Hickman County TN

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34

County Commissioners · Meeting · May 27, 2025

Tue, May 27, 2025

The elected legislative body for Hickman County. Sets county policy, adopts the budget, and represents residents across the county’s districts.

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Outline

This outline was generated by an LLM from a transcript and may contain errors or inaccuracies. Prefer the original recording when available.

The commission handled a short but consequential agenda centered on appointments, year-end budget amendments, and adoption of the county’s FY 2025–26 spending plan and tax levy. The body unanimously appointed Randy Jenkins to fill the upcoming Assessor of Property vacancy effective July 1, approved four notaries, filled a District 6 Industrial Board vacancy, and passed several budget amendments including sheriff’s medical, overtime, storage, and maintenance needs plus a schools grant amendment for $362,755.34. The commission also approved the annual nonprofit appropriations resolution and the overall county appropriations resolution without dissent.

The only recorded split vote came on the tax levy: commissioners adopted a 9-cent increase, described as about a 3.5% rise, on an 11–1 vote with Ricky Murray opposed. Other notable threads included authority delegated to the Public Safety and Properties Committee to accept or reject online-auction bids on two county properties before the next full commission meeting, approval of new EMS billing and collections vendors, progress updates on the Pinewood highway/EMS station, animal shelter planning, the East Convenience Center build, county tourism signage, and a request for commissioners to engage early in the county’s developing 20-year land use plan.

Call to Order / Agenda / Minutes 1:09

  • 1:09 Meeting called to order; roll showed 12 present and 2 absent, establishing a quorum.
  • 2:46 Agenda approved without recorded opposition.
  • 3:10 Minutes from the April 28 legislative body meeting were approved after a correction.
  • 3:33 Correction to prior minutes: on Resolution 25-16, Matthew Barnhill and Danny Clark had been incorrectly recorded; both had voted yes, and the record was amended before approval.

Elections, Appointments, and Confirmations 4:24

Assessor of Property appointment 4:24

  • 4:24 The chair moved to fill the upcoming Assessor of Property vacancy that will occur July 1; commissioners had previously received candidate information after the prior meeting.
  • 5:00 Randy Jenkins was nominated to fill the vacancy.
  • 5:22 A motion was made to close nominations so the body could proceed to a roll-call vote.
  • 5:39 Appointment of Randy Jenkins to the Assessor of Property vacancy was approved 12–0, with 2 absent, effective when the vacancy occurs on July 1.

Notaries 6:11

  • 6:33 Four notary appointments were presented and approved by roll-call vote 12–0, with 2 absent:
    • Angie Mangrum Frasier
    • Mary Lee Anne Parish
    • Christina Lee Phalen
    • Susan Teresa Rossi

Industrial Board appointment 7:16

  • 7:22 Wesley Whitaker was nominated to fill the District 6 vacancy on the Industrial Board.
  • 7:44 Appointment of Wesley Whitaker to the Industrial Board was approved without opposition by voice vote.

Department / Official Reports

County Mayor 8:36

  • 8:45 On the new highway/EMS station in Pinewood, concrete work was set to begin the next day; fuel tanks were being swapped for a size needed elsewhere, with new pumps to be installed. One tank setup will serve both the sheriff and EMS.
  • 9:10 The county also expected to move a propane tank because it currently sits in the right-of-way.
  • 9:22 On the animal shelter project, soil had been sent for testing and results were still pending.
  • 9:31 The county was working with the highway department on early build work; the shelter partner was coordinating with the building company.
  • 9:46 The town planning committee had approved the site plans the prior Tuesday.
  • 9:53 Final engineered mechanical drawings were still pending for the shelter building, and the site-prep contract was expected to be signed soon.
  • 10:03 At the East Convenience Center, construction was progressing; Saturday traffic had become more difficult because concrete work required using the same gate for entry and exit.
  • 10:31 Solid Waste staff were credited for handling weekend overloads by bringing in a sanitation truck during construction impacts.
  • 10:46 Tourism-grant-funded “Welcome to Hickman County” signs had been installed.
  • 11:01 The county has 8 entrance locations receiving the signs.
  • 11:09 Separately from that grant, county-funded bulldog-themed signs were also installed beneath the welcome signs, including reference to national banana pudding recognition.
  • 11:32 The county’s ThreeStar grant application had been formally submitted to the state.
  • 11:42 The first joint ECD board meeting was held on May 1, and new officers were elected.
  • 12:04 Carla Moore had completed state economic and community development certification training through a University of Tennessee partnership.
  • 12:47 In response to commissioner questions, the mayor said the Pinewood facility was still targeting completion by June 30.
  • 13:15 Remaining work at Pinewood includes concrete work, bay doors, plumbing-related work, interior framing and drywall, 2 windows, and a rear sheriff’s office space.

Committee Reports

Planning Commission 13:51

  • 14:00 Planning Commission minutes were in the packet; routine business was conducted and Christian Smith had presented information for discussion.
  • 14:22 Commissioners were urged to attend upcoming Planning Commission meetings because work is beginning on a formal 20-year land use plan that will eventually come before the full commission for approval.
  • 14:50 The request for commissioner involvement was framed as an opportunity to see the plan develop before final adoption rather than waiting until it arrives as a finished product.

Solid Waste Committee 15:24

  • 15:40 Solid Waste minutes were in the packet; no substantive floor discussion followed beyond offering to answer questions.

Public Safety and Properties Committee 15:58

  • 16:15 The committee had approved changing the ambulance service’s billing and collections arrangements, and a commissioner asked the full legislative body to ratify that action so the approval would be clear in the commission minutes for finance and contract purposes.
  • 17:01 The vendors identified were EMSC for billing and AWA Collections of Dixon for collections.
  • 17:27 The commission approved use of EMSC as the EMS billing contractor and AWA Collections as the collection agency by roll-call vote 12–0, with 2 absent.
  • 18:22 On county property sales, commissioners were reminded that 2 properties are being auctioned online and the auction would end within roughly 24–48 hours, before the next regular full commission meeting.
  • 18:47 Because the body had already voted to offer the properties for sale, the new issue was whether a committee could act on bids promptly rather than delay closings for a month.
  • 19:29 The motion delegated to the Public Safety and Properties Committee the authority to accept or reject the final offers on those 2 properties.
  • 19:55 The delegation motion passed 12–0, with 2 absent.
  • 20:44 It was clarified that, if a bid is accepted, the matter would then go to the county attorney and mayor for execution of the closing documents.

Finance Committee 21:00

  • 21:00 The Finance Committee presented the April 2025 financial summary.
  • 21:07 Approval of the April 2025 financial summary passed by roll-call vote 12–0, with 2 absent.

Budget Committee 21:51

  • 22:00 The Budget Committee brought forward 6 budget amendments, grouped by fund/account and topic.
  • 22:08 Budget Amendment 25-65 in the amount of $218,000 was presented for additional medical expenses.
  • 22:21 Budget Amendment 25-66 in the amount of $10,000 was presented for additional overtime.
  • 22:30 Budget Amendment 25-67 in the amount of $19,500 was presented for sheriff’s department storage fees and maintenance.
  • 22:38 Budget Amendment 25-68 in the amount of $77,73 as spoken in the transcript was described as year-end cleanup; the transcript is unclear on the final digits.
  • 22:47 Amendments 25-65, 25-66, 25-67, and 25-68 were approved together by roll-call vote 12–0, with 2 absent.
  • 23:35 Budget Amendment 25-69 in the amount of $600 for Solid Waste debt collection was presented.
  • 23:45 Amendment 25-69 was approved 12–0, with 2 absent.
  • 24:16 Budget Amendment 25-70 in the amount of $362,755.34 for schools was presented for summer learning camps grant allocations; the sponsor noted it had already been approved by the school board.
  • 24:31 Amendment 25-70 was approved 12–0, with 2 absent.
  • 25:10 The budget chair thanked members and department heads for their work during budget season and noted that improved starting numbers from departments made final budgeting easier.
  • 25:17 The chair also asked committee members to notify committee chairs if they cannot attend meetings, citing near-loss of quorum on some budget nights and unnecessary travel when attendance is uncertain.

Board of Zoning Appeals 26:19

  • 26:27 The Board of Zoning Appeals had met; no substantive floor discussion followed.

Industrial Board / Opioid Settlement Board / Animal Shelter Advisory Board 26:36

  • 26:36 The Industrial Board did not meet.
  • 26:43 No report was given from the Opioid Settlement Board.
  • 26:54 No substantive report was given from the Animal Shelter Advisory Board.

Committee minutes approved 27:02

  • 27:02 The body approved the submitted committee and board minutes for the record.

Announcements 27:22

  • 27:38 Commissioners reviewed the June meeting schedule.
  • 27:56 The Budget Committee will meet on Monday, June 9.
  • 28:04 Commissioners were reminded that a request or petition from Miss Barber is scheduled for review at that meeting and members were encouraged to come prepared.
  • 28:25 The stated meeting time for that budget session was 5:10.

New Business / Agenda Items 28:54

Resolution 25-19: nonprofit charitable appropriations 28:54

  • 28:54 Resolution 25-19 appropriating funds to nonprofit charitable organizations in Hickman County for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026 was presented.
  • 29:17 Sponsors said the nonprofit list had already been discussed and pared down to the final set being recommended.
  • 29:32 Resolution 25-19 passed by roll-call vote 12–0, with 2 absent.

Resolution 25-20: annual county appropriations 29:59

  • 29:59 Resolution 25-20 making appropriations for county funds, departments, institutions, offices, and agencies for FY 2025–26 was presented.
  • 30:16 Sponsors said the budget had been discussed extensively in committee and thanked department heads for presenting workable initial figures that helped the commission reach a final budget.
  • 30:35 A commissioner added praise for department heads, saying this year’s work was among the best seen during his time on the commission.
  • 30:54 Resolution 25-20 passed by roll-call vote 12–0, with 2 absent.

Resolution 25-21: tax levy 31:18

  • 31:18 Resolution 25-21 setting the county tax levy beginning July 1, 2025 was presented.
  • 31:34 The sponsor said the measure increases the tax rate by 9 cents, described as about a 3.5% increase, and urged adoption.
  • 31:55 Resolution 25-21 passed on an 11–1 roll-call vote, with 2 absent.
  • 32:02 Ricky Murray cast the lone no vote; all other members present voted yes.

Adjournment 32:18

  • 32:26 The meeting adjourned on motion and second without recorded opposition.

Key figures and statistics

Figure Type Context / topic Timestamp
12 present Attendance Commissioners present at roll call 1:33
2 absent Attendance Commissioners absent at roll call 1:33
April 28 Date Prior meeting minutes approved with correction 3:10
25-16 Resolution number Prior minutes item corrected to show Barnhill and Clark voted yes 3:33
July 1 Effective date Assessor of Property vacancy date / appointment timing 4:52
12–0 Vote Randy Jenkins appointed Assessor of Property 5:39
4 Count Notaries approved 6:11
12–0 Vote Notaries approved 6:51
District 6 District Industrial Board vacancy filled by Wesley Whitaker 7:22
June 30 Target date Pinewood highway/EMS station completion target 13:03
2 windows Quantity Remaining Pinewood facility work 13:26
8 Count County entrance signs installed under tourism grant 11:01
May 1 Date First joint ECD board meeting 11:42
20-year Planning horizon Land use plan under development 14:28
EMSC Vendor EMS billing contractor approved 17:10
AWA Collections Vendor EMS collection agency approved 17:01
12–0 Vote Approval of EMS billing/collection vendors 17:35
2 Count County properties being auctioned online 18:22
24–48 hours Timeframe Approximate remaining time in property auction 18:29
12–0 Vote Delegation to Public Safety and Properties Committee on bid acceptance/rejection 19:55
April 2025 Reporting period Financial summary approved 21:00
12–0 Vote Approval of April 2025 financial summary 21:21
6 Count Budget amendments reviewed by Budget Committee 22:00
25-65 Amendment number Additional medical expenses 22:08
$218,000 Expense Additional medical expenses 22:08
25-66 Amendment number Additional overtime 22:21
$10,000 Expense Additional overtime 22:21
25-67 Amendment number Sheriff storage fees and maintenance 22:30
$19,500 Expense Sheriff storage fees and maintenance 22:30
25-68 Amendment number Year-end cleanup 22:38
$77,73 Expense Year-end cleanup amount as spoken; transcript unclear 22:38
12–0 Vote Approval of Amendments 25-65 through 25-68 22:47
25-69 Amendment number Solid Waste debt collection 23:35
$600 Expense Solid Waste debt collection 23:35
12–0 Vote Approval of Amendment 25-69 23:45
25-70 Amendment number Schools summer learning camps grant allocation 24:16
$362,755.34 Grant / appropriation Schools summer learning camps 24:16
12–0 Vote Approval of Amendment 25-70 24:46
June 9 Date Budget Committee meeting 27:56
5:10 Time Budget Committee meeting time 28:25
25-19 Resolution number Nonprofit charitable appropriations 28:54
July 1, 2025 Fiscal date Start of nonprofit appropriation year 29:01
June 30, 2026 Fiscal date End of nonprofit appropriation year 29:01
12–0 Vote Adoption of Resolution 25-19 29:32
25-20 Resolution number Annual county appropriations 29:59
July 1, 2025 Fiscal date Start of county budget year 29:59
June 30, 2026 Fiscal date End of county budget year 29:59
12–0 Vote Adoption of Resolution 25-20 30:54
25-21 Resolution number Tax levy 31:18
July 1, 2025 Effective date Beginning date for tax levy 31:26
9 cents Tax rate change Increase in tax levy 31:34
3.5% Percentage Approximate size of tax increase 31:42
11–1 Vote Adoption of Resolution 25-21 31:55
1 Dissent count Lone no vote by Ricky Murray on tax levy 32:02

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