Focus on Rutherford County with Mayor Joe Carr:
- Traffic and infrastructure issues brought about by the population explosion (2025 UT estimates are 388, 909).
- A proposed bill allowing schools to deny enrollment to undocumented students has sparked concerns among residents, particularly regarding its impact on education and inclusivity.
- Contracted county school bus drivers are negotiating for a significant pay raise due to rising costs, including fuel and liability insurance.
- New warehouse projects have raised concerns about traffic congestion, safety measures, and environmental impact.
- $1.5-millionfrom the Christy-Houston Foundation will renovate the RECOVERY COURT on University at Highland. People who would have been incarcerated, and suffering from alcohol, drugs or a veterans with PTSD and other issues, are not getting help with their problems.
- FORENSIC CENTER for Rutherford County has been approved by the Rutherford County Commission witha 17 FOR - 4 AGAINST vote. Ground breaking on the 16,000 square foot structure on Weakley Lane in Smyrna (old Sewart Air Force Base land) will take place July 1, 2025. It will be finished in approximately 18-months (Jan., 2027). It will be located on an 18-acre parcel of land that will also include and EMS station.
- Reduction of hours for the RUTHERFORD COUNTY MUSEUM in the 100+ year old Historic Courthouse Building. Mayor Carr said that every time there is a large public event on the square (Marketplace, Friday Night Live, Santa's arrival, etc.), the bathroom facilities have major issues. They needed to reduce museum hours because of the increased foot traffic inside the courthouse, along with need less useage because of the value of unsecure proerty in the museum, the unsesure mayor's and property assessor's offices in the courthouse as well. Instead of being open daily, the museum in the courthouse is now open only on weekdays (M-F).
