Cheatham County approves 40-year 911 lease, signs contracts for inmate health and landfill inflation adjustment

Cheatham County commissioners on June 24 approved a long-term lease for the county's 911 operations and several administrative contracts presented by the County Mayor and County Attorney.

40-year lease for the 911 call center

The commission voted to approve a lease between Cheatham County (lessor) and the Cheatham County Emergency Communications District (tenant) that establishes a 40-year original term beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2064 with automatic five-year renewals unless either party gives notice at least one year prior to a term'end. The motion to approve the lease (moved by Walter Weakley and seconded by B.J. Hudspeth) passed by roll call vote 11 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (Resolution 19).

Key lease provisions recorded in the meeting packet and included in the lease text

- Premises: approximately 2,699+ square feet in the south corner of the basement of the building at 162 John Mayfield Drive (the Health Department building); shared use of parking, conference room, hallway and bathrooms is described. - Term: 40 years (2024'2064) with automatic five-year renewals unless written notice is provided; Tenant must notify Lessor at least 30 days before ceasing to use the premises as a 911 Call Center and the lease terminates if 911 operations cease for more than 30 days without notice (exceptions for repairs/remodeling are included). - Rent: $99 total, prepaid at execution; no additional rent is required for renewal terms. - Repairs and maintenance: Lessor pays for building structural items, roof, HVAC, parking lot and utility services (water, sewer, electricity, natural gas); Tenant pays build-out costs and telecommunications, cable and security costs and is responsible for the wiring and specialized systems required for 911 operations. - Insurance and casualty: Tenant may insure contents; the lease includes standard casualty and surrender provisions.

Other mayoral approvals and legal items

- County Mayor Kerry McCarver was authorized to sign an agreement with QCHC for inmate/detainee health services; the motion passed by roll call vote 11 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (Resolution 17A in the minutes). - Commissioners approved "Peace Contracts" for a list of county offices by roll call vote 11 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (Resolution 17B). - The commission approved the annual inflation adjustment of the county's financial assurance for the Cheatham County Sanitary Landfill (TDEC notice projecting a 3.80% inflation factor for 2024) and an amendment to the county contract of obligation increasing the contract sum to $1,268,706.59 as shown in the packet; the approval passed by roll call vote 11 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent (document referenced in the packet and text). The County Clerk/Mayor acknowledgments appear in the recorded packet.

Legal item: Wheel Tax Private Act

The commission also approved a Wheel Tax Private Act (Resolution 18) authorizing a motor vehicle privilege tax structure described in the resolution; the vote was recorded 11 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent.

Why it matters

Approving a long lease for 911 operations establishes a long-term location and responsibilities for the county's emergency communications. The lease allocates responsibility for building systems and for Tenant-paid specialized 911 infrastructure, and it clarifies parking and shared spaces. The landfill inflation adjustment implements a TDEC-required financial assurance update and raises the county's contractual obligation to the figure shown in the packet; the QCHC agreement affects inmate health services for the county jail.

Sources and attribution

Text summaries and exact lease provisions are extracted from the meeting packet and the lease document printed in the minutes (Resolution 19 and attached lease text). Votes and mover/seconder information are taken from the roll-call entries in the official minutes.