Hickman County TN

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

County Commissioners · Meeting · Sep 25, 2023

Mon, Sep 25, 2023

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 approved two consequential ARPA-related items after debate: a road-paving resolution for a county road near a recreation area, amended to remove proposed speed bumps while preserving $130,000 for paving; and an animal-shelter resolution allocating $550,000 in ARPA funds for shelter construction, with the county to own the building and Shelter Friends expected to fund and manage operations while the sheriff provides an animal control officer. The shelter vote drew the longest discussion, centering on whether an MOU should be completed before any money is released, what ongoing county obligations could follow, and whether tax dollars might later be needed for operations. An amendment to bar future tax-dollar support if the agreement ended failed, and the main resolution passed 11–3.

Other actions included approval of six budget amendments, including sheriff vehicle repair using insurance recovery, a planning/zoning replacement vehicle, a temporary part-time assistant in the mayor’s office, and a patrol vehicle from the drug fund. A rescue squad radio-system amendment was sent back to Public Safety rather than taken up on the floor. The commission also approved the new Solid Waste director, filled board seats including the IDB and 911 board, advanced a solid-waste grant application for an East Convenience Center compactor, and transferred county industrial property to the Industrial Board for a proposed sale to Lee Star, Inc. Other notable threads included the delayed Pinewood EMS station project, committee calendars, and an announced town hall with state legislators.

Public Comments 0:00:40

Resolution 23-28 animal shelter comments 0:00:40

  • 0:00:52 Public comment urged passage of Resolution 23-28 for an animal shelter, citing a long-running county problem with stray and dangerous animals and arguing that residents have already shown support by donating nearly $220,000 toward the project.
  • 0:01:44 A speaker said dispatch had received 234 calls in 2023 involving roaming dogs, near-wrecks, attacks on livestock, threats to families, and rescue situations; the point was that animal-control work is already occurring informally and needs a county-supported facility.
  • 0:02:51 A Humane Society representative described recent incidents including dogs killing a goat, attacking pets, and causing residents to arm themselves when going outside; she argued law enforcement cannot keep absorbing these calls and that a shelter plus animal control are needed to backstop volunteer efforts.

Approval of Agenda and Minutes 0:04:37

  • 0:05:04 Agenda amended to add a First District nomination to the Industrial Development Board; amended agenda approved without recorded opposition.
  • 0:05:46 Minutes of the August 28, 2023 meeting approved without substantive discussion.

Elections, Appointments, and Confirmations 0:06:23

Nominating Committee report 0:06:34

  • 0:06:42 Nominating Committee report from September 5 was presented with one correction: a solid-waste substitute assignment would remain with the existing commissioner rather than change as previously noted.
  • 0:07:09 Committee minutes and nominations, as amended, were approved.

Solid Waste director appointment 0:07:37

  • 0:07:37 The mayor announced Jordan Sachs as the new Solid Waste director and welcomed him as an asset to the county.
  • 0:08:06 The body treated the appointment as requiring approval and passed it without visible controversy.

Industrial Development Board appointment 0:09:03

  • 0:09:10 Angelina Dyckman was nominated to fill the First District seat on the IDB, described as qualified and willing to serve.
  • 0:09:25 Nomination approved.

Notaries public 0:09:56

  • 0:09:56 Five notaries were submitted and approved: Joel Dunn, Stephanie Hendricks, Jeremy James, Brianna Parish, and Ashley Williams.

911 board appointment 0:10:36

  • 0:10:44 The mayor requested approval to place Johnny Ruth Elrod on the 911 board.
  • 0:11:10 Brief discussion noted past mayors had made such nominations under board practice/bylaws.
  • 0:11:17 Appointment approved.

Department / Official Reports 0:11:50

County Mayor 0:11:57

  • 0:12:05 The mayor said he had met again with engineers on the Pinewood EMS station, including HVAC and electrical engineers, and hoped it would be among the last design meetings after roughly 11 months of work.
  • 0:12:23 A standpipe/fire-service issue was still being worked into the design details.
  • 0:12:31 The mayor also reported progress on a safety permit and address-opening work for the site, including the need to dig through rocky ground so equipment could access the location for required work.

Committee Reports 0:13:10

Planning Commission 0:13:10

  • 0:13:10 Planning Commission minutes were in the packet; no substantive floor discussion.

Solid Waste 0:13:26

  • 0:13:35 Although the committee had not met, the director sought full commission approval to apply for a grant for a compactor at the East Convenience Center because of a short deadline.
  • 0:14:45 A commissioner asked what fund would cover any local share or related costs; the response indicated the expansion would involve new equipment and that the board would discuss whether to pay from fund balance or another source at its next meeting.
  • 0:15:16 The director said bids for the East Convenience Center project were being advertised and a public opening/discussion would follow after the bid period.
  • 0:15:55 Motion to authorize the grant application was approved.

Health, Safety, and Property 0:15:45

  • 0:16:19 Committee had not met; no substantive action beyond acknowledging minutes in the packet.

Finance Committee 0:16:49

  • 0:16:57 August 2023 financial statements were presented for approval.
  • 0:17:17 Financial statement approved by roll call, 14–0.

Budget, Finance, and Human Resources 0:17:46

Budget Amendment 24-13 — sheriff grant reclass 0:18:01

  • 0:18:01 Amendment 24-13 reclassified grant-related supplies for the Sheriff’s Office.
  • 0:18:18 Approved by roll call, 14–0.

Budget Amendment 24-14 — sheriff insurance recovery 0:18:54

  • 0:18:54 Amendment 24-14 authorized use of insurance-recovery funds for vehicle repair and maintenance in the Sheriff’s Office.
  • 0:19:10 Approved by roll call, 14–0.

Budget Amendment 24-15 — planning/zoning replacement vehicle 0:19:34

  • 0:19:34 Amendment 24-15 funded a replacement vehicle for Planning and Zoning inspections.
  • 0:19:49 Approved by roll call, 14–0.

Budget Amendment 24-16 — temporary part-time assistant 0:20:24

  • 0:20:24 Amendment 24-16 moved part of the mayor’s travel budget to support a temporary part-time assistant.
  • 0:20:49 The mayor said the change was temporary to cover while the regular secretary was away on a trip.
  • 0:21:05 Approved by roll call, 14–0.

Budget Amendment 24-17 — patrol vehicle from drug fund 0:21:32

  • 0:21:32 Amendment 24-17 requested partial use of the drug fund to purchase a patrol vehicle.
  • 0:21:48 Approved without extended discussion.

Budget Amendment 24-18 — rescue squad radio system 0:22:21

  • 0:22:29 Amendment 24-18 proposed a county general contribution to the rescue squad for a new radio system.
  • 0:22:44 The chair/counsel advised that because no action had been taken on the item at Budget Committee, taking it up on the floor would require a two-thirds vote under the Financial Management Act of 1981.
  • 0:23:32 Rather than force floor consideration, a commissioner argued the issue was complicated, more information had surfaced, and the item should return to Public Safety for more deliberate review.
  • 0:25:09 Motion passed to send Amendment 24-18 back to Public Safety for further deliberation.

Public Records Committee 0:25:51

  • 0:25:51 Committee did not meet.

Economic and Community Development 0:26:00

  • 0:26:09 Board reported reviewing an economic analysis study tied to a later resolution in the packet; no action requested from the floor at that moment.

Board of Zoning Appeals 0:26:37

  • 0:26:44 Minutes were in the packet; no substantive floor discussion.

Industrial Board 0:26:56

  • 0:26:56 Industrial Board had not met.

Approval of committee minutes 0:27:05

  • 0:27:05 Commission approved the various committee minutes collected in the packet.

Meeting Calendar 0:27:32

  • 0:27:44 Next month’s calendar was reviewed.
  • 0:28:00 A time correction was made to 6:30 for one meeting at the cowork center; calendar otherwise stood.

New Business / Agenda Items 0:28:49

0:28:49 Resolution 23-27 — ARPA allocation for road paving

  • 0:28:56 Resolution 23-27 proposed use of American Rescue Plan Act funds for county road paving.
  • 0:29:22 Sponsors argued the road work was overdue and needed to finish a section serving the county.
  • 0:29:48 A commissioner supported the paving money but objected that the resolution bundled in proposed speed bumps near a recreation area/school-bus route without enough legal or practical review, questioning whether speed bumps can be placed on a county road and warning they could impede ambulances and regular through traffic.
  • 0:31:23 An alternative was suggested: lower speed limits or enhanced penalties when children are present, with sheriff enforcement, rather than permanent speed bumps.
  • 0:32:13 Motion was made to amend the resolution by removing the attachment related to speed bumps.
  • 0:32:29 The commission recessed about 5 minutes so language and numbers could be corrected cleanly.
  • 0:39:35 After recess, the amendment was read: speed-bump language removed, and the total changed from $133,600 to $130,000 while retaining paving and county highway prep work.
  • 0:40:52 Opposition to removing speed bumps argued that children crossing to ballfields face a genuine hazard and that drivers obey physical controls better than signs or reduced speed limits.
  • 0:41:52 The amendment to remove speed bumps passed 9–5.
  • 0:42:25 The amended Resolution 23-27 then passed 13–1.
  • 0:43:20 Budget Amendment 24-19, corresponding to Resolution 23-27, was introduced at the corrected amount of $130,000.
  • 0:43:40 Because of timing and bid requirements, the commission was asked to take up the amendment that night despite the usual local-committee path.
  • 0:44:07 The body voted to set aside the rules; motion passed 14–0.
  • 0:44:55 Budget Amendment 24-19 was then approved, authorizing the ARPA paving allocation at $130,000.

0:45:44 Resolution 23-28 — construction of an animal shelter

  • 0:45:55 Resolution 23-28 proposed construction of an animal shelter in Hickman County using $550,000 in ARPA funds.
  • 0:46:03 Sponsors framed the issue as longstanding county involvement in animal control without proper tools: the sheriff already receives animal-related calls, the Humane Society has been carrying county-like duties for years, and volunteers now need relief.
  • 0:47:18 Supporters emphasized the financial structure: no property-tax dollars for construction, county ownership of the building, Shelter Friends responsible for day-to-day operations, and county ability to repurpose the building in the future if the arrangement changes.
  • 0:49:16 Additional support stressed public-safety and community-demand aspects, arguing the sheriff would gain a workable avenue for handling stray/dangerous animals and that the issue has been discussed for more than two decades.
  • 0:52:07 A commissioner said he could support the concept but wanted an MOU before any funds are released, arguing the resolution did not itself spell out who would operate the facility and that ownership and operational responsibilities should be explicit.
  • 0:53:43 Sponsors replied that under the intended structure, the county would fund only one animal control officer through the Sheriff’s Office; any additional staff would be employees of Shelter Friends. They argued this resolution merely commits the county to the construction funding, with operational details to be worked out later by the mayor, sheriff, and Shelter Friends and then brought back for approval.
  • 0:55:38 Another commissioner agreed an MOU was needed and questioned how reliable the cost estimates were given inflation and short bid-validity periods.
  • 0:56:20 Sponsors said construction pricing came from Centertown Metals, electrical pricing from Shepherd (as heard), plumbing from Schaefer Plumbing, and drywall/insulation from American Remodeling.
  • 0:56:44 A proposed amendment sought to add language in Section 8 clarifying that if either party terminated the agreement, no tax dollars would be used to continue shelter operations.
  • 0:59:42 Opposition to that amendment argued it was unnecessary because future commissions always control appropriations through the budget process, and writing such language into the deal implied distrust or preloaded failure into the project.
  • 1:01:13 Additional opposition noted the county could not simply “walk away” overnight from an operating facility without some closeout process and that future public safety and budget review would still apply.
  • 1:02:22 The amendment sponsor argued the existing two-year agreement with annual renewal described termination rights but not consequences, and he wanted taxpayers clearly shielded from inheriting indefinite operating costs if the nonprofit relationship ended.
  • 1:05:21 The amendment failed 4–10.
  • 1:06:09 Further questioning returned to why the MOU would come after the funding commitment rather than before it.
  • 1:06:46 Sponsors answered that they did not want volunteers to spend more time hammering out operational fine print only to have the commission decline the construction money; passing the resolution first would assure Shelter Friends the county was serious before more detailed negotiations.
  • 1:08:36 A commissioner reiterated he could vote for the resolution to earmark ARPA funds but not for a later budget amendment releasing money unless an MOU was completed before “backhoe goes in the ground.”
  • 1:10:05 Clarification from the chair/counsel: passage of the resolution sets aside ARPA funds, but a later budget amendment would still be needed to move the money; however, no legal requirement automatically ties that later amendment to an MOU unless the commission itself insists on one.
  • 1:19:22 A commissioner asked about annual county cost for the officer, equipment, and truck.
  • 1:19:36 Response noted the sheriff already has an animal-control-certified officer on staff, reducing training concerns.
  • 1:20:00 A second question asked whether the county has analogous arrangements where it owns a building and supports operations in part; the Health Department was cited as a rough comparison.
  • 1:21:18 A rough estimate was floated that benefits could be around $20,000, and that total annual county exposure with insurance, utilities, and related items could be north of $100,000 if the arrangement took effect.
  • 1:22:03 Sponsors answered that a vehicle may already be available from prior efforts and argued the sheriff is already spending substantial personnel time on animal calls, so not all of this would be truly “new” workload.
  • 1:23:42 Resolution 23-28 passed by roll call, 11–3.

1:24:57 Resolution 23-29 — transfer of county property to Industrial Board for sale to Lee Star, Inc.

  • 1:24:57 Resolution 23-29 transferred county property to the Industrial Board for sale to Lee Star, Inc.
  • 1:25:23 A sponsor said he drafted the resolution and that the County Attorney had recommended a substitute version changing the final sentence to give the IDB more flexibility, avoiding the need to wait for another commission meeting if modifications were needed.
  • 1:26:49 Supporters stressed the timeline and economic significance, describing the project as important to the county’s future tax base and job opportunities.
  • 1:27:31 Resolution 23-29 was adopted without recorded opposition.

Announcements 1:28:08

  • 1:28:08 Commissioners were urged to attend committee meetings because new chair selections were approaching.
  • 1:28:25 An announcement said State Rep. Jody Barrett and Sen. Mark Pody would hold a town hall on October 3 at 6 p.m. at the stadium.

Adjournment 1:28:44

  • 1:28:52 Meeting adjourned.

Key figures and statistics

Figure Type Context / topic Timestamp
15 years Time period Public commenter’s span dealing with county animal issues 1:14
2023 Year Dispatch dog-call total cited for current year 1:44
234 Call count Dispatch calls involving roaming/dangerous dogs 1:44
$220,000 Donation total Shelter Friends fundraising toward shelter 1:58
August 28, 2023 Date Prior meeting minutes approved 5:46
September 5 Date Nominating Committee meeting date 6:42
11 months Time period Pinewood EMS station design/delay timeline 12:14
August 2023 Reporting period Financial statement approved 16:57
14–0 Vote Approval of August 2023 financial statement 17:17
24-13 Budget amendment Sheriff grant reclass for supplies 18:01
14–0 Vote Approval of Budget Amendment 24-13 18:18
24-14 Budget amendment Sheriff insurance recovery for vehicle repair/maintenance 18:54
14–0 Vote Approval of Budget Amendment 24-14 19:10
24-15 Budget amendment Planning and Zoning replacement vehicle 19:34
14–0 Vote Approval of Budget Amendment 24-15 19:49
24-16 Budget amendment Mayor travel funds shifted to temporary part-time assistant 20:24
14–0 Vote Approval of Budget Amendment 24-16 21:05
24-17 Budget amendment Drug fund use for patrol vehicle 21:32
24-18 Budget amendment Rescue squad radio-system contribution 22:21
1981 Year Financial Management Act cited on floor procedure 22:44
two-thirds Vote threshold Required to take up BA 24-18 from the floor 23:09
2024-29 Study/resolution reference Economic analysis study reference as heard 26:16
6:30 Meeting time Corrected calendar time for meeting at cowork center 28:00
23-27 Resolution ARPA allocation for road paving 28:56
5 minutes Recess length Recess to amend road-paving resolution text 32:29
$133,600 Proposed amount Original road-paving plus speed-bump total before amendment 40:13
$130,000 Approved amount Revised road-paving allocation after removing speed bumps 40:13
9–5 Vote Amendment removing speed bumps from Resolution 23-27 41:52
13–1 Vote Approval of amended Resolution 23-27 42:25
24-19 Budget amendment Corresponding road-paving amendment 43:20
14–0 Vote Setting aside rules to hear BA 24-19 44:07
23-28 Resolution Animal shelter construction 45:44
2018 Year Prior animal-shelter arrangement referenced 47:51
$550,000 Allocation ARPA funds proposed for animal shelter construction 53:09
two years Contract term Initial term for shelter agreement in Section 8 57:02
additional year Renewal term Automatic annual renewals after initial term 57:09
4–10 Vote Failed amendment on no future tax-dollar support after termination 1:05:21
$20,000 Benefit estimate Approximate insurance/benefit cost discussed for officer 1:21:18
$100,000+ per year Cost estimate Approximate annual county exposure discussed for officer/utilities/etc. 1:21:34
11–3 Vote Approval of Resolution 23-28 animal shelter 1:23:42
23-29 Resolution Transfer of property to IDB for sale to Lee Star, Inc. 1:24:57
October 3 Date Announced town hall date 1:28:25
6 p.m. Time Announced town hall time 1:28:25

External vendors, brands, and software

Name Type Context / topic Timestamp
Centertown Metals Company Construction estimate source for animal shelter project 56:20
Shepherd Company Electrical estimate source for animal shelter project, as heard 56:27
Schaefer Plumbing Company Plumbing estimate source for animal shelter project 56:27
American Remodeling Company Drywall and insulation estimate source for animal shelter project 56:36
Lee Star, Inc. Company Proposed purchaser in industrial property transfer resolution 1:24:57

Personnel changes

Name Role / office Change Context / topic Timestamp
Jordan Sachs Solid Waste Director Hired Approved as new Solid Waste director 7:37
Angelina Dyckman Industrial Development Board, First District Appointed Nominated and approved to fill IDB seat 9:10
Johnny Ruth Elrod 911 Board member Appointed Mayor’s nomination approved for 911 board 10:44

Laws and policies

Citation / name Level Type Context / topic Timestamp
American Rescue Plan Act Federal Law Funding source for road paving and animal shelter resolutions 28:56
Financial Management Act of 1981 State Law Cited as requiring a two-thirds vote to take up BA 24-18 from the floor after no Budget Committee action 22:44
Resolution 23-27 County Resolution ARPA allocation for road paving; later amended to remove speed bumps 28:56
Resolution 23-28 County Resolution Construction of an animal shelter using ARPA funds 45:44
Resolution 23-29 County Resolution Transfer of county property to Industrial Board for sale to Lee Star, Inc. 1:24:57
Budget Amendment 24-13 County Resolution Sheriff grant reclass for supplies 18:01
Budget Amendment 24-14 County Resolution Sheriff insurance recovery for vehicle repair and maintenance 18:54
Budget Amendment 24-15 County Resolution Planning and Zoning replacement vehicle 19:34
Budget Amendment 24-16 County Resolution Temporary part-time assistant funded from mayor travel line 20:24
Budget Amendment 24-17 County Resolution Drug-fund purchase of patrol vehicle 21:32
Budget Amendment 24-18 County Resolution Rescue squad radio-system contribution; sent back to Public Safety 22:21
Budget Amendment 24-19 County Resolution Budget amendment corresponding to Resolution 23-27 road paving 43:20

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