Hickman County TN

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

County Commissioners · Meeting · Sep 23, 2024

Mon, Sep 23, 2024

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’s substantive action centered on a unanimous resolution backing TDEC’s denial of the Water Authority of Dickson County discharge permit application, with discussion focused on whether the mayor’s authority under the resolution was limited to transmitting the county’s position or could extend to legal action. Members clarified that the resolution only authorizes communication of the passed resolution, and that no legal spending could occur without further approval. The body also approved multiple budget amendments, including sheriff-related grant/accounting items, $30,000 for Mill Creek preparation work, $5,000 from opioid settlement funds for travel and training, and $10,000 from hotel tax proceeds for the Banana Pudding Festival.

Other notable threads included election of commission officers, continuation of existing committee assignments, approval of three notaries, an update on the county’s land use planning process and upcoming stakeholder/public meetings, EMA vehicle surplus for an October auction, the August financial report, and an opioid board update reporting 12 applications, 10 recommended awards, $455,000 available locally, and $1.1 million in requests versus available funds. The mayor also circulated a draft job description for an economic development director/coordinator role for future feedback.

Elections, Appointments, and Confirmations 12:31

12:31 Election of vice chair

  • 12:42 Commissioner Claude Callicott was nominated for vice chair.
  • 13:03 A motion was made to close nominations and elect by acclamation; approved by voice vote with no other nominations offered.

13:25 Election of parliamentarian

  • 13:25 Commissioner Ron Mayberry was nominated for parliamentarian.
  • 13:40 With no additional nominations, members moved to elect by acclamation; approved by voice vote.

17:25 Committee assignments / nominating committee

  • 18:05 The nominating committee brought one recommendation: keep all committee structures and memberships unchanged.
  • 18:21 Motion from committee required no second beyond committee action, though a second was voiced from the floor; approved by voice vote.

18:46 Notaries

  • 18:53 Three notary applications were presented: Jennifer Ferguson, William N. (surname unclear in transcript), and Cynthia Rogers.
  • 19:02 Motion to approve all three notaries.
  • 19:11 Roll-call vote passed 11 yes, 3 absent; notaries approved.

Department / Official Reports 19:57

County Mayor 19:57

  • 20:05 The mayor reported filing an application with TDEC about getting Mill Creek fixed roughly a week and a half earlier and said he was awaiting a response.
  • 20:21 The mayor distributed a job description for an economic development coordinator/director role, asking commissioners to review it and provide feedback later rather than acting that night.
  • 20:37 The stated purpose was to let commissioners study the proposed duties and raise questions before any future decision.

Committee Reports 21:04

Planning Commission 21:04

  • 21:13 The planning report said routine business was handled earlier in the month, but the main issue was a stakeholder meeting scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Thursday as part of the county land use plan process.
  • 21:33 The stakeholder group was described as roughly 13 or 14 people, including utilities, elected and appointed officials, and some planning commission representation.
  • 21:48 The meeting’s purpose is to lay out upcoming public meetings and provide an overview of the land use planning effort over the next several months.
  • 22:33 Commissioners emphasized the land use plan is not solely a planning commission matter because the county commission will ultimately have to approve it.
  • 23:21 In response to questions about governance, it was clarified that stakeholders are not final decision-makers; they provide technical expertise and infrastructure input, especially around utility availability and growth areas.
  • 23:51 Utility and infrastructure participation was framed as necessary to speed up and strengthen planning, including representation tied to Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative and other systems.
  • 25:11 Members described stakeholders as contributors with strategic and technical input, while final approval remains with the planning commission first and then the full commission.
  • 25:59 Public engagement was described as broader than formal hearings, with three or four public meetings planned across the county plus online participation options.
  • 26:46 A commissioner stressed that these public sessions would not be traditional podium-style hearings but more like a “trade show” format with table conversations and one-on-one dialogue.
  • 28:18 The engineering/planning consultant Gresham Smith was identified as the outside firm guiding the process and designing public input methods.
  • 29:48 Commissioners referenced problems from the prior planning cycle, arguing that broader attendance and firsthand understanding now would help members answer constituent questions accurately later.

Solid Waste Committee 30:52

  • 30:52 Solid Waste minutes were included in the packet; no substantive floor discussion followed.

Health, Safety, and Properties Committee 31:09

  • 31:18 Committee minutes were in the packet.
  • 31:32 An off-agenda operational item was raised after discussion with Pete Tibbs: EMA wanted to surplus vehicles into the sheriff’s upcoming live auction on October 5.
  • 31:41 The reason given was that some EMA vehicles no longer fit operational needs: two had high mileage and another was not the right size for the intended work, though the floor discussion settled on surplusing two vehicles that night.
  • 33:00 It was clarified the goal was not simply fleet reduction; EMA wants eventually to replace multiple less-suitable vehicles with one 3/4-ton four-wheel-drive truck better suited to the job.
  • 33:41 Motion to surplus two EMA vehicles for auction.
  • 34:07 Roll-call vote passed 12 yes, 2 absent.

Finance Committee 34:35

  • 34:43 The committee brought forward the August 2024 financial summary for approval.
  • 34:53 Motion to approve the August financial report.
  • 35:00 Roll-call vote passed 12 yes, 2 absent.

Budget Committee 35:34

  • 35:42 Five budget amendments were reported, with the first two taken together because both related to the sheriff.

Sheriff grant/account reclassification and supplements 35:42

  • 35:42 Budget Amendment 2512 reclassified sheriff grant funds through the proper accounts; Budget Amendment 2513 provided sheriff supplements.
  • 35:51 The amounts were stated as $33,824 and $22,400.
  • 36:06 Motion to approve Amendments 2512–2513 together.
  • 36:20 Roll-call vote passed 12 yes, 2 absent.

Mill Creek preparation 36:45

  • 36:45 Budget Amendment 2514 appropriated $30,000 for preparation work related to Mill Creek, tied to the issue the mayor had referenced earlier.
  • 36:54 Motion to approve Amendment 2514.
  • 37:03 Roll-call vote passed 12 yes, 2 absent.

Opioid settlement travel/training 37:36

  • 37:36 Budget Amendment 2515 used $5,000 from opioid settlement funds for travel, in-service, and training-related expenses.
  • 37:43 Motion to approve Amendment 2515.
  • 37:59 Roll-call vote passed 12 yes, 2 absent.

Banana Pudding Festival allocation 38:25

  • 38:25 Budget Amendment 2516 appropriated $10,000 for the Banana Pudding Festival, funded from hotel tax receipts.
  • 38:33 Motion to approve Amendment 2516.
  • 38:46 During discussion, one commissioner disclosed a conflict because his son was doing videography work for the festival organization, but said he would still vote in what he believed was the county’s best interest.
  • 38:46 Roll-call vote passed 12 yes, 2 absent.

Board of Zoning Appeals 39:49

  • 39:57 No applicant was before the board, so no meeting was held.

Opioid Board update 40:16

  • 40:24 The board reported meeting twice that month, on the 10th and after recess on the 17th, to hear presentations and score applications.
  • 40:32 The application period was closed with 12 applicants received.
  • 40:40 The board voted to fund 10 applicants.
  • 40:48 The current available balance was reported as $455,000.
  • 40:56 Three steps remained: finalize recommended allocations at the next opioid board meeting, send those recommendations to budget committee the following week, and bring them to the full commission in October for final approval.
  • 41:23 If approved on that schedule, checks could be issued by mid-November so recipient organizations could have funds before the holidays and begin work at the start of the year.
  • 41:58 Members cautioned that not every organization would receive the full amount requested because total requests were about $1.1 million against only about $450,000–$455,000 available locally.
  • 42:27 Commissioners were also told the state’s next opioid funding round would open October 14–28, with $20 million available, so unsuccessful or partially funded local applicants could pursue state funds.

Committee minutes adopted 43:03

  • 43:03 Motion to incorporate committee minutes into the commission minutes; approved by voice vote.

Announcements 43:19

  • 43:19 The October meeting schedule was adjusted because October 14 is a holiday; meetings normally held on the second Monday would instead occur on the second Tuesday.
  • 43:37 A commissioner asked about the posted time for the October 15 budget meeting.
  • 44:13 It was acknowledged the published schedule had a typo; the 5:30 listing needed correction.
  • 44:20 Clarification was given that the third-day meeting time should be 5:00.

New Business / Agenda Items 44:49

Resolution 2422: support for TDEC permit denial 44:49

  • 44:49 The commission took up Resolution 2422 concerning the Water Authority of Dickson County’s application for an NPDES permit with TDEC.
  • 45:14 Supporters said the resolution backed TDEC’s objective, fact-based decision to deny the permit under anti-degradation standards.
  • 45:28 The argument offered in favor was that the applicant had the burden to show alternatives were impractical and had failed to do so.
  • 45:43 Supporters also argued TDEC had determined regional economic development could be met through a less degrading and more sustainable long-term alternative.
  • 46:18 A commissioner asked why the resolution was being brought now, about nine months after the December 21, 2023 denial, noting the vote appeared certain to pass.
  • 46:44 The answer given was that there was an active appeal by the water authority, so the purpose now was to formally support TDEC’s original decision during that process.
  • 47:00 Questions raised during public comment were revisited about Section 2 of the resolution and whether it could be read to let the mayor take broader or legal action.
  • 47:15–48:12 Members and counsel-level discussion on the floor clarified that Section 2 only allowed the mayor to transmit the adopted resolution to relevant parties, such as TDEC or the water authority, and not to initiate legal action.
  • 48:29 An additional safeguard was stated plainly: there was no money budgeted for legal action, and no such action could proceed without two votes of the commission.
  • 48:39 Motion/vote on Resolution 2422.
  • 48:47 Roll-call vote passed 12 yes, 2 absent.
  • 49:10 After the vote, the chair further explained that when the commission passes support resolutions, the mayor typically sends copies to the relevant governmental or administrative decision-makers; in this case that could include TDEC and the administrative law judge involved in the matter.
  • 49:41 The “open-ended” wording was defended only as allowing the mayor to communicate the existence and content of the passed resolution to the proper recipients, nothing beyond that.

Unfinished Business / Upcoming Matters 50:15

  • 50:15 A commissioner asked for clarification on when the county would address lots in Hidden Valley Lakes, because some members of the public expected that matter to be on this meeting’s agenda.
  • 50:46 The response was that broader discussion of the Hidden Valley Lakes lots would occur at the October Properties Committee meeting.
  • 50:53 Commissioners were told the mayor and county attorney had additional information to present there, and whatever recommendation emerged from committee would then come to the full commission in October.

Adjournment 51:17

  • 51:17 A motion to adjourn was made and the meeting concluded shortly after.

Key figures and statistics

Figure Type Context / topic Timestamp
11 yes, 3 absent Vote tally Approval of three notaries 19:11
5:00 p.m. Time Stakeholder meeting for land use plan 21:13
13 or 14 Headcount Approximate size of land use plan stakeholder group 21:33
3 or 4 Count Number of stakeholder meetings / public meetings referenced in planning discussion 22:03
25 years Time period Long-range vision horizon mentioned for county planning 28:12
October 5 Date Sheriff’s live auction targeted for EMA surplus vehicles 31:41
2 Vehicle count EMA vehicles approved for surplus 33:41
1 Vehicle count Proposed replacement concept: one truck replacing several unsuitable vehicles 33:00
3/4-ton Vehicle specification Desired replacement truck size for EMA 33:07
4-wheel-drive Vehicle specification Desired replacement truck drivetrain for EMA 33:07
12 yes, 2 absent Vote tally EMA vehicle surplus approval 34:07
August 2024 Reporting period Financial summary approved by commission 34:43
12 yes, 2 absent Vote tally August financial report approval 35:00
2512 Amendment number Sheriff grant reclassification budget amendment 35:42
2513 Amendment number Sheriff supplements budget amendment 35:42
$33,824 Dollar amount Sheriff grant/account reclassification item 35:51
$22,400 Dollar amount Sheriff supplements item 35:51
12 yes, 2 absent Vote tally Approval of Amendments 2512–2513 36:20
2514 Amendment number Mill Creek preparation budget amendment 36:45
$30,000 Expense Mill Creek preparation work 36:45
12 yes, 2 absent Vote tally Approval of Amendment 2514 37:03
2515 Amendment number Opioid settlement travel/training budget amendment 37:36
$5,000 Expense Opioid settlement funds for travel/in-service/training 37:36
12 yes, 2 absent Vote tally Approval of Amendment 2515 37:59
2516 Amendment number Banana Pudding Festival budget amendment 38:25
$10,000 Expense Banana Pudding Festival allocation from hotel tax 38:25
12 yes, 2 absent Vote tally Approval of Amendment 2516 38:46
10th Date First opioid board meeting that month 40:24
17th Date Recessed opioid board meeting date 40:24
12 Application count Opioid applications received 40:32
10 Award count Opioid applicants the board voted to fund 40:40
$455,000 Fund balance Local opioid board balance available for awards 40:48
mid-November Time target Goal to issue opioid award checks 41:23
$1.1 million Requested amount Total opioid funding sought by applicants 41:58
$450,000 Available amount Rounded local opioid dollars available to distribute 42:05
October 14–28 Date range State opioid funding application window 42:27
$20 million Grant pool State opioid round amount 42:44
October 14 Date Holiday causing committee schedule shift 43:19
October 15 Date Budget meeting date discussed 43:37
5:30 Time Incorrectly listed meeting time needing correction 43:46
5:00 Time Corrected meeting time 44:20
2422 Resolution number Resolution supporting TDEC permit denial 44:49
December 21, 2023 Date Original TDEC denial date referenced 46:18
9 months Time period Approximate gap noted between denial and current resolution 46:18
2 Vote count requirement Commission votes said to be needed before any legal spending/action 48:29
12 yes, 2 absent Vote tally Approval of Resolution 2422 48:47

External vendors, brands, and software

Name Type Context / topic Timestamp
TDEC Company State environmental agency involved in Mill Creek application and in the permit-denial resolution 20:05
Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative Company Utility stakeholder participation in land use planning 23:51
Gresham Smith Company Outside planning/engineering firm helping run the land use plan public process 28:18
Water Authority of Dickson County Company Permit applicant named in Resolution 2422 44:49

Personnel changes

| Name | Role / office | Change | Context / topic | Timestamp | |---|---|---|---| | Claude Callicott | Commissioner | Appointed | Elected vice chair by acclamation | 12:42 | | Ron Mayberry | Commissioner | Appointed | Elected parliamentarian by acclamation | 13:25 |

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