Cheatham commissioners approve $426,000 TDOT safety grant; one commissioner votes no over maintenance concerns

Cheatham County commissioners approved a maintenance agreement with the Tennessee Department of Transportation on July 21 that accepts federal/state safety grant funds to install various safety improvements on county roads.

The agreement covers miscellaneous safety improvements (signs, chevrons, markings, guardrail and related devices) on several local routes and is listed in the packet as Project PIN 132450.10, Federal Project HSIP-1100(35), Agreement No. 250179. County Mayor Kerry McCarver presented the agreement and commissioners debated whether the county would be able to maintain any new signs or devices after installation.

Commissioner Randy Noe proposed removing the TDOT item from the mayor's blanket authorization and later cast the only No vote when the body approved the agreement 11'Yes, 1'No. Mr. Noe's objection centered on the ongoing upkeep costs for new signage; County staff (Robert Binkley) responded that the $426,000 grant funds will be used to make areas with high accident reports safer, and that maintenance expectations were part of the agreement discussion.

The agreement was transmitted to the county by TDOT in late June and includes standard maintenance and liability language; the resolution authorizes the mayor to sign. County staff and TDOT will coordinate on implementation steps and on any maintenance responsibilities spelled out in the agreement.

The vote is recorded as Resolution 18; the signed agreement will be filed with county records as part of the meeting packet.