C offee County Historical Society volunteer Sandra McMullin Bennett asked the Coffee County Capital Outlay Committee for permission for the group to use the courthouse grounds for a celebratory event in the summer.

Bennett explained that the historical Society is in the preliminary stages of planning an event to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The event would be held on Independence Day, which falls on a Saturday this year.

Bennett said that she had been in contact with Coffee County Mayor Dennis Hunt about the event and that he suggested she come before the committee to see if they had any questions about the use of the grounds for the celebration.

“I don’t know if the city of Manchester is doing anything… and I know Tullahoma is doing a lot but that won’t impact what we do as a county,” said Bennett “I just wanted to get your thoughts on it and find out if it would be okay if we use that property to do something up there.”

Preliminary features that Bennett says the Historical society has discusses are Hunt reading a proclamation honoring the anniversary, people dressed up in costumes and someone reading the Declaration of Independence in full.

The courthouse would also be open later in the day to prevent people from having to come to Manchester twice in the same day for that event and then the fireworks later.

Bennett said she had also been in touch with the owners of Stone Fort Music, the recently opened music store on the Square, and that they were interested in performing at the event.

Committee member Tina Reed made a motion to approve the request with a second by Frank Watkins.

During the discussion, Committee member Tim Brown asked about putting benches on the courthouse grounds. Chairman Terry Hirschman said the committee had discussed it but is waiting on designs for the project.

Several people, according to Bennett, had asked her about putting memorial benches there, though she did not know how the county handles something like that. Hirschman said that he did not want to use county funds to do that.

Bennett replied that in the city the individual pays for the bench and then the city installs it so there is consistency in look.

Hirschman said they would have to wait for the designs to discuss that further.

The motion to approve Bennett’s request for the event passed 4-0. She said that she would present further details to the committee once they become available.