Friday Recap January 23th, 2025

My Comment

I am running for a second term as commissioner for District 10. You can go to Votebillpetty.com to get to my website. There are going to be over 40 people running for office in the primary on May 5th. Each district has two commissioners and District 10 has three people running. I will need all the support I can get. If you want to help, please go to my website and donate and/or get involved.

Annexation of the Ingram property

The Franklin Planning Commission unanimously approved the annexation of the Ingram property that adjoins the proposed Harlin project just south of Tractor Supply. I have more details in my report below.

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

Meetings this past week

Tuesday, January 20th

Human Resources Committee

Tuesday, January 20th

Williamson County School Board

Thursday, January 22nd

City of Franklin Planning Commission

Meetings next week

Tuesday, January 27th

Opioid Abatement meeting 1:30 pm in the executive conference room in the county building at 1320 W. Main St., Franklin

Wednesday, January 28th

The Property Committee will meet at 5:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin Agenda/Packet Committee members: Ricky Jones (C), Barb Sturgeon (VC), Brian Clifford, Jennifer Mason, Matt Williams. My resolution on annexation will be on the agenda.

Thursday, January 29th

The Purchasing and Insurance Committee will meet at 5:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin Agenda Video Committee members: Sean Aiello, Meghan Guffee, Gregg Lawrence, Steve Smith, Mayor Anderson. No further information at this time.

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

Tuesday, January 20th

Williamson County School Board Agenda Video

AI Summary

Overview

• Board approved $18.5M in capital project funding requests including $12M for sports field LED lighting, $4M for Grassland Middle renovation, $1.8M for Hillsboro K-8 renovation, and $700K for Split Log Middle engineering work
• District set a record with 35 reward schools recognized by Tennessee Department of Education for achievement and growth
• Board approved salary study contract with Leapfrog Business Solutions from Huntsville, Alabama, covering all district employees with preliminary results expected by May 2026
• Open zone schools approved for 2026-27 school year with portal opening February 4th and closing April 16th
• Carol Birdsong retired after 29 years as communications director, with last day January 30th, 2026

Public comments

• Joshua Greifencamp raised concerns about a teacher reinstatement at Fairview Elementary, citing documented history of classroom issues from January 2024 and questioning why the history was not considered in HR's decision
• Beverly Purvis, president of Williams County Education Association, thanked the board for their service and requested that educator voices continue to be included early and meaningfully in decisions around staffing, resources, and student support
• Becca Ripley requested the board articulate its commitment to protecting students' right to safely access education and keep students and families safe from immigration enforcement

School Board Appreciation Week

• Tennessee celebrates School Board Appreciation Week next week
• Jason Golden thanked board members for their volunteer service and for staying connected to the community they serve

Carol Birdsong retirement celebration

• Carol Birdsong retired after 29 years with Williamson County Schools, with her last day January 30th, 2026
• Built the communications department from the ground up and became iconic in the community for snow day calls
• Led state efforts to establish the Tennessee communications professional association and taught other districts across the state
• Trained Corey Mason over 18 years to succeed her as communications director
• Jason Golden noted Carol has been his colleague longer than anyone else and praised her for teaching the district the value of communicating with families

Student and staff spotlights

• Fairview High School TV film program won 1st place in short film division two category at 2025 Student Television Network challenge competition for their film "Mixed Signals"—this is Fairview High's 2nd national award this school year
• Page High School FFA team won 2025 Future Farmers of America State Meat Evaluation Championship
• Fairview High School FFA team won Future Farmers of America State Horse Judging Championship
• Lauren Banovac from Brentwood High School won TSSAA girls class 3A cross country championship
• Page High School won class 5A state football championship in December 2025
• Dr. KP Moll from Brentwood High School won Tennessee TNA-SSP High School Assistant Principal of the Year for Middle Tennessee region
• Dr. Bill Tungate from Woodland Middle School won Tennessee Association of Secondary School Principals Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year for the state and is advancing to national competition
• District achieved record 35 reward schools recognized by Tennessee Department of Education for achievement and growth, including 20 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 10 high schools

Capital projects funding requests

• Board approved $1.8M for Hillsboro K-8 renovation for current fiscal year—this is year 2 of the project
• Board approved $4M for Grassland Middle renovation for current fiscal year—this is year 2 of a 3-year project for the school that opened over 40 years ago
• Board approved $12M for sports field LED lighting replacement at high school football fields for current fiscal year, with potential TVA rebates of close to 10% of total cost
• Board approved $700K intracategory transfer from rural contingency K-8 funding for Split Log Middle engineering and preliminary work—this does not require county commission approval and reflects the board's vote to move this project up 1 year from the original five-year plan

Salary study contract

• Board approved contract with Leapfrog Business Solutions from Huntsville, Alabama for comprehensive salary study of all district employees
• 4 companies submitted proposals, evaluated by 13-member district evaluation team using both cost and qualitative factors
• Leapfrog scored highest overall and offers 90% of their business to public school districts, with several Tennessee districts as clients
• Study will provide preliminary information by May 2026 with full detail expected beyond that timeframe
• Jason Golden noted this is a multi-year project that will require additional work on the revenue side once recommendations are received

Open zone schools for 2026-27

• Board approved open zone schools for 2026-27 school year
• Out of zone portal opens February 4th and closes April 16th following state-required 2-week delay after board approval
• No preference given based on application timing—all applications during the window are treated equally
• If requests exceed available seats, state law requires a lottery with remaining applicants placed on waiting list
• Last year approximately 42 schools were open zoned with only 2-3 schools having waiting lists after all seats filled

USA 250th anniversary resolution

• Board adopted resolution celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary
• District planned activities across all grade levels to help students recognize and celebrate the milestone before July 4th, 2026 when students are out of school
• Tanya Hiba brought the resolution forward to support district administrators, principals, and staff in celebrating this milestone

Williamson County Commission

Tuesday, January 20th

Human Resources Committee Agenda Video Committee members: Judy Herbert (C), Jennifer Mason (VC) Greg Sanford, Tom Tunnicliffe, Bill Petty, Brian Beathard. Commissioners Sanford and Beathard were absent.

AI Summary

Overview

• committee approved resolution 4-0 establishing compensation for a part-time juvenile court magistrate position
• No new funding needed for remainder of current fiscal year, but position will require budget allocation in next fiscal year
• Caseload increased substantially since opening third courtroom in April 2025, with handouts showing monthly hearing volumes
• Position expected to transition to full-time in next budget year as new 6-courtroom facility comes online
• Mid-year approval is unusual but justified by fluctuating caseload demands unique to juvenile court

Caseload increase and position justification

• Judge Guffee provided handouts showing monthly hearing calendars since opening third courtroom in April 2025, with total hearings listed at bottom of each month's page
• December snapshot showed breakdown of event types and numbers scheduled
• Cases vary dramatically in length—4 or 5 cases on morning docket can take 15 minutes or 6 hours
• Court currently has 2 full-time magistrates plus the judge utilizing 3 courtrooms
• PJudge Guffee compared other courts' staffing levels and number of magistrates in handout

Budget and funding implications

• No new money required for current fiscal year—existing budget covers position through June 2026
• Next budget year will need to incorporate both part-time magistrate position and potentially one new full-time position
• Judge Guffee anticipates requesting only 1 new position in next budget year due to space constraints
• Commissioner Mason noted part-time position costs roughly 25-28% on top of hourly rate with no sick time or vacation accruals

Operational logistics and space constraints

• New building site on Beasley Drive is demolished and ready for construction
• New facility will have 6 planned courtrooms but won't open with all 6—court is determining appropriate number to open with
• Current space is severely limited with only 150 square feet or less available for new magistrate
• Unlike Sheriff's Department, court can't add personnel in advance due to lack of space
• Judicial administrator and clerk's office handle scheduling across courtrooms

Hiring challenges and qualifications

• Part-time magistrate will hear all case types including civil cases with respondents (comparable to defendants)
• Significant learning curve exists for understanding juvenile court procedures and case types
• Judge Guffee wants to hire immediately so new magistrate can learn operations during these few months
• Commissioner Petty noted juvenile cases require different approach than adult cases, with significant counseling involved
• Judge Guffee acknowledged it's almost impossible to do position part-time while maintaining private practice
• Compensation study helped make salary more competitive for attracting right candidate

Mid-year approval timing concerns

• Commissioner Herbert expressed concern about approving positions mid-year rather than during budget cycle
• Commissioner Mason acknowledged preference for new positions at start of year but noted juvenile court is unique due to fluctuating volumes
• Increased caseload created immediate demand that justified mid-year approval

New HR staff introduction

• Clair Cochran introduced Leisa Niemotka as new HR generalist and compensation lead
• Lisa and her husband recently relocated to the area
• Already working on sexual harassment training, policy updates, and orientation process improvements with Creed's team and Lisa Carson
• HR office is located outside the mayor's office

Friday, January 23rd

The Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (SSDS) Task Force This was their second meeting and they are scheduled to meet every other Friday until April at which time they will submit a report. Their mandate is to find and remove overly burdensome regulations for septic system permits. Their report will be published on the county website, and I will include it here as well.

Board of Mayor and Aldermen

Thursday, January 22nd

Franklin Planning Commission Agenda Video

AI Summary

Overview

• Commission retained Roger Lindsay as Chair and Michael Orr as Vice Chair for another year
• Commission called bonds on two subdivisions with 10+ year extensions: Dallas Downs ($17,000) and Longview/Universal Storage ($42,000) after developers failed to complete required improvements
• Commission approved controversial Ingram property annexation (79.89 acres) despite significant public opposition citing concerns about inadequate plan of services, lack of road access, and potential violations of Tennessee annexation law
• Ingram family requested annexation to consolidate all their properties (already owns 218+ acres in city) under one jurisdiction for estate planning purposes
• Commission approved 24-month vesting extension for Gateway Village PUD final lot (April 10, 2026 to April 10, 2028) to allow developer time for financing and permitting
• Commission approved revised Ovation PUD development plan that addressed previous concerns by lowering building heights along Carothers Parkway, removing visible parking garage, and moving taller buildings internal to site

Election of chair and vice chair

• Commission re-elected Roger Lindsay as Chair for the upcoming year
• Commission re-elected Michael Orr as Vice Chair for the upcoming year
• Chair Lindsay requested commissioners be recognized before speaking due to hearing difficulties and sound system limitations that created problems transcribing previous meeting minutes

Dallas Downs subdivision bond call

• Commission called $17,000 letter of credit for Dallas Downs subdivision section 3 landscape and specimen tree replacement improvements
• Site plan approved with conditions in December 2010, performance agreement executed in August 2013
• Staff extended agreement for over 10 years with annual action requests to developer Paul Pratt Junior with Kendall Hall Developers LLC
• Staff notified developer on November 3, 2025 that city would call letter of credit unless performance agreement released to maintenance
• Staff inspection on December 4, 2025 found deficiencies listed in attached report
• Staff recommended calling bond given age of subdivision approval, outstanding improvements, and city's obligation to ensure completion of public improvements

Longview subdivision bond call

• Commission called $42,000 letter of credit for Longview subdivision lots 11 and 12 (Universal Storage) landscaping improvements
• Final plat approved with conditions in April 2015, performance agreement executed in November 2015
• Commission granted one-time reduction from $55,000 to $42,000 in April 2019
• Developer has not completed remaining improvements and provided no response to city's recent notices
• Staff inspection on December 4, 2025 found deficiencies listed in attached report
• Staff recommended calling bond given age of approval, outstanding improvements, applicant's lack of response, and city's obligation to ensure completion

Gateway Village PUD vesting extension

• Commission recommended approval of 24-month vesting extension from April 10, 2026 to April 10, 2028
• Board of Mayor and Aldermen originally approved revised development plan on October 11, 2021 by 8-0 vote
• Development includes 6.75 density units per acre and 144,258 square feet of non-residential space on 60+ acre site
• Board granted previous three-year extension in October 2024
• Applicant submitted site plan for lot 134 but has not yet pulled permits
• Jim Lukens explained this is the last lot in Gateway Village located at front of development and owner needs more time to finalize financing package and complete permitting
• Current plan generally complies with today's regulations with only minor differences from vested ordinance
• New parkland agreement and updated traffic study would be required if project loses vesting

Ingram property annexation and zoning

• Commission approved plan of services, annexation, and AG zoning with Hillside Hillcrest Overlay (HHO) for 79.89 acres south of Hillview Lane and west of Columbia Pike despite significant public opposition
• Property is contiguous to city limits and within southern portion of Franklin Urban Growth Boundary
• Ingram family already owns 218+ acres in city and requested annexation to consolidate all properties under one jurisdiction for estate planning purposes
• Property currently has no sewer available and is identified as long-term annexation capability area due to needed sewer improvements and lack of existing road network
• Water will be provided by HBNTS, not city of Franklin
• Sanitary sewer service will not be provided until property owner constructs sewer per Franklin Water Management requirements
• No additional personnel or equipment needed for fire, police, or sanitation services
• Public opposition from three speakers:
  • Rob Dodson argued city cannot provide police, fire, or sanitation services because property has no public road access and annexation is illegal without ability to provide services
  • Janet Curtis raised seven questions about compliance with TCA 651-102 regarding plan of services, including lack of projected timing, city commitments, independent justification, and potential violation of state law
  • Mr. Goodspeed alleged this is coordinated "bridge annexation" tactic to make adjacent Harland property contiguous and bypass state-mandated interlocal agreement required for non-contiguous annexation per TCA 651-104, potentially violating Collier v. City of Pigeon Forge precedent
• Greg Gamble clarified property owner requested annexation, property has farm roads for access, and while Harland property would become contiguous, Ingrams' reason is consolidating their own properties under one jurisdiction
• City Attorney Shawna Curtis explained owner-requested annexations have different legal standards than forced annexations, no referendum required for contiguous property, and plan of services challenges typically arise when cities force annexation without providing services
• Commissioner Williamson noted it makes sense for same family to have adjacent properties under same jurisdiction
• Commissioner Mann confirmed staff wouldn't recommend approval if legal department saw risk of violating law
• Commission approved AG zoning with amendment to adjust HHO boundary to match updated conservation line from countywide UGB update (provides more protection than current HHO line)

Ovation PUD development plan revision

• Commission approved revised development plan for Ovation PUD at southeast corner of East McEwen Drive and Carothers Parkway with conditions
• Revision includes updates to overall layout, roadway design, building placement, distribution of uses, and building heights
• No entitlement changes or modification of standard requests, so revision only required Planning Commission review (no rezoning)
• Key improvements addressing previous Planning Commission and Board of Mayor and Aldermen concerns:
  • Removed parking structure visibility along Carothers Parkway by screening with building, eliminating need for previously approved modification of standard
  • Lowered building heights along Carothers Parkway (Building A now lower profile instead of ranging from 10 stories to 3-4 stories)
  • Reduced corner building at McEwen and Carothers from 5-8 story hotel to 4-5 story building
  • Moved taller 10-12 story office buildings internal to site away from Carothers Parkway and McEwen Drive
  • Pulled Building J away from stream buffer, eliminating need for 21-foot retaining wall and modification of standards
• Internal roads realigned to address existing topography and adjust scale of stormwater features
• Residential, commercial, and hotel uses moved around but still meet intent of Envision Franklin and zoning ordinance requirements
• Greg Gamble provided side-by-side comparison of current plan versus proposed plan and heat map showing height comparisons

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

Community resources

If you like Friday Recap, check out these other grassroots conservative projects!

• Grassroots Citizens of Williamson County Provides free tools and information to help grassroots conservatives exercise their citizenship here in Williamson County.
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• Williamson County Republican Party is one of the most active parties in the state and captures the conservative heart of Tennessee.
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• Tennessee Stands produces video media, podcasts, and live events, and provides social commentary on relevant issues in our state.
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