Hickman County TN

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

County Commissioners · Meeting · Jul 22, 2024

Mon, Jul 22, 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 main substantive action was approval of two budget amendments, led by a $950,000 account reclassification tied to the proposed Pinewood EMS station purchase. That vote passed 11–2 after commissioners raised transparency and timing concerns, arguing the county was still inside the 90-day due-diligence period and should provide regular public updates before moving money into the purchase line. The county mayor said no check would be written until all final approvals were complete. The commission also formally backed Pete Tibbs as EMA director after the prior director’s retirement.

Other notable threads included public criticism of the Pinewood station purchase process and calls for more disclosure of appraisals and due diligence; notice that nearly half the county’s tornado sirens are not functioning because of split radio frequencies; a pending environmental study for the Pinewood site due back on July 29; Solid Waste’s reported $170,000 shortfall and pause on the Swan Creek convenience-center closure after public pushback; a $400,000 local grant pool update; approval of higher pay for non-commissioner Planning Commission members through Resolution 24-17; and approval of Resolution 24-18 easing type-one home-occupation review while commissioners discussed adding warning signage or a disclaimer so business-license applicants understand zoning limits.

Call to Order, agenda, and public comments 9:21

  • 9:31 Roll call showed 13 present and 1 absent.
  • 11:19 Agenda approved without recorded controversy.
  • 11:50 Public comments focused heavily on the proposed Pinewood EMS station purchase.
    • 12:15 A speaker with commercial real-estate experience urged caution on the Pinewood building deal, stressing that a 90-day due-diligence period allows the county to walk away and arguing unresolved issues go beyond easements or surveys.
    • 13:16 Concerns raised about the Pinewood structure included ambulance clearance under a low ceiling, the need for a structural engineer to review wall and truss implications for garage-door changes, plumbing embedded in concrete, parking-lot flooding, and uncertainty about original commercial construction standards.
    • 14:05 The same speaker said an alternative offer of nearby lots for $800,000 could allow construction of a new purpose-built facility instead of retrofitting the existing building.
    • 14:49 A citizen asked where the public can review advance information when the county considers property purchases, including appraisals, bids, and due-diligence steps, and said she could not locate that information despite contacting commissioners.
    • 16:11 The citizen also questioned use of federal rescue funds, saying those dollars still matter to taxpayers, and noted a reported 10% property-tax increase while asking whether due diligence is publicly documented before property is bought.
    • 16:59 Another resident objected to the proposed closure of the Swan Creek convenience center, saying he learned of it through the newspaper and community discussion rather than direct county communication.
    • 18:27 He said he had heard the site served about 45 households, believed the actual usage may be higher, and argued closure would force some residents to drive an additional 10 miles weekly over poor roads and a bad intersection.
    • 19:05 He estimated the extra travel could cost households about $200 per year, arguing county savings in that area could simply shift costs onto residents.
    • 19:33 He also criticized the county’s annual $90 Solid Waste bill timing and suggested offering monthly bank-draft or credit-card payments of about $8 per month to reduce payment shock and improve collections.

Elections, appointments, and confirmations 21:01

  • 21:09 The county mayor announced that the prior EMA director had retired and named Pete Tibbs to move into the EMA director role.
  • 21:47 Although procedure was briefly questioned as possibly being the mayor’s appointment, the body proceeded with a motion and approved the appointment by voice vote.
  • 22:23 One notary application, Parker Templeton, was approved without controversy.

Department / Official Reports

Communications from the Mayor 23:18

  • 23:27 The mayor reported that nearly half of the county’s tornado sirens are not working correctly because the system is split across two different frequencies, and one frequency was updated while the other was not.
  • 23:42 B&D Electronics was identified as the outside firm reviewing the siren issue and preparing a proposal on repair costs.
  • 23:59 The intended fix is to place all sirens on the same frequency so that activation from dispatch triggers every siren countywide rather than only some.
  • 24:18 On the Pinewood EMA/EMS station matter, the mayor said he was working from a due-diligence checklist and was awaiting the environmental study, expected back on July 29.
  • 24:45 The mayor announced that staff member Noel was leaving his office; a replacement had been found that day and would be introduced over the next two weeks.
  • 25:40 Asked how the siren repairs would be funded, the mayor said he expected to use part of roughly $1.98 million to $2 million the county is to receive from the state for storm-related matters.
  • 25:58 He said no action was needed that night on the sirens because the county was still waiting on the vendor proposal, after which the matter would go through the relevant development process for reimbursement/check issuance.

Committee Reports 26:24

Planning Commission 26:24

  • 26:33 Planning Commission minutes were in the packet.
  • 26:41 The chair noted that two later agenda resolutions came out of Planning Commission work.

Solid Waste Committee 27:03

  • 27:11 The committee reviewed a projected $170,000 shortfall and discussed revenue increases intended to offset that gap without raising the current $90 fee.
  • 27:20 A resolution on those Solid Waste revenue measures is expected next month.
  • 27:29 The previously discussed Swan Creek convenience-center closure was put on hold because of public feedback.

Health, Safety, and Properties Committee 27:52

  • 27:55 Minutes were in the packet; no major discussion points were highlighted at the commission meeting.

Budget Committee / Finance 28:12

  • 28:20 Budget Amendment 25-01 proposed moving $950,000 from one account to another so funds previously set aside under a different construction category would be properly classified for purchase of the Pinewood EMS station property.
  • 28:59 Opposition to Amendment 25-01 centered on process rather than the idea of an EMS station in Pinewood: one commissioner said Pinewood is a strong central location, but transparency, protocol, and optics matter, and monthly public project updates should be added until closing.
  • 29:25 Specific concerns included wanting clearer reporting on pre-purchase due diligence, whether any structural problems had emerged, and whether planning/zoning review had been completed.
  • 30:36 A second commissioner echoed those objections, said he had changed his mind since the original May 28 vote, and emphasized that the contract was signed on June 13, leaving about 50 days still within the due-diligence period.
  • 31:40 In response, the mayor explained the amendment did not authorize immediate payment; it only reclassified the money into the correct fund line for a building purchase, and he said no check would be written until all final approvals were received.
  • 32:43 Amendment 25-01 passed by roll-call vote 11 yes, 2 no, 1 absent.
  • 33:26 Budget Amendment 25-02 proposed drawing $13,000 from fund balance for a part-time position under County General 101.
  • 33:50 Amendment 25-02 passed by roll-call vote 13 yes, 1 absent.

Health Foundation 34:36

  • 34:45 A report was included in the packet, with a quarterly report expected at the next meeting on August 22.

Agriculture / UT Extension / USDA update 34:53

  • 34:53 Commissioners were notified that UT Extension and USDA were working toward a farmers’ breakfast on September 12 to honor local farmers.

Records Committee 35:19

  • 35:19 No meeting.

Economic / Community Development / Board of Zoning Appeals discussion 35:26

  • 35:34 Ahead of the later home-occupation resolution, a commissioner said he supported the measure but still wanted “checks and balances.”
  • 35:42 He suggested ensuring a type-one home-business applicant is actually the property owner and requiring some waiver/disclaimer so applicants acknowledge operating conditions and cannot later claim they were unaware of restrictions.

Opioid Settlement Board 36:34

  • 36:34 The board reported a full meeting and discussed possibly hiring an independent contractor or project coordinator to manage backend administration if project volume grows.

  • 36:58 The first application had arrived that day; after discussion with the program director, the board chair encouraged the applicant to expand the proposal so it could compete for greater funding, with resubmission expected in a couple of weeks.

  • 37:31 The board reported $400,000 still available in the funding pool and said the application deadline is August 31.

  • 37:39 Posters with a QR code were being distributed around the city and county to direct organizations to the application.

  • 38:03 Because Noel is leaving, the board elected Melanie Kel as its new secretary.

  • 38:28 All committee reports were approved together.

Unfinished Business 39:24

  • 39:24 None.

New Business / Agenda Items 39:34

39:34 Resolution 24-17 — Planning Commission compensation

  • 39:41 Resolution 24-17 increased compensation for Planning Commission members from the longstanding $25 rate.
  • 40:12 The justification was that Planning Commission service is time-consuming, involves multiple meetings, and is expected to become even more demanding with upcoming land-use-plan work and possibly several meetings per month.
  • 39:56 It was clarified that commissioners serving on the Planning Commission do not take this compensation; the change applies to citizen members.
  • 41:13 The resolution passed by roll-call vote 13 yes, 1 absent.

41:37 Resolution 24-18 — Type-one home occupation language

  • 41:45 Resolution 24-18 changed language governing type-one home occupations and was described as reducing the need for many such applicants to appear before the Board of Zoning Appeals.
  • 42:09 Discussion emphasized that issuance of a business license does not itself establish zoning compliance.
  • 42:16 A commissioner suggested posting signage in the County Clerk’s office warning applicants to verify zoning because a previous requirement routing applicants through zoning before license issuance had been removed.
  • 42:49 He said conflicts had arisen when applicants later claimed that obtaining a business license meant their operation was approved, even when zoning staff found them out of compliance.
  • 44:01 Another commissioner asked for a written handout or disclaimer explaining conditions, “dos and don’ts,” and consequences, to be printed when a business-license application is made so applicants cannot later say they were unaware.
  • 44:32 He also raised concern about renters seeking to operate home businesses on property they do not own and argued those ownership checks should remain part of the process.
  • 45:30 The County Clerk said he had no objection to cooperating with signage or a form but stressed he could not make applicants sign something unless authorized by law.
  • 43:37 Supporters said the change was intended to relieve an increasingly lengthy BZA agenda caused in part by internet-based entrepreneurs whose operations fit the lighter home-occupation category.
  • 46:17 Resolution 24-18 passed by roll-call vote 13 yes, 1 absent.

Announcements and adjournment 46:41

  • 46:49 A commissioner publicly commended Noel for her work in the mayor’s office.
  • 47:13 The meeting adjourned.

Key figures and statistics

Figure Type Context / topic Timestamp
13 present Attendance Roll call attendance 9:53
1 absent Attendance Roll call attendance 9:53
90 days Time period Pinewood EMS property due-diligence period discussed in public comment 12:44
4-foot centers Structural dimension Truss spacing concern raised about Pinewood building retrofit 13:25
$800,000 Proposed cost Alternative nearby lots suggested instead of existing Pinewood building 14:05
10% Tax rate change Citizen said property taxes had recently gone up 16:19
45 households Household count Estimated Swan Creek convenience-center users cited in public comment 18:27
5 miles Distance Additional one-way travel to another convenience center if Swan Creek closes 18:49
10 miles Distance Additional weekly round-trip travel if Swan Creek closes 18:57
$200 per year Estimated personal cost Added annual travel cost from convenience-center closure 19:05
$90 Fee Current annual Solid Waste bill criticized in public comment and later committee report 19:33
$8 per month Proposed payment amount Suggested monthly draft option for Solid Waste billing 20:04
July 29 Date Expected return of environmental study for Pinewood station 24:27
$1.98 million to $2 million Funding estimate State storm-related money expected, suggested as siren-repair funding source 25:40
$170,000 Shortfall Solid Waste funding gap identified by Jordan Sachs 27:11
$90 Fee Solid Waste fee committee hoped not to raise 27:20
$950,000 Budget amendment Amendment 25-01 reclassifying funds for EMS station purchase 28:20
May 28 Date Prior vote date referenced by commissioner opposing fund reclassification 30:09
June 13 Date Contract-signing date for Pinewood property cited in debate 31:06
50 days Time period Approximate remaining due-diligence period cited in debate 31:13
11 yes, 2 no, 1 absent Vote tally Roll-call vote on Budget Amendment 25-01 32:43
$13,000 Budget amendment Amendment 25-02 from fund balance for part-time position 33:26
101 Fund / account reference County General 101 cited with Amendment 25-02 33:32
13 yes, 1 absent Vote tally Roll-call vote on Budget Amendment 25-02 33:50
August 22 Date Next Health Foundation quarterly report 34:45
September 12 Date Farmers’ breakfast planned by UT Extension and USDA 34:53
$400,000 Grant pool Opioid Settlement Board funds still available 37:31
August 31 Deadline Opioid Settlement Board application deadline 37:31
$25 Compensation rate Old Planning Commission member pay rate under Resolution 24-17 39:48
2006 Year Commissioner said Planning Commission pay had been unchanged since inception 40:29
13 yes, 1 absent Vote tally Roll-call vote on Resolution 24-17 41:13
13 yes, 1 absent Vote tally Roll-call vote on Resolution 24-18 46:17

External vendors, brands, and software

Name Type Context / topic Timestamp
B&D Electronics Company Reviewing malfunctioning tornado sirens and preparing repair proposal 23:42
UT Extension Company Working with USDA on Sept. 12 farmers’ breakfast 34:53
USDA Company Working with UT Extension on Sept. 12 farmers’ breakfast 34:53

Personnel changes

Name Role / office Change Context / topic Timestamp
Pete Tibbs EMA Director Appointed Named by the county mayor to move into the EMA director role after the prior director’s retirement; approved by voice vote 21:09
Melanie Kel Secretary, Opioid Settlement Board Elected Chosen as new board secretary because Noel is leaving 38:03

Laws and policies

Citation / name Level Type Context / topic Timestamp
Resolution 24-17 County Resolution Increased compensation for citizen Planning Commission members from the longstanding $25 rate 39:34
Resolution 24-18 County Resolution Changed language for type-one home occupations to reduce BZA appearances and clarify business-license/zoning relationship 41:37
County General 101 County Code Fund/account reference cited for the $13,000 part-time budget amendment 33:32

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