Sumner County asks TVA to reroute proposed transmission line away from historic Gregory family farm

The Sumner County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an amended resolution asking the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to route proposed high-voltage transmission lines outside the Gregory family farm and the Wallace Road community.

The measure, introduced by Commissioner Jeremy Mansfield (identified in the record as 'Mister Mansfield'), replaces earlier language with a version accompanied by a map that, Mansfield said, narrows acceptable routes to existing TVA easements from the 1970s. "There is a TVA line projected to come across our farm, take up about 28 and 9 acres," John Gregory told commissioners during public comment, describing the farm’s educational programs and asking TVA to use the easement it purchased in 1978 rather than take new land.

Why it matters: Landowners and commissioners said the proposed route would cut through working farmland and properties tied to historic land grants; commissioners framed the resolution as a time-sensitive request that could influence TVA deliberations and support local landowners while TVA studies routes. Several commissioners described efforts to protect cultural resources and historic parcels and to encourage TVA to minimize new takings.

What the resolution says and how it changed: Mansfield presented an amended resolution and a map that he said better reflected stakeholders’ concerns and explicitly advocated that TVA "stick to their original easements from the seventies" rather than create new rights-of-way. During debate, one commissioner sought to add a $22,500 donation to a local preservation effort (the Cairo Rosenwald School language), but the law director said donations to nonprofits must be properly noticed; that amendment was not adopted. Mansfield also emphasized that citizen advocate John Rich would meet TVA leadership next week and requested an expedited county signature to forward the resolution.

Reaction and context: Commissioners across the chamber expressed support. Commissioner Klein said keeping major transmission lines on existing public or transportation corridors was appropriate, and Commissioner Janong (Speaker 2) described living near TVA lines and urged protection for farmers. Commissioners clarified that the resolution does not bind TVA but signals the county’s preferences as TVA completes route studies.

Next steps: The resolution will be signed and sent to TVA and to advocates meeting TVA leadership; commissioners said they expect the county mayor to forward the resolution promptly. The record shows the amended resolution passed unanimously; no binding change to TVA’s routing authority was enacted by the county.