Winchester Mayor Sean Crabtree held the 2nd Annual State of the City Address on August 28th at the Franklin County High School auditorium. The event was open to the public, giving the community an opportunity to hear directly from the city’s leadership in each department and address any questions or concerns they may have.
Some of those in attendance included State Representative Iris Rudder, Franklin County Mayor Chris Guess, department heads from each city department, and members of the Winchester City Council.
Beginning the address, Mayor Crabtree and City Administrator Beth Rhoton presented past council member William Womack with a special plaque and a key to the city.
“Mr. Womack and I have worked together for 23 of his 24 years.”, stated Rhoton. “He has been the greatest advocate for entrepreneurship in Winchester and shopping local. He has been a huge catalyst for the transformation that we have tried to manage the last few years.”
In a moment of recognition and gratitude, Mayor Crabtree and the city administrator presented former councilmember Womack with a key to the city. The gesture marked a meaningful occasion, honoring Womack’s dedicated service and leaving him with a lasting symbol of appreciation from the community he helped shape.
Turning attention to the city’s financial landscape, Mayor Sean Crabtree provided an overview of Winchester’s current budget allocations. Using a pie chart to illustrate expenditures, he noted that law enforcement receives the largest portion at 22%. Public Works follows with 20%, while Parks and Recreation accounts for 17%. The Fire Department is allocated 15%, and General Government receives 12%. Smaller portions of the budget include Buildings and Codes at 4%, grant matches at 5%, and transfers out at 6%. The breakdown offered residents a transparent look at how city resources are distributed to support essential services and community priorities.
The mayor mentioned the recent census that was held throughout the city and the efforts it took to see it through to completion.
“We thought it would take a few months. It took a lot longer, but it has paid off.”, stated Crabtree. “That’s an additional million dollars-worth of revenue that’s coming into the city just because of that.”
Addressing the city’s revenue sources, Mayor Crabtree noted that property taxes currently account for roughly 30% of Winchester’s income, while the local option sales tax contributes approximately 31%. He expressed optimism about increasing the sales tax share to 40%, stating his belief that the city has the economic potential to reach that goal. The shift, he explained, would help ease the reliance on property taxes and further strengthen Winchester’s financial foundation.
In downtown updates, the Design Review Committee for the nine-block area is expected to be looking at new construction and just completed the new design guidelines, giving them a modernized update from 2009.
City Engineer Cory Hall has also been working on permit development, specifically for mitigating drainage concerns.
“Cory (Hall) has developed permits for driveway culverts, road cuts, land grading. These are major issues.”, said Crabtree. “He’s working on subdivision regulations and that will be a massive undertaking.”
Crabtree stated that the last time the subdivision regulations had been updated was 1964.
In Public Works, last year the city spent $2 million in paving. This year, phase one of the Bypass Road construction is well underway and the city is currently waiting on a notice to start construction for phase two.
“I know there is a lot of concern and people are wondering why we waited to start right before school and why we just did the middle part of the road.”, stated Crabtree. “Not only was it the last minute, that’s been about ten years in the waiting. That was a state grant and because of that, it’s two phases. Phase one was the middle of the Bypass and phase two will be the other ends.”
In police updates, Winchester law enforcement has been increasing patrols and their presence throughout the city. Currently, there are four officers on the day shift, and five officers during the night shift. Detectives have also been keeping themselves versed in the latest scams happening online and off, and offer to come and speak to organizations to further inform the public.
Parks and Recreations updates included campground bathroom designs, new tennis/pickle ball courts, and the installation of new field lighting. The campground bathrooms are currently in the construction phase and the new courts and field lighting have been completed. Mayor Crabtree also gave an update on the restrooms that will be going in next to the boat dock.
“There’s going to be two new restrooms that are going to be built.”, stated Crabtree. “If you’re facing the water where the current ramp is at the city park, to the left, there are going to be two new freshly built bathrooms where it’s basically just woods right now.”
The bathrooms are being built in coordination to the Bill Dance Signature Series Lakes. Attending the event to better explain the status of the Bill Dance Signature Series was Michael Miller, who works with the engineering department with TWRA.
“I am overseeing the statewide Bill Dance Project which is a combination of 18 lakes that are broken out based on the governor’s initiative with docks, ramps, and habitat.”, stated Miller. “We have it broken down into two different areas which is small lakes and large lakes. We partner with tourism and parks.”
“So, 18 lakes and the governor’s initiative. That means that this project isn’t costing you guys anything as a city. That’s what’s really, really cool.”
Using detailed blueprints and architectural renderings, Miller outlined the future vision for the lake, highlighting a few key features that included newly designed docks. One dock, measuring 60 feet in width and stretching 300 feet in length, has been engineered for year-round accessibility, offering functionality 365 days a year. Miller emphasized that the structure is intended to be zero to low maintenance under normal conditions, with durability built into its design, ensuring minimal upkeep unless impacted by unforeseen incidents.
Miller also stated that Tims Ford Lake is the last lake on the project list and the dates of construction and completion will be released at a later date. The completion of the project is not only expected to bring in more revenue for the city, but will also add a fresh look to the lake using docks and ramps that are safer, more functional, and can be used year around.
In retail and restaurant recruitment news, Mayor Crabtree confirmed that Winchester will soon add Arby’s to their list of restaurants. It will be located off the square on Ross Lane.
The city has also been partnering with some grants that will allow them better business support and workforce development. One grant is from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for small business support. It is a $45,000 grant with a $5,000 local match and is a partnership with Retail Strategies online platform. Another grant is the Ready Appalachian Local Grant, which awarded the city $50,000 for professional development with a focus on retail recruitment training.
In arts and tourism initiatives, the city has partnered with a few different situations. There have been 20 local businesses that have been featured in a Tennessee vacation guide, the city has two virtual features on the Tennessee Tourism website, and a highly anticipated partnership with The Caverns long-running featured marketing program that will feature the city in television commercials and at the heavily trafficked Caverns location.
The Winchester City Council has also recently approved the City Hall renovations.
“City Hall has been out of ADA compliance for decades.”, stated Crabtree. “This is an opportunity for a couple of things. It’s an opportunity to bring it in to compliance. The new citizen facing part of City Hall will be on the ground level. So, no steps. You can walk right into it.”
“It will also do a couple more things. The basement in the City Hall is pretty rough, and the upstairs is pretty unusable. That’s going to allow all three floors to be utilized, and the other pieces could possibly be used for retail or something else. That will be a long project, but the council approved it.”
Mayor Crabtree described the upcoming City Hall project as a major undertaking that will require significant time and planning. The initiative is slated to begin in January 2026, marking a pivotal step in the city’s long-term infrastructure development.
As Winchester continues to evolve, city leadership remains focused on strategic planning, infrastructure investment, and community engagement. From major capital projects like the upcoming City Hall renovation to innovative workforce development initiatives and recreational improvements, the city is experiencing steady, meaningful growth. Mayor Crabtree and his administration have underscored their commitment to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and long-term vision, ensuring that Winchester not only meets the needs of today but is well-positioned for the opportunities of tomorrow. With collaboration across departments and strong public support, the city is building a future rooted in progress, resilience, and shared purpose.
