John Coffelt, Editor

According to Coffee County Capital Outlay Chairman Terry Hershman, rising cost related to tariffs have increased estimates for a new roof at the Tullahoma Lannom Memorial Library $25,000.

“Just since we started and got through Capital Outlay,” Hershman said during the Nov. 6 Budget and Finance meeting. “The materials, just because of tariffs, have already gone up $25,000.”

“Just us sitting here doing nothing, we’ve lost $25,000,” he said. “I’m so tired of losing taxpayers money because we want to kick a can down the road. It’s gotta stop sometime.”

The library’s shallow roof design with pitches that meet in a center gutter has been prone to leaking for over 20 years now. The project, that incudes additional site drainage components, will build a new structural pitch over the existing one.

The Committee recommended allocating $15,000 to capital projects funds to have St. John Engineering to get the specs needed for that roofing project and roof repairs at the Justice Center. Both projects together will cost an estimated $3 million.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.