County Commissioners · Meeting · Sep 22, 2025

Mon, Sep 22, 2025

The elected legislative body for Hickman County. Sets county policy, adopts the budget, and represents residents across the county’s districts.

Outline

This outline was generated by an LLM from a transcript and may contain errors or inaccuracies. Prefer the original recording when available.

Highlights

The September 22, 2025, meeting of the Hickman County Commission focused heavily on planning and zoning policy, particularly Resolution 2529, which proposes changes to R1 zoning requirements in growth areas. This item drew significant public comment and commissioner debate, with concerns about infrastructure, road widths, and the pace of regulatory change. No final vote was taken; the resolution will return for action in October, with commissioners requesting detailed maps of road rights-of-way and water service in advance.

Other notable business included approval of several budget amendments (notably for library landscaping, EMA CPR devices, and school personnel), surplus of ambulance heart monitors and CPR devices for trade-in, confirmation of standing committee memberships after debate, and the announcement of a $75,000 state grant for a new entrepreneurship center. The county received a clean audit, and the Veterans Service Officer position will transition to part-time after a retirement. The commission also voted to waive the AFT fee for the animal control building project.

Call to Order, Roll Call, and Organizational Elections 3:49

  • 3:52 Roll call: 12 present, 1 absent.
  • 4:21 Election of chairman: Keith Nash nominated and re-elected by acclamation.
  • 5:27 Election of vice chair: Claude Callicott nominated and elected by acclamation.
  • 6:10 Election of parliamentarian: Ron Mayberry reappointed by acclamation.
  • 6:42 Opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of Agenda 8:13

  • 8:21 Agenda amended to add Marcy Alexander (Chamber of Commerce) before public comment; approved without objection.

Chamber of Commerce Presentation 9:15

  • 9:23 Marcy Alexander invited commissioners to the upcoming quarterly membership meeting focused on tourism, with guest Ryan French from South Central Tennessee Tourism and local attractions.

Public Comment 11:06

  • 12:35 Ethan Post spoke in support of Resolution 2529, citing concerns about rapid development without infrastructure.
  • 13:41 Austin Page opposed the speed of changes in Resolution 2529, arguing it could harm small landowners and called for postponement for further discussion; referenced support from Commissioner Collins.

Approval of Minutes 16:51

  • 16:59 Minutes from August 24, 2025, approved.

Elections, Appointments, and Confirmations 17:25

  • 18:00 Motion to confirm existing memberships of Public Safety, Budget, Finance, Planning Commission, and Solid Waste committees.
    • 18:39 Commissioner Barnhill requested changes, suggesting more rotation, especially on Planning Commission.
    • 19:18 Discussion about committee assignments and learning opportunities.
    • 21:25 Roll call vote: 10 yes, 2 no, 1 absent; motion carries.
  • 21:38 Notary appointments: 11 individuals approved as notaries.

County Mayor’s Report 23:00

  • 23:13 County audit completed with a clean result; commissioners reminded to complete required training.
  • 23:46 Proposal to rename part of Highway 100 for Chief Shannon Irwin; to be pursued with the chair.
  • 24:31 EMS station at Pinewood: security and radio installation updates.
  • 24:54 Clarification regarding BSO officer retirement (Rick Humphrey retiring October 1); position to become part-time, with office relocation and removal of military property.

Committee Reports

Planning Commission 26:54

  • 27:04 Land use plan work ongoing; Resolution 2529 to be discussed later.

Solid Waste Committee 27:19

  • 27:27 Met, minutes in packet; chair/vice chair elections postponed to October.

Health, Safety, and Properties Committee 27:43

  • 28:13 EMA grant: City will pay half the match if county pays other half.
    • 28:37 Motion for county to pay 6% of match (up to $6,000 on a $100,000 grant for generators); approved 12 yes, 1 absent.
  • 30:07 Surplus of heart monitors and CPR devices for ambulance service to allow trade-in for upgrades.
    • 30:29 Motion to surplus; approved 12 yes, 1 absent.

Finance Committee 31:34

  • 31:42 Motion to approve August financial summary; approved 12 yes, 1 absent.

Budget, Finance, and Human Resources Committee 32:34

  • 32:43 Six budget amendments presented in two groups:
    • 32:50 Library landscaping ($5,400), EMA CPR devices ($31,950), Drug Fund K9 training ($1,410), Clerk printing supplies ($2,250); all approved 12 yes, 1 absent.
    • 34:08 School psychologist reclass/capital items ($181,047), state bonuses ($72,075.39); approved 9 yes, 3 pass, 1 absent.

Economic and Community Development 35:55

  • 36:04 County granted Three Star status, qualifying for special grants and lower match percentages; formal recognition at governor’s conference.
  • 36:35 State awarded $75,000 for new entrepreneurship center in partnership with Main Street and Chamber; only 33 of 55 statewide projects approved.
  • 38:03 Freedom Packaging hiring up to five warehouse associates at $18/hour plus benefits; operations to start December.

Other Boards and Committees

  • 40:00 Board of Zoning Appeals: met, minutes in packet.
  • 40:10 Industrial Board: met, minutes requested for future meetings.
  • 40:49 Opioid Settlement Board: first-term members’ terms ending May 26, 2026; one commissioner seat open.
  • 42:03 Animal Shelter Advisory Board: city waived building permit fee; motion to waive AFT fee for animal control building construction; approved 12 yes, 1 absent.
  • 43:37 Motion to include all committee minutes in the record; approved.

Meeting Schedule and Announcements 43:52

  • 44:04 Planning Commission meeting time to revert to 6:30 PM.
  • 44:26 Other schedule changes to be communicated by noon next day.

Unfinished Business

  • None raised.

New Business / Agenda Items

Resolution 2529 (R1 Zoning Amendment) 44:34

  • 44:44 Resolution 2529, 2530, and 2531 introduced; all are planning/zoning items subject to two-month rule, with votes in October.
  • 45:13 Commissioner Clark explained intent: R1 was meant to facilitate subdivision development in growth areas, but has not been used as intended; amendment would require 30-foot right-of-way and potable water for R1 rezoning.
  • 49:45 Discussion clarified that developers must upgrade roads/water lines to standards before rezoning; county takes over roads after one year if built to spec.
  • 52:08 Question raised about whether two readings/votes are required; clarified that only one vote is needed after two months’ discussion, per county attorney’s prior advice.
  • 54:04 Motion made (and later withdrawn after assurance) to provide all commissioners with maps of county road rights-of-way and water service before next meeting; chair committed to distributing these.
  • 1:01:15 Commissioner Barnhill suggested 30-foot right-of-way may be excessive, proposing 24 feet; further debate expected in October.
  • 1:02:14 Clarification that “right-of-way” (not road width) is the standard used.
  • 1:03:24 Request for printed copies of road list for all commissioners; mayor and zoning office to provide.
  • 1:04:21 Resolutions 2530 and 2531 are rezoning requests; 2530 has a property map error to be corrected and distributed.

Announcements and Adjournment 1:05:40

  • No further announcements.
  • Motion to adjourn approved.

Key figures and statistics

Figure Type Context / topic Timestamp
12 Headcount Commissioners present at roll call 4:11
1 Headcount Commissioner absent at roll call 4:11
10 yes, 2 no, 1 absent Vote tally Committee membership confirmation 21:25
11 Appointments Notaries approved 22:12
$6,000 Expense County’s max share (6%) of EMA generator grant 29:25
$100,000 Grant cap EMA generator grant cap 29:19
12 yes, 1 absent Vote tally EMA grant match approval 29:58
12 yes, 1 absent Vote tally Surplus heart monitors/CPR devices 31:22
$5,400 Expense Library landscaping budget amendment 32:50
$31,950 Expense EMA CPR devices budget amendment 32:50
$1,410 Expense Drug Fund K9 training budget amendment 33:08
$2,250 Expense Clerk printing supplies budget amendment 33:16
12 yes, 1 absent Vote tally First group of budget amendments 33:59
$181,047 Expense School psychologist/capital items amendment 34:16
$72,075.39 Expense State bonuses budget amendment 34:30
9 yes, 3 pass, 1 absent Vote tally School budget amendments 35:20
$75,000 Grant State grant for entrepreneurship center 36:44
54.3% Percentage Rural counties’ employment from small business 37:21
$18/hour Wage Freedom Packaging warehouse associate pay 38:44
5 Headcount Freedom Packaging warehouse positions open 38:36
12 yes, 1 absent Vote tally Waive AFT fee for animal control building 43:17
6:30 PM Time Planning Commission meeting time 44:04