Hickman County TN

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

County Commissioners · Meeting · Jan 22, 2024

Mon, Jan 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.

Commissioners approved multiple routine but material budget amendments without opposition, including $269,600 in courthouse/security grant funding for the sheriff’s department, $179,900 for a solid-waste compactor using a $50,000 grant plus $129,900 from reserves, and $24,885 in school security grant funds. They also unanimously adopted two zoning-text amendments aimed at tightening agricultural-forestry district uses and related activity classifications, with discussion framing the changes as a cleanup of loopholes and a step toward a broader land-use plan due this calendar year.

The most contentious discussion was not a voted item but the stalled LAR industrial project on Highway 7. Commissioners sharply criticized the county’s representation before the Dickson water authority, citing the lost opportunity for projected jobs, payroll, and tax base. Economic development reported the company has asked for its deposit back while it re-evaluates sewer, septic, and self-contained wastewater options, with hopes of returning in February. Other notable threads included the EMS station still targeting a March construction start, an MOU with the animal shelter, a new THDA HOME grant application for housing rehab, an upcoming CDBG public meeting, industrial recruitment efforts with about 130 open jobs, and a BlueCross BlueShield grant opportunity for recreation improvements later in the year.

Elections, Appointments, and Confirmations 0:17

  • 0:17 Notary appointments were approved by roll-call vote, 13 yes, 1 absent.
  • 0:51 Chair reported no other appointments or confirmations and no bond approvals needed.

Department / Official Reports

Quarterly reports 1:05

  • 1:13 Quarterly reports included in the packet were approved without dispute.

County Mayor communications 1:42

  • 1:48 County operations had recently been disrupted by winter weather closures.
  • 1:56 EMS station project was said to remain on track, with construction still expected to start in March, pending a few remaining loose ends.
  • 2:13 County is still working on the animal shelter MOU, with a meeting scheduled the next week; goal is to resolve outstanding issues and circulate terms to commissioners for input.
  • 2:32 LAR’s proposed Highway 7 property purchase had gone before the Dickson water authority, which tabled its decision until February.

LAR / Highway 7 industrial project discussion 2:57

  • 2:57 Commissioners pressed whether the county would be properly represented at the next water-authority meeting after feeling the prior appearance failed to answer questions or advocate effectively for the project.
  • 4:19 Mayor said there is a fallback option for septic if sewer service does not happen, but the company had not yet committed to that path.
  • 4:42 It was stated that LAR had asked for its money back; response indicated that issue would run through the industrial board.
  • 4:50 Commissioners argued the county may have jeopardized a rare long-term economic-development opportunity, describing it as the kind of industry the county has pursued for years because it would improve the tax base and local job prospects without harming the community.
  • 5:32 One commissioner said he had been told the project would generate about $100,000 per year in property tax, roughly equal to 2 cents taxpayers would not otherwise have to pay.
  • 6:04 Follow-up questions sought to learn whether county leaders had contacted the company after the contentious meeting and what the company’s current attitude toward the county was.
  • 7:27 One commissioner publicly criticized the mayor’s lack of “energy” and suggested another commissioner with stronger visible commitment might better represent the county on the matter.
  • 8:07 Mayor rejected the criticism and said he had passion for the county; dispute centered on whether he had been prepared to answer the water authority’s questions.
  • 9:09 Chair noted anyone could attend and speak in open session, but the criticism remained focused on who should represent county interests.

Committee Reports

Planning Commission 10:02

  • 10:20 Planning and zoning amendments were coming later on the agenda.
  • 10:28 The county land-use plan is in development, with public-input meetings expected in the spring.
  • 10:46 The state was said to require the land-use plan be completed by the end of the calendar year, and commissioners were urged to stay engaged.

Solid Waste Committee 11:18

  • 11:18 Solid Waste Committee minutes were in the packet; no substantive floor discussion followed.

Health, Safety, and Properties Committee 11:27

  • 11:36 Minutes had been emailed out the day of the meeting after weather disruptions; no further substantive discussion followed.

Finance Committee 11:51

  • 12:00 November and December financial summaries were approved by roll call, 13 yes, 1 absent.

Budget, Finance, and Human Resources 12:50

  • 12:59 January 8 budget-committee minutes were in the packet; no December meeting had been held.
  • 13:06 A tentative budget schedule had been circulated and would be refined the next month.

Budget amendment 2436 — Library / veterans memorial donation 13:15

  • 13:15 Amendment 2436 was described as a memorial donation for library books.
  • 13:25 Motion made to approve; passed 13 yes, 1 absent.
  • 18:43 Budget chair later corrected the amount on the record to $440, not $140, explaining the total included $300 for veteran service. No re-vote occurred in the transcript excerpt.

Budget amendment 2437 — Sheriff’s security grants 14:26

  • 14:26 Amendment 2437 appropriated $269,600 from grant funds for courtroom/security improvements for the sheriff’s department.
  • 14:41 Motion and second were made; approved by roll call 13 yes, 1 absent.

Budget amendments 2438 and 2439 — Solid waste payroll cleanup and insurance recovery 15:24

  • 15:24 Amendment 2438 was a solid-waste payroll cleanup in the amount of $36,645.
  • 15:40 Amendment 2439 recognized an insurance recovery of $5,600.
  • 15:40 Both were moved together and approved 13 yes, 1 absent.

Budget amendment 2440 — Solid-waste compactor purchase 16:27

  • 16:27 Amendment 2440 funded a compactor for solid waste using a $50,000 grant plus $129,900 from reserves, total $179,900.
  • 16:35 Budget chair noted the solid-waste items had been presented to the Solid Waste Board before coming forward.
  • 16:53 Motion and second were made; approved 13 yes, 1 absent.

Budget amendment 2441 — School security grant 17:42

  • 17:42 Amendment 2441 brought in $24,885 in grant money for school security equipment.
  • 17:50 Commissioners were told the school board had already approved the matter.
  • 17:59 Motion and second were made; approved by roll call 13 yes, 1 absent.

Health Foundation / Agricultural Extension Committee 19:10

  • 19:10 Quarterly report was in the packet; no further discussion.

Public Records Committee 19:26

  • 19:26 Committee had not met.

Economic and Community Development 19:34

  • 19:42 Handout summarized current grants and project status.

Grants and housing/community development 20:07

  • 20:07 Commission had a resolution later on the agenda to apply again for a HOME grant worth $500,000.
  • 20:15 A public meeting was scheduled for January 31 regarding CDBG funding, described as available for up to $1 million in construction for health and welfare projects such as an ambulance center, ambulance, or fire truck.

Workforce recruitment and hiring pipeline 20:51

  • 20:51 Local industry partners were said to have about 130 open positions.
  • 20:58 The county had contracted with the American Job Center / career coach effort to hold monthly hiring events over the next six months.
  • 21:06 The first event, for Two Rivers Steel, reportedly drew 22 candidates and produced 11 hires in one day, described as an unusually strong turnout.
  • 21:23 Additional employers were lined up in following months; employment trends were said to be improving, with more interviewees being hired and reporting to work.

Industrial projects / PILOTs 21:47

  • 21:47 Economic development reported the PILOT with A.C. Enercom (heard as AC Energetics) had closed out after a 5-year or possibly 7-year term.
  • 22:04 The city industrial board had entered a PILOT with The Grange for 33 jobs and a $9 million capital investment.
  • 22:12 Through an interlocal agreement, city industrial-board action could abate county taxes as well as city taxes on that project.

LAR follow-up and wastewater options 22:19

  • 22:29 After the Dickson water authority meeting, economic development spoke with the project principals and pressed alternative approaches, including septic, sewer, or an in-house self-contained system.
  • 22:50 The company planned to hire an engineering firm to evaluate wastewater options and answer its concerns.
  • 22:57 TDEC had been arranged to look at a septic layout on the property at no charge and possibly evaluate other self-contained systems.
  • 23:13 Goal remained to return in February and seek the needed tap if feasible.
  • 23:21 Since the meeting, the company had asked for its deposit back because too much money was tied up while it decided what to do.
  • 23:30 The option period reportedly runs out in March; county intends to return the deposit and go back to “basics” while exploring whether the project can still work with septic.
  • 23:46 Economic development warned projects often fail when a community appears risky or unsupported; said the company needs confidence someone will be “in their corner.”
  • 24:17 New concerns had also arisen about the nearby convenience center and the timeline for punching a hole under the road for sewer.
  • 25:20 Economic development said the company felt support from local attendees but was likely blindsided by the Dickson meeting and felt caught in a political fight it did not want to join.
  • 25:54 The county’s team was acknowledged to have disappointed the company; economic development accepted some responsibility for not having fully worked through the septic issue beforehand.
  • 26:17 Despite the deposit request, the company was still portrayed as exploring options rather than fully walking away.
  • 26:35 Septic constraints were described in more detail: land could not be disturbed before testing and system design, and septic limitations could dictate building placement, buffers, driveway, and parking layout across the site’s 8.5 acres.
  • 27:07 The company was said to still be under lease in California for a couple more years, giving some time to solve the infrastructure problem.
  • 27:31 One commissioner restated his concern and passion, saying the project represented 25 jobs and $1 million in annual salaries and had the potential to change local families’ lives over generations.
  • 28:20 Asked what the county could do to help, economic development said TVA and the state both had incentives available.
  • 28:37 TVA incentives were described as electric credits and possibly direct financial help if needed to make sewer or self-contained wastewater solutions work.
  • 29:01 The state had also put job-training money into the package and might be asked to help punch sewer under the road if the convenience-center timeline did not work.
  • 29:18 Economic development said both the state and TVA had been “holding our hands” while the project was expected to close in December, but that date had slipped.
  • 29:58 A commissioner reduced the issue to “two bathrooms essentially”; response clarified that sewer demand depends on use type, though the project was basically a 25-employee operation.
  • 30:32 A commissioner asked what had driven Dickson officials’ pushback.
  • 30:46 Response was that the principal complaint from the Dickson side was that Hickman County had not been “at the table” earlier when support was needed for the water-authority permit process.
  • 31:33 Commissioners then widened the concern to future industrial growth, asking what the county’s long-term plan is if it continues lacking sewer capacity for prospects like LAR and other companies.
  • 32:30 Economic development said a Dickson economic-development counterpart had since reached out and that everyone would have to come to the table and move forward rather than re-litigate the past if the county wanted the project.

Industrial Board 33:16

  • 33:16 Industrial Board would meet on February 8.

New Business / Agenda Items

Resolution 23-32 — zoning uses in A-1 Agricultural-Forestry District 34:11

  • 34:11 Resolution 23-32 amended county zoning regulations concerning the list of land uses permitted in the A-1 Agricultural-Forestry District.
  • 34:42 Sponsors said the measure came forward after months of Planning Commission review and passed there 8-0 before reaching the commission.
  • 35:18 Supporters argued repeated zoning cases had shown loopholes and misalignments between the written resolution and the public’s expectations, making it the legislative body’s responsibility to clean up the language.
  • 36:18 Sponsors emphasized they support growth, but in the right places, and described agricultural-forestry zoning as intended to preserve rural character for residents who value that landscape.
  • 37:34 Additional explanation stressed that the Planning Commission reviews such proposals, but the legislative body retains the final authority to approve or reject zoning resolutions.
  • 38:35 Commissioners encouraged the public to participate in the coming land-use planning process, arguing many conflicts arise only after impacts are felt.
  • 39:39 One commissioner argued too much of the county is zoned agricultural to be effectively protected and suggested agricultural zoning should be harder to obtain than commercial zoning if the land is not actually agricultural.
  • 40:39 Resolution was adopted by roll call, 13 yes, 1 absent.

Resolution 23-33 — activity classifications cleanup 41:10

  • 41:10 Resolution 23-33 amended zoning activity classifications.
  • 41:25 Sponsors said it was needed to align wording, definitions, and duplications with the previous zoning amendment and “tie everything up.”
  • 41:57 Resolution passed by roll call, 13 yes, 1 absent.

Resolution 24-01 — THDA HOME grant application 42:20

  • 42:20 Resolution 24-01 authorized an application to the Tennessee Housing Development Agency for HOME grant funds.
  • 42:41 Sponsors said the county again had an opportunity to apply for home-repair funds for seniors, veterans, and disabled residents.
  • 43:18 Administration would be handled by South Central Tennessee Development District.
  • 43:28 An 8% administrative cost was mentioned, but commissioners were told no county matching funds were being requested because that fee would be covered by the administering agency if the grant were awarded.
  • 43:47 The county had been denied the previous year, and a sponsor said he believed the application lacked enough participating households or demonstrated demand.
  • 44:11 Commissioners were urged to help spread the word through print and social media and identify eligible households so the county could show stronger need in this round.
  • 45:11 Resolution passed by roll call, 13 yes, 1 absent.

Resolution 24-02 — rezoning on Johnny Crow Road 45:39

  • 45:39 Property on Johnny Crow Road in Lyles was rezoned from A-1 to R-1.
  • 45:54 Discussion described it as a simple zoning change to facilitate sale/use of a house as residential property.
  • 46:32 Resolution 24-02 passed by roll call, 13 yes, 1 absent.

Announcements 47:01

  • 47:01 Meeting schedules would be mailed out to commissioners.

BlueCross BlueShield recreation grant discussion 47:09

  • 47:09 A commissioner asked for an update on a previously discussed BlueCross BlueShield funding opportunity for recreational improvements, including talk of a splash pad.
  • 47:47 Mayor said it was not yet time to apply; deadline was stated as August.
  • 47:47 The grant could support not only a splash pad but also playground equipment and other recreational improvements.
  • 48:14 Commissioners urged that the county take time to choose a project the community actually wants rather than what officials personally prefer, given limited local recreation options.

Key figures and statistics

Figure Type Context / topic Timestamp
13 yes, 1 absent Vote tally Notary approvals 0:35
March Project timeline Expected EMS station construction start 2:04
February Meeting timeline Dickson water authority reconsideration of LAR matter 2:40
4 generations Time span Commissioner’s description of long-term economic impact from losing LAR 4:59
$100,000 per year Revenue estimate Claimed annual property-tax impact of LAR project 5:32
2 cents Tax-rate equivalent Claimed taxpayer relief tied to LAR property-tax revenue 5:39
End of this calendar year Deadline Target/requirement for county land-use plan completion 10:46
13 yes, 1 absent Vote tally Approval of November and December financial summaries 12:34
January 8 Date Budget committee meeting date for circulated minutes 12:50
2436 Budget amendment Library/veterans memorial donation amendment number 13:15
$440 Donation Corrected amount of budget amendment 2436 18:43
$300 Donation component Veterans service portion included in amendment 2436 18:43
2437 Budget amendment Sheriff security grant amendment number 14:26
$269,600 Grant / budget amendment Courtroom and security improvements for sheriff’s department 14:33
2438 Budget amendment Solid-waste payroll cleanup amendment number 15:24
$36,645 Payroll cleanup Solid waste payroll adjustment 15:33
2439 Budget amendment Insurance recovery amendment number 15:40
$5,600 Insurance recovery Recognized recovery funds 15:40
2440 Budget amendment Solid-waste compactor amendment number 16:27
$50,000 Grant Portion of compactor funding 16:27
$129,900 Reserve use Portion of compactor funding from reserves 16:35
$179,900 Equipment purchase Total funding for solid-waste compactor 16:44
2441 Budget amendment School security grant amendment number 17:42
$24,885 Grant / budget amendment School security equipment funding 17:50
$500,000 Grant HOME grant amount discussed for housing rehab 20:15
January 31 Meeting date Public meeting for CDBG funding 20:15
$1 million Grant ceiling CDBG construction funding potential 20:24
130 Job openings Open positions among industry partners 20:51
6 months Program duration Monthly hiring effort with career coach/American Job Center 20:58
22 Applicants Candidates at first hiring event 21:06
11 Hires Same-day hires at first hiring event 21:06
5-year PILOT term One stated duration for A.C. Enercom PILOT 21:47
7-year PILOT term Alternate stated duration for same PILOT 21:54
33 Jobs The Grange project jobs commitment 22:04
$9 million Capital investment The Grange project investment 22:04
February Timeline Hope to return with LAR wastewater answers / seek tap 23:13
March Deadline / option period LAR option period expiration 23:30
8.5 acres Acreage LAR site size discussed in septic-layout constraints 26:43
25 jobs Employment projection LAR project impact as cited by commissioner 27:31
$1 million annual salaries Payroll estimate LAR project annual wages cited by commissioner 27:31
December Timeline Original hoped-for closing date for LAR project 29:18
25 employees Employment count Basic size/use estimate in wastewater discussion 30:16
February 8 Meeting date Industrial Board meeting 33:16
23-32 Resolution number Zoning-text amendment for A-1 permitted uses 34:11
8-0 Vote tally Planning Commission recommendation on zoning text amendment 35:00
16–18 years Experience range Commissioner’s comment on planning commissions dealt with 40:23
23-33 Resolution number Zoning-text amendment for activity classifications 41:10
24-01 Resolution number THDA HOME grant application authorization 42:20
8% Administrative fee HOME grant administrative cost covered by agency if awarded 43:28
24-02 Resolution number Johnny Crow Road rezoning 45:39
August Application deadline BlueCross BlueShield recreation grant timeline 48:14

External vendors, brands, and software

Name Type Context / topic Timestamp
LAR Company Proposed industrial project on Highway 7; sewer/septic dispute and deposit return 2:32
American Job Center Company Partner in monthly recruiting events for local industry hiring 20:58
Two Rivers Steel Company First employer in hiring-event series; 22 candidates and 11 hires 21:06
A.C. Enercom Company PILOT reported closed out after 5- or 7-year term 21:47
The Grange Company New city industrial-board PILOT tied to 33 jobs and $9 million investment 22:04
TDEC Company Arranged to review septic layout for LAR property at no charge 22:57
TVA Company Incentives and possible assistance discussed for making LAR project work 28:20
BlueCross BlueShield Company Recreational-improvement grant opportunity discussed in announcements 47:18

Laws and policies

| Citation / name | Level | Type | Context / topic | Timestamp | |---|---|---|---| | A-1 Agricultural-Forestry District | County | Code | Zoning-text amendment governing permitted uses | 34:20 | | Resolution 23-32 | County | Resolution | Amendment to list of land uses permitted in A-1 district | 34:11 | | Resolution 23-33 | County | Resolution | Amendment to zoning activity classifications and definitions | 41:10 | | Resolution 24-01 | County | Resolution | Authorization to apply for THDA HOME grant funds | 42:20 | | HOME grant | Federal | Program | Housing rehabilitation funds for seniors, veterans, and disabled residents | 42:28 | | Resolution 24-02 | County | Resolution | Rezoning Johnny Crow Road property from A-1 to R-1 | 45:39 |

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