votes. The chair observed the change requires a two‑thirds majority and that threshold was met.

No specific revenue estimate tied to the 5¢ increase was presented during the floor discussion; commissioners said the additional funds would help cover county needs in the current budget cycle. Implementation details and effective date were not specified in the recorded remarks.","Following a change in state law, the commission voted unanimously to raise the county’s severance tax from 15¢ to 20¢ per ton for five years; the measure requires a two‑thirds majority and was approved 16–0.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6185282,"Coffee County sets tax rate with no increase and approves budget including deputy pay raises",394,2739000,3133000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082664-b3af128ecc11620f70a60142e89f2b90&start=2739&end=3133","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082664-b3af128ecc11620f70a60142e89f2b90/thumbnail_2739000.jpg","/articles/6185282/Coffee-County/Tennessee/Coffee-County-sets-tax-rate-with-no-increase-and-approves-budget-including-deputy-pay-raises","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185282-dfb630d8946410e4a0d03b99e19a0e0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145914&Signature=E6I3r4VEv-idAynY8g2qn2~QI5VmU7o~J0A56L-xnDQ9BR~HfJq0gGeyCqtPsrnV0IxIMxe7eBL8uS3~NFDpHAddtfFGzhoJzp7gLZb6bI1FkTiqUuf2JJ5qau9PTdfkdhjMgQsUEnVG9rHnZXbYKNAsY2YXe~kgHus44r6mMow9-0tvw80peR97cqtopw38Vg-a8fp0tSF6ohBb--NuZ5xd92LGrryrStxHFYOKxHUIpy7DggMCholEyZ-Se6TO4IAt0V7PM8PaWS7VKpTsIvFKn17EkREag08FSyEXzXLFImarE93lSLcFrV~RVzk1iEVQOTc~j9GTMp~vvKlJLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Coffee County Board of County Commissioners voted June 24 to set the county’s property tax rate without an increase and approved the fiscal 2025–26 budget that includes pay increases for certified deputies and a 5% raise for other county employees.

The decisions affect county operations and employee pay across Coffee County. Commissioners voted 16–0 to set the tax levy without a property-tax increase; the budget appropriation resolution later passed 10–6.

Commissioner Stubblefield moved the appropriation resolution; finance staff member Mary Anna presented a budget snapshot for the general fund. Mary Anna said the estimated general‑fund balance as of June 30, 2025, was $11,363,058.20, with total general‑fund appropriations in the resolution of $31,117,002.88. That projection left a fund-balance deficit of $1,500,428 and an estimated fund balance for June 30, 2026, of $9,862,006.30.

Mary Anna told the commission the package as presented includes the certified deputy increase and a 5% raise for other county employees. The chair and commissioners also described ongoing budget adjustments; the chair said recent projections reduced an earlier larger deficit and that remaining adjustments before the fiscal year-end could further narrow the deficit.

A member of the public, Deputy Sheriff Anthony Harden, spoke during the public comment period and urged commissioners to approve a raise for certified deputies. “This raise being proposed today for the certified deputies is not just about numbers on a paycheck. It is quite literally life changing for all of us,” Harden said. He described deputies working two full‑time jobs to make ends meet and urged commissioners to “vote on this like our families depend on it.” Harden identified himself as a deputy sheriff and said retention problems were costly to the department.

On the floor, some commissioners said they supported employee pay increases but opposed parts of the appropriations package. Commissioner Miller said he favored pay increases but had concerns with “things in the budget” and anticipated a “no” vote on the appropriation resolution. Commissioner Stubblefield and others said the budget secured the deputy increase and the employee raises.

Formal actions recorded at the meeting include a motion to set the tax levy (resolution 2025‑15) with no property-tax increase, passed 16–0; and approval of the budget appropriation resolution (2025‑16) with a recorded vote of 10 yes and 6 no. Several budget amendments and fund-specific adjustments were later presented and approved separately by the commission.

No additional conditions or legal contingencies were noted on the deputy pay increase beyond inclusion in the adopted appropriation resolution. The commission’s budget decisions will take effect at the start of the next fiscal year unless otherwise specified in county procedure.","The Coffee County commission set the property tax rate for 2025–26 with no rate increase and approved a budget that includes a certified deputy pay increase and a 5% across‑the‑board raise for other county employees; the appropriations resolution passed 10–6.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6185286,"Coffee County commissioners appoint Todd Malone to fill District 9 vacancy amid objections about timing",832,1445000,2277000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082664-b3af128ecc11620f70a60142e89f2b90&start=1445&end=2277","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082664-b3af128ecc11620f70a60142e89f2b90/thumbnail_1445000.jpg","/articles/6185286/Coffee-County/Tennessee/Coffee-County-commissioners-appoint-Todd-Malone-to-fill-District-9-vacancy-amid-objections-about-timing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6185286-6b497d5ac70ac9e0fbac629b640beb27/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145914&Signature=LXuhtK1YjX~V3MeHKuw~pWmcUrKy7z~w-6ISk9d9fyNsRyytta-U1NiJLQn4xfSuhSYJ0PZxMoMuJoAIZL1E3kCe5iBOM2P3V69WzsZyQDzQdv0~ZAZEjiaSO82pf~TjVZpdC8jVE7nB20YV4nHmsk8~3TqaMv0C3esFUh2KuS3RDvEUV3IQ0PQw3D7eDz1yzOahUAS4lKrP51TAksHcuEklP3iZOZSBwkywE76y21x8JfGWOULv5q8nxRx87pw~4J5Kw17VJG8WsbJHfe2037rpz8YInvQrY1Uo1z4dLYimzZRDVJtro8GcppnrQSizXcd-VfwGdS3UlSdQc4vTig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Coffee County Board of County Commissioners accepted a letter of resignation from District 9 Commissioner Lynn Seaborn and, during the June 24 meeting in Tullahoma, appointed Todd Malone to fill the seat.

The appointment matters because it fills a legislative vacancy that, under state law, remains until a successor is elected at the next general election. The selection method and the speed of the appointment drew objections from several commissioners who said they lacked time to review candidates’ materials.

Commissioners voted 16–0 to accept Seaborn’s resignation, read aloud by the chair. Following that action, the floor was opened for nominations to fill the District 9 vacancy. Commissioner Smith nominated Todd Malone. After multiple commissioners raised procedural objections about the short notice provided to commissioners and the public, Commissioner Stubblefield moved to close nominations. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hirschman and carried; the chair then announced the vacancy filled by unanimous consent and asked County Clerk Theresa McFadden to administer the oath.

Todd Malone spoke briefly from the lectern before the vote. He identified himself as a retired law enforcement officer with nearly 40 years in the field and said he currently holds employment with the Department of Defense and expects that employment to end in September. “Is it good for the citizens of Coffee County?” Malone said, describing his decision-making philosophy. “I need to see data and evidence of supporting decisions that we make.”

Several commissioners objected to proceeding without more time. Commissioner Tim Brown said commissioners had “less than five minutes” with Malone’s packet and asked to postpone consideration, calling the process “not fair.” The county attorney and the parliamentary adviser advised that the meeting had followed the public-notice procedure required by state law and that a motion to remove or postpone the item would have been required but was not made.

The chair read the applicable statutory language and said the county’s public notice—published in the Tullahoma News—was compliant with Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5 (TCA 5-5-101), which sets notice and residency requirements for filling county office vacancies. The chair summarized those requirements on the record: nominees must be qualified voters of the Ninth District, reside within the district, and have been Coffee County residents for at least one year prior to the commission’s vote.

After the oath, Malone was seated as the District 9 commissioner. County Clerk Theresa McFadden administered the oath of office at the meeting.

The record shows the following formal actions: acceptance of Seaborn’s resignation (16 yes) and appointment of Todd Malone by unanimous consent; no roll-call vote was recorded on the appointment. Commissioners who publicly objected to the timing asked that future appointments allow more time for review.

No other formal directions or referrals were recorded on the appointment beyond completing the swearing-in process.

Copies of the public notice and the language read at the meeting were placed into the record by the chair.","The Coffee County Board of County Commissioners accepted Lynn Seaborn’s resignation and unanimously appointed Todd Malone to the District 9 seat June 24 after on-the-spot nominations; some commissioners objected that nominees had too little time to be vetted.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Animal shelter and health department projects advance; contractors pouring slabs and materials selected

Coffee County raises severance tax to 20¢ per ton after new state law allows increase

Coffee County sets tax rate with no increase and approves budget including deputy pay raises

Coffee County commissioners appoint Todd Malone to fill District 9 vacancy amid objections about timing