Hickman County TN

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

County Commissioners · Meeting · Feb 27, 2023

Mon, Feb 27, 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 rezoning requests early in the meeting, a slate of notaries, a new appointment to the Ag Extension Committee, multiple budget amendments, and authority for the county attorney to execute paperwork joining new opioid-settlement agreements before the state deadline. The most contentious discussion was Resolution 23-07, which would have asked the planning body to rezone county-owned North Tidwell/North Tibbs Road property from R2 back to A1. Supporters argued A1 zoning would broaden the pool of potential bidders if the surplus property were later offered for sale; opponents argued the county was moving too fast, had not fully discussed whether to sell at all, and risked disposing of land before unresolved sewer and development questions were settled. That resolution failed after extended debate.

Other notable threads included a zoning text amendment on home-occupation acreage, a zoning text amendment clarifying campers/RVs as temporary rather than permanent residences, approval of the January financial summary, discussion of reserve funding for sheriff fuel costs, movement of Industrial Board records to the county clerk’s office, a new library director announcement, and a ceremonial bridge-naming resolution honoring Eddie Cook.

Call to Order and opening business 18:55

  • 19:19 Roll call showed a quorum with 13 present and 1 absent.
  • 19:34 Opening remarks included notice of the death of Andy Maddox’s mother and a request to remember the family in prayer.
  • 21:32 Agenda approved after amendment.
  • 21:48 Motion made to move Resolutions 23-05 and 23-06 up to immediately after recognitions so attendees for those items would not have to wait through the full meeting; amendment adopted without objection.
  • 22:40 January 23 meeting minutes approved without recorded controversy.

Special Recognitions 23:07

  • 23:07 No memorial acknowledgements or special recognitions were brought forward despite the agenda category.

New Business / Agenda Items 23:37

23:37 Resolution 23-05 — rezoning on Tidwell Loop from R2 to R1

  • 23:37 Resolution 23-05 concerned property on Tidwell Loop, Bon Aqua and proposed rezoning from R2 high-density residential to R1 rural residential.
  • 24:06 Brief explanation given that the owner had expected to build two houses and wanted the zoning returned/reduced accordingly.
  • 24:24 Roll-call vote approved the rezoning 13–0, with 1 absent.

24:50 Resolution 23-06 — rezoning on Old Highway 46 from A1 to C1

  • 24:50 Resolution 23-06 concerned property at 9000 Old Highway 46, Lyles, rezoning from A1 agricultural to C1 general commercial.
  • 25:07 The use described was a pool-service business that would build a small shop and store chemicals; supporters emphasized there would be no customer traffic at the site.
  • 25:22 It was noted that both this and the prior rezoning had already had public-hearing opportunity and no one spoke on either matter.
  • 25:59 Roll-call vote approved the rezoning 13–0, with 1 absent.

Elections, Appointments, and Confirmations 26:29

26:37 Ag Extension Committee appointment

  • 26:37 An appointment was brought forward to fill the vacancy created when Claude Callicott rolled off the Ag Extension Committee at the end of December.
  • 26:52 The explanation given was that state code requires three commissioners on the committee; the remaining members were described as representing the eastern and middle parts of the county, so Ricky Murray was recommended to add western-county representation.
  • 27:25 It was stated that Murray had already agreed to serve and would complete the term.
  • 27:42 Motion to appoint Ricky Murray carried by voice vote.

28:22 Notary approvals

  • 28:22 The chair presented seven notary applications:
    • Robert Barnes
    • Barb Blaze
    • Timothy Jackson
    • Kelly Lusk
    • A.J. McKinley
    • Christina Elizabeth Persuad/Persuade (unclear in transcript)
    • Jacob Redden
  • 29:13 Roll-call vote approved the notaries 13–0, with 1 absent.

Department / Official Reports 30:10

County Mayor 30:10

  • 30:19 The county mayor said written notes were in the packet and asked members to strike item number 5 because it needed to return to the Budget Committee.
  • 30:27 Announcement made that the Hickman County Library had named a new director, identified as Mia Dressler.
  • 30:52 The mayor raised newly received opioid-settlement updates and asked that the county attorney explain them.

County Attorney — opioid settlement participation 31:17

  • 31:25 The county had received documentation to participate in new national opioid settlements and needed to sign electronically by April 18 for Hickman County to remain eligible for future distributions in Tennessee.
  • 31:40 The named companies were Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart.
  • 31:57 The request was for authority to review and sign the forms electronically on the county’s behalf so the county could participate in future fund distributions as a subdivision of Tennessee.
  • 32:27 A commissioner asked whether any estimated amount or payout frequency was known; the response was that neither the total amount nor the schedule had yet been identified and would need follow-up.
  • 33:27 Motion approved authorizing the county attorney to proceed with the settlement paperwork; adopted by voice vote.
  • 33:00 In the same general exchange, a commissioner asked the mayor about the status of engineers’ proposal work related to the fire station; the mayor said he was still waiting on that.

Committee Reports 34:46

Planning Commission 34:46

  • 34:56 The chair apologized that Planning Commission minutes had not been distributed earlier and paused while they were handed out.
  • 36:19 Neither the chair nor vice chair of the Planning Commission was present; no substantive oral report followed beyond availability of the minutes.

Solid Waste Committee 36:38

  • 36:38 Solid Waste Committee minutes were said to be in the packet.
  • 36:45 No additional issues were highlighted and no questions were raised.

Health, Safety, and Properties Committee 36:57

  • 36:57 Committee minutes were in the packet; no substantive floor discussion followed.

Finance Committee 37:13

  • 37:13 The committee presented the January 2023 financial summary for approval.
  • 37:22 Motion made to approve the financial summary.
  • 37:39 Roll-call vote approved the January financial summary 13–0, with 1 absent.

Budget Committee 38:24

  • 38:24 The Budget Committee reported that it had reviewed several budget amendments needing commission approval and said they would be presented in grouped form.

38:48 Budget Amendments 23-40, 23-41, 23-42

  • 38:48 These were described as simple line-item movements within budgets, with no transfer from general-fund reserves.
  • 39:01 Motion made to approve Amendments 23-40, 23-41, and 23-42 together.
  • 39:21 Roll-call vote approved the group 13–0, with 1 absent.

39:53 Budget Amendment 23-43 — sheriff fuel funding

  • 39:53 Amendment 23-43 transferred $55,000 from fund balance/general-fund reserves into the Sheriff’s budget.
  • 40:00 The reason given was increased gasoline costs; the amount was described as enough to carry the department through the remainder of the fiscal year.
  • 40:23 Motion made to approve the amendment.
  • 40:36 Roll-call vote approved Amendment 23-43 13–0, with 1 absent.

41:01 Budget Amendments 23-44 through 23-47

  • 41:01 Amendments 23-44, 23-45, 23-46, and 23-47 were described as additional simple within-budget movements.
  • 41:19 Motion made to approve the four amendments as a group.
  • 41:40 Roll-call vote approved the group 13–0, with 1 absent.

Agricultural Extension Committee 42:29

  • 42:29 No substantive report; indicated to the next month.

Public Records Committee 42:42

  • 42:42 No substantive report given.

Economic and Community Development 42:50

  • 42:50 Briefly offered for questions; no major discussion followed.

Board of Zoning Appeals 43:06

  • 43:06 Report noted that the BZA had met and advanced an amendment to the Planning Commission, then to the commission, to change county zoning text on home occupation rules.
  • 43:19 The explanation was that current rules tie home occupations to a five-acre requirement; the proposed change would allow some business use on smaller tracts in certain circumstances, including accessory buildings, subject to use-specific review.
  • 43:48 Members were told the actual resolution would appear later on the agenda as Resolution 23-03.

Industrial Board 44:09

  • 44:09 New chair Byron Beard introduced himself.
  • 44:16 The only action reported was a vote to move the Industrial Board’s records into County Clerk Casey Dorton’s office.
  • 44:42 No further committee or board reports were added.
  • 44:42 Committee reports as presented were approved by voice vote.

Unfinished Business 45:06

  • 45:06 March meeting calendar was discussed briefly; members complimented the new color-coded format and no changes were raised.
  • 45:48 No unfinished business was brought forward.

New Business / Agenda Items 46:01

46:17 Resolution 23-03 — zoning text amendment on home occupations

  • 46:17 Resolution 23-03 amended the Hickman County Zoning Resolution, Article 3, Section 3.040(B)(3).
  • 46:38 Supporters described it as giving flexibility for business use on parcels under five acres, with special-exception review available at BZA discretion rather than a flat acreage barrier.
  • 47:29 Discussion emphasized that special exceptions are a powerful zoning tool and that BZA members function in a quasi-judicial role with significant authority and little commission oversight once appointed.
  • 48:46 Roll-call vote approved Resolution 23-03 13–0, with 1 absent.

49:21 Resolution 23-04 — campers/RVs/travel trailers as temporary residential structures

  • 49:21 Resolution 23-04 amended the county zoning resolution by adding Section 3.160, clarifying use of RVs, campers, and travel trailers as temporary residential structures.
  • 49:44 The practical explanation given was that such units must be temporary and cannot be a permanent residence.
  • 50:29 Roll-call vote approved Resolution 23-04 13–0, with 1 absent.

50:36 Resolution 23-07 — proposed rezoning of county-owned property on North Tidwell/North Tibbs Road from R2 back to A1

  • 50:36 Resolution 23-07 addressed county-owned property on North Tidwell Road/North Tibbs Road in the Fourth Civil District and would ask the planning body to rezone it from R2 high-density residential back to A1 agricultural.
  • 51:00 Supporters explained that the county originally bought the tract for industrial/commercial use, but the state did not approve that use; the property was later rezoned to R2 with the expectation sewer would be extended.
  • 51:34 The sewer plan stalled because a property owner would not allow the county to cross land connected to an eight-acre county tract on Highway 100.
  • 51:50 The stated purpose of the resolution was to let the mayor seek A1 rezoning so the county could potentially dispose of the property.

Objections: too soon to position property for sale

  • 52:19 Opposition argued the commission had not had enough full discussion about whether the property should be sold at all.
  • 52:53 One commissioner stressed that county surplus rules do not require zoning changes before sale and said the county should not “rush” while major unknowns remain.
  • 53:25 It was argued that unresolved TDOT and sewer-extension issues affect both development potential and fair market value; selling now could undercut taxpayers if the site later becomes more valuable.
  • 54:36 A specific carrying-cost argument was made that the land only costs about $250 per year, so there was little pressure to sell immediately.
  • 55:32 Another commissioner asked whether the county had any appraisal or real-estate consultant helping maximize return and said key front-end steps seemed missing.
  • 56:45 In response to process questions, it was said the county could consult an appraiser or real-estate agent, but sale would still have to occur through public process rather than ordinary listing.

Supporters’ case: A1 broadens bidding and fixes current mismatch

  • 57:36 Supporters countered that if the county has nearly $1 million tied up in the property, it should not limit the sale market to a narrow class of developers.
  • 57:45 A commissioner noted the resolution’s language cited “infrastructure limitations,” not impossibility, and asked why alternative sewer routing had not been further pursued.
  • 59:29 Response from the floor said the cost of bringing sewer to the 23-acre tract was not materially different by going up the highway instead of across the Pendergrass property; the latter had simply been the preferred route.
  • 1:00:46 A supporter emphasized that Resolution 23-07 itself did not sell, lease, or convey the tract; it only requested rezoning back to A1.
  • 1:01:51 The same speaker argued the property had already effectively been considered surplus, that the county currently had no use for it, and that A1 zoning would expose it to the maximum number of bidders.
  • 1:03:09 The core argument for supporters was that R2 zoning without sewer infrastructure leaves the parcel unattractive and functionally mismatched, while A1 would let farmers, single-home buyers, or future developers all bid and later pursue their own rezoning if desired.
  • 1:09:31 It was argued that a later purchaser could still seek to finance sewer extension and request rezoning back to residential if they wished, so A1 did not foreclose future development.

Additional debate: prior proposal process and accusations

  • 1:12:12 Opposition pushed back on criticism of the prior disposition attempt, saying the earlier process involved proposals, not simple bids, and that some proposals were rejected because they did not comply with the published criteria.
  • 1:13:03 The same commissioner reiterated that current uncertainty over sewer-system expansion means the county would not get top value now, whether the buyer wanted a single house or a denser subdivision of 30 or 40 houses.
  • 1:15:23 When asked what “surplus” meant in this context, the mayor described it simply as extra county property the county did not need.
  • 1:17:56 Another commissioner said the county had reached this point because a loan term was ending and the county had to decide whether to keep paying interest or stop where it was; that speaker maintained the project had not become impossible, only unfinished.
  • 1:19:13 That commissioner said the county had borrowed about $1 million for the effort and objected to suggestions that prior commissioners had acted dishonestly in the earlier proposal process.
  • 1:20:59 Another member argued that anyone could bid on property regardless of zoning and that converting from A1 back to R2 later might actually be harder than supporters implied, undercutting the need for a change now.
  • 1:23:48 The clerk reread the operative language of the resolution for clarity, identifying the parcel as Tax Map 021, Parcel 153.20, physically found on Highway 100 / North Tidwell Road, Bon Aqua.

Vote and outcome

  • 1:24:45 Roll-call vote initially came out 5 yes, 8 no, 1 absent; a commissioner then changed a vote.
  • 1:25:31 Final result was 4 yes, 9 no, 1 absent.
  • 1:25:40 Resolution 23-07 failed.

1:25:59 Resolution 23-08 — naming bridge in memory of Eddie Cook

  • 1:25:59 Resolution 23-08 named the county bridge on Sunrise Road in the Swan Creek community for Eddie Cook.
  • 1:26:31 Supporters said Cook had served many years with the highway department and had been highly respected in the community.
  • 1:27:41 Roll-call vote approved the bridge naming 13–0, with 1 absent.
  • 1:28:07 Family members present were thanked.

Announcements and Adjournment 1:28:15

  • 1:28:15 A signature was needed from Commissioner Moore related to the bridge-naming resolution.
  • 1:28:23 No further announcements were raised.
  • 1:28:30 Meeting adjourned on motion.

Key figures and statistics

Figure Type Context / topic Timestamp
13 present Attendance Roll call / quorum count 19:19
1 absent Attendance Roll call / quorum count 19:19
2 Count Houses expected on Tidwell Loop parcel before owner sought rezoning 24:06
9000 Address number Property address for Old Highway 46 rezoning 24:50
3 Seat count Required number of commissioners on Ag Extension Committee 26:52
7 Count Notaries approved 28:22
5 Agenda item number County mayor said item 5 should return to Budget Committee 30:19
April 18 Deadline Last day to sign opioid settlement participation forms 31:25
January 2023 Reporting period Financial summary approved 37:13
23-40 Amendment number Budget amendment approved in first group 38:48
23-41 Amendment number Budget amendment approved in first group 38:48
23-42 Amendment number Budget amendment approved in first group 38:48
13–0 Vote Approval of budget amendments 23-40 to 23-42 39:21
$55,000 Transfer / expense Fund balance transfer to Sheriff’s budget for gasoline 39:53
23-43 Amendment number Sheriff fuel budget amendment 39:53
13–0 Vote Approval of budget amendment 23-43 40:36
23-44 Amendment number Budget amendment approved in final group 41:01
23-45 Amendment number Budget amendment approved in final group 41:01
23-46 Amendment number Budget amendment approved in final group 41:01
23-47 Amendment number Budget amendment approved in final group 41:01
5 acres Acreage threshold Existing home-occupation rule discussed by BZA / zoning amendment 43:19
23-03 Resolution number Home-occupation zoning text amendment 43:48
Article 3, Section 3.040(B)(3) Citation detail Portion of zoning resolution amended by Resolution 23-03 46:17
5 acres Acreage threshold Parcels under this size addressed by Resolution 23-03 discussion 46:38
13–0 Vote Approval of Resolution 23-03 48:46
Section 3.160 Citation detail New zoning section on RVs/campers/travel trailers 49:21
13–0 Vote Approval of Resolution 23-04 50:29
8 acres Acreage County-owned tract on Highway 100 referenced in sewer-route discussion 51:42
$250 per year Carrying cost Annual cost cited for holding county property rather than selling now 54:36
nearly $1 million Investment estimate Amount said to be tied up in the property 57:02
23 acres Acreage Size of tract referenced in sewer-cost discussion 59:29
4 Count Number of prior proposals/bids discussed from earlier attempted disposition 1:11:17
30 or 40 houses Development estimate Example of possible density discussed in sale/value debate 1:14:00
$1 million Borrowing / project cost Amount said to have been borrowed for the property/project 1:19:13
$300,000 Funding figure Amount referenced in loan/pay-interest discussion 1:19:51
Tax Map 021 Parcel identifier County-owned property in Resolution 23-07 1:24:21
Parcel 153.20 Parcel identifier County-owned property in Resolution 23-07 1:24:31
5 yes / 8 no / 1 absent Vote Initial tally on Resolution 23-07 before vote change 1:24:45
4 yes / 9 no / 1 absent Vote Final tally defeating Resolution 23-07 1:25:31
13–0 Vote Approval of Resolution 23-08 bridge naming 1:27:41

External vendors, brands, and software

Name Type Context / topic Timestamp
Teva Company Opioid settlement participation paperwork 31:40
Allergan Company Opioid settlement participation paperwork 31:48
CVS Company Opioid settlement participation paperwork 31:48
Walgreens Company Opioid settlement participation paperwork 31:48
Walmart Company Opioid settlement participation paperwork 31:48

Personnel changes

| Name | Role / office | Change | Context / topic | Timestamp | |---|---|---|---| | Ricky Murray | Commissioner / Ag Extension Committee member | Appointed | Appointed to fill vacancy on Ag Extension Committee and complete term; approved by voice vote | 27:42 | | Mia Dressler | Director, Hickman County Library | Hired | County mayor announced library had named her as director | 30:27 | | Byron Beard | Chair, Industrial Board | Appointed | Introduced as new chairman during Industrial Board report | 44:09 |

Laws and policies

| Citation / name | Level | Type | Context / topic | Timestamp | |---|---|---|---| | Tennessee code | State | Statute | Requirement that Ag Extension Committee include three commissioners | 26:52 | | Article 3, Section 3.040(B)(3) | County | Resolution | Hickman County zoning text amended by Resolution 23-03 on home occupations | 46:17 | | Section 3.160 | County | Resolution | New zoning section clarifying RVs/campers/travel trailers as temporary residential structures | 49:21 |

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