My Comment

My resolution 1-26-28 to create a task force to study the coming need to move from volunteer to paid firefighters in the unincorporated areas of the county was discussed at Budget Committee meeting last week and, after careful consideration, I pulled it so that I will have time to make some needed amendments. The revised resolution will be on the agenda for the Law Enforcement and Public Safety meeting this coming Wednesday.

My Resolution 1-26-29 to give the county commission more say in annexing by the municipalities was recommended by unanimous vote in the Tax Study Committee with the proviso that several changes be made. We are still working on them and I will keep you posted.

Update on filings for county offices here. Update on filings for state office here

Election integrity news

Tennessee Election Commission report

Secretary of State turns over voting records to the DOJ

Meetings this past week

Monday, January 12th

Williamson County Commission

Tuesday, January 13th

BOMA Work Session and BOMA Meeting.

Thursday, January 15th

Williamson County School Board Work Session

Meetings next week

Tuesday, January 20th

Human Resources Committee will meet at 5:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin Agenda Committee members: Judy Herbert (C), Jennifer Mason (VC) Greg Sanford, Tom Tunnicliffe, Bill Petty, Brian Beathard

Tuesday, January 20th

Williamson County School Board meeting 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 starts at 6:30 pm and thereafter.

Wednesday, January 21st

The Law Enforcement/Public Safety Committee will meet at 5:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin Agenda Resolutions Committee members: Tom Tunnicliffe (C), Greg Sanford (VC), Pete Stresser, Matt Williams, Bill Petty

Friday, January 23rd

The Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (SSDS) Task Force at 9:00 a.m. in the  in the Executive Conference Room at the Williamson County Administrative Complex (1320 W. Main St. in Franklin).  They will be discussing changes to Williamson County Regulations.

For all Franklin City 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 District

Thursday, January 15th

Williamson County School Board Work Session Agenda Video

AI Summary

Overview

• Innovation Center construction finished ahead of schedule and opens fall 2026 with 5 career programs serving up to 525 students—already has 300+ applications before visiting all high schools
• Firefighter program graduates can earn $71,500 starting salary at 18 years old with no college debt, advanced power machinery jobs pay $70,000-$100,000
• Entrepreneurship Center is back-to-back national champion in pitch contests with 280 students and a triple-digit waitlist
• Cell phone pilot study launches second half of third quarter through first half of fourth quarter at Independence High, comparing Faraday pouches to backpacks with 2,600 students split fiftyfifty
• Board will vote March 23 on textbook adoptions after publisher presentations January 16 and committee recommendation February 24
• District requesting $3.6M for Hillsborough renovations, $6M for Grassland Middle renovations, $15M for field lighting, and $700K from contingency for Split Log middle school site work
• Rezoning likely needed for 2027-28 school year focusing on Page Middle and Nolensville communities, with community meetings projected for September/October 2026

Cell phone policy pilot study

• Independence High will run a quarter-long experiment starting second half of third quarter through first half of fourth quarter
• 2,600 students split fiftyfifty—half use Faraday pouches to secure phones, half keep phones exclusively in backpacks
• No teachers will use shoe racks during the study period to create clean comparison
• Other high schools will compare backpacks to shoe racks using same data collection methods
• Study will track quantitative data including discipline referrals and qualitative data through questionnaires for students and teachers about temptation, classroom management, and overall experience
• Two middle schools will collect same data even though they're not changing current policy of phones in backpacks/lockers
• Dr. Webb emphasized collecting all correction instances, not just office referrals, to capture complete picture of phone-related issues
• Results will be presented in fourth quarter to inform next year's policy decisions

Innovation Center programs and opening

• District rebranded from single Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center to separate Entrepreneurship Center and Innovation Center on the Innovation Campus
• Innovation Center building construction completed ahead of schedule—broke ground December 4, 2024 and finished 13 months later
• Furniture and equipment installation starts end of January 2026, tours scheduled for mid-February after staging complete
• Ribbon cutting planned for very early fall 2026 once students have committed
• 5 programs launching fall 2026:
  • Advanced power machinery (TCAT program): 40 spots, 71 applications—students earn 528 technical hours per certificate in electrical power assistant or off-road diesel, jobs pay $70,000-$100,000 at 18 years old
  • Aviation: 225 max capacity, 154 applications—FAA-approved flight simulators provide loggable hours, seniors can dual enroll through MTSU
  • Cybersecurity and AI: 100 max capacity, 66 applications—built 100% with Columbia State dual enrollment, students earn cybersecurity certificate
  • Hospitality, tourism and culinary: 100 max capacity, 44 applications—technical certificate through Columbia State, mock hotel room and lobby in building
  • Fire management: 12 spots, 18 applications—students earn Firefighter I, basic EMT, CPR, possibly full EMT through Columbia State, starting salary $71,500 at City of Franklin with college paid for
• Total Innovation Center capacity 525 students, combined with Entrepreneurship Center's 280 students equals 805 total campus capacity
• Applications opened December 3 and close February 13, students notified by spring break
• District projects 100% capacity by year three
• Every program designed with multiple exit ramps—immediate employment, technical certificate, two-year degree, or four-year degree
• Programs selected based on 7,000 survey responses from rising seventh through eleventh graders and local workforce needs
• Caterpillar is first partner, building largest tech center south of Independence High School
• TCAT Dixon rewrote curriculum specifically for WCS advanced power machinery program
• City of Franklin partnered on fire management program, working with Department of Labor on apprenticeship program making students pre-apprentices
• Building features innovation grab-and-go area run by transition students, expanding current EIC cafe model
• Students travel during study hall or lunch periods, district provides bus transportation from every high school plus students can drive themselves (currently about fifty-fifty split at EIC)
• Vanguard High School holds seats in online classes for Innovation Center and Entrepreneurship Center students who want extended time on campus or need asynchronous coursework flexibility
• Bell and Associates completed construction, Klein Sweeney handled design, Eric Gardner provided oversight
• County government donated former Animal Control building site for construction
• 100% of $10M Innovative School Models grant allocated to building construction rather than equipment to maximize long-term value
• State gave WCS approval to use full allocation on bricks and mortar, opening opportunity for other districts statewide

Entrepreneurship Center campus model

• Entrepreneurship Center started year one with 72 students, now in year eight at max capacity of 280 students with triple-digit waitlist
• Back-to-back national reigning champions in pitch contest competing against 500+ locations nationwide
• Current national champion has $176,000 in pitch contest winnings, accepted to Wharton Business School at Penn, sells $500-$1,500 weekly in product, got into South by Southwest, meeting in two weeks about potential company acquisition
• Former student Raya Whitlock became first 18-year-old mentor at Loyola Chicago Entrepreneurship Center after director said program had nothing to offer her
• 150+ mentors support students, partnership with Williamson Inc. and Chamber
• Multiple SEC schools including Ole Miss and UT visited and said they can't replicate the model
• Open house scheduled for later January 2026
• Paula Chilton leads facilitator team
• Campus model allows students to learn skilled trades at Innovation Center then learn to open their own businesses at Entrepreneurship Center—combination not found elsewhere nationally

Textbook adoption process update

• State released approved materials list and summary of reviewer comments in November 2025 as predicted
• Mechatronics courses at Fairview High had no materials pass state vetting, so CTE team pulled alternative materials for careful teacher evaluation
• Textbook committee met December 8 to review state-approved list, finalize criteria checklists, and swear required TDOE oath that members won't be inappropriately influenced by publishers
• Health, PE, and high school lifetime wellness developed separate criteria checklists from CTE courses
• Committee and teachers encouraged to treat checklists as living documents and add criteria during review process
• District implemented two board policy 4.401 updates mid-process:
  • Requested publishers provide ESSA tier data or studies showing better student outcomes—no responses received yet
  • Teachers must submit written explanations with selections on electronic form
• Publisher presentations scheduled January 16 at 8:00 AM at PD Center—each publisher gets approximately 50 minutes for presentation and Q&A
• 3 CTE teachers not on committee invited to attend publisher presentations
• Print materials available at 5 site-based reviews (high schools and middle schools) during January and February
• Publishers provided digital access to all teachers
• Health, PE, and wellness teachers meet with publishers February 13 on district-wide day
• Teacher recommendation electronic form opens February 13-19
• Committee receives aggregated teacher data by school, community and parent members receive full district data
• 6 public review dates scheduled at PD Center with variety of days and times
• Digital samples posted on district website organized by course (not by publisher like state site) to improve user experience
• Public comment forms available in paper and electronic formats, all comments shared with board and committee
• Committee meets February 24 in afternoon to cast final recommendations
• Results compiled and sent to board within couple days after February 24
• Board presentation scheduled March 19 work session
• Board vote scheduled March 23 board meeting
• Process designed to prepare board for much larger social studies adoption next year with approximately 1,000 K-12 teachers involved

Screen time committee progress

• Committee met Tuesday, January 13, 2026 focusing on technology use guidance document
• Committee members commit 4:00-6:00 PM (many stay beyond 6:00 PM) for monthly meetings since May 2025
• Guidance document will define how, when, and with what frequency district uses technology to enhance student learning
• Document will establish clear expectations, best practices, and operational parameters for students, teachers, families, and leadership
• Committee reviewed prior learning covering safety, privacy, operational procedures, curriculum access, K-12 Tennessee computer science standards, instructional technology best practices (passive vs active use), and current usage data
• Members worked in grade band subgroups (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, high school) to identify focus topics and create outlines with rationale
• Some groups needed more than the one hour allocated to complete outline work
• Jenny Lopez acknowledged February 10 target for draft guidance is too lofty, likely needs more time
• Committee wants time to share outlines across grade bands and hear rationale from all groups before finalizing
• Guidance may not be complete until May instead of April to ensure quality over speed
• Document will guide all professional development, teacher training, and parent communication about technology use
• Andy Davis shared November and December 2025 usage data with Superintendent Golden
• Data includes K-12 digital profile showing top 20 frequently used apps per grade level (increased from 8)
• November yearly comparison available for K-5 showing 2024 to 2025 changes—reflects impact of reducing one-to-one devices in K-1 and conversations with elementary principals
• 6-12 comparison data from 2024 not available due to ClassLink's new data warehouse, may come later
• District created alphabetical "cheat sheet" of all K-12 applications for board reference

Budget requests for renovations and field lighting

• Three intent to fund requests require County Commission approval:
  • Hillsborough Elementary renovations: $3.6M total intent to fund, requesting $1.8M in current year—three-year summer project, County Commission partially funded last year
  • Grassland Middle renovations: $6M total intent to fund, requesting $4M in current year—three-year summer project, County Commission partially funded last year, completed sixth grade bathroom renovations over Christmas break
  • Field lighting: $15M project, requesting $12M in current year—need intent to fund to put project out to bid and pursue TVA partnership for potential 10% cost reduction through rebates
• Split Log middle school site work: $700K from rural contingency (K-8 leftover funds) for grading and engineering—does not require County Commission approval
• Moving $700K leaves $6.2M in rural contingency and $33.5M in general contingency
• Split Log funding is first step for middle school moved up one year in timeline per board's previous vote
• County Commission approved five-year capital plan Monday, January 13, 2026
• Renovations scheduled for summers starting 2027 (not summer 2026)

Salary study contract approval

• Board policy requires approval for any consultant contract exceeding $10,000
• District completed RFP process and recommends lowest bid from Lean Frog Business Solutions Inc. at $44,500
• Study covers all employees—both classified staff and teachers
• Consultant indicated May deadline for superintendent's report is achievable for basics, but some work may continue past May based on experience with detailed salary studies
• Funding will come from combination of superintendent's discretionary budget (not spent any this year) and other contracted services budgets across departments—no budget amendment needed
• Study is one of Superintendent Golden's annual goals

Open zone schools for 2026-27

• 7 schools not offering open zone seats for 2026-27: same schools as last year except Thompson Station Elementary now has open zone seats (Thompson Station Middle does not due to enrollment concerns)
• Every high school will have some open zone seats available to provide choice across the district
• Allison Nunley led projections work, calling municipalities about building permits and analyzing subdivision zoning
• Student attendance during flu season remained 96%+ all week with lowest in high 92% range—no schools dropped below 90% threshold that triggers intervention

Future rezoning plans

• Rezoning likely needed for 2027-28 school year
• January 2027 is absolute deadline for rezoning decisions to be in place
• District started administrative work gathering current student numbers and creating projection polygons
• Two prime areas identified: Page Middle community and Nolensville community
• Community meetings projected for September/October 2026 timeline
• District will present proposals to board before community meetings (specific timeline not yet set)
• Numbers will improve after spring out-of-zone request closeouts and fall enrollment
• Eric raised concern about Franklin Special School District students feeding to Franklin High—Freedom Middle sends only 9% to Franklin High (smallest split in county) while 91% go to Centennial
• Many FSSD neighborhoods border or are within walking distance of Franklin High but are zoned to Centennial across town
• Franklin High now has open enrollment capacity after years of being overcrowded
• Centennial High is only high school without county line border, completely surrounded by other zones, and has capacity
• Other significant splits: Page Middle to Page High and Centennial (11-12% to Centennial), Heritage Middle to Independence and Summit (14-15% to one school)
• District considering feeder pattern alignment from elementary up and high school down when making rezoning recommendations
• Goal is to start with balance then add choice, rather than have imbalance with choice

USA 250th anniversary celebration

• Tanya Hidmer proposed resolution in September/October 2025
• Resolution celebrates semi-sesquicentennial (250th anniversary) of United States
• Most national celebrations occur between Memorial Day and July 4, 2026
• District wants students to experience celebrations before summer break since they won't be in school during July 4
• Dr. Webb and Dr. Oyer's teams working with high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools on spring celebrations
• Celebrations will incorporate academics, arts, and athletics across all aspects of district programming
• Working with curriculum specialists on curriculum integration, Patrick Whitlock on athletics branding and recognition, Mark Kinzer on arts performances and spotlights
• Activity was quiet until January 1, 2026 when many organizations began announcing celebrations
• District expects celebrations to continue throughout the year including Veterans Day in November 2026
• Many schools already thoughtfully celebrate veterans each November

Williamson County Commission

Monday, January 12th

Williamson County Commission will meet at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium of the County Building at 1320 W. Main, Franklin. Agenda/Packet Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Bill Petty - Rewrite and submit resolution for February meeting Resolution 126-29 regarding text amendments. Amendments were identified by text study committee meeting; will incorporate changes for February Commissioner meeting.
• [ ] Jesse Neal - Prepare advice on RFP and financial advisor engagement Provide recommendations on what an RFP or financial advisor consultant engagement could look like for hospital transaction, including scope and timing in the process.

Overview

• Commission approved $900,000 budget for outside legal counsel Jesse Neal to represent the commission in potential hospital transaction, passing 21-3 after debate over hourly rates and scope
• Resolution asserting commission oversight of hospital failed 6-18, and resolution to hire independent consultant was tabled 16-8 following recommendation from counsel to provide guidance on timing and scope
• State epidemiologists reported 35 cases of histoplasmosis clustered in Thompson Station and Spring Hill areas as of January 9th, with most cases occurring in late September and early October
• United Communications completed $60,000,000+ broadband infrastructure project, virtually eliminating lack of broadband in Williamson County after partnering with county's $2,000,000+ ARPA funds and nearly $20,000,000 in state grants
• Williamson County Jail achieved tier two accreditation, becoming one of only six jails in Tennessee to reach highest certification level, increasing state reimbursement from $38 to $50 per inmate per day

Citizen comments on hospital sale transparency

• Mike Ryan from Franklin urged commissioners to support taxpayer transparency for potential Williamson Medical Center sale
• Ryan noted two-thirds of commissioners voted last month to change state law allowing sale proceeds to return to county and help reduce the county's $1,100,000,000 debt, which equals about $4,400 per resident
• Thomas Vinecourt reinforced Ryan's comments and advocated for sale proceeds to stay in Williamson County to pay down debt
• Former Commissioner Todd Kaestner noted Tennessee has debt of about $266 per capita while Williamson County has debt of about $4,044 per capita
• Steve Hickey, chairman of Williamson County Republican Party, stated official party position that net proceeds from any hospital sale must be returned to county general fund and not sequestered in a trust or foundation

Championship sports team proclamations

• Page High School Patriots football team honored for winning first state championship in school history, defeating Sevier County 21-14 on December 5th, 2025 at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga
• Patriots completed perfect 14-0 season and compiled extraordinary record over past four years with only a handful of losses
• Cameron Cruz threw decisive 45-yard touchdown to Cayden Ackerman with 58 seconds remaining in championship game
• Cohen Grissom named state championship MVP for defensive performance
• Summit High School girls volleyball team honored for winning class AAA state championship for first time in school history since opening in 2011
• Summit defeated Brentwood High School 3-2 in championship match, the fifth meeting between teams during season with series tied 2-2 entering final contest
• Team collectively registered 68 kills, 64 assists, 9 aces, 63 digs and 13 blocks in championship match
• Junior Emory Estep recorded 22 kills with senior Maggie Kalis adding 13 more, while setter Mandy Shanahan was named championship MVP

United Communications broadband infrastructure update

• William Bradford, CEO of United Communications, reported company invested over $250,000,000 in broadband infrastructure in Middle Tennessee
• United brought over $100,000,000 of federal and state grants to the region
• In 2022, over 15,000 homes and businesses in Williamson County lacked access to reliable internet
• County partnered with United using little over $2,000,000 in ARPA funds, which leveraged almost $20,000,000 in state grants
• United invested over $60,000,000 in Williamson County alone, virtually eliminating lack of broadband in the county
• Company focused on rural areas first before announcing service to Franklin and Brentwood in 2025
• Williamson County certified as eight gig certified community with state's fastest internet
• United provides free eight gig internet to all volunteer fire departments in areas they serve

Hospital financial and operational report

• Williamson Medical Center named to Forbes magazine inaugural list of top hospitals in America for 2026
• Hospital was one of only two hospitals in Tennessee, only hospital in Middle Tennessee, and one of 253 hospitals nationwide to receive highest overall five star award
• Hospital earned eight awards in 2026 from national women's choice award program including patient experience, outpatient experience, patient safety, heart care, obstetrics, knee and hip replacement, minimally invasive surgery and women's services
• Hospital added new primary care physician Dr. Troy Miller to West Franklin clinic location to replace retired Dr. Kenneth Dodge
• New CT scanner with cardiac capabilities installed and currently seeing patients, with cardiac capabilities beginning by end of January 2026
• New MRI with cardiac capabilities scheduled for installation in March 2026
• Hospital celebrates 68 years of service on Thursday, January 16th, 2026
• November financial results showed inpatient admissions 12% below budget and 4% below prior year
• Total surgeries were 9% below budget and 2% below prior year
• Medical visits were up 5% versus prior year
• EBITDA was 15% or $357,000 less than budget for November but favorable year to date by $1,600,000 or 14%
• Net income was unfavorable to budget by $442,000 for November but favorable year to date by $1,200,000 or 126%
• EBITDA margin was 6.5% for the month and 8.3% year to date
• Operating cash increased $1,300,000 mainly due to timing of payroll
• Days cash on hand all sources was 113 days, up one day from prior month
• Debt coverage remained at 2.48
• Heart health month calcium scoring program scheduled for February 2026 at cost of $65 per scan, up from $50 last year when over 1,000 procedures were performed

Histoplasmosis outbreak investigation

• Dr. Mary Margaret Phil and Dr. Emma Taylor Salmon from Tennessee Department of Health provided update on histoplasmosis cluster investigation
• As of January 9th, 35 cases identified in Murray and Williamson County areas, with tight clustering along border in Thompson Station and Spring Hill areas
• Most cases occurred in late September and early October timeframe, with cases continuing through mid to late November
• Histoplasmosis is fungal infection caused by histoplasma capsulatum that often presents as pneumonia
• Around 60% to 90% of people living in Mid-South and Eastern United States are exposed at some point in their lifetime
• Only about 1% of people exposed to spores develop symptoms, which typically appear 3 to 17 days after exposure
• People with suppressed immune systems, babies, and adults 55 and older have increased risk of developing severe or disseminated disease
• Median age of cases is 50
• Tennessee Department of Health released Health Alert Network message in early December to notify clinicians in Middle Tennessee
• Investigation has not yet identified single clear source of exposure, which is not uncommon for histoplasmosis
• Department continuing to interview cases and explore potential risk factors including construction activity in June Lake area
• State engaged with National Weather Service and local birders to understand bird migration patterns but haven't seen anything out of ordinary

Jail staffing analysis and tier two accreditation

• Sheriff announced Williamson County Jail became tier two certified facility, one of only six jails in Tennessee to attain highest level through Tennessee Correctional Institute
• Tier two certification increases state reimbursement from $38 per inmate per day to $50 per inmate per day (additional $12 per day)
• Jim Hart from CTAS presented formal staffing analysis required within one year of tier two accreditation
• Analysis used National Institute of Corrections staffing analysis workbook methodology
• Main challenges identified were hiring staff, training them, then losing them to other functions within sheriff's office or other agencies
• Agency shifted from 12-hour shifts to 10-hour shifts last summer, then to 8-hour shifts due to staff shortages, and now preparing to return to 10-hour shifts
• Healthcare operations found to be addressing inmate needs with minimal grievances
• 24 accidents occurred at Split Log Road intersection since January 1st, 2025, prompting collaborative review with risk management and highway department

Hospital legal representation budget approval

• Commission approved $900,000 budget amendment for outside legal counsel Jesse Neal to represent commission in potential hospital transaction
• Neal reported already billed $86,000 for work completed in November
• Neal's firm keeps time in six-minute increments with detailed descriptions of work performed
• Neal explained he leverages paralegals, associates, junior partners, mid-level partners, and senior partners in various specialties to maximize value and minimize cost
• Neal reported meeting with hospital's counsel multiple times and making requests for information including criteria used to evaluate potential partners
• Hospital agreed to share evaluation criteria and requested commission provide additional criteria they thought appropriate
• Neal emphasized commission has ultimate authority to decide whether transaction proceeds and that hospital has been responsive to requests
• Neal requested commissioners share priorities regarding community covenants such as access to care, hospital name, children's hospital, Medicare/Medicaid participation, and charity care policies
• Property committee scheduled to meet January 28th, 2026 to review any questions or recommendations from commissioners
• Resolution passed 21-3 after Commissioner Mary Smith proposed amendment to reduce budget to $100,000 then $200,000 to allow time for review, but withdrew amendment after discussion
• Commissioners noted they can terminate relationship with counsel at any time by majority vote
• Neal confirmed Bass, berry and Sims represents hospital in transaction, not county attorney Mosley

Commission oversight resolution debate

• Commissioner Richards introduced resolution asserting commission oversight and independent legal representation for hospital transaction
• Richards noted 2011 resolution (number 6-11-12) declared Williamson Medical Center was not for sale and not surplus property, which has never been rescinded
• Richards argued hospital board initiated activities including issuing RFPs, soliciting bids, and engaging transactional counsel without prior commission approval
• Richards stated these are market-facing actions that go beyond internal strategic planning and carry legal and financial consequences for county
• Commissioner Williams, who serves on hospital board along with three other county commissioners, stated board sent clear signal it's in best interest to explore option of sale
• Williams emphasized commission controls final decision and has no obligation to follow board's recommendation
• Williams argued resolution flips the role by pretending county commission should be initiating process rather than hospital board
• Commissioner Mason noted attorneys come in different specialties and emphasized need to trust the process as laid out by counsel
• Resolution failed 6-18

Hospital consultant RFP proposal

• Commissioner Richards introduced resolution authorizing commission to issue RFP and retain independent consultant to advise commission on potential hospital transactions
• Richards noted hospital board retained their own financial and strategic consultant (Kaufman Hall) that serves hospital board, not county commission
• Richards stated firms with direct recent experience advising counties in hospital transactions, including firms that advised Blount County, were never contacted to represent Williamson County
• Commissioner Torres asked what consultant would bring that's not provided by legal counsel
• Commissioner Morton stated he thought having independent financial advice makes sense and would support resolution if language striking five sitting commissioners from process was removed
• Commissioner Williams questioned timing and suggested consultant might be more appropriate later in process to evaluate allocation of proceeds rather than strategic analysis
• Commissioner Clifford asked Neal about his experience with counties hiring financial advisors in similar transactions
• Neal confirmed it's not unheard of for county to engage supplemental financial advisor, though it's minority practice, and described it as more of a fairness opinion to evaluate data, economics, and market
• Neal offered to provide advice on what financial advisor engagement could look like and at what point in process it would be appropriate
• Commissioner Clifford moved to table resolution until commission receives advice from counsel on scope and timing
• Motion to table passed 16-8

Budget amendments and appropriations

• Commission approved $64,402.50 appropriation for Parks and Recreation from donations from youth sports organizations to pay for officials and upgrade facilities
• Commission approved $170,000 appropriation for Parks and Recreation from participant fees at Performing Arts Center
• Commission approved $19,500 appropriation for Animal Center from donation by former commissioner Judy Hayes
• Commission approved $10,000 appropriation for Animal Center from unappropriated county general funds to repair water leak in irrigation line that was out of warranty
• Commission approved appropriation for Office of Public Safety for overtime, supplies, and maintenance of vehicles, with revenues from Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reimbursements for emergency management assistance to North Carolina
• Commission approved inter-category transfer of $1,037.94 between major categories for administrative costs related to American Rescue Plan Act funds
• Commission approved $64,600 appropriation from opioid abatement funds
• Commission approved five-year capital improvement program for schools, roads, fire protection, and recreation as required planning tool for adequate facilities tax and adequate school facilities tax
• Phoebe Riley reported privilege tax collections for October were $1,100,000 and for November were $1,400,000
• Commercial privilege tax collected $274 in October, with January being first month extended privilege tax for commercial throughout county will be collected
• Education impact fee collections were $1,600,000 in October and $1,900,000 in November
• Cool Springs Conference Center received profit of $151,052 in October and $64,214 in November, bringing net profit to date for fiscal year to $168,079

Interlocal agreements and routine resolutions

• Commission approved interlocal agreement with Town of Nolensville for reimbursement of costs associated with software licenses purchased by county
• Commission approved interlocal agreement with City of Franklin for provision of firefighting and emergency response services in unincorporated area near I-65 and I-840 as auto aid agreement
• Commission approved master services agreement with Powder Tails for management of special duty work by deputy sheriffs, with all costs borne by private parties hiring deputies
• Commission declared two county-owned rifles as surplus that were missed on previous surplus declaration
• Commission approved equipment rental agreement with Diverse Computing Inc. for equipment at courthouse to connect to TBI and other law enforcement agencies
• Commission approved conveyance of Fairview Ballpark to City of Fairview, with city expected to reimburse county approximately $150,000 for lights installed about a year ago, pending city approval on January 15th, 2026
• Commission approved lease agreement with US Congressman Matthew Van Epps for local office, continuing historical practice of providing office to district representative
• Commission adopted electronic signature policy for county grant contracts as required by comptroller
• Commission accepted donation of incubators for neonatal kittens from Friends of Williamson County Animal Center
• Commission accepted donation of walkie talkies valued at approximately $2,200 from company called Rocky Talkie for Animal Center
• Commission accepted in-kind donation of bird sanctuary and bench from Boy Scout Troop 48 Eagle Scout project to be installed near Williamson County Library
• Commission approved stormwater appeals board appointments of Liz McLaurin and Steve Westerman for three-year terms expiring January 2029
• Commission approved Beau Childress to adjustments and appeals board filling unexpired term expiring January 2028 following death of Kenneth Shote
• Commission approved Matthew Baldree to beer board filling unexpired term expiring November 2028 following expiration of Tom Wilson's term

To see how each commissioner voted for each resolution, go here and scroll down. All resolutions are highlighted with the votes below.

Board of Mayor and Aldermen

Tuesday, January 13th

BOMA Work Session Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Eric - Provide Southeast plant update to board Vice Mayor requested overview in next month or so on Southeast plant progress, wastewater, sewer, and Integrated Water Resource Plan status.

Overview

• Board deferred Infrastructure Development Districts policy to end of February pending state legislative cleanup on county trustee authority
• Board approved $400,000 contribution for Boyd Mill Pike improvements between Stonewater Blvd and Championship Blvd (total project cost $1.2M, timeline 12-18 months)
• Franklin Pride Festival permit approved for June 6, 2026 at Harlinsdale Farm with full park closure fee of $7,250
• Madison Franklin PUD received 3-year vesting extension through 2029 for 64-unit apartment expansion (9 years total from original 2020 approval)
• Staff recommended disapproval of Liberty Pike rezoning due to height concerns not meeting Envision Franklin guidance
• Wastewater capacity evaluation amendment approved for $766,000 total ($153,000 city cost, rest reimbursed from ARPA grant)

Infrastructure Development Districts policy

• Policy designed to support 4 primary goals: extraordinary quality design, attainable housing, enhanced infrastructure/public services, and redevelopment
• Current 5% administrative fee cap with flexibility if state removes cap in future
• Legislative cleanup needed before implementation—county trustee requires clearer authority to collect assessments
• Board deferred final approval to end of February to await legislative fix expected during current session
• Knoxville is only Tennessee city currently using IDDs
• Public concerns raised about annual assessments of $500-$3,000 per property for up to 30 years
• Alderman Berger clarified Knoxville real estate market has not seen home value losses in IDD districts despite public claims
• Vice Mayor Baggett emphasized this is administrative function for park use, not policy endorsement of any organization
• Alderman Brown proposed requiring community charrettes for IDD applications as future enhancement
• Board debated whether assessments are additional tax versus alternative financing mechanism for infrastructure costs normally rolled into mortgage
• Any approved IDD would take at least 2 years before hitting tax rolls
• Interlocal agreement with county required before policy can be implemented
• Rachel Blackhurst with Commercial Real Estate Development Association expressed optimism about policy development

Franklin Pride Festival permit

• Sixth year event at Harlinsdale Farm on June 6, 2026
• Event space moving closer to barn area
• Full park closure fees: $5,000 event day + $2,000 setup day + $250 beer permit = $7,250 total
• Same fee structure applies to any organization renting full park (Pilgrimage pays $5,000 per day for multi-day events)
• Police department determines required officer count based on previous years and event review
• Charlie Powell asked board to "have courage" to deny permit
• Alderman Berger explained obligation to uphold federal, state, and local laws regardless of personal beliefs
• Alderman Berger shared that Franklin Pride organizer sent letter acknowledging difficulty of his vote despite their disagreement
• Vice Mayor Baggett clarified this is administrative task for public space use, not moral endorsement—courts decided constitutional questions in Murfreesboro case 3 years ago
• Event organizers must follow all city rules, regulations, and decency standards or lose approval

Boyd Mill Pike funding request

• Southern Land requesting $400,000 city contribution for improvements between Stonewater Blvd and Championship Blvd
• Total project cost: $1.2M (city contribution is one-third)
• 3 options presented:
  • Option 1: Do nothing
  • Option 2: City spends $120,000 for mill/overlay and culvert replacement needed within next 2 years
  • Option 3: City contributes $400,000 toward full upgrade to city standards
• Board reached consensus on Option 3
• Southern Land already completed design work and not seeking reimbursement for design or utilities (except stormwater)
• Southern Land paid approximately $9.35M in impact fees for West Haven development
• Current road is rural, outdated, doesn't meet safety standards but only 1 accident with police report in last 5 years
• Large culvert and corrugated metal pipe need replacement regardless of improvement level
• Road has deep ditch on one side (blue line stream that must remain in current alignment)
• Improvements include widening road by approximately 4 feet to create shoulders for pedestrian and cyclist safety
• Sidewalk planned on opposite side of main ditch
• Timeline: 12-18 months from contract execution to completion
• Ron Cryer explained original development plan didn't include improvements because road was designated heritage road and county residents resisted improvements to limit traffic
• Alderman Barnhill requested separate section of Boyd Mill from 96 to Downs Blvd remain prioritized in capital improvement plan

Madison Franklin PUD extension

• Applicant requesting 3-year vesting rights extension for apartment complex at 801 Del Rio Pike
• Plan approved to demolish one building and construct 3 new buildings for 64 additional units (total 254 units)
• Previous extension granted July 2022, original approval March 2020
• New extension would run through 2029 (9 years total from original approval)
• 2 modifications of standards approved related to buffers and landscaping
• Emergency access gate to Brink Place approved—staff recommended full connection if new plan required
• If vesting expires, would require entirely new rezoning and PUD process
• Current plan doesn't meet front-end regulations for internal drive frontage
• Vice Mayor questioned appropriateness of 9-year vesting period and suggested future discussion on vesting philosophy
• Alderman Blanton noted he advocated for emergency access only to Brink Place during original approval

Property rezoning requests

• 1211 & 1217 Liberty Pike: 16.81 acres from General Office District to Regional Commerce RC4 District
  • Public hearing established for February 10, 2026
  • Properties currently vacant, south of Liberty Pike, east of Carothers Parkway
  • Envision Franklin places both in regional commerce design concept
  • 1217 Liberty Pike doesn't meet Envision Franklin height map recommendation of 3 stories maximum for transition to residential (RC4 allows 6 stories)
  • 1211 Liberty Pike meets Envision Franklin guidance for 6 stories
  • Staff and Planning Commission (9-0 vote) recommended disapproval due to partial non-compliance
  • Alderman Berger opposed height, wants maximum 1-2 stories to match Bowie's restaurant and transition to Breckenridge neighborhood
  • Alderman Berger emphasized need for connectivity road to Carruthers and proper ingress/egress with left turn access
• 4325 Long Lane: 7.01 acres from Estate Residential to Office Residential
  • Public hearing established February 24, 2026
  • Intent to use existing house as administrative offices for nearby Refuge Center
  • Within regional commerce design concept supporting office and institutional uses
  • Office Residential only permits "house" building type—any other use requires new rezoning
  • Staff and Planning Commission recommended approval
  • Alderman Caesar raised traffic concerns on Long Lane
  • Property currently on septic tank sized for 5,000 sq ft house—office use would be less intense than residential
  • Greg Gamble representing owner Keith Baker, who may rent to Refuge Center or other professional office use

Wastewater capacity evaluation

• Amendment 6 to contract 20200012 with Hazen and Sawyer for south plant evaluation
• Total amendment fee: $766,000
• City responsible for $153,000 (20% match), remaining $613,000 reimbursed from $5.6M competitive ARPA grant
• Work includes characterizing influent flow for design, planning biosolids transport from south plant to Claudia Yates plant
• Claudia Yates always designed to handle all city biosolids
• Funded from impact fees (capacity-related project)
• Vice Mayor Baggett requested general update on Southeast plant progress in next month
• Alderman Potts praised incorporation of new technology and cost savings, particularly solid waste processing at Claudia Yates

Parks master plan update

• 5-year update required for state and federal grant applications
• Original master plan approved 2018
• Text amendments being prepared by staff without consultant
• Going to Planning Commission for approval process
• Board asked to share constituent feedback and wish list ideas with city administrator and Lisa Clayton
• Updates will incorporate new park inventory added since 2018, including open space conservation along key corridors
• Changes will be added to appendices

BOMA Meeting Agenda Video

AI Summary

Overview

• Board approved requiring development plan and rezoning for three stories on H.G. Hill Columbia Avenue property after heated debate—amendment to allow three stories by right failed 5-3, original ordinance with development plan requirement passed 7-1
• FY2025-26 budget amendment passed unanimously with $3,694,625 in general fund changes, including $2.5M payment to Water Management fund for Pearl Park land and $9,539,000 for emergency Hoboss wastewater repairs
• Board unanimously rejected Liberty Pike rezoning request from General Office to RC4, citing concerns about four-story height and inadequate residential transition
• Infrastructure Development Districts policy deferred to February 24th after public speakers raised concerns about homeowner costs and school capacity
• Board approved TDOT agreement to advance Southeast Mac Hatcher widening design work despite $25M funding shortfall and 2032 construction timeline

Ben Franklin Day proclamation

• Mayor Moore proclaimed January 17th of each year beginning 2026 as Benjamin Franklin Day in Franklin
• Ben Franklin statue dedication scheduled for Saturday, January 17th at 10:00 AM at 5 points near the archives, funded by donation from former Alderman Pam Lewis
• Franklin is named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, and Williamson County is named for Hugh Williamson, a signer of the US Constitution and close friend of Franklin
• Alderman Peterson participated in proclamation presentation as member of Daughters of the American Revolution, which has been working to establish the statue

West Haven road safety concerns

• Mike Hubbell made passionate plea for road safety improvements on West Haven road, describing dangerous conditions with fall-offs, no lighting, pedestrians, runners, and heavy truck traffic from ongoing construction
• Hubbell emphasized the road serves broader community beyond West Haven residents, with people traveling to downtown Franklin and Leiper's Fork
• He argued the city has financial capacity to fund improvements given increasing tax revenues and urged board to act before accidents occur
• No formal action taken during meeting

America 250th celebration planning

• Vice Mayor Baggett requested update on 250th anniversary (sesquicentennial) celebration planning for July 4th, 2026
• Staff confirmed planning underway with city team meeting this week to develop year-long events leading up to July 4th
• City exploring ways to enhance existing events like Children's Arts Festival to tie into 250th celebration
• Staff coordinating with Convention Visitors Bureau and other community partners, aiming for events almost every month throughout the year
• Ben Franklin statue unveiling on Saturday serves as first 250th celebration event

FY2025-26 budget amendment

• Board unanimously approved second budget amendment totaling $3,694,625 in general fund revenue and expense changes
• General fund increases include $3,553,190 transfer for $2.5M Pearl Park land payment to Water Management fund, $753,000 for State Route 96 east median barrier, and $300,000 for Liberty Park expansion
• Opioid settlement revenue of $20,435 allocated for remediation efforts throughout city
• Called performance bond of $121,000 recognized to cover expenses for incomplete developer work
• Water Management fund emergency Hoboss repairs total $9,539,000 funded by $2.5M from Pearl Park sale and $7,039,000 from fund balance, with total project cost of $10,889,000
• City attempting to complete Hoboss repairs without issuing additional debt by using $1.35M in budgetary savings from wastewater collection and capital budgets
• Hotel/motel fund revenue decreased $1,430,000 due to formal recognition of occupancy tax rate reduction from 5% to 4% while awaiting Attorney General approval
• Staff received favorable AG ruling and will bring rate increase back to board on February 24th for potential implementation before July 1st
• Other increases include $85,000 for police body camera software (Axon long-term agreement), $106,000 for Eastern Flank door replacement, and $25,257 for new materials handler in Sanitation department
• Stormwater fund increased $245,000 for infrastructure work during Lewisburg ARPA project, with $93,000 contribution from Heritage Foundation

H.G. Hill Columbia Avenue height debate

• Board approved zoning ordinance amendments 7-1 after contentious debate over allowing three stories on H.G. Hill property at Columbia Avenue
• Planning Commission unanimously recommended allowing three stories with 10-foot setback on third story along Columbia Avenue west side between Plaza and West Polk streets
• Vice Mayor Baggett's amendment from November meeting requires development plan approval by BOMA and rezoning for three stories, allowing two stories by right
• Alderman Peterson's motion to remove development plan requirement and allow three stories by right failed 5-3
• John Cooper (Holland & Knight attorney) represented H.G. Hill, requesting board follow Planning Commission's unanimous recommendation
• Jimmy Granberry (H.G. Hill) argued development plan requirement necessitates rezoning, which changes rules after company followed proper procedures through Planning Commission
• Vice Mayor Baggett defended amendment citing overwhelming constituent feedback preferring two stories on historic Columbia Avenue corridor, noting Planning Commission initiated Envision Franklin amendment without BOMA input
• Baggett emphasized two-story requirement maintains consistency with historic corridor design as buildings descend from Carter House toward battlefield
• Property currently zoned for two stories on Columbia Avenue frontage, three stories allowed behind as grade drops toward back of site
• Opposite side of Columbia Avenue has three-story approvals through different plan amendments
• Board of Zoning Appeals decision for internal building heights remains unaffected by this ordinance
• Alderman Barnhill initially supported three stories with 10-foot setback, withdrew his amendment after discussion, expressing disappointment Planning Commission didn't catch issues earlier
• Final vote allows two stories by right, three stories only with development plan and rezoning approval

Centennial High School U-turn restrictions

• Board unanimously approved ordinance prohibiting U-turns at two northern Mallory Lane intersections serving Centennial High School student parking lots
• Staff amended original proposal from Capital Investment Committee, which requested restrictions at three medians
• Amendment allows U-turns at southern entrance (administration entrance) to accommodate businesses on west side of Mallory Lane, particularly Whole Foods customers
• Alderman Potts noted restriction aligns with other traffic improvements including Home Depot Royal Oaks exit (right turn only) and Sam's Club Mallory Lane exit (no left turn)
• Changes designed to reduce conflict points and near-miss accidents while retraining driver behavior
• Left turns from school entrances remain permitted, only U-turns prohibited at student lot entrances

Liberty Pike rezoning request

• Board unanimously disapproved rezoning 16.81 acres from General Office to RC4 (Regional Commerce 4 stories) for properties at 1211 and 1217 Liberty Pike
• Adam Kronk (Kronk Engineering) represented property owner Ray Morris, noting 14 years of engineering work with three approved office plans that were never built
• Property bisected by large TVA and Middle Tennessee Electric easement running east-west through middle of site
• Envision Franklin recommends Regional Commerce for both properties but height map shows three stories for 1217 (larger property) and six stories for 1211 (smaller property)
• Staff and Planning Commission (9-0 vote) recommended disapproval, stating request only partially met Envision Franklin intent
• Applicant argued RC4 (four stories) is lowest height allowed in Regional Commerce zone and physical limitations including 25-foot vegetated buffer plus 50-foot setback from county residences effectively restricts southern portion to three stories
• Board members cited concerns about four-story height on south side of Liberty Pike and need for better residential transition
• Vice Mayor Baggett suggested applicant work with staff on alternative uses more conducive to area, potentially through PUD or neighborhood commercial zoning

Infrastructure Development Districts policy

• Board unanimously deferred IDD policy resolution to February 24, 2026 after public comment raised concerns
• Clive Green urged board to vote no, questioning why Franklin needs to attract more developers when residents request development moratoriums
• Green cited traffic congestion at Murfreesboro/I-65 overpass, schools near capacity (Page Middle at 100%), and Ovation development covering only 20% of new student costs
• Green argued IDDs give developers favorable low-cost loans while saddling homeowners with $500-$3,000 annual assessments on top of property taxes, decreasing home values 10-15% and increasing time to sell 5-15%
• Janet Curtis raised concerns about school capacity, noting Hunter's Bend has vacancies while Creekside, Trinity, and Arrington near capacity, Page Middle at 100%, and Nolensville High at 107%
• Karen Smith requested transparent follow-up report comparing Bristol and Kingsport IDDs (first two in Tennessee under previous legislation) before approving Franklin's policy
• Alderman Brown strongly defended IDD policy, emphasizing it doesn't change Envision Franklin or zoning, serves as tool to ask for better developments including affordable housing and improved infrastructure
• Brown clarified IDDs not intended as growth accelerator but as mechanism to make new growth pay for itself and get more programmatic growth the city wants
• Brown requested board members submit questions or changes to staff before February 24th to enable vote without rehashing same discussions

Routine appointments and resolutions

• Board unanimously reappointed Sam Huffman to Civil War Historical Commission
• Board unanimously approved Resolution 2025-100 confirming compliance with federal Title VI regulations
• Board unanimously approved Resolution 2026-01 establishing FY2026-27 budget goals
• Board approved minutes from December 5th mobile work session, December 9th work session, and December 9th, 2025 BOMA meeting
• Board approved consent agenda removing item 15 (Mac Hatcher TDOT contract) for separate discussion, requiring procedural votes to reconsider and reset agenda

Southeast Mac Hatcher widening TDOT agreement

• Board unanimously approved contract with TDOT for widening State Route 397 (Mac Hatcher Memorial Parkway) from State Route 96 east of Franklin to US 31/State Route 6 (Columbia Pike) south of Franklin
• Project currently scheduled for 2032 construction in TDOT's 10-year plan
• City advancing design expenditures to potentially accelerate timeline and make project "shovel ready" if other TDOT projects fall behind
• Project faces $25M funding shortfall beyond city's $50M commitment
• Staff pursuing state funding through TDOT mechanisms and federal funding through MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization)
• Alternative option to reduce project scope if additional funding not secured
• Agreement necessary to maintain partnership with TDOT and advance project through NEPA design process
• Vice Mayor Baggett emphasized importance of communicating to TDOT that city will not exceed $50M commitment
• Alderman Peterson pulled item from consent agenda to highlight project's decades-long importance
• Staff noted MPO regularly adds funding to projects, expressing optimism about securing additional money

For all meetings next week go here. The next BOMA meeting is January 13th

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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