Commission approves memorandum of agreement for Memorial Building renovations with WestCare and state historic preservation officer

The Cocke County Commission approved a memorandum of agreement among Cocke County, the Tennessee State Historic Preservation Officer and WestCare Tennessee Inc. meant to resolve outstanding historic‑preservation review matters for renovations to the Cocke County Memorial Building in Newport.

Commissioners had a brief discussion about the scope of the restoration after the motion to approve and were told the agreement documents an understanding reached between WestCare and the historic preservation officer. Commissioner Jeff Eslinger asked whether the work was a full restoration, and a county representative replied that WestCare had negotiated an agreement with the preservation office and that the county’s role in the matter is to approve the memorandum of agreement acknowledging that resolution.

Why it matters: the agreement clears a procedural hurdle so the renovation can proceed under terms negotiated with the State Historic Preservation Office. The item was presented as the county approving the terms of an agreement among the parties; commissioners approved the MOA by roll call vote.

Details: the motion to approve was moved and seconded and then approved by roll call. A county official indicated WestCare had worked through the preservation issues with the state officer and that the agreement stabilizes the project timeline by resolving the outstanding preservation submission.

Ending: with the MOA approved, WestCare and the historic preservation officer will proceed under the agreed terms and the county’s approval completes the local step recorded in the meeting.