Friday Recap March 27th, 2026

My Comment

It's important that we all find a way to get involved in our election process. Find a candidate or candidates that you support and help them. Williamson County is, in my opinion, at a tipping point. We all agree that infrastructure is way behind, that growth continues to outstrip our ability to handle it, and that the debt keeps rising. How are we going to tackle these issues? You need to press each candidate, including myself, as to how we are going to address these issues. The county commission is very limited in what we can do concerning developments in the municipalities. We have many services that we need to fund each year. We may need to start saying no to some of our capital expenses, which are what increase our debt, but our options are limited.

I would love to hear from any of you with ideas for reducing our budget, and finding more sources of revenue. We all live here and have a stake in the decisions I and my fellow commissioners make. For me, your voice counts.

I'm adding a new feature this week and it's called Audio Report. I will take about five minutes to talk about meetings from the past week and the ones coming up. I hope this helps as this week is absolutely loaded. Go to Audio Report for this week's version.

My Campaign

I am running for a full 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 five people running with three Republicans and two Democrats. 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. I have just created a FaceBook page that you can follow by going to www.facebook.com/BillPettyDistrict10WCC/

Final Candidates for the May 5th primary

Candidates running for county office in the May 5 primary. I inadvertently erased the link to both the May 5th and August 6th primary candidates. I have fixed it. Sorry for the confusion.

Candidates for August 6th primary*

Candidates running for state and federal office office in the August 6th primary. Filing deadline is noon March 10th.

*This is a correction from earlier reports where I had the primary listed for May 5th.

If you don't know who is running for office in your district or where and when to vote, you can go to Grassrootscitizens.com

Also, there is an interview with me by grassrootscitizens here

Meetings this past week were:

School Board Meeting Growth Management Round Table BOMA Work Session BOMA Meeting Opioid Abatement Task Force Human Resources Storm Water Appeals Election Commission Property Committee SSDS Task Force Board of Zoning Appeals

Meetings Next Week

Monday, March 30th

SSDS Task Force Public Meeting Agenda will be held at 12:00 pm in the auditorium in the County Building at 1320 W. Main St., Franklin.

Joint meeting of the Budget Committees and Education Committees at 4:30 pm in the executive conference room in the County Building at 1320 W. Main St., Franklin. Agenda Packet

Tuesday, March 31th

Special Court House Task Force Agenda will meet at 5:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin This task force is exploring possibilities for a new court house

Wednesday, April 1st

Highway Commission Agenda will meet at 8:30 am at 302 Beasley Drive

Thursday, April 2nd

Public Health Committee will meet at 5:30 pm will meet at 5:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin

Tennessee Right to Life is having a meeting on April 14th. For full information, go here

For all Franklin City meetings, go here

Enjoying Friday Recap? Take a minute now and forward it to 3 people. Copy this https://friday-recap.ghost.io/ghost/#/editor/post/680aad97ab206e0001e15b3f in your email.

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

Monday, March 23

School Board Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Jason Golden - Submit approved 2026-27 budget to county commission Board approved the general fund budget at $571,684,432 with a $22.3M funding gap. Deadline is April 1st; county commission education and budget committees will then review before a final vote in June.

Overview

• Board approved the 2026-27 general fund budget at $571,684,432 — a $22.3M funding gap will go to the county commission, representing a 4% staff raise (~$12.5M) and a fully funded social studies textbook adoption ($9.7M)
• Budget reflects 28.9 FTE (Full Time Equivalent) reductions and over $8.5M in operational cuts — the second consecutive year of reduced operational spending
• Board amended the budget to restore $2.2M for full elementary social studies textbook adoption, passing 11-0; a motion to cut $11.3M in instructional coaches failed for lack of a second
• Capital outlay request of $13,665,250 approved; projected $103M middle school on Split Log Road expected to be funded largely from the ~$92.5M education impact fee reserve
• All other items — cafeteria fund, extended school program fund, high school courses, CTE/health textbook adoption — passed 11-0
• 56 National Merit Finalists recognized — 8th consecutive year with more than 50

Public comment: school safety

• Brad Davis raised concerns about rising violence in elementary schools — assaults with scissors or metal water bottles, death threats, and classroom destruction
• Davis described a process used in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama where students with repeated documented violent behavior, after exhausted interventions, can be placed in a separate therapeutic classroom through a structured process including parental input, mediation, and appeal rights
• Davis asked Superintendent Golden what federal law would be violated by following that process, and whether students and teachers would be better served by it

Public comment: theater program funding

• Amy Cook (PTO secretary, Mill Creek Middle School) raised that director supplements for theater are not funded by WCS for all shows — the PTO paid for the JTF show, and WCS is not paying director supplements for the spring Newsies production
• Cook noted the current workaround has parents paying the PTO, the PTO paying WCS, and WCS paying the supplements — and that coaching fees for sports have never appeared as a PTO line item
• Cook suggested that each summer, principals meet with directors to determine how many shows are planned so funding can be requested upfront rather than retroactively
• Eden Cook (7th grader, 7 productions) and Vivian Cook (5th grader, incoming theater student) both spoke in support of consistent director funding and the program's national recognition, including a JTF win performed in front of 7,000 people
• Superintendent Golden acknowledged the theater directors as an example of teachers going above and beyond their supplement expectations, and noted the district is currently conducting a salary study covering all payment structures including supplements

Public comment: student walkout policy

• Jason Greathouse (District 2 school board candidate) opposed proposed changes to policy 6.300, arguing they were a direct response to student walkout protests
• Greathouse's three specific concerns: removing skipping class from level one offenses (effectively elevating it), adding leaving campus without permission as a level two offense, and making urging others to skip or leave campus a level two offense
• Greathouse argued that punishing students for urging others is an attempt to chill student organizing and political speech, and that principals should retain discretion
• Greathouse asked the board to develop a formal policy requiring valid judicial warrants before any federal officer may access schools, students, or student records, noting several other districts have already done this
• Beverly Purvis (President, Williamson County Education Association) thanked the board for including a 4% cost-of-living raise in the proposed budget, citing retention, competitiveness with surrounding districts, and classroom stability

Student spotlights

• WCS has 56 National Merit Finalists — the 8th consecutive year with more than 50
• 4 state wrestling champions: Reed Loafel (Brentwood, 138 lb), Brody Melzoni (Nolensville, 175 lb, coached by his father Johnny Melzoni), JD Longley (Ravenwood, 144 lb, coach Josh Peck), and Zachary Little (Summit, 157 lb, coach Pete Miller)
• Allstate honorees recognized across Choir, Band, Orchestra, Theatre Acting, Musical Theater, Design & Tech, and Playwriting from all high schools
• Laura Parker (Nolensville High School) named All-State Theater Teacher of the Year

2026-27 general fund budget

• The preliminary budget presented in February projected a ~$39M gap; through revenue refinements and expense cuts, that was reduced to $20.1M before the textbook amendment
• Operational cuts totaled over $8.5M gross; net operational spending is down $4.2M (5.1%) year over year — the second consecutive year of reduced operational spending
• 28.9 FTE (Full Time Equivalent) positions reduced, with Golden noting no individual employees are impacted
• The $20.1M gap breaks down as ~$12.5M for the 4% staff raise and ~$7.5M in remaining structural gap
• Board Chair moved to restore $2.2M to fully fund the elementary social studies textbook adoption, bringing the gap to $22.3M; passed 11-0
• Dr. Johnson moved to cut $11.3M in instructional coaches, arguing the savings could fund an additional $3,000–$5,000 raise per teacher on top of the 4%; motion failed for lack of a second
• Mr. Cash noted the county has a $97M education fund and impact fees of $14,000–$18,000 per house, and wants the $22.3M gap funded rather than cut further
• Mr. Welch asked what happens if the county commission says no — no definitive answer was given on the record
• Budget must be submitted to the county commission by April 1; education and budget committees review it, with a final county commission vote scheduled for June
• Final approved budget: $571,684,432 with a $22.3M funding gap going to the commission

EC and pre-K funding

• WCS is legally obligated under federal law to serve students with disabilities ages 3–4 (early childhood/EC program); voluntary pre-K is not mandated and some districts in Tennessee don't offer it
• EC students enroll as soon as they turn 3 and matriculate directly into kindergarten — there's no gap between EC and K
• TISA provides no specific funding for the EC program; WCS receives two state grants of roughly $600,000 each for EC and pre-K separately
• The vast majority of EC and pre-K funding comes from local dollars
• End-of-first-month projected enrollment for 2026-27 is 555; current enrollment is 730, which is typical since students enroll throughout the year as they turn 3; year-end enrollment generally lands around 700
• WCS staffs teachers based on projected year-end enrollment because hiring mid-year is virtually impossible

Capital outlay requests

• Capital outlay request of $13,665,250 approved — about $470,000 less than last year's request
• Covers long-term repairs across 52 schools on approximately 48–49 campuses
• The education impact fee reserve holds approximately $92.5M; the projected middle school on Split Log Road is estimated at $103M — an intent to fund from the commission is required to start the project
• $17M of the middle school funding is being requested in the current fiscal year (25-26)
• Galbraith cautioned the board against solving growth imbalances purely through rezoning, noting the stability of established feeder patterns and the risk of domino rezoning that would need to be reversed once new schools are built
• Golden confirmed the district plans to recommend some rezoning this fall, with changes taking effect fall 2027, but acknowledged practical limits on how far students can be bused

Social studies textbook adoption

• The board amended the budget to restore $2.2M to fully fund the elementary social studies textbook adoption, rather than deferring it to a mid-year fund balance adjustment
• The full social studies adoption is $9.7M — significantly higher than the typical $2–3M textbook year because of the scope of the adoption; next year's cycle is expected to return to the $2–3M range
• Elementary standards are changing significantly for grades 3–5, effective fall 2027: third-grade geography moves to fifth grade, third grade receives US history up to 1850s from fourth grade, fourth grade receives 20th-century US history from fifth grade, and fifth grade receives the geography standards from third grade
• Secondary (6th–12th grade) social studies standards changes are relatively minor — small wording and content adjustments
• Galbraith and the Chair Brown both argued it's not worth the risk of the commission rejecting a mid-year fund balance request and leaving elementary teachers without curriculum when the new standards take effect

CTE and health textbook adoption

• Committee included teachers (in some CTE courses, the only teacher in the district who taught that course), parents, and community members nominated by schools and the board
• For health/PE and lifetime wellness, each school nominated one teacher — roughly 20–30% of teachers who teach the courses were on the committee; all other teachers had the opportunity to review materials, meet with publishers, and submit recommendations electronically before the committee voted
• Sauer noted parent and community member participation was maintained or increased from prior cycles
• Mr. Cash recognized Jennifer Sauer and her team for the quality of the process, particularly the vendor presentations where staff answered questions vendors couldn't
• Passed 11-0

High school course approvals

• Annual approval of existing high school courses — no new special courses proposed this year
• Minor adjustments made to 3–4 courses shifting between honors and standard based on course demands
• Passed 11-0

Williamson County Commission Meetings

Tuesday, March 24th

Growth Management Roundtable Agenda Audio

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Bill Petty - Share meeting recording with Karen Smith Karen (the citizen who spoke about meeting accessibility) asked whether meetings are recorded. Bill offered to share his recording with her.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Arrange for future roundtable meetings to be recorded Mayor committed to getting future meetings recorded so citizens who can't attend in person can access them.
• [ ] Participant 2 - Confirm June meeting date and send email to attendees Confirm whether the next roundtable is June 22nd or 23rd, then send the details out. Mayor also noted that growth boundary policies (as raised by Nolansville's mayor) should be the topic for that meeting.

Overview

• The Williamson County Commission passed a resolution — sponsored by Commissioner Bill Petty — asking state legislators to review and amend Tennessee's comprehensive growth plan and annexation statutes; all 6 municipalities passed opposing resolutions
• Every city representative raised the same core frustration: the county acted outside this roundtable body without prior communication, undermining a collaborative framework that took nearly 2 years to build
• Petty acknowledged he could have handled the process differently but stands by the underlying concerns about infrastructure strain and projected growth to 500,000+ residents by 2045
• Greg (planner) pointed to an existing but unimplemented goal in the current growth plan — interlocal agreements between the county and each municipality governing interim development within UGBs — as the concrete next step
• A near-miss at the GNRC Transportation Policy Board, where Williamson County road projects were on a removal list, illustrated what's at stake when the county and cities don't speak with one voice at the state level
• Next meeting is June 22nd or 23rd (date to be confirmed by Mike); monthly meetings proposed in the interim given urgency

Growth plan history

• The growth plan was approved unanimously by all jurisdictions and ratified by the state, winning a state KAPA award for planning
• Key outputs of the process: urban growth boundaries, interlocal agreements committing municipalities not to annex outside those boundaries, a 5-year update cycle, and the formation of this roundtable
• Mike noted the interlocal agreements were what made Williamson County's growth plan distinctive compared to other counties

County annexation resolution + city pushback

• The resolution — formally titled a request to state legislators including Senator Jack Johnson, Gino Bulso, Jake McCalmon, Lee Reeves, and Joey Hensley — asks them to review and amend Tennessee's comprehensive growth plan and annexation statutes
• 16 county commissioners voted for it; the Tennessee County Commission Association voted unanimously to strongly support the underlying bill
• Every city representative's frustration centered on process: the resolution bypassed this roundtable entirely, with most mayors getting little or no advance notice
• Mayor Federer (Spring Hill) noted that 4 county districts touch Spring Hill, meaning 8 commissioners represent the city — only 2 of the 8 engaged with the city before the vote
• Nolansville's mayor pointed out that 2 landowners approached the town to annex 600 acres shortly after the resolution passed, showing the resolution's real-world ripple effects
• Nolansville issued 57 residential building permits in 2025 and 65 in 2024 — the "out of control growth" framing doesn't match the current reality
• Spring Hill completed 14 annexations over 10 years covering ~1,200 acres; only 1 single-family home was built — several annexations were roads Maury County no longer wanted to maintain, and one was for Maury County schools connecting to city water and sewer
• Nolansville serves ~24% of its fire calls in unincorporated Williamson County at $250 per call, while investing in facilities and trucks to do so
• Ethan Greer (Fairview City Planner) echoed the same point: Fairview's district county commissioner, a proponent of the resolution, never reached out to any Fairview commissioners before the vote

Commissioner Petty's response

• Petty acknowledged he could have done things differently and takes responsibility for the strain it created with the municipalities
• He removed the word "reckless" from his campaign materials after learning more about the annexation process, having originally used it when he replaced David Lantrum in November 2024
• His core concern: Williamson County has grown from 90,000 to 275,000 residents in 35 years, debt is approaching $1.2 billion on a $900 million budget, with $109 million per year going to debt service — roughly $3,600 per person
• Petty flagged specific infrastructure pressure points: a two-lane bridge over the Harpeth River backing up from West Haven nearly to Franklin daily, plus 211 55+ apartments, 190 55+ homes, and the Armistead development (800 homes, 75-bed hotel) adding to that corridor
• He said the earliest the Matt Hatcher road project could be completed is 2032
• Petty is personally committed to collaboration and open to sitting down with anyone, and noted he recorded the meeting

GNRC transportation funding near-miss

• At a recent Transportation Policy Board meeting, a resolution was on the table to remove funding for multiple Williamson County projects: the Moores Lane I-65 interchange, the McCatcher Parkway extension to 840, and projects in the Spring Hill area
• A deferral was secured — giving 30 days to work it out — because city mayors from across the 13-county GNRC region voted together to block the removal
• Ken (mayor) explained the context: TDOT's current policy is to only put projects on the TIP if they can be completed within 10 years, and Tennessee has over $38 billion (possibly $70 billion per Commissioner Reed) in road needs against $1.5 billion per year in funding
• Ken's city voted to contribute $50 million toward the $100 million Southeast McCatcher Parkway project and was one of 9 projects selected statewide in the partnership program last year
• Mayor Federer noted this isn't hypothetical — years ago, a Spring Hill project was pulled from the three-year plan specifically because Thompson Station and Spring Hill weren't aligned, as Peter pointed out at the time
• Thompson Station contributed $15 million toward widening Highway 31, which also benefited Spring Hill's project

State-level collaboration stakes

• Jason (Brentwood mayor) observed that no individual city has meaningful influence over TDOT or the state legislature on its own — the GNRC near-miss showed that unified local voices can have some influence, but only when the whole group is aligned
• Ken noted that when the Tennessee General Assembly intervenes in local issues, the results often aren't what anyone wanted — citing the prior annexation law change that was triggered by a problem near Chattanooga but penalized counties like Williamson that were doing annexation correctly
• Mayor of Thompson Station stressed that Williamson County brings significant revenue to the state and carries weight as a unified bloc that it doesn't have when fragmented

Interlocal agreements as path forward

• Greg (planner) pointed to a specific goal already in the current growth plan calling for the county and each municipality to create interim policies governing development within UGBs before annexation occurs
• The growth plan explicitly contemplates a series of jurisdiction-specific interlocal agreements — the county's agreement with Fairview could differ from its agreement with Brentwood or Franklin
• The rationale: UGB land is reserved for future municipal-density growth with municipal services; if it develops at 1 unit per 5 acres under county rules before annexation, there won't be enough land left for that growth, and municipalities won't want to annex properties with non-traditional wastewater systems they'd then be responsible for
• Mike noted some groundwork is already laid: planners agreed that new UGB additions would be zoned at 1 unit per 5 acres, and a zoning ordinance amendment banning non-traditional wastewater systems not just in MGA districts but across all UGB properties is before the Planning Commission within the next few weeks
• Nolansville's mayor suggested sharing these developing policies with the full county commission, not just this roundtable, since many commissioners weren't aware of the plan-of-services work cities do before annexation

School debt and infrastructure strain

• Williamson County built 27 schools in the last 35 years, all funded with debt; current county debt is approaching $1.2 billion
• Building a single school cost $68 million two years ago — that's construction only, not staffing, transportation, or furnishings
• Participant 15 (citizen) pointed out schools in the Spring Hill/Thompson Station area are now so close together that Amanda North elementary is 1 mile from the next elementary school
• Ken noted the county has already committed nearly $500 million to infrastructure projects over the next 10 years and is building a new sewer plant projected to cost over $250 million
• Ken also noted Williamson County has 70,000 people per day commuting in from outside — a housing deficit is part of the traffic problem, not just growth itself

Citizen comments on growth and transparency

• Karen Smith (Franklin, North Chapel Road, on the UGB border) said this roundtable is "the best kept secret" for residents in and near the UGB — she only found it by reading the Envision Franklin book — and asked for more public awareness and meeting recordings
• An unnamed citizen (Participant 14) pushed back on the framing that the county commission overstepped, arguing the state bill had already passed subcommittee before the county voted its resolution, and that citizens who felt ignored in the UGB process deliberately went around local officials because they had no other avenue
• Participant 14 also noted that developments are still being approved on roads rated F, and that traffic has become severe enough that she allows 40 minutes to travel 12 miles
• Participant 15 asked the roundtable to start analyzing cumulative development impact rather than approving projects in isolation — citing 400 homes on one section of Lewisburg Pike and 700 more 2 miles down the road as an example — and raised mass transit as a topic worth exploring
• Kathy Marlin (unincorporated Williamson County) noted that unincorporated residents have no vote on municipal decisions that affect them, making county commissioners their only voice, and wants the county to have more input in the process
• Participant 15 asked that any additional meetings be posted on the county calendar for resident visibility; Commissioner Petty confirmed this meeting was already on the county calendar

Williamson County Opioid Abatement Task Force I have not information on this meeting.

Human Resources Committee Agenda Personnel Policy Amendment New Personnel requests Video Committee members: Judy Herbert (C), Jennifer Mason (VC) Greg Sanford, Tom Tunnicliffe, Bill Petty, Brian Beathard. Commissioner Sanford was absent.

AI Summary

Overview

• Passed a resolution amending the personnel policies 5-0, adding vacation accrual increases, bereavement updates, 2 personal days, and a new inclement weather policy
• Leave buyback program is not in this resolution — targeted for next fiscal year budget (starting July 1, 2027)
• HR operating budget decreased 12%
• Approved 10 new positions totaling $721,173.75 — 6 full-time county-funded, 1 full-time reimbursed by Thompson Station, 2 part-time, and 1 funded by court fee collection
• Emergency vehicle maintenance technician was not approved — mayor wants a proper facility and multi-department motor pool study first

Minutes approval

• Approved minutes from January 20, 2026 — 4-0
• Approved minutes from February 17, 2026 — 4-0

Personnel policy updates

• Resolution passed 5-0 covering vacation accrual increases, bereavement, 2 personal days, and typographical/FMLA corrections
• Vacation accrual tiers revised upward — at the top tier (21+ years), max annual accrual moves to 25 days and max carryover to 50 days (360 hours)
• HR benchmarked against other municipalities and counties and found Williamson County was "woefully behind" competitors before these changes
• An ECD board consultant presented the same day and independently flagged that county benefits (outside compensation and health) were behind — echoed the case for these changes
• New inclement weather policy covers several scenarios:
  • Employees with a sick day already scheduled on an admin-close day keep their sick day and receive admin-close pay instead
  • Employees with vacation scheduled on an admin-close day use the vacation day unless called in to work
  • Employees called in on an admin-close day receive both the non-productive admin-close pay and pay for hours worked
  • Employees in 24/7 operations (e.g., 911) are not paid for more than 24 hours in a day; 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep is not compensable
  • Non-24/7 departments sequestered during weather events (e.g., Animal Center) are treated the same as 24/7 operations for sleep break purposes
  • Employees who choose not to report when the office hasn't been officially closed must use vacation time
• Connor (Public Safety) and the Sheriff both said the accrual increases are a big win for employees, noting backfill costs for 24/7 positions are manageable within existing overtime budgets
• Participant 5 raised a concern about the language prohibiting newly hired employees from being placed in the 10–14 or 15+ year vacation accrual tiers — HR noted that applying prior experience to accrual tiers needs more work, clearer criteria, and a cost impact assessment before it could move forward

Leave buyback program

• Not included in this resolution — presented as informational groundwork for a future decision
• Program would target employees with high accruals, covering both the annual bank (which tops out) and rollover vacation
• Proposed structure: application process opens in January, subject to budget approval so the exact buyback amount is known before committing funds
• HR and the finance director's inclination is to bring this into the next fiscal year budget (starting July 1, 2027)
• HR noted it's cost-advantageous for the county to buy out hours now at current pay rates rather than later when salaries are higher

HR operating budget

• Overall budget decreased 12%
• Longevity costs went up due to a new staff member transferring in from another department with existing county tenure
• Decreases came from postal charges, printing, periodicals, and in-service staff development
• In-service training costs dropped because HR now has Lisa Namaka on staff to deliver training internally — previously relied on outside consultants and a Columbia State partnership
• The jump from last year's operations total (~$31K) to this year's (~$48K) was due to the 75th percentile compensation study conducted last year

Emergency vehicle mechanic position

• Requested by Connor (Public Safety) and not approved — mayor wants a facility and a multi-department motor pool plan in place first
• Connor shared the cost data: $283K in vehicle maintenance in FY2024, $337K in FY2025, $259K so far in FY2026 (through ~40% of the year); roughly 40% of those costs are labor
• County spends $2,000–$3,000 in fuel alone just transporting large apparatus to the shop outside Hendersonville
• One-time startup costs (fleet maintenance vehicle ~$80K, tools ~$35K, etc.) drove the total position cost to roughly 5x the base salary
• Connor acknowledged the mayor's logic — return on investment will take time, and getting multiple departments into a shared motor pool would improve the business case
• Mayor suggested the motor pool concept needs a deep-dive cost study across all departments before committing

Recovery court staffing and grant risk

• On January 14, 2026, the federal government announced all recovery court grant programs were shut down, putting the two existing coordinator positions at immediate risk — the decision was reversed within days but no explanation was given
• The threat is still considered live; HR and the judges treated this as a sustainability issue requiring county-funded positions
• One new full-time Recovery Court Administrator position approved — funded by combining a repurposed probation officer position and a $40K slot that had been unfilled for ~4 years
• The two existing grant-funded coordinator positions remain in place; the new administrator role is a higher-level position that will handle increased caseload and oversight
• EduCare, which had been providing services in the jail, went out of business — the county is working with a subcontractor to continue those services pending state approval
• Judge Taylor's courts (veterans treatment and mental health): 50 combined participants
• Judge Andre's courts (DUI recovery): 40 participants, 289 graduates over 16 years, 97% graduation success rate, only 2 re-arrests while in the program
• Judge Andre estimated the DUI Recovery Court has saved the county approximately $1.8 million in incarceration costs over 16 years
• General Sessions Court generated $2,614,574 in the last full fiscal year (FY2024–25) against a total budget request of roughly $1 million
• Participant Commissioner Mason raised that federal grant funding is increasingly unreliable and the county should expect more grant-funded positions to need conversion to county positions going forward

New positions approved

• Total: 10 positions, $721,173.75
• Full-time county-funded (6):
  • Magistrate (General Sessions) — nearly 5,000 hearings in 11 months; this brings the court to 3 full-time magistrates
  • Recovery Court Administrator (General Sessions) — partially offset by repurposed probation officer slot and a $40K unfilled position
  • Equipment Operator (Solid Waste)
  • Truck Driver (Solid Waste)
  • Digital Collections and Services Librarian (Library) — countywide role
  • HR Workforce Development Coordinator — will manage the new applicant tracking system, replacing the current email-based resume distribution process
• Full-time reimbursed by Thompson Station (1):
  • Fire Instructor — Thompson Station agreed to pay $115K+ (salary and benefits) for one of two new fire instructor positions; the second is county-funded
  • Both instructors will support volunteer training at Thompson Station and Goose Creek Rescue Squad stations, which lost their dedicated training manager
• Part-time (2):
  • 2 Community Development support staff — for septic records scanning, recommended by the task force
• Funded by court fee collection (1):
  • Public Defender Law Clerk
• Library branch manager (College Grove) and library assistant (Bethesda) were approved in principle but held — positions won't be filled until the new library buildings open, expected Q2 2027; budget dollars won't be fully counted until then.

Wednesday, March 25th

Storm Water Appeals Board I have no further information.

Property Committee Agenda Packet Video Committee members: Ricky Jones (C), Barb Sturgeon (VC), Brian Clifford, Jennifer Mason, Matt Williams. commissioners Sturgeon and Clifford were absent.

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Brent Bowman with the firm Foley and Lardner who are representing the county commission in the potential hospital sale - Send hospital due diligence update to the committee Summary of all work and findings from the past month. Committed to sending within the next couple of days. They have been sent and you can go here to see what they have done and what they have charged us.
• [ ] Brent Bowman - Coordinate with county clerk's office and budget department for due diligence items Gather needed items from county offices, then follow up with the hospital to ensure thorough diligence.

Overview

• Both the 2026-27 county buildings operating budget and capital budget were approved unanimously
• Operating budget meets the 5% reduction target — cuts came from training, travel, and trimming across most lines
• Capital budget includes a forklift purchase for the new surplus location at the TMA garage (returning after Easter, ~April 6, 2026)
• Magistrate space concerns in the new jail have been resolved between the parties — no committee action needed
• Hospital deal is in a holding pattern; Brent Bowman expects no updates for several more weeks and will send a written summary in the next couple days (~March 28)
• Columbia Ave property due diligence is complete and clean (survey + Phase 1 environmental); earnest money for a contract extension is being worked by Rogers and Jim Cross

County buildings budget 2026-27

• Participant 4 confirmed the 5% reduction requested by the budget committee has been met
• Cuts came from staff training, travel (the two go hand-in-hand), and trimming the top off most line items
• The communications line dropped from ~$49,000 to ~$29,510 — driven by longer iPad lifespan (roughly double expected) and lower equipment replacement needs
• No new personnel requests — department has been at 100% manning for about 8 months
• No increase requested for natural gas, electricity, or gasoline — Participant 4 shifts money between utilities as needed throughout the year
• Budget approved unanimously

Capital budget and forklift purchase

• Participant 4 walked through the 5-year capital budget layout
• Biggest new item for FY27: a forklift for the new surplus location at the TMA garage on Columbia Ave (next to Moody's, former highway dept site), returning to the county just after Easter (~April 6, 2026)
• The forklift will be purchased, not leased — Participant 2 noted leasing makes more sense around 1,500 hours/year; current usage is estimated at ~500 hours/year across locations
• This brings the total to 3 forklifts: one at the main facility, one at 305 Beasley, and one at the TMA garage
• The new surplus location will also store public safety equipment and other county equipment currently lacking storage space, with an annual surplus sale
• AC replacements, roof replacements, and blacktop replacements were all reduced for FY27 — going light as directed
• Capital budget approved unanimously (4-0)

Magistrate space in new jail

• Participant 3 had placed this on the agenda after Judge Taylor and Judge Andrea raised concerns about magistrate space design and room in the new jail
• The parties met on their own, worked through the issues, and reached agreements on how to move forward — no committee facilitation needed

Hospital deal update

• Brent Bowman (Jesse Neal's partner) gave the update — the team has weekly calls with the hospital
• The commission's comments on the covenants have been provided to the hospital and reviewed; covenant discussions remain open
• Due diligence is ongoing — the team plans to work with the county clerk's office and budget department to gather additional items before following up with the hospital
• A written summary of the past month's work will be sent in the next couple of days (~March 28)
• Still in a holding pattern on any hospital decision; Participant 3 confirmed no update from the hospital, and Brent Bowman expects it'll be several more weeks before anything moves

Columbia Ave property purchase

• Participant 4 has compiled all county-owned property data and will present it at a board meeting on March 30
• The city has not reached out to partner on Columbia Ave despite saying they wanted to work together
• Due diligence is complete — survey done, Phase 1 environmental done, property came back clean and acceptable for purchase
• Jim Cross identified 5 acres as the county's need, including additional underground parking
• A contract extension is being worked by Rogers and Jim Cross; Participant 4 understands the owner may require earnest money this time (not required previously) — amount unknown
• A prior commission resolution already approved some earnest money combined with due diligence costs
• Participant 4 is also looking at other properties in the area as alternatives

Campaign signs on county property

• Participant 4 handles signs on county-owned property only — removes them, brings them to the elections building, and notifies Chad so candidates can retrieve and repost them legally
• Most violations come from supporters, not candidates themselves (~10% are actual candidates)
• The sheriff's department does not assist with sign removal on county property
• Right-of-way and illegal signage on roads falls under the fourth floor codes — Participant 4 identified Michael Madison as the contact for that.

SSDS Task Force Public Meeting Report Audio

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Participant 1 - Start drafting regulation amendments Begin drafting amendments in batches ahead of county commission approval, prioritizing changes with the biggest impact so they're ready to move quickly once the commission signs off.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Post final report on website Once the report is finalized and submitted to the county commission, publish the final version publicly.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Debrief with task force and finalize report for county commission Reconvene with the task force in the next couple of days to review public comments from tonight, determine any final changes, and submit the report to the county commission by April 1.

Overview

• Public meeting to collect feedback on the draft septic regulation report before it goes to the county commission by April 1st
• The report contains roughly 60 recommended changes; several have already been adopted by the Board of Health
• Public comments centered on four themes: extending the undocumented system pathway to commercial properties, permit speed and cost being far out of line with neighboring counties, allowing county soil scientists to do lot assessments for new conventional systems, and in-person support for residents without computer access
• County commission considers the report at their May meeting (they don't meet in April); staff will start drafting amendments in parallel without waiting for commission approval

Task force background and purpose

• The Williamson County Commission adopted a resolution in fall 2025 creating the task force to recommend septic regulations above and beyond state (TDEC) standards
• The resolution required the task force to deliver a report to the county commission by April 1st
• The task force's guiding approach was to weigh the benefits of each regulatory change against its cost and impact on property owners
• Task force members include the community development director, a county commission rep (Commissioner Herbert), a soil scientist (Mike Harbauer), a surveyor (Keith Brotherton), an engineer (Steve Clifton), an installer (Scott Hill), a TDEC rep (Britt Dobson), and a dept rep (Jennifer Tap), with county attorney Christy Manson advising
• The task force met every other week from January 6th through Friday, March 20th

Changes already adopted

• The Board of Health adopted a batch of changes "just last week" ahead of the full report
• Non-conforming structures: expansion limit raised to 50% or 2,000 sq ft (whichever is greater) as long as the building footprint expands — previously capped at 50%
• Section 4: multiple structures can now share one septic system as long as there's capacity (engineer required in certain circumstances); previously every structure with plumbing needed its own system
• Section 4: floor drains no longer automatically require a dedicated septic system
• Section 13: setbacks now essentially follow the state's chart with minor differences, freeing up more usable property
• Sections 19, appendices 3 and 5: curtain drains now only required when a soil scientist determines one is needed — previously required automatically with every LPP system
• Amendments 8 and 9: disposal field area sizes reduced to match metro's field sizes, which are based on state standards

Remaining recommended changes

• Section 5: moving to dual rating — any system suitable for the soil type is eligible, rather than locking in a system type at application; changes previously required a formal amendment process
• Section 8: MLTP systems no longer require the backup field to be modified upfront, saving significant cost for many property owners
• Sections 15 and 19: slope limit for systems raised from 25% to 30%, matching what TDEC allows — a small difference that opens up meaningful additional land on many properties
• Undocumented systems: task force recommends creating a pathway for these systems to become documented through staff and consultant work, enabling those structures to be expanded under the same rules as documented systems
• Mobile home conversions: current regulations don't allow a mobile home (e.g. 3-bedroom) to be converted to a same-size stick-built structure — task force wants to change that
• Geotechnical studies for colluvial soils: task force recommends removing this requirement entirely, saving both time and money

Undocumented systems and non-residential buildings

• Jim Coella shared that his commercial building on Old Hillsborough Road has been under a stop work order for 5 years — the septic system is undocumented, the entire field is clay with no viable secondary field option, and he's been unable to get neighbors to grant easements
• Alex Dickerson (Coella's land use attorney) noted the draft report's undocumented system pathway appears to apply only to residential — he wants it extended to non-residential as well
• Dickerson also pointed out that the 50% or 2,000 sq ft expansion allowance is only in the residential subsection and asked that it be added to the non-residential subsection too
• Dickerson suggested using probe testing (already allowed to determine system capacity) as the mechanism to document undocumented systems, avoiding costly reviews

Permit speed and cost vs. other counties

• John Duke (contractor, Spring Hill) said septic system approval in Williamson County regularly costs over $10,000, versus roughly $500 in other counties
• Duke said splitting a property and finding soil for two systems has taken over a year and cost over $10,000
• Other counties Duke works in: 2–3 weeks for a permit at $500
• Duke's target: 3–6 weeks turnaround in Williamson County
• Duke noted Williamson County appears to require LPP or MLPP systems far more than other counties — those systems cost 3.5–4x more to install than conventional
• Noel Jones (builder) wants permits at 45 days or less — the state refunds fees if a permit isn't issued within 45 days, and he'd like Williamson County to hit that benchmark

County staff doing lot assessments

• Noel Jones raised that under the draft Section 26/27 language, county soil scientists can do lot assessments for system modifications and repairs, but new systems still require outside soil map documentation
• Jones wants county soil scientists to also handle lot assessments for new conventional systems, not just modifications — there aren't enough private soil scientists and surveyors to handle the load, and he's concerned permit times will stay long even after the regulatory changes
• Rud Harper echoed this, pointing to Murray County as an example where the county sends someone out the same day to probe and advise on system placement

Help for residents without computer access

• Rud Harper said he was told to "go get a computer" when he went to the county office for help — he doesn't own one and has worked in the septic industry his entire life
• Harper wants the county to have a way to assist residents who can't navigate online systems or phones in person

Next steps and timeline

• Task force will debrief on tonight's comments within the next couple of days and decide on any final changes to the report
• Final report sent to county commission by Wednesday, April 1st
• County commission considers the report at their May meeting, then forwards recommendations to the Board of Health
• Staff will begin drafting amendments now in parallel — won't wait for commission approval — so changes can move quickly once approved
• Amendments will go to the Board of Health in batches, with highest-impact changes prioritized first
• Final report will be posted on the county website once submitted to the commission

Franklin Board of Mayor and Alderman

Tuesday, March 24th

BOMA Work Session Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Emily Wright - Pull examples of how off-site improvement changes were noticed between public meetings Vice Mayor Baggett asked for historical examples of when off-site improvements changed after a public meeting and whether/how those changes were publicly noticed — requested before the next meeting.
• [ ] Participant 7 - Fix typo in electronic signature policy "Signors" is misspelled in Part B, number 2 — should be "signers." This is an MTAS form the city is adopting.

Overview

• The bulk of the session covered the Harlin PUD — the applicant presented a significantly revised off-site road plan that extends Mack Hatcher Parkway further than previously proposed, fully preserving Hillview Lane; the development plan itself (242 homes, 70% open space) is unchanged
• Boyle is committing to ~$12M in off-site road improvements against ~$4M in generated impact fees, with all Coleman/Henpeck intersection work required before the first building permit
• Staff recommends holding another public hearing given new condition 30 language arrived just before the agenda packet; earliest date is April 28
• Shorter items: Unity Trees mural unanimously recommended for approval, Creekside park grant application authorized (~$3.5M total, 50/50 match), Central Franklin parking study committee established (16 members, Bob Ravaner as chair), electronic signature policy moving forward with a typo fix, city joining a 5th opioid class action, and a stormwater ordinance semicolon fix

Unity Trees mural approval

• Franklin Tomorrow submitted a proposal for a community mosaic mural to be placed on city property and gifted to the city upon completion, similar to the Christmas tree donation
• The Public Arts Commission unanimously recommended approval
• The mural is 8 ft by 12 ft, built on 3 panels, with 900 total tiles — 600 to be painted; 382 were completed at the Kids Arts Festival on Saturday (March 21)
• Tiles use blue, orange (warm), and green as base colors, with personal imagery added; remaining ~200 tiles will be completed with the library and other organizations
• Initial placement is Pinkerton Park, with potential future use at the new city hall park or inside city hall

Creekside park grant

• The resolution authorizes the city to apply for a 2026 Local Parks and Recreation Fund outdoor recreation grant for the newly acquired Creekside property
• Total project cost is ~$3,500,000 on a 50/50 match; funds would cover ingress/egress, design, infrastructure, restrooms, and trails
• If awarded, staff would return to BOMA to accept the grant at whatever amount is approved

Central Franklin parking study committee

• The resolution establishes a 16-member volunteer steering committee to oversee the Central Franklin Parking Study
• Members include downtown business and property owners, downtown residents, Heritage Foundation events staff, DFA leadership, Visit Franklin, Williamson County government, and elected officials including Commissioner Sean Aiello and Alderman Patrick Baggett
• Bob Ravaner was asked by the mayor to serve as chair
• The committee is expected to meet 4 times over the next year and a half, with all meetings publicly noticed and open to the public

Electronic signature policy

• The policy formalizes electronic signatures already in use (primarily DocuSign) and enables new permit types — including potentially beer board permits — to be signed electronically
• Alderman Caesar raised a concern about beer board licenses needing a physical document to hang on the wall; Shauna noted that individual boards and commissions can still choose to require wet signatures
• Shauna confirmed resolutions, ordinances, bank closing documents, bonds, and court/settlement documents are better suited to wet signatures and will continue to be handled case-by-case by the relevant director
• Alderman Plant caught a typo in Part B, item 2 — "signors" misspelled; Shauna confirmed it will be corrected (it's an MTAS form)

Opioid settlement

• The resolution authorizes the city to join a new national opioid settlement with 6 regional distributors and dispenser defendants, including Associated Pharmacy, American Associated Pharmacy, J.M. Smith Corporation, Louisiana Wholesale Drug Company, Morris and Dickson Company, North Carolina Mutual Wholesale Drug Company, and United Natural Foods Inc. (including subsidiaries Super Value and Advantage Logistics)
• This would make 5 total class actions the city is part of; Shauna encouraged continuing on the same path given the city has already established its participation framework

Stormwater ordinance typo fix

• A missing semicolon in the stormwater ordinance — introduced during last fall's revision of the ~40-page document — caused a list to appear scrambled on the city's website even though it looked correct in the Word document
• The ordinance replaces the semicolon, fixes grammar, and restores the correct list order; no substantive changes

Harlin PUD road plan changes

• The development plan itself is unchanged — 242 homes (250 including 8 county parcels on 5–8 acre lots), 70% open space (217 acres), 0.78 homes/acre, 27,000 sq ft neighborhood commercial, 80-room boutique inn in phase 2
• The only changes are to the off-site road route: instead of tying Mack Hatcher to Hillview Lane just behind Target, Boyle now proposes extending Mack Hatcher ~2x the original distance all the way to Shimerik Drive, then building a new road south from Mack Hatcher to connect to Hillview Lane near the Harlan entrance
• Hillview Lane from that new intersection south to Tractor Supply would be left completely untouched
• Shimerik Drive from Shadow Green to the Mack Hatcher right-of-way is already platted and partially constructed (base stone in place, no asphalt); Boyle agreed to pave it as part of this proposal
• The new road cross-section includes 2 lanes plus an 8-ft multi-use trail; pedestrian connections are planned to the Target shopping center and toward Winstead Hill/city park
• Boyle is committing to ~$12M in off-site road improvements against ~$4M in road impact fees generated by the project — roughly 3x the nexus amount
• The revised condition 30 requires: (1) Boyle secures all necessary right-of-way, (2) Coleman Road and Henpeck/Columbia Pike intersection improvements are completed and accepted before the first building permit, (3) the northern Hillview Lane access is gated until the full Mack Hatcher extension, Shimerik connection, and new road are complete and accepted — required before the 151st residential building permit or any phase 2 commercial/mixed-use certificate of occupancy

Hillview Lane and gating

• Under the revised plan, Hillview Lane is not gated at the southern end (near Tractor Supply) — that intersection remains open to all traffic; engineering staff believe it can function as a clean four-way intersection
• The northern emergency gate on the Harlan property line prevents construction traffic from using Hillview Lane during phase 1 and remains until the Mack Hatcher extension is complete (~2030)
• Vice Mayor Baggett raised adding a second gate at the new road/Hillview Lane intersection to prevent through traffic from using the tree tunnel section as a cut-through
• Boyle said they're willing to construct that gate if BOMA adds it as a condition, and noted it would need to meet fire and engineering requirements including a turnaround provision for the McGid property
• The McGid property's driveway would sit at the fourth leg of the new road intersection — Hillview Lane would remain open and unobstructed in both directions from that point

Traffic and infrastructure phasing

• Proposed schedule: 2026 — design and permitting; 2027 — Coleman/Henpeck road improvements begin, southern access construction, on-site and off-site utility work begins; 2028 — first home construction starts; 2029 — first residents move in, second 50 homes under construction; 2030 — phase 1 complete, Mack Hatcher extension complete
• The dual offset signal at Henpeck and Coleman was reviewed by 5 traffic engineers (city staff, third-party reviewer, county engineering, and Boyle's traffic engineer Amy Birch); both a roundabout and a single realigned intersection fail at full buildout — the offset allows northbound/southbound Columbia traffic to stop simultaneously while Coleman and Henpeck left-turn movements stack in the gap between the two signals
• Right-of-way acquisition costs for a full intersection realignment also drove staff to accept the offset design
• Alderman Caesar and Alderman Burger both expressed reservations about the offset signal; Burger thinks roundabouts are underused in Tennessee generally
• Columbia Avenue construction: Paul (engineering) said ~2 more years of right-of-way acquisition, then a 3-year construction project — "well underway" by 2030 but not necessarily complete; Paul noted the environmental document may need to be redone a 3rd or 4th time due to federal/TDOT requirements
• Condition 30 item (a) requires the western approach of the Mack Hatcher/Columbia Avenue intersection to be improved before the gate opens — this can be done independently of the full Columbia Avenue project and then integrated when Columbia Avenue construction reaches that point
• Royal Oaks/Mack Hatcher intersection: design 100% complete, TDOT paving this summer, construction target is November 2026 with a goal of completing by early 2027; zero federal funding and zero utility relocation means it will move fast
• Traffic equivalence context: 50 homes per year generates roughly the same traffic impact on Columbia Avenue as a single fast food restaurant opening (Chipotle cited for 50 homes, Whataburger for another 50)
• Without this project, the Coleman/Henpeck/Columbia intersection — currently at level of service F — would not be improved; it has been on the county's major thoroughfare plan for over a decade with no action

Harlin modification of standards

• 15 MOSs total; nothing has changed from what was previously reviewed at planning commission and work session
• MOS #1 (architectural detailing above entrance) — both staff and planning commission recommended denial; the applicant is no longer pursuing it, but it remains in the plan and will still need to be formally acted on
• MOS #2 and #3 (architectural detailing for house type and townhouse type) — planning commission unanimously recommended approval; staff recommends denial — the only two where staff and planning commission diverge
• All remaining MOSs — staff and planning commission are aligned on approval or approval with conditions
• The board chose not to go through all 15 MOSs at the work session; Joey will present them in full at the public hearing

Harlin public hearing timing

• Staff received the revised off-site road proposal and new condition 30 language a few days before the agenda packet, which was published Thursday, March 19; engineering reviewed and supports the changes, but the full departmental review team has not yet weighed in
• The development plan was legally noticed 21 days in advance, but the new condition 30 language has not been publicly noticed
• Staff strongly recommends holding another public hearing so the public can respond to the new information
• Proposed path: vote on second readings tonight (annexation, zoning), set third readings for April 28; defer single-reading items (plan of services, development plan) to April 28 with a new public hearing at that meeting
• Planning commission concurrence on any floor amendments made tonight would go back to planning commission before April 28 — the schedule accommodates this
• Because the Ingram property is now contiguous with Harlan, amendments are needed tonight to the plan of services and annexation resolutions to remove non-contiguous property references and the required interlocal agreement with the county; Emily's handout lays out the specific motions needed

BOMA Meeting Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Greg Gamble - Update Harlan development plan sheets per amended condition 30 Update sheet C4.31 to clarify the new road matches the proposed Hillview Lane road section and includes a temporary Mac Hatcher road section; replace exhibits on sheets C4.32 and C4.34 to reflect the modified condition 30. Required before the April 28 BOMA meeting and final vote.

Overview

• All Harlan PUD items (resolution 2025-26, parkland impact fee contract 2025-0110, road impact fee contract 2025-0158) deferred to April 28, 2026 BOMA meeting with a new public hearing — passed unanimously
• Before deferral, board amended condition 30 to require Mac Hatcher extension and Chimeric Drive connection before the 150th residential building permit or any phase 2 commercial certificate of occupancy
• All 15 modification of standards voted on: MOS 1 denied unanimously, MOS 2–15 approved (several with conditions)
• Ingram property annexation (78.89 acres) finalized — passed 7–1 on both annexation and zoning
• Coleman Rd / Hillview Lane 311-acre annexation package (plan of services, annexation, zoning) on second reading; third reading and public hearing set for April 28
• Central Franklin parking study contract with Walker Consultants and steering committee both approved unanimously
• Liberty Pike / Mallard Lane intersection redesign passed 5–3
• Opioid settlement passed unanimously
• County Commissioner William Petty was present

Roll call, invocation & pledge

• All 8 aldermen and vice mayor present; mayor presiding
• Alderman Barnhill led the invocation
• Scout Troop 137 from Franklin led the pledge of allegiance

Angie Scarp farewell

• City Manager Hilty announced this was city recorder Angie Scarp's last board meeting — she's leaving in April
• Scarp joined from Laramie, Wyoming in 2019 and launched a mentorship program that impacted dozens of employees
• Mayor also recognized her, noting she brought a level of professionalism to board proceedings

Consent agenda

• Items 16–21 approved unanimously as non-controversial and routine

Ingram property annexation

• Resolution 2025-106 (annexation, 78.89 acres, south of Hillview Lane / west of Columbia Pike) — third and final reading, passed 7–1 (Caesar no)
• Ordinance 2025-53 (zoning to Agricultural District and Hillside Hillcrest Overlay) — passed 7–1 (Caesar no)

Coleman Rd / Hillview Lane annexation package

• All three items are on second reading; third reading and public hearing scheduled for April 28
• Resolution 2025-24 (plan of services, 311 acres at 1247 Hillview Lane) — amended to remove "non-contiguous" language from second and third whereas clauses, remove interlocal agreement reference under section 1(e), and update map exhibit to reflect newly annexed Ingram property; deferral to April 28 passed unanimously
• Resolution 2025-25 (annexation) — amended to remove "not" from title, replace "non-contiguous" with "contiguous" in first whereas clause, update map exhibit; passed 7–1 (Caesar no)
• Ordinance 2025-06 (zoning to Planned PD District and Hillside Hillcrest Overlay) — passed 7–1 (Caesar no)
• Property is contiguous to city limits, within southern Franklin Urban Growth Boundary, designated Village Green in Envision Franklin; plan includes 242 residential units, 32,000 sq ft commercial, 80 hotel keys, and 220+ acres open space

Harlan PUD — road access & public comment

• The central controversy is the proposed northern access route: extending Mac Hatcher Parkway parallel to the Hillview Lane tree tunnel, connecting to Chimeric Drive, and building a new road from that intersection to Hillview Lane
• Chimeric Drive was part of the Shadow Green development plan approved in 2018 (resolution 2017-20) and right-of-way was already dedicated to the property line, but residents say they were unaware of the planned connection
• Staff only updated their recommendation to defer the afternoon of the meeting (March 24); the new proposal was publicly available on civic clerk since Thursday, March 19 — meeting the 48-hour legal minimum but giving residents little time to absorb it
• Developer Greg Gamble walked through the road plan: Mac Hatcher extended 2 lanes north of the tree tunnel to a new intersection with Chimeric Drive; Chimeric extended to meet it per the 2018 Shadow Green plan; a new road connects that intersection to Hillview Lane; the McGid driveway is preserved as a 4-way intersection with existing Hillview Lane; a construction gate at the north access stays locked until all improvements are accepted by the city
• Emily McGid (1208 Hillview Lane) raised concerns about access and isolation — she wasn't contacted by the developer and only learned about the new road alignment on Friday
• Shadow Green residents (Penny Cromwell, Kim Koehler, James Palm) raised traffic and safety concerns: the single access point on Shadow Green Drive already backs up at the Chick-fil-A entrance, the road has speeding issues, and there are 86 townhomes and 160 condos in the community
• Cromwell (HOA board president, Through the Green) asked for a minimum of 3 speed bumps — by the pool, at the neighborhood entry, and coming down the hill from Chimeric — if the connection goes through
• Janet Curtis asked whether a ground-penetrating survey had been done for unmarked graves given the property's proximity to the Battle of Franklin battlefield
• Alderman Caesar thinks the 34-day deferral is worth it so residents can digest the changes and engage directly with the board
• Vice Mayor Baggett thinks the deferral is excessive — the road connection has been on city plans since 2017, the applicant responded to prior board requests by dropping Hillview Lane access, and nothing substantively new will change between now and April 28
• Alderman Burger noted the developer did what the board asked (found an alternative to Hillview Lane) and questioned whether deferring again sends the right signal
• Staff confirmed: even if the applicant had submitted a month earlier, the public still would have received the information on the Thursday agenda publication — there was no path to earlier public notice

Deferral to April 28

• Board voted unanimously to defer resolution 2025-26 (development plan), contract 2025-0110 (parkland impact fee), and contract 2025-0158 (road impact fee, not to exceed $4,647,999) to the April 28 BOMA meeting with a new public hearing
• Before the deferral vote, board amended condition 30 to read: northern access gated until Mac Hatcher western approach at Columbia Avenue is improved, 2-lane Mac Hatcher extended to new Chimeric Drive intersection, Chimeric Drive extended per 2018 Shadow Green plan, new road extended from Hillview Lane to Mac Hatcher, and all improvements accepted by city and TDOT — all required prior to the 151st building permit or any phase 2 commercial/mixed-use CO; amendment passed 7–1 (Caesar no)
• Alderman Brown and Alderman Potts both said they're looking forward to supporting the development plan on April 28
• Vice Mayor Baggett noted this is the first project where the applicant has committed to $8,000,000 in road improvements ahead of rooftops, and wants it to be a model for future developments

Harlan PUD modification of standards votes

• MOS 1 — 5-foot or 22-foot mews setback for lots 84–86 and 92–105: denied unanimously (fire and police raised safety concerns; applicant had already indicated intent to withdraw)
• MOS 2 — decorative door surrounds as alternative to porches/stoops for house building type: approved unanimously
• MOS 3 — same as MOS 2 for townhouse building type: approved unanimously
• MOS 4 — no minimum finished floor elevation for home office in live-work townhome: approved unanimously
• MOS 5 — max 2 ground floor units on street-facing facade ganged off a shared entry (not requiring individual exterior entrances): approved unanimously with conditions
• MOS 6 — neighborhood village buildings at an angle from frontage, Lot 23 only: approved unanimously
• MOS 7 — max glazing on upper floors raised to 85%: approved unanimously
• MOS 8 — remove transom requirement above storefront display windows: approved unanimously
• MOS 9 — singular rural path or combo rural path and sidewalk on opposite side of road (limited to sheets c2.16, c4.3, c4.31): approved unanimously with conditions
• MOS 10 — use Central Franklin overlay parking requirements: approved unanimously
• MOS 11 — minimum 2 off-street parking stalls per unit for small-scale multifamily: approved unanimously
• MOS 12 — stormwater features in neighborhood amenity (Lot 79): approved at 60% max (not the 85% requested) with required pedestrian and public activation around the entirety of the feature — approved unanimously with conditions
• MOS 13 — stormwater features in pocket park (Lot 159): approved unanimously with conditions (applicant must provide illustration of Lot 161 end condition showing public activation)
• MOS 14 — additional pocket park elements (trellises, hammock areas, nature play, etc.): approved unanimously with conditions (informational signage and redundant section f features removed from language)
• MOS 15 — irregular shaped signage: approved unanimously

Central Franklin parking study

• Resolution 2026-[04] — contract with Walker Consultants for Central Franklin parking study approved unanimously
• Resolution 2026-10 — steering committee established; Vice Mayor Baggett is a member; approved unanimously

Liberty Pike intersection redesign

• Resolution 2026-07 — revised design concept for intersection upgrade at Liberty Pike, Mallard Lane, and North Royal Oaks Blvd
• Passed 5–3 (Brown, Burger, and Caesar voted no)

Opioid settlement

• Resolution 2026-19 — authorizes Franklin to join national opioid settlement with 6 regional distributor/dispenser defendants and associated pharmacies (including American Associated Pharmacies, M. Smith Corporation, Louisiana Wholesale Drug, Morris and Dickson, NC Mutual Wholesale Drug, and United Natural Foods / SuperValu / Advantage Logistics)
• Passed unanimously

For all meetings go here.

Election Commission

Wednesday, March 25th Agenda Audio

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Participant 2 - Organize voting machine inspection open house for May 5 primary Set for Monday, April 13, 2026, 4:30–5:30 PM at the Williamson County Election Commission, 405 Downtown Boulevard. Candidates and party chairs will inspect machines, ballots, and tabulators.
• [ ] Participant 2 - Follow up with Wilson County to get their ballot placement policy Commission wants to adopt a similar policy before candidates qualify on the third Thursday in August.
• [ ] Participant 2 - Finalize Thompson Station and Parish Presbyterian as replacement vote centers Thompson Station Elementary/Middle School replaces Vote Center 4 (Independence High School); Parish Presbyterian Church replaces Vote Center 25 (Gate Community Church). Commission approved both by motion — nail down by next week.
• [ ] Participant 2 - Monitor appeal outcomes for disqualified candidates and update August 6 ballot accordingly Chadwick White (92nd State House) and Deborah Matthews (Republican State Executive Committee, 28th District) were disqualified by the Tennessee Republican Party. Appeal deadline is today or tomorrow — add them to the ballot if appeals succeed.

Overview

• Commission approved relocating 2 vote centers for the May 5, 2026 County Primary — Thompson Station Elementary/Middle School replaces Vote Center 4 (Independence High School), and Parish Presbyterian Church replaces Vote Center 25 (Gate Community Church)
• Absentee county board appointments approved as submitted for the May 5 primary
• Voting machine inspection open house set for Monday, April 13, 2026, 4:30–5:30 PM at the Williamson County Election Commission
• August 2026 state primary ballot candidates approved, with 1 withdrawal and 2 Republican Party disqualifications — motion leaves room for successful appeals to be added
• New primary ballot language drew public concern about voter training and how objections will be handled; Admin Gray confirmed it's statewide and reflects existing state law
• Performance audit (Oct 7 special congressional primary, Oct 28 City of Franklin municipal, Dec 2 special congressional general) was deferred to the end of the meeting

New primary ballot language

• New language added to the application for ballot requires voters in a primary to declare they are a bona fide member of, or intend to affiliate with, the party whose primary they're voting in
• Dorinda Smith (president, League of Women Voters, Franklin) raised 3 questions: whether registrars will be trained to handle voter questions, what happens if a voter lines through the new language, and whether voters who refuse to sign will be denied a ballot and tracked
• Barbara Owens, a scheduled early voting worker and unaffiliated voter, also raised concern about being asked to explain the language and about what unaffiliated voters are supposed to do
• Admin Gray explained the language originated with the October 7 special congressional primary and was sent to all 95 counties by the coordinator of elections, who is the chief interpreter of election law
• Admin Gray confirmed the language essentially restates existing state law on party primaries and that some degree of worker training will be needed
• Participant 1 noted the specific questions would be answered at a later time, not during public comment

Vote center relocations

• Tollgate Clubhouse HOA turned down the commission's request for Vote Center 4, and Southeast Christian Church on Clovercroft Road turned down the request for Vote Center 25
• Admin Gray is pursuing Thompson Station Elementary/Middle School (same campus, ~3 miles from the current site) for Vote Center 4 — Williamson County Board of Education has already agreed
• Parish Presbyterian Church, used last fall for the City of Franklin election, is the proposed replacement for Vote Center 25 — it has a large parking lot but is 3 miles from the current Gate Community Church location
• Commissioner Williamson noted the Gate Community Church building sits on a hill, making it difficult for voters with mobility issues, and that parking was already a problem
• Participant 4 moved to give Admin Gray discretion to finalize both locations for the May 5, 2026 primary; motion passed

Absentee county board appointments

• Admin Gray noted the board won't be large given the expected ballot volume (more than 500–600 ballots)
• Participant 4 moved to approve the absentee county board appointments as submitted, with Admin Gray having discretion to reappoint if any member drops out; motion passed

Voting machine inspection open house

• Set for Monday, April 13, 2026, 4:30–5:30 PM at the Williamson County Election Commission, 405 [Boulevard]
• Candidates and others can attend to review machine and ballot setup; political party chairs can inspect tabulators

August 2026 candidate qualifications

• Qualifying period closed March 10; withdrawal deadline was March 17
• 1 withdrawal: Julie Quan, State Executive Committee, Republican Party, 28th district
• 2 disqualifications by the Tennessee Republican Party: Chadwick White (92nd State House, Republican primary) and Deborah Matthews (Republican State Executive Committee, 28th district)
• Admin Gray explained state law was changed to allow disqualified candidates to appeal — the appeal deadline was around March 25–26; no appeals had been received as of the meeting
• Motion passed to approve the qualified candidate list pursuant to the Tennessee Republican Party letter dated March 17, 2026, with the provision that any successfully appealed candidates from Williamson County would be added to the ballot without requiring another commission vote

Census block boundary program

• Admin Gray is meeting with the county GIS team on March 26 to make recommendations to the U.S. Census Bureau through the block boundary suggestion program, run through the Tennessee County/Office of Local Government
• The goal is to flag high-growth areas (e.g., Stevens Valley) that were largely undeveloped during the last census so census blocks can be resized before the next redistricting cycle

Performance audit

• Audit of the October 7 special congressional primary, October 28 City of Franklin municipal election, and December 2 special congressional general election was deferred to the end of the meeting per Participant 4's request; the meeting adjourned before detailed audit proceedings were captured in the transcript

Additional notes from Frank Limpus

One of the main purposed of yesterday’s meeting was to conduct the post-election performance audit of the D7 special election (primary and general) and the BOMA election that was supposed to be done at the last meeting.    

• I witnessed the first audit which appeared to proceed without any issue.  I did not witness the second (BOMA) and third (D7 general) audits.
• The WCEC works through a list of 22 steps they must verify occurred and they have the documentation to prove that.  Covered pre-election, election day and post-election steps.
• The WCEC staff appeared to have all necessary documentation in place. 
• This appears to be a good process that also gives citizens a good roadmap of necessary documentation the WCEC is to have in place should there be any post-election questions. 

The Commission also:

• Approved relocating 2 vote centers for the May 5, 2026 County Primary — Thompson Station Elementary/Middle School replaces Vote Center 4 (Independence High School), and Parish Presbyterian Church replaces Vote Center 25 (Gate Community Church).
• Approved Absentee counting board appointments approved for the May 5 primary.
• Set Monday, April 13, 2026, 4:30–5:30 PM at the Williamson County Election Commission for an open house for candidates, party chairs and citizens to “check” the voting machines.
  • Having witnessed several of these “inspections,” know that the machines are not truly checked.  This open house only demonstrates how the machines work to those who don’t know.  The WCEC does NOT open the machines up and allow attendees to inspect inside for possible nefarious components, which can be there.  (Recall that the vendor DOES NOT allow anyone, ever – including election staff or workers or cyber security professionals – to inspect inside the machines which is another reason why the machines are highly questionable given this, and this and this and this and this, for starters.)
• Approved the primary ballot candidates for the August 2026 state primary. 
  • The state Republican party recently disqualified a number of candidates, mostly for bona fide questions.  Those candidates can appeal. 
• New primary ballot language drew public concern about voter training and how objections will be handled; Admin Gray confirmed it's statewide and reflects existing state law.
  • We have issued a public records request to get a copy of this language. 
  • New language added to the application for ballot requires voters in a primary to declare they are a bona fide member of, or intend to affiliate with, the party whose primary they're voting in
  • Chad explained the language originated with the October 7 special congressional primary and was sent to all 95 counties by Mark Goins, the state coordinator of elections.
  • Chad confirmed the language essentially restates existing state law on party primaries and that some degree of worker training will be needed

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

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