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Sumner County panel adopts study mission for 1939 courthouse and requests up to $100,000 for evaluations
Summary
The Old Courthouse Ad‑Hoc Committee voted to study the 1939 Sumner County Courthouse, adopt a mission to assess building conditions and community uses, and request up to $100,000 from the General Operations Committee to fund professional assessments and community engagement.
The Old Courthouse Ad‑Hoc Committee of Sumner County adopted a formal mission and approved a request for up to $100,000 to begin professional assessments and public engagement for the county's 1939 courthouse.
Chairman Clay Haynes called the meeting to order at about 5:30 p.m. on April 23. Commissioner J. Wes Wynne gave the invocation. The committee voted to adopt a mission to "conduct a comprehensive study of the 1939 Sumner County Courthouse," which includes assessing existing building conditions, engaging the community on desired uses and priorities, and producing a report with multiple viable options and recommendations for the General Operations Committee. The mission statement was adopted after a motion by Commissioner Wynne and seconded by Commissioner David Klein; the motion passed unanimously.
The committee also set its regular meeting cadence to the fourth Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m.; that schedule was approved by motion and unanimous vote.
Discussion focused on the scope of work and the budget needed for early evaluations. Mayor John Isbell said the project's initial emphasis would likely be interior work and possibly creating office space. Members agreed to engage a neutral, third‑party facilitator to lead community engagement and to assemble an RFQ review panel to evaluate consultant responses; the panel is to be led by the chairman with county staff support, contingent on confirmation from the County Attorney that outside professionals may serve on the panel.
Amy Nixon, identified in the minutes as a citizen, said an initial stakeholder survey she circulated had generated roughly 300 responses. The committee discussed searching for original building plans; Mayor Isbell and Mayor Paige Brown said they would check local records and the State Archives if necessary.
On funding, Commissioner Wynne moved to request $89,485 from the General Operations Committee to begin evaluations, a motion seconded by Mayor Brown. Commissioner Wynne then moved to amend the request to allow up to $100,000; Commissioner Klein seconded the amendment. The amended funding request—to seek up to $100,000—passed unanimously. The minutes record these outcomes but do not list an individual yea/nay tally for each vote.
Committee members agreed there would be no demolition, wall removal or carpet removal until a full professional assessment is complete and a plan is adopted. With no further business, the committee adjourned at approximately 6:15 p.m.
Votes at a glance: approval of the meeting agenda (motion: David Klein; second: J. Wes Wynne) — passed unanimously; approval of Feb. 26, 2026 minutes (motion: J. Wes Wynne; second: David Klein) — passed with Mayor Isbell abstaining; adoption of mission statement (motion: J. Wes Wynne; second: David Klein) — passed unanimously; request for evaluations funding amended to up to $100,000 (motion: J. Wes Wynne; amendment second: David Klein) — passed unanimously; adjournment (motion: J. Wes Wynne; second: John Isbell) — passed unanimously.
The committee directed staff to proceed with preparing an RFQ and to return with recommended timelines and a draft community engagement plan; the RFQ review process and outside‑professional participation remain subject to County Attorney confirmation.
