Newsletter

Friday Recap Friday, April 17th

Bill Petty

18 Apr 2026 — 31 min read

My Comment

We have completed three days of early voting and you can see the results below. By comparison, District 10, which is my district, only produced 370 votes during early voting in 2022 which was 14% of registered voters. So we're clearly ahead of 2022 which is good, but we need more people voting. This is our county and we need more than 20% of our registered voters voting. Let's make this year a breakthrough year and break all records.

Early Voting Results

County Wide

By District

Special event

Saturday, May 2nd There is an organization here in Williamson County called We Care Williamson County that raises money for worthy causes every year. This year, they are including a charity I started called Operation Sound. What my charity does is provide musical instruments for veterans who want to learn to play. They will be holding a Crawfish Boil on Saturday, May 2nd from noon to 5 pm at Tony's Eat and Drink in Franklin. You can also donate on their website.

Meetings this past week were:

Budget Committee BOMA Finance BOMA Work Session BOMA Meeting Law Enforcement and Public Safety Purchasing and Insurance

Meetings Next Week

Monday, April 20th

The Budget Committee will meet at 4:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin Agenda Budgets Hospital ambulance letter Committee members: Chas Morton (C), Guy Carden, Betsy Hester, Paul Web, Mayor Anderson

Williamson County School Board at 6:30 PM in the Auditorium at the Williamson County Administrative Building located on the first floor at 1320 West Main Street, Franklin. Agenda Video click on Wc-TV Youtube Channel.

Tuesday, April 21st

The Budget Committee will meet at 4:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin Agenda Budgets New Personnel Requests Committee members: Chas Morton (C), Guy Carden, Betsy Hester, Paul Web, Mayor Anderson

The Tax Study Committee will meet at 5:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin Agenda Resolution Committee members: Lisa Hayes(C), Gregg Lawrence (VC), Drew Torres, Mary Smith, Steve Smith.

For City of Franklin meetings, go here

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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 Board

No meetings last week

Williamson County Commission Meetings

Monday April 13th

Budget Committee The Budget Committee Agenda Packet Video Committee members: Chas Morton (C), Guy Carden, Betsy Hester, Paul Web, Mayor Anderson

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] Participant 3 - Confirm Davis Howells audit received before releasing funds Confirm audit is received before July 1 as a condition of releasing Davis Howells Child Advocacy funding.
[ ] Participant 3 - Write to Doorstep Project and Star Center declining new funding requests Notify both organizations that no new nonprofit funding requests are being accepted this cycle, and encourage them to reapply next year.
[ ] Participant 6 - Submit completed audit to the county before July 1 Audit must be received before July 1 to release approved funding.

Overview

Budget committee approved all items unanimously — minutes, transfers, department budgets, and nonprofit funding
Health dept budget ($2,118,738) met the 5% reduction target, with a small county-funded portion ($88,475) in the government agencies contract line covering the 75th percentile pay increase approved last October
Kathy Montgomery (Health Dept) introduced incoming county health director Colin Simmons, who starts replacing her when she retires June 5th
Davis Howells Child Advocacy ($5,175) was restored after audit concerns — new director, new board members, new policies in place; audit expected by May, must be submitted before July 1st
Two new nonprofit requests (Doorstep Project and Star Center) were declined per the no-new-nonprofits guideline; Phoebe's office will notify them and encourage reapplication next year
Library board raised a question about how the Brentwood and Spring Hill library allocations are calculated — no change made this cycle, but the history and rationale were explained

Minutes approval

Committee approved minutes from both the April 6th and April 7th budget committee meetings, both unanimous

Budget transfers

Sheriff's Dept: $3,000 moved from building maintenance to equipment maintenance for detention center repairs
County government: $3,800 moved from in-service staff development — $800 to office supplies, $3,000 to printing and stationery — to prep for adjustments planned for next year
Health Dept: $1,325 reallocated to cover travel reimbursement for a dental assistant from another county filling in while the regular dental assistant is on FMLA

Department budget proposals

TMA ($1,211,671) is a pass-through federal grant the county administers — 100% offset by grant revenue, no county funds involved
Health dept ($2,118,738) met the 5% reduction target, but the government agencies contract line ($531,900) was excluded from the reduction calculation since it's grant-funded
- The county-funded portion within that line is $88,475 (4% increase on the $85,072 approved last October for the 75th percentile pay increase)
Animal control ($3,024,825) met the guidelines — 4% salary increase and 5% operations reduction confirmed on page four

Nonprofit org funding

All existing nonprofits were funded at the same level as last year per the no-change guideline
Community Action: $10,576
Refuge Center: $21,500 — provides counseling for domestic violence, addiction, and grief
MCHRA Homemakers: $38,000; State Rehabilitation Center: $67,816 — voted separately then confirmed as a combined $105,816
Graceworks: $20,117 — food, financial, and clothing assistance
Foster children: $11,000 — county supplements state agency expenses
Pauper funerals: $3,000
WAVES: $47,964

Senior citizen centers

Three senior centers funded under item 56300, total $39,796:
- Hillsborough Senior Center: $6,811
- Bethesda Senior Center: $14,510
- Brentwood Senior Citizen Center: $18,475
College Grove, Nolansville, Franklin, and Fairview senior programs are all under Parks and Rec — not in this budget — confirmed all seniors are being served

County library budget

Total library budget approved at $3,526,190 (item 56500), voted unanimously
Brentwood Library contribution ($74,450) and Spring Hill Library contribution ($28,665) were voted on separately before the total
- Murray County and City of Spring Hill also contribute to the Spring Hill Library
Library board raised a question about how the Brentwood and Spring Hill allocations are calculated — Commissioner Webb explained the Brentwood figure dates to the county's $1M contribution when the library was built in 1994, and the Spring Hill figure was originally based on card usage and population
- Neither figure has been formally adjusted in many years; no change was made this cycle
- The allocations are embedded in the library's budget due to accounting software limitations rather than appearing as separate line items

Miscellaneous nonprofits

All items approved unanimously; total $2,153,997
Boys and Girls Club: $11,460
Community Child Care: $10,008
My Friend's House: $7,458
Crime Stoppers: $873
MCHRA Nutrition Program: $16,622
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates): $4,292
Community Housing Partnership: $40,131
ARC Disability Resource Center: $3,814
Greenbrier Community Center: $437
Saddle Up: $3,300
Bridges of Williamson County: $18,201
Convention Visitors Bureau: $2,028,926 — went down because it's set at 25% of prior-year hotel/motel tax collections, which came in at $8.1M for calendar year 2025, slightly below the prior year
Take the Reins: $3,300
Davis Howells Child Advocacy: $5,175 — restored after prior audit issues; new executive director, new board members, and updated credit card and reimbursement policies in place; audit contracted with new auditor, expected May, must be received by July 1st

New nonprofit requests

Two requests received — Doorstep Project and Star Center — were not added to the budget per the no-new-nonprofits guideline
Phoebe's office will send written notice to both organizations and encourage them to reapply next year.

Tuesday, April 14th

Budget Committee Agenda Packet Video Committee members: Chas Morton (C), Guy Carden, Betsy Hester, Paul Web, Mayor Anderson.

AI Summary

Overview

Committee voted unanimously on all FY26-27 budget proposals, with one amendment — the County Commission budget (item 51100) was revised upward from $1,991,565 to $2,261,565 to account for the expanded broad-based tax relief program
The income limit for the broad-based tax relief program was raised from ~$48,000 to $63,000, adding an estimated 450 new applicants at $600 each — a $270,000 increase to the program
County attorney hourly rates were approved: $275 for partners, $225 for general counsel, $75 for clerks; hospital-related rates also approved separately
Next budget meeting is Monday, April 20th at 4:30 PM

FY26-27 budget proposals

All items below were approved unanimously; most departments met the 5% operations reduction guideline and received a 4% salary increase

| Item | Department | Approved Budget | |------|-----------|----------------| | 51240 | Municipal Solid Waste Board | $3,300 | | 51100 | County Commission (amended) | $2,261,565 | | 51210 | Board of Equalization | $22,500 | | 51220 | Beer Board | $2,700 | | 51300 | County Mayor | $1,110,089 | | 51310 | Human Resources | $525,202 | | 51400 | County Attorney | $2,321,000 | | 51500 | Election Commission | $1,433,190 | | 51600 | Register of Deeds | $956,022 | | 51710 | Community Development | $4,262,946 | | 51720 | Planning Department | $55,440 | | 51730 | Building Codes | $38,725 | | 51740 | Engineering | $45,597 | | 55900 | Sewage Disposal | $81,224 | | 51750 | Codes Compliance | $62,111 | | 51760 | Information Systems | $6,308 | | 51800 | County Buildings | $5,511,435 | | 51810 | WC TV | $365,320 | | 51910 | County Archives | $611,544 | | 52100 | Accounting | $1,870,501 | | 52300 | Property Assessor | $2,755,970 | | 52400 | County Trustee | $1,121,709 | | 52500 | County Clerk | $1,707,598 | | 52900 | Purchasing | $686,000 | | 56700 | Parks and Rec | $22,975,961 | | 56900 | Ag Expo Park | $1,576,617 | | 58300 | Veteran Services | ~$58,100 |

A few notable items:
- County Mayor's total operations decreased 23%, well past the 5% target
- HR operations decreased 12%
- Register of Deeds budget includes a 7% personnel increase to cover anticipated vacation payouts from two planned retirements
- IT budget's operations didn't hit a clean -5% because subscriptions and software covering county-wide systems were excluded from the reduction baseline
- Ag Expo Park converted one maintenance position to a contracted mowing/maintenance service, which offset the reduction — net operations change shows 0% but the department did cut more than 5% in real terms
- Parks and Rec's AED line item covers pad replacements and expiring components, not new units — all facilities already have AEDs

County attorney hourly rates

Approved rates for general county legal work: $275/hr for partners, $225/hr for general counsel, $75/hr for clerks
Approved rates for hospital-related legal work: $900/hr for principal partners, $825/hr for regular partners, $650/hr for associates
Total county attorney budget approved at $2,321,000, covering both general counsel and special legal counsel for the hospital

Broad-based tax relief program

The income limit for Williamson County's standalone broad-based tax relief program was raised from ~$48,000 to $63,000, effective July 1 — a change the commission adopted last fall
Participant 8 estimated the change will add approximately 450 new qualifying households at $600 each, totaling roughly $270,000 in additional program cost
Currently about 1,300 households are on the broad-based program; the tax freeze program has ~1,600 households (income limit ~$67,000, adjusted annually)
The deadline to apply for the county's broad-based tax relief program (based on 2024 income) is August 1st — Participant 8 committed to communicating this to potential new applicants

County commission budget amendment

Item 51100 was amended from $1,991,565 to $2,261,565 — an increase of $270,000 — to fund the expanded broad-based tax relief program
The tax relief line within the commission budget now stands at approximately $1,340,000, up from the originally budgeted ~$1,070,000
Two other increases were already baked into the original commission budget: commissioner meeting pay rising from $600 to $700 per member and $650 to $750 for the chair (effective September 1, 2026), and a $150,000 increase to the tax relief program approved by resolution in September of the current fiscal year
Amendment passed unanimously

Wednesday April, 15th

Law Enforcement and Public Safety Agenda Resolutions Budgets Hospital ambulance letter Video Committee members: Tom Tunnicliffe (C), Greg Sanford (VC), Pete Stresser, Matt Williams, Bill Petty. Commissioners Sanford and Stresser were absent.

AI Summary

Overview

Commission reviewed jail quarterly stats, passed several budget resolutions, and approved proposed budgets for courts, juvenile services, fire prevention, public safety, and EMS — all unanimously
Biggest issue: EMS subsidy request jumped from ~$8.7M to $14M — committee amended it down to $13.5M county contribution, which Williamson Health accepted, projecting a ~$1M hospital loss
Funding source for the EMS increase is still unresolved — Phoebe's working on numbers and thinks pulling from fund balance is the likely path
Jail is in unusually good shape: vacancy down to 8 out of 103 positions, population at 61% of rated capacity
Two high-cost medical inmates highlighted as examples of why medical budget overruns happen — one still on a feeding tube with a 1-on-1 deputy watch, state won't take him

Jail quarterly report (Jan–Mar)

Average daily population was 279 against a rated capacity of 454 — peak at 61%, well under the 80% threshold
Book-ins totaled 1,464 with 1,368 releases; male avg 234, female avg 44
Incidents included 7 inmate-on-inmate assaults, 5 inmate-on-staff assaults, 7 use-of-force incidents, 3 suicide attempts, 0 deaths, and 0 escapes
Staffing is at 95 of 103 budgeted positions — only 8 vacancies, the lowest in Jail Captain Chad Youker's 11 years there
TK Health (medical partner) logged 103 provider visits, 35 dental visits, 1,100 mental health visits, and 58 total ER send-outs over the quarter
Two costly medical cases were flagged to explain recurring medical budget overruns
- One inmate (in since Dec 2022, released Jan 2026) developed a spinal tumor requiring hospital stays at Williamson Medical and Centennial — DA wouldn't release him given federal charges and outside warrants
- A second inmate (in since Aug 2023 on aggravated sexual battery charges) is still in custody on a feeding tube, on 1-on-1 deputy watch 24/7 — courts ordered him to state custody but MTMHI won't accept him while he has the feeding tube

Budget resolutions

$100,000 appropriated from unassigned county general funds to study future judicial facility needs — stems from the special courthouse task force created in March; any unspent funds return to general
Sheriff's Office litter grant budget reduced by $8,000 due to a state grant cut — the $8,000 is being redirected to cover overtime for DUI checkpoints and saturations
$128,666.66 appropriated from rollover grant funds to the Sheriff's Office budget for employee retention
Dutch Shepherd K9 surplused and conveyed to his former handler after the handler was terminated — Participant 7 didn't want the dog penalized for the handler's situation
Drone equipment (UAVs and related gear) surplused and conveyed to Nolensville PD to support their new drone program — equipment was no longer functional for the county
Remaining surplus weapons approved for sale — proceeds go toward offsetting the cost of the new weapons already purchased

Court & juvenile services budgets

All six court and juvenile budgets passed unanimously — Circuit Court, General Sessions, Chancery Court Clerk and Masters, Juvenile Court, Public Defender, Judicial Commissioners, and Other Administrative Justice
All departments met the 5% operations reduction requirement
Chancery Court's only notable changes: reduced maintenance/repair to hit the 5% cut, and shifted funds from printing to a long-unfunded travel line
Juvenile Services ($4,521,466) looked like a large increase on paper but Participant 12 clarified it reflects a line-item transfer (assistant position moved to contracted services), a prior commission-approved transfer from the Sheriff's budget for medical costs, and grant funds that don't display cleanly on the form — the 5% operational reduction was still achieved

Fire prevention budget & Franklin mutual aid

Budget of $678,366 covers donations to three volunteer departments and per-call payments ($250/call) to Nolensville and Fairview for covering unincorporated areas near their stations
Participant 13 is actively pursuing an AutoAid agreement with the City of Franklin for structure fires — Franklin has been invited to a budget workshop and $10,000 is set aside for the deal
Franklin's assigned area averages only ~3 structure fires per year, so a flat $10,000 payment (rather than per-call) may be more appropriate than the standard rate
A new fire station near the Natchez Trace Bridge area remains a priority — a couple of properties have been looked at but nothing has materialized yet

Public safety office budget & fleet maintenance

Budget of $11,164,402 reflects a true 5% reduction ($173,000) despite showing 8.7% on paper — the difference is grant funding removed from last year's budget
The two biggest cut lines were equipment and vehicle maintenance, both mission-critical — Participant 13 flagged vehicle maintenance as a likely mid-year budget request risk given the aging and growing fire fleet
A fleet mechanic position was proposed to offset the vehicle maintenance cut but was not approved — Participant 13 understands the reasoning (no immediate ROI) but still sees long-term savings potential
Participant 13 raised the idea of a county-wide fleet management division (covering fire, EMS, solid waste, highway) as a longer-term efficiency play — Kevin (property management) and Mac (solid waste) are both supportive

EMS subsidy request

Williamson Health requested a $14M county subsidy for 18 EMS units — up from ~$8.7M this year — to get the hospital's projected loss down to ~$479,000
Committee amended the county contribution to $13.5M; Williamson Health CEO Phil Mazzuca accepted, noting he'd absorb the extra ~$500,000 risk but wouldn't go lower
Williamson Health has subsidized EMS on the county's behalf by $53M since 2009 — $34M of that in the last five years alone; losses ran $5M (FY22), $7.3M (FY23), $9M (FY24), $7.4M (FY25)
Root cause is structural: ~half of runs are Medicare, which pays a flat ~$500/run against charges of ~$1,800; only 67% of runs are billable; and staffing costs rose sharply after the shift to 24-on/72-off scheduling in 2023
Run volume has grown from under 10,000 in 2009 to a projected 24,000 next year — driven by population growth and an aging demographic that skews toward lower-paying Medicare
Adding any new EMS unit costs ~$1.4M with no additional volume; 58% of Spring Hill runs originate from Maury County, and Participant 5 raised the need to recover costs from them
If Williamson Health were to exit EMS (the board is exploring a potential sale), the full budget would shift to the county — Participant 13 confirmed the system is structured so the county could absorb it without a service gap, but the full cost would follow
Funding source for the $13.5M is unresolved — Phoebe's current thinking is to pull from fund balance

Thursday, April 16th

Purchasing and Insurance Agenda Minutes Presentation FSA RFP Results Video Committee members: Sean Aiello, Meghan Guffee, Gregg Lawrence, Steve Smith, Mayor Anderson. Commissioners Aiello, Lawrence, and Smith were absent. Chairman Beathard sat it to make a quarum.

AI Summary

Overview

Approved all budget items unanimously: risk management operations ($341,493), liability insurance across three funds, benefits dept operations ($663,311), and employee benefits for solid waste, general, and highway funds
Selected TASC as the new FSA administrator effective January 1st at $2.65/member/month (healthcare/limited purpose FSA) and $1.40/member/month (dependent care FSA), with a 5-year rate guarantee — saves roughly $1,100–$1,200 annually vs. current provider
Charles previewed upcoming contract work: stop loss bids due May 4th with a recommendation at the May meeting for a July 1st effective date; United Healthcare retiree program and Cigna vision both going out to bid in May
Committee stays together through August; new PI/budget committee won't be chosen until after the general election

January 29th minutes

Minutes of January 29th were approved unanimously with no questions

Risk management operating budget

Approved at $341,493 — personnel up 4%, operations reduced 9.5% (exceeding the 5% reduction guideline)

Liability insurance budgets

Three funds approved separately — general fund (101), solid waste fund (116), and highway fund
Solid waste fund came in at a 0.2% increase ($870,500), which didn't hit the 5% reduction target on its own, but across all three funds combined the total reduction exceeds 5%
Highway fund came in at an 11.9% reduction ($1,364,534), offsetting the solid waste overage
Numbers are largely locked in from last year's bid process, so there was limited room to adjust individual line items

Benefits dept operating budget

Approved at $663,311 — overall a 4% salary increase and 19% operations reduction
The 200% overtime line item is a reclassification, not a real increase — money moved from part-time personnel to overtime because the dept is now fully staffed

Employee benefits budgets

All three funds approved: solid waste ($902,445), general fund ($29,202,580), highway fund ($2,010,615)
Tennessee Consolidated Retirement rate increased from 8.77% to 9.47% — Phoebe flagged this as a trend worth watching
Medical, dental, life, and vision insurance held flat; the overall ~4% increase across funds reflects the salary raises and the retirement rate change

FSA vendor selection

Approved TASC as the new FSA administrator effective January 1st, replacing Health Equity (which didn't submit a bid)
TASC pricing: $2.65/member/month for healthcare FSA and limited purpose FSA, $1.40/member/month for dependent care FSA, with a 5-year rate guarantee
Saves roughly $1,100–$1,200 annually vs. the current $30,687 contract
Charles eliminated Ameriflex (~$2,000 more) and Beni Pass (~$7,300 more) on cost; Inspira was the cheapest option but was dinged for refusing to provide references from clients who had left them and for lacking municipal clients
PA was a strong contender but TASC won on the strength of its Tennessee municipal references: State of Tennessee, City of Chattanooga, City of Nashville/Davidson County, Metro Nashville Schools, Knox County, Murfreesboro City Schools, City of Murfreesboro, and TBA — 5 of the 20 largest counties in Tennessee
Charles confirmed he receives no commission on this recommendation
Note: the printed sheet Megan reviewed had dependent care and limited purpose FSA pricing columns swapped — Charles confirmed the slide is correct

Upcoming contract renewals

Stop loss bids are out now, due May 4th; Charles will present findings and a recommendation at the May meeting for a July 1st effective date — Participant 1 flagged this as a critical timeline
United Healthcare retiree program going out to bid in May — currently has a rate guarantee capped at 15% increase; cost was cut roughly in half under the current contract
Cigna vision going out to bid in May after holding flat for 8–9 years; a slight increase this year triggered the review — recommendation expected in June
Charles expects a clearer picture of state benefits direction by June, which will inform employee cost and benefit change options for the upcoming year

Franklin Board of Mayor and Alderman

Monday, April 13th

City of Franklin Historic Zoning Commission Video

AI Summary

Overview

10 agenda items heard at the April 13th Franklin Historic Zoning Commission meeting — 9 approved, 1 deferred
Most significant item: 121 Miles Manor Ct cedar shake roof approved retroactively against staff recommendation, with commission citing historically appropriate material, expert testimony on nail patterns, and aerial photo evidence from 1950
110 Alders Gateway EMS building deferred to the May 11th voting meeting — window head height, trim detailing, siding reveal, double-hung appearance, and material specs all need resolution at DRC first
234 & 242 Fifth Ave North demolition approved — both buildings deemed to have lost historic integrity after extensive modifications
All other items (window replacement, fence, door replacement, in-kind repairs, garage conversion, parking structure changes) approved with staff conditions

March 2026 minutes approval

Minutes from the March 9th, 2026 meeting approved unanimously

223 Franklin Rd window replacement

Commission approved replacement of 10 windows with staff conditions — applicant chose 6-over-6 grid pane design for the front after reviewing homes in the Miles Manor area
This was a retroactive request previously denied in January due to materiality; the revised proposal met guidelines

121 Miles Manor Ct cedar shake roof

Commission approved both the EPDM roofing on the rear non-historic addition and the cedar shake roof retroactively, overriding staff's denial recommendation on the cedar shake
Staff's position: no conclusive documentation that cedar was the original material, so guidelines require preserving the known asphalt shingle
Commission's reasoning for approving against staff:
- Wood is an explicitly approved material in the guidelines, not an exception
- Conclusive documentation of the asphalt roof being original is equally absent
- Two roofing experts testified that nail patterns, irregular vertical spacing, and plank decking in the attic indicate cedar shake was very likely previously installed
- 1950 aerial photo shows the house with a noticeably lighter roof than surrounding homes; asphalt shingles of that era didn't come in significantly lighter colors
- Architectural shingles (the ones replaced) weren't widely adopted until the 1990s–2000s and are themselves anachronistic to the circa 1930 structure
- Dr. Carol Van West, Tennessee State Historian, stated the cedar roof "does not distract from the building, nor would it make it a non-contributing building to the National Register"
Multiple commission members noted the process wasn't followed and that the approval shouldn't be read as precedent — Participant 5 and Participant 7 both flagged this explicitly while still voting to approve
Two aldermen (Matt Brown, Ward 2; Alderman Baggett) and several neighbors, a licensed architect, and roofing professionals spoke in support

1005 Evans St front yard fence

Commission approved wood picket fence in the front yard with staff conditions
Neighbor Carl Baufman (1001 Evans St) raised three concerns about the north boundary: the Japanese maple and its mulch bed near the property line, access around a brick planter adjacent to the shared driveway, and an AT&T pull box near the street
Commission noted the property line and access issues are outside their purview — applicant and neighbor to work that out directly
Participant 24 confirmed the three equal fence panels are appropriate as they reflect the porch spacing

127 2nd Ave North door replacement

Commission approved replacement of existing double metal doors with new double storefront-style doors with staff conditions
Applicant's driver is safety — new doors need push bars for egress compliance, so replacement was the practical path

800 Fair St in-kind material repairs

Commission approved repair and in-kind replacement of deteriorated siding, fascia, soffits, gutters, and downspouts with staff conditions
Applicant (Chisel Workshop) committed to salvaging as much original soffit material as possible, moving historic pieces from the rear to the front if front replacements are needed

321 Third Ave South garage door conversion

Commission approved converting the existing single-bay garage door to a two-bay configuration on the circa 1970 CMU accessory structure, with staff conditions
Exterior CMU and new center column to be clad in cementitious siding with 4-inch reveal and trim corner detailing

110 Alders Gateway EMS building

Commission deferred to the May 11th voting meeting; applicant invited back to DRC before then
Outstanding issues flagged:
- Windows have too much siding above them ("a lot of forehead") and need to appear double-hung per guidelines
- Windows need traditional casement and trim framing — currently look like bare siding
- Separation between windows and water course needs to be resolved; Participant 5 wants the water table to read as a traditional foundation, not just a gap
- Siding reveal looks oversized
- No actual window or door specs submitted — only Revit model imagery; commission wants manufacturer specs and confirmation of double-hung appearance
- Two window types shown (aluminum and fiberglass Pella) with no annotation of what goes where
- No brick sample, no confirmed roof material (assumed standing seam)
Participant 25 and Participant 5 were comfortable approving with staff conditions; Participant 2 and Participant 1 pushed for deferral given the volume of unresolved DRC-level details — deferral passed

230 Franklin Rd parking structure changes

Commission approved the application with staff conditions, including the exception that the parapet height reduction on the east/south elevations should NOT be approved
Staff recommended keeping the taller parapet because it helps screen the elevator overrun — reducing it by 1 foot 10 inches would expose more of the overrun from elsewhere on the site
Three changes were on the table:
- Canopy removal (drawing cleanup from a previously approved change — no objection)
- Brick infill of window openings on the south elevation facing Building 5, required for fire rating
- Parapet height reduction from 43'8" to 41'10" on the elevator portion — rejected per staff recommendation

234 & 242 Fifth Ave North demolition

Commission approved demolition of both principal buildings and accessory structures with staff conditions
Both buildings are non-contributing to the downtown Franklin National Register Historic District — 242 Fifth Ave built circa 1940, 234 Fifth Ave built 1980
Architect's report found both buildings have been so extensively modified that original architecture can no longer be identified; they no longer retain integrity or authenticity
Commission noted demolition approvals are rare and held to a high bar — all three criteria in the guidelines (loss of integrity, economic hardship, structural deterioration) were considered met
Any future redevelopment requires a separate COA review

Staff announcements and upcoming events

April DRC meeting: Monday, April 20th at 4:00 PM at the Eastern Flank event facility
Special called DRC meeting on the preservation plan update: Tuesday, April 28th at 11:00 AM at the Eastern Flank event facility
Staff sending a new poll for late summer/early fall training dates
Preservation proclamation before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen: May 12th at 7:00 PM at the Williamson County Administrative Complex on West Main Street
Williamson County Historical Society Patriot Project talk (Revolutionary War soldiers' tombstone identification and cleaning): Friday, April 17th, 2:00–3:00 PM at the Williamson County Archives.

Tuesday, April 14th

BOMA Work Session Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] Participant 10 - Investigate reclaim pressure issues affecting Berry Farms Investigate whether the Hobas bypass is contributing to pressure losses in the Berry Farms area and confirm pressures match pre-bypass levels.
[ ] Participant 18 - Improve outreach for senior sanitation fee relief program Promote the existing senior tax relief program that covers sanitation fees — board noted very few people (around 220) currently use it despite broader eligibility.
[ ] Participant 5 - Seek corporate sponsors for 4th of July fireworks upgrade Explore corporate sponsorship opportunities for the 4th of July fireworks display as part of the 250th celebration enhancement ($20K upgrade).
[ ] Participant 5 - Present Armistead IDD proposal at April 28th work session Bring the Armistead IDD proposal to the April 28th work session for board review alongside the new ordinance.
[ ] Participant 5 - Revise city administrator authority resolution with additional justification Board wants the right-of-way/easement clarification separated and the dollar threshold increase considered with supporting data. Bring revised resolution with additional background.
[ ] Participant 5 - Pull data on contracts near the $50K authority threshold Provide more detail on how many contracts fell in the $50K–$75K range to help the board evaluate the proposed increase.

Overview

Board worked through 10 items covering infrastructure, rates, and land use — no votes taken (work session), but several items are headed to the April 28th voting meeting
South clean water plant is the biggest capital project: $17.6M SRF pre-design loan (with $5.8M principal forgiveness) goes to public hearing April 28th, documents due May 12th
Staff recommends Option 5 for sanitation rates — full-dollar increments to break even each year, $1M capital cap, ending at $40/month in 2031; board was broadly supportive but raised concerns about fixed-income seniors and commercial rate headroom
Board gave direction to enhance the 4th of July fireworks to a 30-minute show at an additional $20K (total $70K), above the city admin's authority threshold
City admin contract authority update — two changes proposed: clarify right-of-way/easement acquisition authority, and raise the dollar threshold from $50K to $75K; board asked for more data before the April 28th vote, with some members suggesting $100K for easements specifically
IDD ordinance (replacing the existing resolution) expected to be ready for action April 28th now that the state House is moving; Armistead IDD proposal will be previewed at that same work session

Station Pizzeria mural approval

Arts Commission unanimously (9–0) recommended approval of a mural at 7007 Moore's Lane (Station Pizzeria)
The project was originally submitted to Building and Neighborhood Services as a sign, was reworked into a more artistic mural, then came to the Public Arts Commission
The mural spans both the interior (visible from the street) and exterior of the building, facing Moore's Lane; all installation and upkeep is the property owner's responsibility
Participant 8 raised aesthetic concerns and indicated they may not vote for it

South clean water plant timeline

The new 6 MGD South Clean Water Plant is targeting 2034 for online capacity, providing capacity through 2049 — Phase 1 of a planned 3-phase site that could reach 18 MGD total
Of the 6 MGD, 2 MGD will go through advanced treatment to the reservoir; the remaining 4 MGD goes to the river (the water plant's treatment capacity caps at ~3.9 MGD across three trains)
ARPA grant work (the $5.6M competitive reuse grant, the largest TDEC had issued) must be completed by July 2026 — still on track
Permit application was submitted to TDEC about two weeks before the meeting; TDEC has 365 days to issue; design starts during that window
CMAR delivery method chosen for cost control (guaranteed maximum price) and early constructability input — contractor expected on board late 2026 or early 2027
Startup is planned for mid-2032, with one year of discharge to the river per TDEC draft guidance before sending water to the reservoir starting 2033
Three prerequisite water main projects are underway or planned: one from the park to Long Lane (complete), one from north of Mac Hatcher through Oakwood to Lewisburg at Ascot Lane (in design), and one boring under I-65 via the park project (planned, will also carry fiber and reclaim line)
Biosolids from the south plant will be hauled (likely by dump truck at night) to the existing north plant solids facility, which was built to accommodate two plants but needs an intake upgrade
Current average flow is 13.34 MGD against a 16 MGD plant capacity — on track with projections; housing growth is running at ~3% annually, consistent with the cost of service study assumption
Minimum staffing at the new plant: 9–12 operators, plus admin, superintendent, assistant superintendent, and 2 dedicated maintenance staff; superintendent brought on ~6 months before startup
Alderman Fox asked staff to investigate whether the reclaim bypass around the Hobas break is contributing to pressure losses in Berry Farms — Michelle committed to look into it
Alderman Brown is firm that any structure near the Cool Springs/Mac Hatcher corner is a non-starter; broader board sentiment is that whatever eventually goes on the Franklin Road frontage needs to be exceptional given the city's investment in the gateway area

SRF loan for plant pre-design

Board acknowledged Resolution 2026-29 authorizing a $17.6M SRF loan for the South Clean Water Plant pre-design, with $5.8M in principal forgiveness for emerging contaminant removal (net loan ~$11.6M)
Loan terms: 2.35% interest, 5-year repayment (design loan, not the typical 30-year construction term); security is the full faith and credit of the City of Franklin; reimbursement-based disbursement
Public hearing is April 28th; all documents must be returned by May 12th
The $17.6M was already included in the 2025 cost of service study

4th of July fireworks upgrade

The standard 20-minute fireworks display at the Park at Harlandale Farm costs $50K — right at the city admin's administrative authority limit
Staff received a proposal to upgrade to a 30-minute show with larger shells for an additional $20K ($70K total), tied to the country's 250th anniversary celebration
Board direction was to approve the upgrade; Participant 8 suggested staff also pursue corporate sponsorships to offset the cost, and Eric confirmed those conversations are already underway

City admin contract authority

Two changes proposed to Resolution 2026-14 (rescinding 2022-84): clarify that the existing authority covers right-of-way and easement acquisition on capital projects, and raise the general dollar threshold from $50K to $75K
The last update was in 2022, when the threshold moved from $25K to $50K
The hard bargain transit stop was cited as the specific case that surfaced the easement clarification need — city-owned property where a small acquisition was needed outside of a formal CIP project
Authority is cumulative, not per-contract — once the threshold is hit, it comes to the board
Vice Mayor asked for more justification (how many items fell between $50K–$75K over the past year) before committing to the increase; Participant 8 suggested $100K specifically for easements
Staff will provide additional data; item expected back April 28th

Hillside overlay line adjustment at 354 Franklin Rd

Applicant (Cumberland and Western Resources) requested a revision to the Hillside/Hillcrest Overlay (HHO) line for a 202.6-acre parcel at 354 Franklin Road to match the conservation line updated in September 2025
The revised line is based on a surveyed analysis of steep slopes (14%+), tree canopy, and an existing historic wall along Ash Drive — not an arbitrary design boundary
No change to base zoning (rural reserve and estate residential remain); no development plan is being submitted at this time
Staff and Planning Commission both recommended approval; public hearing set for May 12th
Alderman Brown is firm that any structure near the Cool Springs/Mac Hatcher corner is a non-starter; broader board sentiment is that whatever eventually goes on the Franklin Road frontage needs to be exceptional given the city's investment in the gateway area
Vice Mayor noted the board has seen piecemeal changes to this property over several years without a clear overall plan, and wants the property owner to engage more directly on intent
Drake Reeder (applicant's landscape architect) clarified the HHO revision has independent merit regardless of any future plan, and that no commercial use is intended — any future changes would require full board review

Middle Eight PUD vesting extension

Board reviewed a request to extend vesting rights for the Middle Eight PUD subdivision at 2090 Liberty Pike by 3 years to allow the applicant to secure permits and begin site prep
The plan was approved by BOMA in August 2023 — 275 residential units across 7.2 acres (38.19 units/acre) plus 3,000 sq ft of non-residential space; a site plan has been approved but no permits pulled and no grading started
Staff and Planning Commission recommended approval; public hearing set for May 12th, 2026

1288 Lewisburg Pike annexation progress

State-required progress report on the plan of services for 1288 Lewisburg Pike (Gateway Church campus) — all points met except sanitary sewer, which the property owner is actively working to extend
Public hearing set for May 12th, 2026

Sanitation rates and fund outlook

The sanitation fund became self-sustaining in 2025 following rate increases passed in 2024; without further action, a ~$520K deficit is projected in FY2027 driven primarily by the by-county disposal contract jumping from $20.23 to $29.50/ton effective July 1, 2026
Staff recommends Option 5: full-dollar rate increases to break even each year, with a $1M annual capital equipment cap, ending at $40/month in 2031 (up from $33 today)
The $1M capital cap is feasible per Nate and fleet manager Kim Hammond — the fleet is in good shape, oldest vehicle is a 2020 side loader, and lead times of 18–24 months allow for planned replacement
Commercial tipping fees proposed to increase from $65 to $70/ton in FY2027, then $2.50/year through 2031, generating $2.8M in additional revenue over five years; all residential rate options already include these commercial increases
Recycling contract: Marshall County contract expired November 2025; new contract with Waste Management nearly finalized at $43.69/ton (vs. $65/ton Marshall County renewal ask); currently on month-to-month at $50/ton
Landfill capacity secured through June 2032 with a 5-year extension option — Eric and Nate emphasized capacity security is as important as rate
Alderman Potts pushed staff to be more aggressive on commercial rates given growth along I-65; Eric confirmed they're already trying to maximize what the market will bear
Alderman Brown raised concerns about fixed-income seniors; Eric noted that seniors qualifying for the county tax relief program already receive full sanitation fee relief (~220 households last year), and committed to promote that program more
Alderman Caesar suggested exploring tiered rates by household size or home size; Eric pushed back — the vast majority of costs are fixed regardless of volume, making tiered pricing impractical
Mayor noted that in 2007, every dollar of property tax went to subsidize solid waste; the fund is now fully self-sustaining

IDD ordinance vs. resolution

Staff recommended converting the IDD (Infrastructure Development District) policies from a board resolution to a municipal code ordinance (Title 24, Chapter 5) for easier reference and tracking — language is identical, just a change in form
The state Senate passed the enabling legislation weeks ago; the House moved it to calendar the day of this meeting, with a floor vote expected shortly after
Board is expected to act on the ordinance April 28th; the Armistead IDD proposal will also be previewed at that work session as a first test case.

BOMA Meeting Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] - Send Sally George information about infrastructure and development plans She asked about infrastructure concerns related to development near Wilson Pike/Clovercroft Road.
[ ] Participant 13 - Have planning staff present at the May 12 public hearing for the 354 Franklin Road HHO rezoning Alderman Caesar and Potts want clarity on what is and isn't permitted within the 150-foot scenic corridor overlay before the May 12 public hearing.
[ ] Participant 13 - Bring back options for pedestrian crossing at Royal Oaks and Mack Hatcher intersection Board wants to understand cost, timing, and TDOT alignment before deciding whether to fund pedestrian improvements at Royal Oaks/Mack Hatcher as a separate project.

Overview

Board approved the agenda, consent items (7–23), and minutes from the March 24 work session/BOMA meeting and March 31 special work session unanimously
Two proclamations issued: April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month (recognizing Davis House Child Advocacy Center), and Steve Cassidy / EOD Gear as 2026 Tennessee Small Business Person of the Year
Key open item: pedestrian crossing at Royal Oaks / Mack Hatcher — staff confirmed it can be a separate ~$300K–$400K project without delaying the traffic signal work, but the board hasn't funded it yet; staff will bring back a fuller estimate and options
Ordinance 2025-54 (HHO rezoning at 354 Franklin Road) passed first reading 5–1 (Alderman Potts opposed); an amendment to strip HHO revision line 2 from the ordinance failed 4–2; public hearing set for May 12, 2026

Meeting opening and agenda

Mayor Moore called the roll — Alderman Blanton and Alderman Berger were absent; all others present
Troop 16 from Epworth United Methodist Church led the pledge of allegiance — Tanner Golden (senior patrol leader), Garrett Hilton, and Malachi Hilton
Agenda approved as written unanimously

Citizen comment on growth and infrastructure

Sally George raised concern about development outpacing infrastructure on Clovercroft Road and Wilson Pike — three new churches, three new developments, and more coming since she moved in 10 years ago
She wants the city to consider a moratorium on building until infrastructure catches up, noting the issue extends to Brentwood and Nolensville as well
Mayor Moore asked for her email to share more context

Proclamations

Mayor Moore proclaimed April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month, recognizing Davis House Child Advocacy Center and the Child Protective Investigative Team
- Davis House served 346 new child clients last fiscal year and is the only service in Williamson County addressing all sexual abuse and severe physical abuse allegations
- Without a child advocacy center, a child would have to tell their story of abuse an average of 13 times; Davis House reduces that to once
Mayor Moore proclaimed Steve Cassidy and EOD Gear as the 2026 Tennessee Small Business Person of the Year (US Small Business Administration)
- EOD Gear is a service-disabled veteran-owned business in Franklin specializing in advanced manufacturing and mission-critical equipment for defense, public safety, and humanitarian operations
- Alderman Baggett highlighted EOD Gear as an example of why light industrial and manufacturing in Franklin matters to the local economy

Staff recognitions and announcements

Chief Faulkner was absent — she was receiving the Hope Award at the Refuge Center's Hope Grows event for her advocacy around mental health
City Manager Stuckey noted the passing of Bill Jorgensen, longtime Williamson County public safety director and emergency management leader, who was a key partner on the countywide radio system and dispatch consolidation

Royal Oaks / Mack Hatcher pedestrian crossing

TDOT is fast-tracking intersection improvements at Royal Oaks and Mack Hatcher — pavement, widening, and signal work — targeting completion as early as this summer; TDOT has already awarded the paving contract to Vulcan Materials
Staff scoped the city's signal work for minimal improvements and maximum lane capacity, and did not include pedestrian crossings — adding them would require replacing the entire signal cabinet, upgrading drainage, and adding ADA ramps, all at 100% city cost
Paul Holz estimated adding pedestrian facilities as a separate project at ~$300,000–$400,000, and confirmed it would not delay the traffic signal project already in progress
The investment would be fully thrown away when Mack Hatcher widens, currently projected for 2032 — roughly 6–7 years out
Alderman Potts (ward alderman) wants to move forward with the separate pedestrian project, citing connectivity between Forest Crossing, nearby neighborhoods, the YMCA, and local churches
Alderman Caesar wants to understand what the pedestrian facilities would provide for 7 years before voting against pulling it; Alderman Potts asked staff to bring back a design, cost estimate, and options

HHO rezoning at 354 Franklin Road

Ordinance 2025-54 proposes rezoning 202.6 acres and revising the Hillcrest/Hillside Overlay (HHO) boundaries for the property south of Mack Hatcher and east of Franklin Road at 354 Franklin Road
Alderman Potts moved to amend the ordinance by removing HHO revision line 2 (the eastern boundary change near the Mack Hatcher / Cool Springs Blvd intersection), concerned it could open the base of Roper's Knob to one- to two-story structures — the amendment failed 4–2 (Potts and Baggett in favor)
The applicant clarified that a 150-foot scenic corridor overlay along Mack Hatcher significantly restricts what can be built in that area regardless of the HHO line, and that the line revision is based on on-site topographic analysis and the three-part HHO test, not a design intent
Alderman Barnhill noted the original line was established through a GIS mapping exercise without rigorous criteria, and that the revised line better follows topography and meets zoning standards — staff and planning commission both recommended it
Alderman Baggett still wants to understand what the base zoning and Envision Franklin designation mean for the property before the final vote, and noted the base zoning (estate residential, 2 acres/lot) doesn't align with Envision Franklin's rural reserve designation
Alderman Potts reserved the right to bring the amendment back at the next meeting once planning staff (not present tonight) can answer questions about restrictions within the 150-foot scenic corridor
Ordinance passed first reading 5–1 (Potts opposed); public hearing is May 12, 2026, with a second and final reading at the second May meeting

For all other meetings go here.

Election Commission

No meetings this week or next.

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)

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves" (Philippians 2:3)

Blessings,

Bill

pettyandassociates@gmail.com

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