RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr will join Bart Walker on the WGNS Action Line this coming Friday morning (the day after Christmas) offering listeners a chance to catch their breath and take a clear-eyed look at the year that just passed and the New Year ahead. Friday’s live broadcast runs from 8:15 until 9:00AM, and as always, WGNS is opening the phone lines for your questions. If there’s something you want the mayor to address, you can text it now or during the show at 615‑893‑1450.
There’s no shortage of ground to cover. One of the biggest milestones of 2025 came when Rutherford County officially surpassed Hamilton County to become Tennessee’s fourth‑largest county. The mid‑year estimate of 379,939 residents didn’t just mark a population shift—it capped eight straight years as the fastest‑growing county in the state. That kind of growth has pushed Rutherford County into a new role as a statewide economic and population powerhouse, with Murfreesboro continuing to evolve into a major urban center.
Education was another bright spot in 2025. The Tennessee Department of Education’s latest report card showed steady academic gains, with student proficiency rising in both English and math. Those improvements may look like small percentage points on paper, but for one of the state’s largest school districts, they represent thousands of students moving in the right direction.
Another major development came in September with the adoption of the new Comprehensive Plan—PlanRutherford. This long‑range blueprint will guide decisions on land use, infrastructure, transportation, and growth management for the next two decades. County leaders describe it as the most significant planning document since 2011, and its themes reflect the challenges of a booming county: managing rapid growth, preserving rural character, aligning infrastructure with development, and keeping residents engaged in the process.
Financially, the county received an unmodified audit opinion for FY2025, the highest level of assurance available. While the audit did include recommendations for improvements in areas such as finance, property assessment, and sheriff’s office reporting, the overall opinion confirmed that the county’s financial statements were fairly presented. The year also brought tension between the State Comptroller’s Office and the Rutherford County Property Assessor, an issue that continues to draw considerable public attention.
Several major projects moved forward as well. The County Commission approved a much‑needed forensic center that will be located in Smyrna, and construction is already underway. A new solid waste transfer station opened its doors, offering relief to a county that has long wrestled with waste‑management challenges. And Rutherford County continues to work closely with the City of Murfreesboro as both governments remain united in seeking a long‑term solution to the Middle Point Landfill issue.
In 2025, Rutherford County began opening a new class of facilities known as Public Health & Safety Buildings. These are multi‑purpose emergency centers designed to serve several community needs under one roof. They are not just fire stations — they are storm shelters, emergency response hubs, community service centers, and public‑safety outposts.
Mayor Carr will also use Friday’s broadcast to look ahead to 2026, a year that promises to be just as eventful. Poplar Hill Middle School is set to open in August, triggering countywide rezoning to ease overcrowding. A new attendance zone will be created, and rising eighth graders will have the option to remain at their current school. The ripple effects will also touch Stewarts Creek Elementary and Brown’s Chapel Elementary.
The New Year will also mark the first full year of implementing PlanRutherford. Residents can expect to see early steps toward updated zoning, transportation planning, infrastructure alignment, and growth‑management strategies. And with projections showing Rutherford County continuing its march toward a population of half a million by 2040, 2026 is expected to bring more residential development, greater demand for schools and infrastructure, and continued expansion in sectors like healthcare, logistics, technology, and education.
Those are just a few of the topics on the table for this Friday morning’s Action Line (12/26/2025). If there’s an issue you want Mayor Carr to address, you can text your question before or during the broadcast at 615‑893‑1450. WGNS will be ready to take your calls as Rutherford County looks back on a landmark year—and prepares for the next one.
