Sumner County commissioners press for transfer of $500,000 bequest, probe trustees' delay

Residents and commissioners at the April 6 Sumner County Board of Commissioners meeting pressed county leaders to secure a $500,000 bequest intended to restore the county’s Brown House, saying the money has been held in a Vanguard trust account for years and trustees have not completed paperwork needed for transfer.

The public comment portion opened with Mike McClure of 102 Keoke Trail and Jim Ladler, who described the Brown House as more than 200 years old and said the donor intended $500,000 “to maintain the house and make a park out of it.” McClure and later speakers said the money has not been transferred to the county and accused unidentified trustees or other parties of delaying action. “It’s been 8 years since Mr. Brown died,” McClure said; “the money is sitting there. It’s got to be transferred over before they can transfer it to the county.”

Commissioners said the county has documentation showing the funds exist inside a broader “technology trust” account, which also holds roughly $8 million that has…