MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) – Rutherford County marked the end of an era this week as County Commissioner Pettus Read officially stepped away from his District 8 seat. True to form, his final day wasn’t spent reminiscing—it was spent working.
Read’s first stop was a meeting with County Mayor Joe Carr, both the current and incoming sheriffs, Mayor‑elect Randy Allen, fellow commissioners, and members of the long‑running study committee tasked with planning a new Justice Center. The group has spent two years shaping ideas for the project, and Read said the conversation was both productive and encouraging. As he stepped off the committee, members suggested he remain involved as a citizen representative, offering insight drawn from his years of experience.
His second meeting of the day carried long‑term significance for county employees and residents. Officials made it official: the former Bank of America building on East Main will be completely rebuilt and transformed into Rutherford County’s new Administration Building. Once complete, it will house Election Commission offices, Planning and Engineering, Finance, Codes, and Fire Administration—essentially replacing the aging Goldstein building. The move keeps county operations clustered around the Historic Courthouse and adds much‑needed parking downtown…