The Cumberland County Commission approved a formal lease agreement for the county election commission that recently moved during its April monthly meeting.
Although the election commission was forced to move into its new, temporary facility at 2876 N. Main St. due to a fire, and the interest of time under emergency circumstances, the county was still required to approve a lease agreement between the county and Frederick Scott Lansford, owner of the building.
As soon as it was determined the election commission would not be able to occupy its fire-damaged building for early voting for the county’s May 5 primary, Jill Davis, administrator of elections began searching for a temporary location and found the former Lansford Kawasaki building was available in a matter of days.
The initial term of the lease is for 12 months beginning April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. If the county needs to continue the lease it will go on a month-to-month basis at that point with a 30-day written prior notice required from either party to end the agreement.
According to the lease agreement the county will pay “a security deposit in the amount of $6,000. At the end of the lease term, provided that the lessee has surrendered the premises in good condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, the lessor shall return the full amount of the security deposit to the lessee within a reasonable time … the [county] shall pay [Lansford], as fixed base rent for the premises … $6,000 per month during the initial term and the renewal term, if applicable …”
The rent is due and payable, in advance, on or before the first day of each calendar month during the term. The county will not be obligated to pay any additional rent, common area maintenance charges, operating expenses, real property taxes, insurance premiums of lessor, or other pass-through costs. The county is also not required to repair or maintain the building if it is normal wear and tear. The county is also required to provide full coverage insurance for its contents and equipment, and full liability insurance in compliance with any statutory limits of liability and sovereign immunity provisions under Tennessee law.
According to the resolution, Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster was authorized to enter into the lease agreement for the temporary relocation and operation of the Cumberland County Election Commission, under the terms and conditions set forth in the lease agreement.
During its April 30 all day budget meeting regarding the 2026-’27 fiscal year budget, Foster told the committee it was unclear how long the election commission would be out of its building and said it could be a year or more.
He also told the committee that insurance funds should cover the cost of rent and moving, as well as replacement of the equipment that was damaged or destroyed in the fire.
The resolution for the agreement was unanimously approved.
Wendell Wilson, 6th District commissioner, did not attend the meeting.