Sumner County commissioners press for transfer of $500,000 bequest for Brown House; trustees, Vanguard named in dispute

Residents and county commissioners pressed for action Monday over a $500,000 bequest left to Sumner County to restore the historic Brown House, saying the funds remain in a Vanguard trust account because trustees have not completed paperwork to transfer the money to the county.

Speakers at the General Operations Committee meeting described the Brown House as more than 200 years old and urged the county to use the bequest and any accrued interest to preserve the property. Mike McLeod, who said he lives near the property, said the estate also included “another $8,000,000 for the student technology,” and urged county leaders to move the $500,000 “before the house deteriorates further.” Jim Latimer, who described the house’s history, asked the county to share the results of any structural inspections.

The meeting record shows several speakers — including Rebecca Goddard — told commissioners they believe the mayor and trustees have delayed action. Goddard said, “the mayor is lying. And the mayor should be removed from his position because he is not being honest and forthright with his citizens.” Commissioners, staff and members of the public repeatedly described delays in getting Vanguard to transfer funds and said recent correspondence from Vanguard suggested missing trustee paperwork was the only hold-up.

County staff told the committee they had not received the $500,000 and “have no involvement in the Vanguard account,” meaning the county cannot initiate the transfer. Committee members and speakers discussed trustee actions, naming former and current trustees in committee remarks: the transcript and staff referenced Dell Phillips and Anthony Holt as having signed trust paperwork in the past and said Director Langford and Mayor Isabelle had not completed required steps, although committee members disagreed about whether any trustee had sole authority to move the funds.

Committee members discussed whether money from the related “technology trust” has been spent by the school system. A finance staff member said published school financial reports show $104,791 spent from the technology trust as of October 2024; commissioners said that spending — if confirmed — would indicate trustees had authority to draw on the account and raised questions about whether the $500,000 had been commingled with other trust funds.

The committee also voted to abandon a prior, larger park plan tied to earlier grant work and returned the state preservation grant application funds to the state. Commissioners passed a motion directing staff to “give the money back to the state” for the earlier park plan, citing deadlines and the committee’s decision not to pursue that proposal. The committee approved the motion unanimously.

Committee members asked staff to pursue three next steps: press for daily status updates from the mayor’s office and the trustees on the Vanguard transfer; obtain up-to-date school trust statements and budget reports (commissioners asked staff to request school monthly reports and, if needed, file a records request); and arrange immediate contractor access to the Brown House so inspectors can document the building’s condition and provide cost estimates for renovation or stabilization.

Commissioners and speakers repeatedly emphasized that the bequest’s terms named Sumner County and the county commission as the fiduciary recipient for the $500,000. Committee members said they want that sum plus accrued interest moved to county control so construction or stabilization work can proceed. No new funds were appropriated at the meeting; staff said they would contact Vanguard and other trustees and report back to the committee.

The committee’s discussion continued into related items on grant eligibility and joint ownership with the school board, with staff noting that MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University) had expressed interest in advising on applications to Tennessee’s historic-preservation programs and that any future grant application would likely require the school board’s sign-off because of the property’s joint-ownership status.

The committee left the item in old business and directed staff to pursue the documentation and access needed for immediate evaluation and to press for the transfer of the bequest.