Hendersonville Standard
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County leaders vote to give Comer Barn back to Rogers Group





The 1930’s-era Comer Barn sits on land owned by quarry operators Rogers Group between Hendersonville and Gallatin.

The 1930’s-era Comer Barn sits on land owned by quarry operators Rogers Group between Hendersonville and Gallatin.

Fourteen months after offering the 1930’s-era Comer Barn as the centerpiece for a $3.5 million agricultural/STEM center for Sumner County Schools, county leaders voted on Monday to rescind the offer and deed the barn back to its original owner.

Rogers Group, who operates a quarry on the adjacent land between Hendersonville and Gallatin, deeded the 8,500 square-feet structure and easements to the county In March of 2016.

A minority of commissioners questioned the transaction at the time, arguing that the agreement between then-County Mayor Anthony Holt and Rogers Group would cost tax payers millions of dollars to repair or renovate the dilapidated structure.

In August 2020, a majority of commissioners voted to appropriate $500,000 toward preserving the barn with half the money coming from a state grant and the other half coming from the county’s hospital fund earmarked for economic development.

That money was never spent, according to county Finance Director David Lawing.

In September 2021, both the Sumner County Commission and the Sumner County Board of Education approved resolutions that would allow for the transfer of the barn to the school district. Rogers Group would donate approximately 42 acres to the county. The county would keep the three to four acres that the Comer House, currently the home of the county’s tourism office, sits on, and transfer the remaining property, including the barn, to the school system.

According to Interim Law Director Ben Allen, there has been no movement from Rogers Group to deed the property over to the county since both bodies’ approval.

A new wave of county commissioners, many of who campaigned on being fiscally conservative, took office on Sept. 1. Since then, many of the previous commission’s actions have come under scrutiny, including the Comer Barn agreement.

in a Legislative Committee meeting on Nov. 7., District 16 Commissioner Jeremy Mansfield proposed a resolution that rescinds all previous actions and resolutions of the commission accepting ownership of the barn. It also directs that the grant funding be sent back to the state, and any money that was donated be given back as well.

“There’s no reason this school board needs to be spending $5 to $15 million to renovate the property when we don’t have money to build schools,” said Mansfield.

Mansfield’s resolution passed that committee unanimously. The county’s Budget Committee passed it the same night.

On Monday, several citizens spoke in favor of the resolution, including former District 6 Commissioner Jim Vaughn, who opposed the county acquiring the barn in 2016.

“Tonight you have a unique privilege to do the right thing,” said Vaughn. “This will save taxpayers millions of dollars.”

The resolution passed 20 to 1 with no discussion from commissioners. Baker Ring of Gallatin’s District 8 cast the only no vote.

Interim County Law Director Ben Allen said on Tuesday there are no legal issues with the county deeding the barn and surrounding five acres back to the Rogers Group.

A previous deed says that if the county doesn’t use the barn or that it falls in disrepair, it could revert back to the company, Allen added.

Former Commissioner Deanne DeWitt was a main proponent of saving the barn.

DeWitt said that she and a non-profit she founded in 2020, the Preservation Foundation, will continue to fight for the barn’s future.

“I believe the Comer Barn is important to this community and I know there are others who agree with me,” she said. “My question for the commission is what’s their solution to preserve that green space?’”

“Rogers Group remains committed to seeing the stone barn used in a way that benefits the people of Sumner County,” said Rogers Group Vice President-Area Manager, Bryan Ledford in an email after Monday’s vote.

Sumner County Schools Communications Director Jeremy Johnson could not be reached for comment before this newspaper’s deadline.

Reporter Tena Lee can be reached at tlee@mainstreetmediatn.com.

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