Newsletter

Friday Recap August 15th, 2025

Bill Petty

16 Aug 2025 — 22 min read

My Comment

Last week, I wrote about the two BOMA meetings this week that would be addressing the Harlin Development. I will have a summary of both meetings as well as resolutions and video below.

First was the BOMA Work Session and, right after that, was the BOMA Board meeting. As you may or may not know, the Work Sessions are a time when citizens can comment and the board discusses business before them. There are no votes during the Work Sessions. Immediately following the Work Session, is the Board Meeting. During the board meetings, citizens are, again, afforded time to speak on issues that are on the agenda. Typically, there are multiple resolutions that must be voted on or deferred to a later date.

The most prominent issue on Tuesday's BOMA meeting agenda was the Harlin Development. There were seven resolutions pertaining to this project that all needed to be voted on. Once the board turned their attention to these resolutions, it was noted that in order for the Harlin Project to be approved, there first had to be an interlocal agreement between the city and the county.

The reason for the interlocal agreement is because the access road in and out of the development must go through county property that cannot be annexed by the city. It seemed that the BOMA Board was unaware that the county has not even addressed the interlocal agreement, much less passed it. You can watch the discussion here, and it starts at 32:43.

What is an interlocal agreement? An interlocal agreement is a written contract between local government agencies such as a city, a county, a school board or a constitutional office. Any time a public service involves the joint operations and budgets of two or more local government agencies, an interlocal agreement must be drawn up and approved by all sides, with each government’s governing body- a city council, a county commission, etc.–enacting the agreement by vote. Here is the actual agreement that must be voted on by both the County Commission and BOMA.

Because of the lack of a completed interlocal agreement, resolutions 13-18 were all deferred until the November BOMA meeting.

Williamson County Republican Party

The WCRP held a candidate forum for U.S. Congress district 7 on Thursday and eight candidates attended. The forum was held at the West Haven Residents Club and hosted by both the WCRP and the West Haven Conservatives. It was a lively and informative evening, and I was impressed with the high quality of Republican candidates running for the seat recently vacated by Mark Green. You can watch the proceedings here.

There was a straw poll and Jody Barrett came in first with 44 of the 109 votes, followed by Matt Van Epps second and Mason Foley third.

Williamson County Planning Commission

The Planning Commission passed 32.Concept Plan Review for 1360 Coleman Road Subdivision, containing 8 lots on 62.98 acres located off of Coleman Road in the 11th Voting District (1-2025-201). This is the property that is in Williamson County and not in the Urban Growth Boundary (UBG) for the City of Franklin. It is the property that would require the above interlocal agreement if the Harlin Development were to proceed. The concept plan is the first step in the three step process. To be clear, even it this project goes through, an interlocal agreement will still be required for the Harlin Development.Agenda Packet Video.

In Williamson County, Tennessee, the development process for plats (concept, preliminary, and final) involves a sequence of reviews and approvals by the Planning Commission and sometimes the Board of Commissioners (BOMA). Generally, a concept plan is the first step, followed by a preliminary plat, and finally a final plat. Here's a breakdown of each stage:

1. Concept Plan:

Purpose:A preliminary overview of a development proposal, outlining the general layout and intended use of the land.
Review:Reviewed by the Planning Commission, often in conjunction with a pre-application meeting with staff according to the City of Franklin, TN (.gov).
BOMA Approval (if applicable):For Planned Unit Developments (PUDs), the BOMA has the final say on the concept plan, potentially with conditions or rejection.
Conformance with Concept Plan:A preliminary plat must be in substantial conformance with the approved concept plan according to Williamson County, TN (.gov).

2. Preliminary Plat:

Purpose: A more detailed plan showing the specific layout of lots, streets, and infrastructure for a subdivision.
Review: Reviewed by the Planning Commission.
Applicability: Required for all Major Traditional Subdivisions, Conservation Subdivisions, and Large-Lot Easement Subdivisions according to Williamson County, TN (.gov).
Relationship to Concept Plan: The preliminary plat should align with the approved concept plan.

3. Final Plat:

Purpose:The final, detailed drawing of the subdivision, ready for recording and legal documentation.
Review:Reviewed and approved by either the Planning Commission or staff, depending on the specific criteria.
Recording:Once approved, the final plat is recorded with the Register of Deeds of Williamson County.
Finality:No unauthorized changes can be made to the final plat after approval.

General Notes:

Pre-application meetings: Optional for minor subdivisions, but recommended to discuss the process with staff according to Williamson County, TN (.gov).
Submittal Deadlines: Specific deadlines exist for submitting applications for each stage, and these are available on the City of Franklin and Williamson County websites.
Fees: Application fees apply for each stage.
Public Notice: Public notification is required for some stages, including mailing letters to nearby property owners according to the City of Franklin, TN (.gov).
Electronic Submittal: Williamson County utilizes an online portal for plan review and submittal.
Review Process: Staff reviews the application, provides comments, and the applicant resubmits, with final action taken by the Planning Commission.

Are you looking for something fun to do tonight?

I have just the thing. The Franklin VFW and Guitars For Vets is holding our monthly showcase tonight (August 16). It is really a lot of fun and the pork tenderloin dinner we are offering is the best bargain in town. And, to top it off, you get to see me sing and play with the G4V vets. Folks, it don't get no better. Oh, and there is an open mic, so if you play, come on and join in.

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this past week the following committees/commissions met:

The AI program I use is pretty accurate, but it does make mistakes from time to time and I don't always catch them. I provide agendas and videos/audios when I have them available and recommend that you watch the video and follow along with the summary to get the most accurate report.

One of the limitations of AI is that if a participant's name is not called out, then they are listed as participant 1, 2, etc. A limitation with audio, as opposed to video, is that one cannot always identify a person by voice alone. As imperfect as these AI summaries are, they still give a pretty good account of a meeting.

Williamson County School District

Thursday August 14th

School Board Work Session met, Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] Jason - Provide fourth grade TCAP data for 2024 summer school students Provide data on how the 297 third graders from 2024 who attended summer school performed on fourth grade ELA TCAP, including disaggregated analysis by students who attended summer school only versus those who attended both summer school and tutoring. Present this data before the Monday board meeting and address it during the superintendent's report at the voting meeting.

Overview

District enrollment is 60 students over projected amount with 0.2% total decrease from last year—much better than the projected 0.44% reduction
Teacher staffing reached 99% for general education and 97% for special education (up 5% from last year's 91-92%)
Cell phone policy implementation at high schools shows smooth transition with students responding respectfully to reminders
Technology committee will present recommendations at September 11th work session after September 9th meeting
3,059 teachers received state bonus averaging $2,310 gross ($1,300 net after taxes and retirement)
Third grade retention outcomes: only 2 students retained this year (down from 3 last year) after 307 students attended required tutoring

School opening enrollment and staffing updates

Enrollment as of day 8 shows 60 students over projected amount
Every grade level cohort increased in numbers, but 1,300 fewer kindergartners than last year's graduating seniors
125 more seniors than last year's junior class due to move-ins at high school level
Teacher staffing at 99% for general education and 97% for special education (347 of 358 budgeted positions filled)
Special education staffing improved 5% from last year's 91-92% to current 97%
Jason attributed improvements to better retention and flat enrollment numbers
Bus drivers staffed at 238 out of 251 with 3 substitutes—still requiring first and second loads at some locations

Visitor badging safety system rollout

New badging system requires visitors to scan driver's licenses and receive obvious stickers when entering school buildings
System applies to visitors who haven't completed tier 3 volunteer process for WCS badges
Car line pickup parents don't need to scan if they're on the pickup list
Jason noted the system was piloted at several schools last year before district-wide rollout

Physical activity law implementation

Elementary schools provide 45 minutes of recess daily (exceeding 40 minute requirement)
Dr. Webb sent detailed spreadsheet showing each secondary school's unique approach based on lunch and homeroom schedules
Jason acknowledged district initially missed some informal break times and restructured to ensure defined 90 minute periods
High schools using study hall rotations for physical activity in small groups rather than all students at once
Schools partnering with PTOs for donated equipment like spike ball kits

Cell phone policy early results

Dr. Webb reported smooth transition at high schools with students responding respectfully to reminders
Elementary and middle schools saw no substantial change from previous year's restrictions
High school policy now prohibits use during class time, study hall, and transition periods
Students instinctively pulling out phones during transitions but immediately putting them away when reminded
Lunch periods still show students socializing rather than burying faces in phones
Apple watches and AirPods continue to be issues requiring ongoing attention

Technology committee recommendations progress

Committee has 4 grade band groups (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, high school) reaching consensus on recommendations
Ms. Wyatt's 3rd-5th grade group agreed phones should be away from school property entry until exit, including buses
13% of parents district-wide opted into mature reading list (18% elementary, 13% middle, 7% high school)
Jenny Lopez confirmed next meeting September 9th from 4pm-6pm with recommendations coming to board September 11th
Over 2,500 parent responses received on one-question feedback survey still open until early September

Library mature reading list opt-in data

13% of parents district-wide requested placement on mature reading list for restricted book access
Elementary schools had highest participation at 18%, middle schools 13%, high schools 7%
Librarians anticipate significant number of books at middle and high school levels but few if any at elementary schools meeting criteria

Third grade retention law outcomes

3,027 third graders tested in 2025 compared to 3,057 in 2024
307 students attended required tutoring (10.1%) compared to 354 last year (11.6%)
379 students attended summer school this year compared to 297 required last year
Only 2 students retained this year compared to 3 last year
Jason emphasized retentions based on principal-parent conversations about what's best for individual children, not test failure

Facilities ribbon cuttings and construction

Brentwood Middle ribbon cutting completed Sunday with total rebuild finished (exterior field work completing late October/early November)
Page Middle ribbon cutting Sunday 2:00 PM, Page High ribbon cutting Sunday 3:30 PM
Page High School opened 50 years ago in 1975 with first graduating class 1976
Innovation center on schedule for April completion with block installation complete and steel joist installation finished

Budget adjustments and teacher bonuses

$84,421.51 in outstanding restricted donations carried forward to 2025-26 budget
$31,803 transition grant carryover for October-September grant year
$7,068,763.50 received from state for teacher bonuses under Education Freedom Act
3,059 teachers qualified for bonus averaging $2,310 gross, $1,300 net after taxes and retirement
348 certificated teachers didn't qualify due to part-time status, late hiring, or less than 50% direct instruction time
Ms. Farmer reported ending fund balance "almost spot on exactly where we predicted"

Summer maintenance projects completion

Fairview Elementary plumbing project completed
3 elementary playgrounds replaced
HVAC projects at Fairview Middle and Grassland Middle completed
Wastewater treatment plant at Hillsborough Elementary Middle completed
7 schools received paving projects
Mr. King noted extensive additional summer work across all operations departments

Next Week

Monday August 18th

School Board at 6:30 PM in the Auditorium at the Williamson County Administrative Building. The Administrative Building is located on the first floor at 1320 West Main Street, Franklin. Agenda Video click on August 18 School Board Meeting Livestream at 6:30 pm or thereafter.

Williamson County Commission

Special Note: Since Williamson County does not record any meetings other than the commission, budget committee and planning commission meetings, I am recording all the meetings that I attend on my iPhone. We are in the process of reviewing a technology upgrade that will allow the county to record more meetings as well as include agendas, minutes and packets on our website. I will keep you up to date when progress is made

Thursday August 14th

Planning Commission Agenda Packet Video

AI Summary

Overview

Commission approved 7 subdivision and plat items including Wylie Farm's 53-lot section 2 on 426.2 acres and 24-acre common area with wellness facilities
Villages at Triune West concept plan revision approved, increasing from 233 to 312 total units (98 single family, 214 townhomes) on 157.79 acres
Private airports zoning amendment deferred to October meeting after staff received multiple public comments
Aaron announced 3 item withdrawals (items 25, 26) and 3 consent agenda deferrals

Agenda changes and deferrals

Aaron announced items 25 and 26 were withdrawn from the agenda
Items 24 (Owen Valley Wastewater Treatment Site Plan), 29 (Owen Valley Concept Plan), and 35 (Construction Consulting of Tennessee Plat) were placed on consent agenda for deferrals
Commission approved the consent agenda with all deferrals

Wylie Farm subdivision final review

Commission approved final plat for Wylie Farm subdivision section 2 with 53 lots on 426.2 acres off Del Rio Pike
Development includes 310.27 acres of open space with private roads throughout
Abigail Overstreet with Wilson Associates represented the applicant
Water provided by City of Franklin, wastewater handled via non-traditional treatment system
Staff recommended approval with standard conditions

Wylie Farm common area site plan

Commission approved 24-acre common area site plan classified as country club off Del Rio Pike
Facilities include wellness center, restaurant, swimming pool, pool house, badminton, tennis and pickleball courts, croquet and bocce courts, lake and boathouse
Peter Romano with Collective Civil Engineering represented the applicant
Staff recommended approval with standard conditions

Villages at Triune West concept plan revision

Commission approved revised concept plan increasing total units from 233 to 312 (98 single family lots, 214 townhome lots) on 157.79 acres
Revision incorporates 83 townhome units previously approved by Board of Zoning Appeals in May
Located off Murfreesboro Road and Horton Highway with density of 1.98 dwelling units per acre
Development includes 12-foot wide multimodal greenway trails that must be constructed before final plat submission
Water provided by Nolensville College Grove Utility District, wastewater via non-traditional treatment system

Private airports zoning amendment deferral

Staff requested deferral to October meeting after receiving multiple public comments on proposed setback clarification amendments
Jason Goddard spoke representing client Charles Cruz, supporting the amendment to clarify 1,000-foot setbacks from residential structures rather than residential zoning
Amendment will not appear on County Commission's September agenda
Commission approved the deferral request

Farron subdivision concept plan

Commission approved 8-lot traditional subdivision on 62.98 acres off Coleman Road with density of 0.13 units per acre
Lots range from 5 to 8.54 acres in size with 2.48 acres of open space
Applicant agreed to Coleman Road improvements including westbound right turn decel lane and eastbound turn lane
Water provided by HB&TS Utility District, sewer by City of Franklin
75% of existing tree canopy will be retained

Preliminary and final plat approvals

Commission approved preliminary plat for Burn subdivision phase 1: 41 lots on 39.11 acres off Patton Road with 20 acres open space
Commission approved preliminary plat for Tributary subdivision phase 1: 39 lots on 89.63 acres off Cox Road with 63 acres open space
Commission approved preliminary plat for Smithson's Vow: 4 lots on 34.57 acres off Paytonsville Arno Road with 200-foot building envelope separation
Commission approved final plat for Cassandra Fish property: 1 lot on 34.72 acres off Oscar Green Road
Commission approved final plat for Susan Hollow: 4 lots on 31.13 acres off Pewitt Road

Next Week

Wednesday August 20th

Law Enforcement and Public Safety meets at 5:30 pm in the Williamson County Administrative Complex Executive Conference Room 1320 West Main Street Franklin, Resolution Minuets

Thursday August 21st

Special Commission Meeting to approve committee assignments Agenda

Board of Mayor and Aldermen

Tuesday August 12th

BOMA work session Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] Vernon Gerth - Continue transit discussions with Franklin Transit Authority and WeGo Continue dialogue with Franklin Transit Authority and WeGo regarding potential transit stops and park-and-ride facilities in the Cool Springs area, including the Ovation development site, and provide updates to the Board.
[ ] Eric Stuckey - Obtain state clarification on hotel motel tax increase authority Continue working to get clarification from the state comptroller's office and potentially obtain an Attorney General's opinion on the city's authority to implement the hotel motel tax increase, with goal of having information by September meetings.
[ ] Eric Stuckey - Provide additional guidance on mural vs signage classification Work with appropriate staff and departments to provide the Board additional guidance on differentiating murals from signage, particularly regarding facade painting versus traditional murals, and bring back recommendations for the mural resolution.
[ ] Eric Stuckey - Engage Public Arts Commission in additional dialogue on mural guidelines Work with Public Arts Commission and appropriate staff to have additional dialogue about mural guidelines and regulations, potentially including stronger language about signage differentiation and facade versus side-of-building placement, and bring back additional thoughts and options.

Overview

Board discussed 8 major agenda items including two large mixed-use developments (Orium and Ovation) with multiple modification requests
FY2025-26 budget amendment addresses $2.6 million reduction in property tax revenue and capital transfers due to lower tax rate approval
Hotel motel tax increase remains deferred pending state clarification on 8% cap interpretation
Harlin PUD proposal includes $16 million in infrastructure improvements with temporary gating solution for Hillview Lane access
Transit integration discussions emerged for Ovation development with potential WeGo partnership at Carruthers Parkway location

Mural approval process and sign ordinance

Resolution 2025-48 proposes murals at 1175 Meridian for Cajun Steamer and Eastern Peak restaurants
Public Arts Commission recommended approval for both stencil-style murals with cherry blossoms and fleur de lis designs
Board expressed concerns about murals appearing more like building facades than traditional art
Mayor questioned whether exterior building painting should fall under sign ordinance rather than art commission review
Staff agreed to revisit guidelines with Public Arts Commission to better differentiate facade treatments from murals
Property owners remain responsible for maintenance of approved murals

FY2025-26 budget amendment overview

Michael Walters Young presented first budget amendment covering 4 major categories
Amendment redistributes annual wage increases across general fund, sanitation, storm water, and water management
Includes carryover items for equipment and software purchases from previous fiscal year
Adjusts budget to reflect $0.296 property tax rate approved versus originally planned $0.32 rate
Reduces property tax revenue assumption and capital projects transfer by $2.6 million
Appropriates $2,025,000 for previously approved Creekside home purchase

Hotel motel tax increase status

Current combined city and county rate is 8% (4% each)
State comptroller questions Franklin's authority to increase rate above 8% total cap
City believes 2021 legislation carved out existing authority for rate increase
Staff expects state clarification in Q3 or Q4 with possible Attorney General opinion
Implementation delayed until January 1st if approved
No budget impact since expenses weren't appropriated against anticipated higher revenue

Orium rezoning and development plan

Rezoning request for 27.19 acres from 850 hotel keys to 300 hotel keys with mixed-use development
Proposed plan includes 900 multifamily units, 245,460 square feet non-residential, 300 hotel rooms
Development reduces traffic by 4,000 daily trips compared to original approval
4 modification of standards requested, with staff recommending approval of 2 and disapproval of 2
Staff opposes digital interactive wayfinding screens and LED/neon lighting modifications
Planning Commission recommended approval 8-0 for rezoning and development plan

Ovation development plan and modifications

Rezoning 103.93 acres for 1,525 multifamily units, 69 townhomes, 1.6 million square feet non-residential, 350 hotel rooms
8 modifications of standards requested with mixed staff recommendations
Shared parking study reduces required spaces by 2,339 inside Ovation Parkway Loop
Major controversy over parking structure placement along Carruthers Parkway arterial road
Staff recommends disapproval unless transit components added including WeGo ticket office and park-and-ride spaces
Planning Commission recommended approval 8-0 with architectural conditions for parking structures

Transit integration and parking structures

WeGo partnership discussions for potential transfer station at Ovation development
Proposed transit stop on Carruthers Parkway with 390 feet setback from McEwen Drive
Staff conditions require regional transit ticket office, designated pull-off area, and park-and-ride spaces
Franklin Transit Authority has not formally reviewed or approved transit proposals
Alderman Baggett emphasized need for Transit Authority input before approval
Transit master plan study ongoing with completion expected before final decisions

Municipal engineering contracts

Items 11-14 cover Gresham Smith contracts and utility estimate spreadsheets
Contract 2025-0268 requires city administrator authority to execute substantially similar agreement pending TDOT approval
Provides reimbursement for water and sewer line relocation costs related to bridge construction
LDA Engineering contract for $290,000 covers water line design from Mac Hatcher to Lewisburg Pike through Sullivan Farms

Parks facility fee schedules

Ordinance 2025-23 establishes rates for newly opened facilities
Harlinsdale Farm barn opens Tuesday with substantial rental fees for community use
Bicentennial facility operational for 2 months with successful small rentals
New park closure fees established for Harlinsdale Farm and future Robinson Lake facility
Food vendor fee applies to parks-hosted special events, not private caterers

Harlin PUD traffic and infrastructure

242 dwelling units proposed with $16 million in off-site road improvements including $4 million in impact fees
Traffic study approved by 5 engineering groups shows 60% Hillview Lane, 40% Coleman Road distribution
Applicant proposes modified Condition 30 requiring infrastructure completion before building permits
Coleman Road and Henpeck intersection improvements from failing F rating to A-B levels
Mac Hatcher Parkway west extension required before Hillview Lane access opens
Construction timeline: Columbia Avenue improvements 2028-2031, Mac Hatcher Southeast 2032-2034

Hillview Lane access and gating options

Original proposal included permanent gating, revised to temporary gates pending Mac Hatcher completion
26-foot wide road section with 4-foot bike path, 10-foot travel lanes, 2-foot shoulders
Tree tunnel section currently 19 feet wide, requires widening with some tree impacts
Temporary gate proposed for Hillview residents, Harlan residents, hotel guests, and essential services only
Permanent gating requires modification of standards approval through Planning Commission
Staff recommends emergency-only access gates require updated traffic impact analysis

BOMA Board met Agenda Video

AI Summary

Overview

Board deferred all Harlin development items until November 11th after learning county interlocal agreement requires Highway Commission approval on September 3rd and County Commission approval on September 8th
Multiple citizens complained about SRM Concrete horns causing 30-40 second loud noise disruptions throughout day and night at Vintage Green condos
Board approved interlocal agreement for Harlin development road work by 6-2 vote to send to county for consideration
Two proclamations honored Richard Clinton Clint Grenoble (landscape architect) and Dr. Kenneth Dodge (retiring family physician after 40 years)
County Commissioner Petty clarified county needs resolutions two weeks before meetings (by August 26th for September 8th meeting)

SRM Concrete noise complaints

Joan Liscavio and Beth Krolik from 800 Vintage Green Lane complained about SRM Concrete horns going off for 30-40 seconds at a time
Krolik reported horns occur every 15 minutes throughout night starting at 4:00 AM and continuing all day
Residents were never informed about these horns when purchasing condos behind Chick-fil-A
Citizens have recorded the sounds and submitted complaints to aldermen seeking solutions
Krolik characterized the sounds as "piercing sirens or warning signals" that prevent sleep

Community member proclamations

Board honored Richard Clinton Clint Grenoble, landscape architect who died April 6, 2025 at age 51
Grenoble worked over two decades at Land Design and Edge Group, contributing to hundreds of Franklin projects including Lockwood Glen, Gateway Village, Franklin High School, and St. Philip Catholic Church
Board recognized Dr. Kenneth Dodge for nearly 40 years of family practice service in Franklin starting in 1986
Dr. Dodge partnered with Dr. Joe Willoughby and served thousands of patients while maintaining leadership roles in medical staff committees

Harlin development public opposition

Over 15 citizens spoke against the Harlan development citing traffic safety concerns on Coleman Road (rated F for safety) and Hillview Lane
Citizens opposed 250-400 additional cars per day on Coleman Road, which has blind spots, hills, and minimal shoulders
Multiple speakers requested preserving Hillview Lane as heritage road and using emergency-only access instead of full road widening
Residents cited infrastructure concerns with 1,000+ approved housing units already impacting Columbia Avenue corridor
County Commissioner Petty noted Franklin grew from 20,000 people in 1990 to 90,000 currently, with 24% growth in last 10 years

County interlocal agreement requirements

City Attorney Billingsley confirmed state law requires interlocal agreement for non-contiguous annexations involving county roads
County Commissioner Petty clarified Highway Commission must approve on September 3rd, then County Commission on September 8th
Petty noted resolutions must be filed two weeks before meetings, requiring submission by August 26th for September 8th consideration
Alderman Brown emphasized approving development plan without county road access approval would be premature
Board approved interlocal agreement 6-2 (Caesar and Peterson voted no) to send to county for consideration

Development items deferral to November

Board unanimously deferred all Harlin development items (items 13-18) until November 11th meeting
Deferral allows time for county Highway Commission (September 3rd) and County Commission (September 8th) to act on interlocal agreement
Applicant Boyle requested October timeline, acknowledging uncertainty about county approval process
Alderman Caesar requested updated traffic study reflecting emergency-only access concept for Hillview Lane
Items deferred include plan of services, annexation resolution, zoning ordinance, development plan, and two construction agreements totaling $4,647,999

For next week, go here

Election Commission

Tuesday August 12th

Election commission met Agenda Audio

AI Summary

Overview

Dorinda Carlisle Smith raised accessibility concerns about polling places and recommended publicizing more accessible locations within voting areas for upcoming District 7 and Franklin Alderman elections
League of Women Voters coordinated recruitment efforts for National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, sending applications to flood the election office
Poll worker appreciation event was postponed from fall to late winter due to vacancy election scheduling conflicts

Polling place accessibility concerns

Dorinda Carlisle Smith referenced League of Women Voters report from last election highlighting accessibility issues at some public polling places
Smith recommended election commission publicize which locations within voting areas are more accessible since voters can choose any location within their area
Participant 1 acknowledged accessibility challenges, particularly at private sites like churches where they have less control
Participant 1 recommended voters concerned about accessibility choose government sites over private locations
Commission is exploring alternative solutions for locations with accessibility challenges

National Poll Worker Recruitment Day

League of Women Voters coordinated recruitment efforts across multiple levels: national, Tennessee state, and Williamson County chapters
Smith reported League sent notices to all members and mentioned recruitment in Saturday update
Participant 1 expressed appreciation for poll worker recruitment efforts and noted elections require several hundred poll workers for general elections

Poll worker appreciation planning

Original plan to hold poll worker appreciation event was postponed due to vacancy election scheduling conflicts
Participant 3 confirmed plans to reschedule appreciation event for late winter to energize workers before upcoming elections
Participant 1 mentioned they typically hold appreciation meals with poll workers and look forward to these events
Election Commission Meeting - September 2025

Action Items

[ ] Andrew Craig - Secure administrative complex for October 13th certification meeting Confirm availability and secure the administrative complex (Mayor's Conference Room) for the October 13th, 2025 at 11:00 AM meeting to certify the seventh congressional district special primary election results.
[ ] Participant 4 - Fix spelling errors in list maintenance program document Correct the spelling error of 'commission' at the top of the document and remove the words 'I end of the word I am in' from the last sentence of item four in the list maintenance program document.

Overview

Commissioners approved July 28, 2025 meeting minutes and set Monday, October 13th at 11:00 AM to certify the special primary election results
Church of the City polling location will be used for October 7th primary and October 28th Franklin election but is unavailable for December 2nd general election due to renovations
Commissioners approved 11 polling locations for the primary election and 10 locations for the general election
Next meeting scheduled for Monday, September 8th at 4:00 PM with machine inspection open houses at 4:30 PM that day and Wednesday, September 10th at 4:30 PM
Commissioners adopted the 2025-2027 voter list maintenance policy and appointed poll officials for the October 7th special primary election

July meeting minutes approval

Commissioners approved the July 28, 2025 meeting minutes with 5 votes in favor and 0 opposed
Motion made by Commissioner Williamson and seconded by Commissioner Shook

Special election certification date

State requires all 14 counties in the 7th Congressional District to certify primary results by Monday, October 13th at the latest
Commissioners agreed to meet Monday, October 13th at 11:00 AM to certify the special primary election results
Meeting will be held at the administrative complex in the Mayor's Conference Room

Church of the City polling location issue

Church of the City contacted Andrew Craig to report they are unavailable Tuesday, December 2nd for the general election due to major renovation project
Church of the City will be used for October 7th primary and October 28th Franklin municipal election but not for December 2nd general election
Commissioners agreed to implement a communications plan to notify voters about the location change for the general election
First Presbyterian Church at 101 Legends Boulevard identified as nearest alternative location for December general election

Polling locations for primary vs general election

Primary election (October 7th) will have 11 polling locations including Church of the City and William Reeves location
General election (December 2nd) will have 10 polling locations with Church of the City removed
Gate Community Church will only be used for Franklin municipal election, not congressional district elections
Church of the City and First Presbyterian Church typically experience the highest voter volume

Machine inspection scheduling

Logic and accuracy testing for Franklin election begins August 13th and should finish by end of week
Logic and accuracy testing for primary election scheduled for early next week after candidate qualifying deadline at noon August 12th
Machine inspection open house for primary election scheduled Monday, September 8th at 4:30 PM
Machine inspection open house for Franklin municipal election scheduled Wednesday, September 10th at 4:30 PM
Early voting for special primary begins September 18th

Voter list maintenance policy adoption

Commissioners adopted the 2025-2027 voter list maintenance policy for Williamson County Election Commission
Policy prioritizes sending verification cards or voter inquiry letters over voter registration cards to minimize confusion
Policy requires sending voter registration cards to all active voters at minimum once every 5 years between Federal Decennial Census periods
Policy also requires new voter registration cards after adding or deleting vote centers

Poll worker appointments for special primary

Commissioners appointed election day and early voting poll officials for October 7, 2025 special primary election
List includes many workers who have served previously plus some new workers
Administrator Gray given authority to make administrative adjustments for replacements as necessary
All poll workers sign forms committing to act impartially and fulfill office duties

Next week

No meetings scheduled

If not me, who?

If not now, when?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1)

“We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer gently.” (1^st Corinthians 4:12-13)

Blessings,

Bill

pettyandassociates@gmail.com

Community resources

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TruthWire Local news and commentary.
Williamson County Republican Party is one of the most active parties in the state and captures the conservative heart of Tennessee.
Mom's For Liberty Williamson County is dedicated to fighting for the American family by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.
Tennessee Stands produces video media, podcasts, and live events, and provides social commentary on relevant issues in our state.
M4LU is a new site developed by the national Mom's for Liberty but generated right here in Williamson County. The mission of M4LU is to to inform, equip, and empower parents with knowledge, understanding and practical tools.
WCSB Substack. This site reports on the Williamson County School Board meetings. It provides accurate summaries of all WCSB meetings.

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