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Sumner County committee orders additional bids as roughly $500,000 for Brown House restoration remains stalled
Summary
Committee members and local residents urged preservation of the Brown House and directed staff to solicit additional contractor bids for an exploratory inspection, while the county continues efforts to change trust signatures so Vanguard can transfer about $500,000 to the county.
The Sumner County General Operations Committee unanimously directed county staff on Feb. 3 to solicit two additional contractor bids for an exploratory inspection of the Brown House after discussion about delays in getting roughly $500,000 from a trust managed by Vanguard.
The item drew public comment from residents who described the Brown House’s historical ties and urged preservation. Commissioner David Klein summarized a Jan. 27 on-site assessment and recommended an exploratory inspection to determine structural needs. Grant Accountant Dustin Owens said procurement rules would require three bids before work could proceed; Projects and Grants Specialist Scott Shamrock was directed to obtain the additional estimates.
County Mayor John Isbell told the committee he had spent an hour on the phone with Vanguard without resolving the signature change needed to authorize the transfer and planned another call Feb. 4; he invited any commissioner to join that call. Residents who spoke during the public comment period, including Cindy McClard, said the delays have frustrated community members expecting the trust funds to be used for preservation.
Klein’s written on-site report and an attached correspondence from contractor Kris Coker (Century Renovations) were included in committee materials. Klein’s memo and Coker’s note recommend initial work to expose original fabric of the house — removing paneling and floor coverings and gaining access to the crawlspace — so a qualified contractor can assess the logs and subfloor. Coker estimated preliminary removal and disposal work at about $2,015 ($815 to remove interior paneling and carpet and $1,200 to remove and haul the HVAC and lines), figures that committee members said would inform next steps if the county secures an inspector.
Committee members stressed access and safety concerns noted in the county’s site visit (no vehicular ingress/egress, debris on the property and limited parking), and they instructed staff to return with competitive bids and cost estimates. The item was left on the committee’s old‑business list for follow up.
