Newsletter

Friday Recap October 9th 2026

My Comment

It was a pretty busy week. You will notice that I am including the weekly report from Leisa Niemotka, who is the mayor's chief of staff. I appreciate the information that keeps all of us commissioners aware of processes taking place in the mayor's office.

I don't have much to update with regards to the hospital sale, other than the letter Mayor Marshell sent to our legal counsel, Foley and Lardner. You can read it here. As a reminder, they charge us $900 per hour, and we don't want them adding any unnecessary charges.

There will be a public hearing at our commission meeting on Monday to approve a request from landowners to De-Annex their land, and you can go here to view the map. There is more detail in the Agenda/Packet; scroll down to the last resolution 10/26/27.

Highlights from this past week

Monday, October 6th

School Board Policy Committee

Overview

Board reviewed 3 policies on first and final reading at administration's request due to time-sensitive decisions
Policy 1.703 approved moving the out-of-zone request deadline from April 15th to ~March 20th (45 days after open zoning begins February 3rd)
Policy 4.211 updated to align with 2024 state law raising the work-based learning credit cap from 2 to 6
Policy 5.801 is the most consequential item — it adds an executive session option for superintendent searches alongside the existing public search process; the board still needs to vote on which format to use, and several key questions (hybrid approach, staff attendance, applicant confidentiality) are unresolved pending Thursday's ZEAL work session
A loophole in Policy 1.303 around consultant selection was flagged — Seth agreed to draft a fix referencing 5.801 as the exception for superintendent search consultants

County Budget Committee

Overview

All resolutions and transfers passed unanimously — a routine but substantive budget committee meeting covering transfers, grants, bonds, and several staffing changes
Two SAMHSA grants totaling $764,117 accepted for Veterans Treatment Court and DUI Court with no county match required
Veteran service officer position converted from part-time to full-time, adding $16,423 in benefits to the budget this fiscal year, with a full salary adjustment expected at next budget cycle
Public information manager position formalized with $14,967 added for salary buffer and benefits
Two bond issuances approved — $25.5M for rural K–8 school projects and $31.3M for general obligation projects — but the county will go to market for approximately $169.3M total when including the JJJ project draw ($95M) and courthouse ($17.5M); current rate is around 4.5–4.6%
Commissioner Todd raised a question about the Williamson Health sale — specifically whether the nonprofit vs. for-profit analysis accounts for a financial crossover around year 6–7; Commissioner Williams noted the discussion needs actual numbers before it can go further, and Participant 12 confirmed the process is already looking at how to best use the funds

Thursday, October 8th

School Board Work Session

Overview

Board held a full work session covering Q1 highlights, the five-year capital plan, and an extensive superintendent search planning session with Zeal Education Group
Key search dates set: thought exchange opens November 2nd, community engagement week November 9–13, leadership profile presented at December 7th policy meeting with board vote same night, appointment at April 19th board meeting, superintendent start date June 1st
Board reached clear majority for a confidential (Option A) search — will vote formally at the Monday, October 19th board meeting alongside the updated superintendent selection policy (5.801)
Three policies up for first and final reading on Monday: out-of-zone deadlines (1.703), work-based learning credits (4.211), and superintendent selection (5.801)
Stevens Valley rezoning approved for discussion — only zoning change this academic year; broader district rezoning review underway for next year
$87M intent to fund for Split Log Middle approved for discussion, with $45.5M first-year draw; education impact fee (~$95M available) is the intended funding source
$100K budget resolution approved for discussion to fund the superintendent search

Williamson County Planning Commission

Overview

Items 23, 24, and 26 were withdrawn; items 25 and 29 deferred to consent agenda
Terra Vista (Jones Company) is close to completing drainage and erosion control work — staff suggested skipping monthly updates and revisiting in April for potential bond release
The main event: Arrington Village zoning amendment passed with two modifications — max building height reduced from 3 stories to 2, and max building size on Murfreesboro Road reduced from 25,000 sq ft to 15,000 sq ft (matching all other parcels); forwarded to County Commission for final approval
Public hearing drew strong opposition from Arrington residents focused on density, flooding/septic, traffic, and rural character; one speaker (Winnie Warren, Peachtree Farms) pushed back, saying community meetings showed residents wanted mixed-use live-and-play, not the status quo
Haley Ridge final plat (9 lots, 46.06 acres) approved

City of Franklin Budget Committee

Overview

Committee recommended 2 resolutions to the full BOMA: Res. 2026-89 (accounting officer reclassification) and Res. 2026-90 (compensation plan cleanup) — both revenue neutral
Michael Walters Young and Eric walked through FY28 budget process changes, including staggered submission deadlines, annual action plans, and a Nov 2nd strategy work session at 3:00 PM in the police community room
Outside agency appropriations process was raised for feedback — no changes decided, but Participant 1 wants to see each agency's full budget, other funding sources, and city department interfaces; Participant 3 thinks the current process is sufficient and doesn't want more meetings
No Budget and Finance meeting in November — next meeting is December 3rd for the FY2026 audit presentation by Crosslin
October financials are strong: local sales tax up $200K+ vs. prior year, building permits up 240%, road impact fees also up significantly

Mayor's office chief of staff Friday report

Commissioners,

Happy Friday! A few updates and reminders as we head into Commission week.

Williamson Health | Update

Attached for your information is a copy of the letter sent this week to Foley & Lardner regarding the County’s ongoing due diligence work related to the proposed Williamson Health transaction. The letter is intended to clarify roles and responsibilities as the work moves forward, helping coordinate efforts and avoid unnecessary duplication and expense. We will continue to share relevant information with the Commission as that work progresses.

A Few Things Underway

A few other conversations and projects moving forward this week:

Schools: Planning continued around how we can best support WCS as the school system begins its budget process.
Leadership Franklin: The Mayor joined Franklin Mayor Ken Moore and City Administrator Eric Stuckey for a conversation with Leadership Franklin.
Senator Hagerty: Senator Bill Hagerty was in the Mayor’s office this week - offering the assistance of his office where it may be helpful. The conversation included the I-65 PEL study currently underway, and we will follow up regarding potential federal funding opportunities that could support that work.
Limestone: Staff continue to review the Limestone project, including approximately $4 million in grant funding that passes through the County. We are working with Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Tennessee Public Utility Commission (TPUC) and others to better understand the grant requirements and ensure the funding is directed toward the infrastructure needs it is intended to address.

For clarification, I am adding this information. Limstone is the company providing sewage treatment in the Grasslands area that leaked 200,000 gallons of sewage into the Harpeth river in March and another 57,000 gallons in April. They are currently upgrading their system under a permit from TDEC.

Working Genius | A Really Good Day

Yesterday, our department heads spent the day with Pat Lencioni and The Table Group working through the Working Genius model. It was a valuable opportunity to better understand how we each contribute and how we can work more effectively together. One of my favorite takeaways: we have a lot of Tenacity in county operations, followed closely by Enablement—a group wired to get things across the finish line and jump in to help others do the same. Having experienced the session ourselves, we are even more excited about the opportunity Pat and his team have offered the Williamson County Board of Commissioners at no cost to the County, focused on trust, communication, and productive dialogue.

If you have not yet responded, please let me know every date you could attend:

Monday, November 23 | 5:30–9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 16 | 5:30–9:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 17 | 5:30–9:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 19 | 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

We hope to identify the date that allows the greatest possible participation and get it on everyone’s calendar soon.

Looking Ahead

Monday, October 12 | 6:00 p.m. – Williamson County Commission
Monday, October 19 | 5:30 p.m. – Human Resources Committee (if there is business to transact)
Tuesday, October 20 | 5:30 p.m. – Tax Study Committee (if there is business to transact)
Wednesday, October 21 | 5:30 p.m. – Law Enforcement/Public Safety Committee

As always, we are here to support you. Please call, email or stop by anytime. Have a safe weekend, everyone. Our thoughts are with those along the Gulf Coast facing Hurricane Isaias, and please take care here at home as the remnants move through Middle Tennessee.

All the best,

Leisa

Leisa Niemotka, Chief of Staff

Williamson County Government

1320 West Main Street | Franklin, TN 37064

615-906-0825

Attachment:
Letter to Foley & Lardner – Williamson Health

Meetings Next Week:

Monday, October 12th

Monthly Commission Meeting Agenda/Packet, HR policy change, De-Annexing hearing Video starts at 6:00 pm in the auditorium of the County Building at 1320 W. Main, Franklin. If you want to make a public comment, arrive 15 minutes early and sign up.

Tuesday, October 13th

There are three City of Franklin meetings. Go here for details

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

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

Williamson County School Board

Monday, October 5th

School Board Policy Committee Agenda, Video

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] Participant 1 - Introduce policy 5.801 context at the board meeting
Provide context at the board meeting explaining that the 'interim shall not become a candidate' language came from TSBA model policy (not the new law), and that Dr. Webb's contract already grants her permission to apply — so the board is clear on what the policy means.
[ ] Participant 10 - Add superintendent search process approval to Thursday's agenda
Add a voting item for approval of the superintendent search process to Thursday's work session agenda.
[ ] Participant 10 - Send ZEAL portal login credentials to board members who didn't receive them
Some board members didn't receive login credentials from ZEAL. Needed so they can review the 21-page document before Thursday's work session.
[ ] Participant 9 - Update policy 1.303 to add superintendent search exception
Add an exception clause in policy 1.303 referencing policy 5.801, clarifying that superintendent search consultancy is handled by the board, not the superintendent.

Overview

Board reviewed 3 policies on first and final reading at administration's request due to time-sensitive decisions
Policy 1.703 approved moving the out-of-zone request deadline from April 15th to ~March 20th (45 days after open zoning begins February 3rd)
Policy 4.211 updated to align with 2024 state law raising the work-based learning credit cap from 2 to 6
Policy 5.801 is the most consequential item — it adds an executive session option for superintendent searches alongside the existing public search process; the board still needs to vote on which format to use, and several key questions (hybrid approach, staff attendance, applicant confidentiality) are unresolved pending Thursday's ZEAL work session
A loophole in Policy 1.303 around consultant selection was flagged — Seth agreed to draft a fix referencing 5.801 as the exception for superintendent search consultants

Policy 1.703: out-of-zone request deadline

Deadline moves from April 15th to ~March 20th — 45 days after open zoning begins February 3rd — to give HR enough lead time for staffing
The 45-day window still exceeds the state-required 30 days, so families retain more notice than the law requires
Appeals committee remains available year-round for families who miss the deadline or face extenuating circumstances

Policy 4.211: work-based learning credits

Updated to align with 2024 state law raising the total work-based learning credit allowance from 2 to 6
Duplicate eligibility language (previously in standalone items 1 and 2) was removed since it was already covered in points 4 and 6

Policy 5.801: superintendent search options

Policy now gives the board a choice between a traditional public search and an executive session process — no format has been selected yet
Board needs to vote on which format to use; that vote will be a separate agenda item at the Monday board meeting
Participant 1 noted the policy language is largely verbatim from the new state law
Participant 13 flagged that section B (finalist interview with entire board, possible community/staff meetings) was removed because those elements are covered under the law's executive session requirements

Interim superintendent candidacy language

The "interim shall not become a candidate" language came from TSBA's model policy, not the new state law — it's not legally required
The rationale: prevents an interim from waiting to see the candidate pool before deciding to apply mid-process, and avoids deterring outside candidates
Dr. Webb's contract already grants her permission to apply, so the language doesn't restrict her

Public vs. executive session search format

No decision made — board is waiting for Thursday's ZEAL session before voting
Key open question: whether to use a hybrid approach (executive session for early rounds, public for finalists) and how to structure that upfront so applicants know what to expect
Seth cautioned that any decision to shift from executive to public mid-process would itself require a public vote, so the structure needs to be set on the front end
Once a candidate is offered the position, their identity can no longer be kept confidential under the law — application materials can remain confidential on request, but the person would appear in a public meeting
Participant 11 wants no names disclosed until the final list to protect candidates' current employment; Participant 2 wants finalists to understand at what point the process becomes public

Staff attendance in executive sessions

Policy language ("relevant Williamson County school staff invited by the board") came directly from the state law
Participant 10 thinks the chair should make the call on which staff to invite, with board members sharing input with her in advance rather than voting on it
Participant 10 raised a concern that any staff invited would be interviewing their future boss, which isn't standard practice — HR was suggested as the most defensible inclusion
Participant 4 pushed back, noting that in other industries having staff assess a candidate's domain knowledge is common and valuable

Policy 1.303 consultant loophole

Current policy routes all consultant selection through the superintendent — which creates a conflict when the board is hiring a superintendent search firm
Participant 13 flagged this as a gap that needs fixing; Seth agreed to add language to 1.303 carving out an exception for superintendent search consultants, or adding a cross-reference to 5.801

Thursday ZEAL work session prep

ZEAL work session is Thursday, October 8th — covers the full superintendent search process (21 pages of materials)
Board members who haven't received ZEAL portal login credentials should expect them via school board email; Participant 10 apologized for the delay
Approval of the superintendent search process needs to be added as a voting item on Thursday's agenda
Participant 11 noted they won't be at Thursday's session

Thursday, October 8th

School Board Work Session Agenda, Video

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] Participant 1 - Coordinate Williamson Inc. board meeting with Zeal on November 10
Coordinate with Williamson Inc. to arrange for their board to meet with Zeal during the November 10 board meeting.
[ ] Participant 1 - Draft superintendent search timeline with central office and bring back to board
Work with central office staff to propose dates for all superintendent search milestones (stakeholder engagement, leadership profile presentation, etc.) and bring back to the board.
[ ] Participant 11 - Update superintendent search planning document with meeting decisions
Take notes and make any additions or corrections to the shared Google doc during and after the planning meeting.
[ ] Participant 18 - Finalize Zeal contract terms and send to Zeal
Finalize contract terms with Zeal including per diem for travel, two-year guarantee, and non-solicitation clause; send revised terms back to Zeal.
[ ] Participant 18 - Finalize superintendent search policy for Monday's board meeting
Draft a superintendent selection and recruitment policy (5.801) consistent with the board's decision to pursue a confidential/executive session search, for vote at Monday's board meeting.
[ ] Participant 20 - Set up superintendent search webpage
Work with Jeff and Angelica to set up a dedicated superintendent search webpage with leadership profile, stakeholder engagement calendar, Thought Exchange link, and Zeal contact info.
[ ] Participant 20 - Add Jeff and Angelica to InFocus newsletter
Sign Jeff and Angelica up so they start receiving it Tuesday.
[ ] Participant 4 - Collect and route constituent rezoning requests to Allison Nunley
Notify Allison Nunley's team of any constituent rezoning requests from board members so they can be included in the upcoming district-wide zoning review.
[ ] Participant 4 - Send Q1 data review updates in weekly newsletter
Include data points from Q1 initiatives, board goals, superintendent goals, and strategic plan in the newsletter over the next 3-4 weeks.
[ ] Participant 6 - Pull last year's five-year capital plan for board comparison
Pull last year's five-year capital plan so the board can compare it to this year's recommendations. To be included in Monday's newsletter.
[ ] Participant 7 - Revise engagement question 3 wording
Update question 3 from 'change priority' to 'top priority' in the engagement questions.
[ ] Participant 7 - Update Thought Exchange demographic options
Add a checkbox for Franklin Special District families and allow multiple demographic selections in Thought Exchange.
[ ] Participant 7 - Present leadership profile at December 7 meeting
Present the draft leadership profile at the December 7 policy meeting; board will vote to adopt it the same night via special called meeting.
[ ] Participant 7 - Embed four engagement questions in the stakeholder invitation letter
Include the four engagement questions in the stakeholder invitation letter so community members can think about responses before engagement week.
[ ] Participant 7 - Schedule Thought Exchange and community engagement week per agreed dates
Open Thought Exchange on November 2; conduct community engagement week November 9–13; close Thought Exchange November 13.
[ ] Participant 7 - Update search timeline document with agreed dates and search type
Update the shared planning document to reflect: April 19 as preferred candidate selection date, May 17 as contract approval deadline, June 1 as superintendent start date, and confidential (Option A) search process.

Overview

Board held a full work session covering Q1 highlights, the five-year capital plan, and an extensive superintendent search planning session with Zeal Education Group
Key search dates set: thought exchange opens November 2nd, community engagement week November 9–13, leadership profile presented at December 7th policy meeting with board vote same night, appointment at April 19th board meeting, superintendent start date June 1st
Board reached clear majority for a confidential (Option A) search — will vote formally at the Monday, October 12th board meeting alongside the updated superintendent selection policy (5.801)
Three policies up for first and final reading on Monday: out-of-zone deadlines (1.703), work-based learning credits (4.211), and superintendent selection (5.801)
Stevens Valley rezoning approved for discussion — only zoning change this academic year; broader district rezoning review underway for next year
$87M intent to fund for Split Log Middle approved for discussion, with $45.5M first-year draw; education impact fee (~$95M available) is the intended funding source
$100K budget resolution approved for discussion to fund the superintendent search

Superintendent's report: Q1 highlights

Dr. Webb noted enrollment is running about 550 students below this time last year, with staffing fill rates similar to last year
3 Williamson County Schools teachers were recognized at the CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence program — 31 WCS teachers have been recognized over the program's 10-year history
Franklin High girls' soccer team has scored 97 goals this season with 0 scored against them, ranked #7 in the nation
Franklin and Summit high school volleyball teams are playing in the championship tonight and are expected to reach the state tournament
Dr. Webb announced a new room layout will be tried at next month's work session to address board members having their backs to staff

Five-year capital plan preview

The five-year capital plan is in board packets as a non-voting preview — it becomes a voting item next month
Dr. Webb will include last year's plan in Monday's newsletter so the board can compare what's moved up or changed
The plan includes the intent to fund for a new middle school in the Nolansville area off Split Log Road
The mayor's office is aware and supportive of moving forward pending board approval, and the recommendation is to use education impact fees to fund it
Broader district rezoning is paused briefly while staff evaluates holistic county rezoning needs, with more recommendations coming in the next several months

Superintendent search timeline and appointment date

Appointment date set for April 19th board meeting, with a target superintendent start date of June 1st
Board discussed extending the interim superintendent contract through June 30th to cover any gap if the new superintendent can't start until July 1st due to their current contract obligations
May 17th board meeting identified as the backstop date for contract approval if needed — board chair can sign the contract if it's substantially similar to past contracts, with a special called meeting as a fallback
Jeff Melindez noted that a unanimous appointment vote is strongly preferred — candidates have been known to decline positions when the vote is narrow

Board and Zeal expectations

Board's key asks of Zeal: guide the process, national candidate reach, robust community engagement, board interview prep, legal and ethical training, and a leadership profile built from community input
Zeal's key asks of the board: operate as a unified team, maintain strict confidentiality, refer all candidate inquiries to Zeal, participate fully in all scheduled interviews, and flag any potential conflicts of interest early
Board agreed Claire (board chair) approves all search communications, with updates going out via the district's InFocus newsletter at major milestones and at each board meeting
Zeal's Angelica will sign Jeff and Angelica up for InFocus starting Tuesday so they have ongoing district context
Corey (district communications) is the point of contact for the search webpage, social media, and all branded communications
Board members should not make individual public statements about the search — sharing district-approved posts is fine, but no independent commentary

Internal candidates

Board agreed all internal candidates must meet the same evaluation criteria (based on the leadership profile) as external candidates
No guaranteed preliminary or board interview for internal candidates — they go through the same process as everyone else
Zeal will reach out to any candidate a board member wants to recommend, running them through the same process
Sam (board attorney) noted that if a candidate reaches out to a board member directly, they should be redirected to Zeal immediately to avoid conflicts
Jeff flagged that if an internal candidate applies, they should be recused from the stakeholder engagement interview to avoid a conflict of interest

Community engagement and thought exchange

Thought exchange opens November 2nd and closes November 13th — two weeks, running concurrently with the in-person engagement week
Community engagement week is November 9–13, with Zeal in town; the November 12th work session is included so Zeal can attend
The four questions Zeal asks all stakeholder groups: district's greatest strengths, greatest challenges, new superintendent's top priority, and what else should we know
Board suggested changing "change priority" to "top priority" in question three — Jeff updated the document live
Board agreed to include the four questions in the initial community letter so people can think through their answers before engagement week
Margie suggested surfacing themes from the thought exchange before in-person sessions to make group discussions more productive — Jeff noted this could be incorporated into the letter framing
Demographic checkboxes in thought exchange will include multiple-select options (e.g. parent and elected official), and Jennifer suggested adding a Franklin Special District family option
Tanya flagged that paraeducators and the special education department are a significant part of the district and should be explicitly included as a stakeholder group
Claire, central office staff, and Corey will populate the stakeholder calendar and engagement logistics — any two or more board members discussing this must do so in a public meeting per the Sunshine Law

Open vs. confidential search

Clear majority of the board supports Option A — fully confidential search with executive session interviews
Jessica argued Option A produces the best candidate pool because high-performing superintendents who are happy in their current roles won't apply if there's any public exposure
Kimberly noted that candidates from other states are not accustomed to open searches, and a nationwide search requires confidentiality norms that match their expectations
Margie and Jennifer prefer a hybrid approach and want strong upfront communication to address constituent transparency concerns
Sam (board attorney) emphasized that confidentiality starts in the room immediately — any disclosure of a candidate who hasn't consented would be a serious detriment to the process
All votes on narrowing or selecting candidates must be in public, with candidates referred to by letter or number (e.g. Candidate A, B, C) — names and documents stay confidential until a director is chosen
Board will vote on Option A at the Monday, October 12th board meeting; if Option A passes, all board members will sign confidentiality agreements

Board policies: out-of-zone, work-based learning, superintendent selection

Policy 1.703 (out-of-zone): changes the out-of-zone request deadline from April 15th to within 45 days after the process begins (currently starting February 3rd, putting the deadline around March 19–20) — gives staff more time to understand enrollment numbers and allows coaches to plan spring tryouts
Policy 4.211 (work-based learning): updates the credit cap from 2 to 6 credits to align with a 2024 state law change, and removes duplicated eligibility language
Policy 5.801 (superintendent selection): adds the executive session interview option consistent with new state law, giving any future board the choice between open or closed recruitment — board will vote on this policy and then separately vote to invoke the executive session option
All three policies are up for first and final reading on Monday given time sensitivity

Stevens Valley rezoning

Of the students affected, only 1 is currently attending their zoned school — the rest already attend the school they're being rezoned to, so the change primarily adds bus transportation
The one student currently at their zoned school (Westwood Elementary) can stay grandfathered in if the family chooses
Donna (District 8) shared that constituents in Stevens Valley consistently asked to be rezoned to Grassland during her campaign — the original Fairview zoning was set when Franklin zone had no capacity, which has since changed
Broader rezoning for other areas (including Tracy's constituents) will be evaluated over the next year, with updates expected in late winter/early spring and a vote in the next academic year — board members should send rezoning requests to Dr. Webb for Allison Nunley's team to track

Annual compliance report approvals

TISA accountability report and LEA plan are submitted together this year per a new state requirement — Dr. Webb recommended approval
LEA compliance report confirms the district is in compliance with all federal and state education laws and SBE requirements — Dr. Webb recommended approval

Budget resolutions and Split Log Middle funding

Resolution 10.26: $194,127 state transition grant allocation for the current year (October–September cycle) — routine annual grant
Resolution 11.26 (superintendent search): $100,000 transfer from personnel lines to an operational line to fund the search — requires board and commission approval since it crosses fund types; Williamson Inc. will help negotiate hotel and flight discounts to reduce travel costs
Capital Fund Resolution 11.26 (E-rate rebate): $1,577,665.62 reimbursement for internet connectivity investments over the past 5-year term
Intent to Fund 11.26 (Split Log Middle): $87M total, with a $45.5M first-year draw to start the project; education impact fee fund currently holds ~$95M and is the intended source
Sam noted the Zeal contract includes a 2-year guarantee (free repeat search if the hired superintendent leaves within two years) and a non-solicitation clause — Zeal hasn't responded to the terms yet

Williamson County Commission Meetings

Monday, October 5th

Budget Committee, Agenda/Packet, Resolutions, Video Committee members: Guy Carden, Judy Herbert, Mayor Marshall, Andrew Mitchell, Matt Williams (C).

AI Summary

Overview

All resolutions and transfers passed unanimously — a routine but substantive budget committee meeting covering transfers, grants, bonds, and several staffing changes
Two SAMHSA grants totaling $764,117 accepted for Veterans Treatment Court and DUI Court with no county match required
Veteran service officer position converted from part-time to full-time, adding $16,423 in benefits to the budget this fiscal year, with a full salary adjustment expected at next budget cycle
Public information manager position formalized with $14,967 added for salary buffer and benefits
Two bond issuances approved — $25.5M for rural K–8 school projects and $31.3M for general obligation projects — but the county will go to market for approximately $169.3M total when including the JJJ project draw ($95M) and courthouse ($17.5M); current rate is around 4.5–4.6%
Commissioner Todd raised a question about the Williamson Health sale — specifically whether the nonprofit vs. for-profit analysis accounts for a financial crossover around year 6–7; Participant 1 noted the discussion needs actual numbers before it can go further, and Participant 12 confirmed the process is already looking at how to best use the funds

Meeting admin and vice chair election

Commissioner Herbert was elected Vice Chair of the budget committee unanimously, on a motion by Commissioner Mitchell, seconded by Mayor Marshall
Minutes were amended to add Commissioner Mitchell's attendance at the prior meeting before being approved as amended

Budget transfers

Four transfers approved, all moving existing funds with no new money requested
- Mayor's office: shifted funds within the supervisor/director line to reflect paying both the chief of staff and senior advisor out of that line
- Surplus vehicle: approved a department's request to claim a surplus vehicle from the fleet before it goes to auction
- Clerk and master: moved $380 from printing/stationery into dues and memberships
- Highway: transferred $1.5M in remaining funds from the completed Arno Road–South Caruthers project to the Arno–Peytonsville intersection project, which just completed bidding and is ready to move forward

Donations and gifts accepted

$3,600 donation to the Animal Center appropriated for gate repairs and "Kind News" periodicals for summer camp kids
$100,000 donation from the library foundation appropriated for the children's department renovation at the main library
Five Motorola site racks and associated equipment donated by Middle Tennessee Electric accepted for the Emergency Management Department's backup radio network at no cost beyond electricity
A tulip poplar tree donated by the Sons of the American Revolution accepted for planting near the Williamson County Archives and Museum, with a commemorative plaque included

Pass-through and fee-based appropriations

$9,500 appropriated for property assessor educational incentive supplements — state pass-through funds paid to assessors who meet required education standards, now routed through county payroll rather than directly from the state
$78,787 appropriated from victim assessment fees — $45 charged per court case, collected last fiscal year and turned over to the attorney general
$65,000 appropriated for the County Clerk from a reserve account funded by a $2 fee collected through the clerk's office, to be used for computer purchases

Veterans and DUI court grants

Veterans Treatment Court received $160,529 in rollover SAMHSA grant funds from last fiscal year, appropriated into this year's budget
Veterans Treatment Court also awarded a new annual SAMHSA grant of $390,107 — no county match required, federal funds passing through the state
DUI Court awarded a separate SAMHSA grant of $374,010 — also no county match required

Staffing and benefits budget amendments

Veteran service officer converted from part-time to full-time; $16,423 added to cover retirement, medical, and life insurance for the remainder of this fiscal year — salary is sufficient from existing vacancy savings, but a full-time salary line will be requested at next budget cycle
Public information manager position formalized with $14,967 added — $2,488 for a salary buffer (to account for uncertainty in hire date) and the remainder for insurance, retirement, and social security; Phoebe noted the position has historically been classified as part-time since 2013 and never carried benefits

School bus replacement

$3,130,000 appropriated from fund balance to replace school buses for the 2027–28 school year — approximately 4 more buses than last year but within normal annual variance
Buses are replaced at 15 years or 200,000 miles, with up to a 3-year extension available; retired buses go to parts or surplus auction

Surplus property

Routine surplus resolution approved to convey county-owned equipment, vehicles, and other personal property — no substantive discussion

Fire auto-aid agreements

Auto-aid agreement approved with Chapel Hill Fire Department, Arrington Volunteer Fire Department, and Williamson Fire and Rescue
- Chapel Hill can reach the Flat Creek area faster than county units and the agreement improves ISO ratings, lowering homeowner insurance rates
- Arrington brings a specialized air truck that refills air bottles at working fires — Chapel Hill gains access to that resource
Participant 11 walked through the county's existing auto-aid agreements: Maury County, Spring Hill, Fairview, Nolansville, and Franklin Fire Department for stretches of I-65 south of Station 7
Key distinction raised for newer commissioners: mutual aid requires a proactive radio request on scene; auto-aid is pre-programmed into CAD so both agencies dispatch simultaneously, which is why ISO gives it more credit

Thompson Station fire instructor interlocal

Interlocal approved for Thompson Station to fund 100% of a full-time fire instructor position assigned primarily to a Thompson Station station
Resolution amended on the floor — revenues and expenditures reduced to $92,926.08, removing a $13,179 county contribution already in the budget and cutting the data processing equipment line and trimming the uniform line accordingly
This is the third financial contribution Thompson Station has made: 911 dispatch fees, half of an administrative fire captain position, and now this full instructor position

Grassland radio tower lease

Tower lease approved with Vogue Tower Partners 7 LLC to address a long-standing radio dead zone in the Grassland corridor
County's entry-level lease is $54,000/year, already budgeted; rate decreases as Vogue adds other tenants to the tower
Motorola quoted $1.2M to build a county-owned tower — the lease model was pursued as a more cost-efficient alternative; Vogue builds and owns the tower and leases space to the county and other subscribers

Bond issuances

$25.5M (not to exceed) in county district school bonds approved for K–8 projects — asphalt, roofs, security, and additions at Hillsborough K–8 and Grassland Middle; previously approved via intent-to-fund in July
$31.3M (not to exceed) in general obligation bonds approved, covering school projects under general debt service, $8.2M for public safety and parks, and $5M for College Grove
Total market issuance will be approximately $169.3M — the $31.3M and $25.5M approved tonight plus $95M for the JJJ project draw and $17.5M for the courthouse, both previously authorized
Current interest rate is approximately 4.5–4.6%; Commissioner asked about refinancing options and Phoebe confirmed callable provisions exist and the team is exploring using sales tax reserves to pay down some debt
Phoebe noted the county will pay off approximately $69M in principal this year, so total debt service will increase slightly

Williamson Health sale

Commissioner Todd raised a concern that the nonprofit vs. for-profit analysis may not fully account for a financial crossover point around year 6–7, after which selling to a nonprofit could mean leaving money on the table
Participant 1 noted the hospital sits within Franklin city limits, so sales and business tax revenues go to the city, not the county — a factor that affects the financial comparison
Commissioner noted only 2 bidders responded to the original outreach to 20+ parties
Participant 12 confirmed the process is actively looking at how to best use the proceeds, though no specific crossover analysis has been shared with the committee yet
Participant 1 asked Commissioner Todd to put together numbers and share them with commissioners for a future discussion

Thursday, October 8th

Planning Commission Agenda/Packet, Video

AI Summary

Overview

Items 23, 24, and 26 were withdrawn; items 25 and 29 deferred to consent agenda
Terra Vista (Jones Company) is close to completing drainage and erosion control work — staff suggested skipping monthly updates and revisiting in April for potential bond release
The main event: Arrington Village zoning amendment passed with two modifications — max building height reduced from 3 stories to 2, and max building size on Murfreesboro Road reduced from 25,000 sq ft to 15,000 sq ft (matching all other parcels); forwarded to County Commission for final approval
Public hearing drew strong opposition from Arrington residents focused on density, flooding/septic, traffic, and rural character; one speaker (Winnie Warren, Peachtree Farms) pushed back, saying community meetings showed residents wanted mixed-use live-and-play, not the status quo
Haley Ridge final plat (9 lots, 46.06 acres) approved

Meeting admin and announcements

Items 23, 24, and 26 withdrawn; items 25 and 29 placed on consent agenda for deferral
Participant 2 introduced Eric McElroy, Commissioner of the 11th district, to the Planning Commission
Minutes and consent agenda both approved

Data center zoning concerns

Cecilia Shelvin spoke during public comment about data center proliferation — Murray County has a 12-month moratorium and Spring Hill has a moratorium on new sewer connections until 2030, leaving Williamson County without similar protections
Tennessee currently has 65 operating data centers, none above 20% capacity
Shelvin asked the commission not to rezone agricultural land to heavy industrial, to consider downzoning existing heavy industrial parcels, and to reject NDAs tied to data center proposals

Terra Vista bond update

Brett Faney (True Land, representing Jones Company) reported the revised drainage and wastewater road plan was approved by the county and work started about a week prior to the meeting
Headwalls were arriving on-site the morning of the meeting; wastewater road was fully completed the prior Friday
Remaining work: grating at pond one, straw matting, general cleanup, then sod and curb replacement once ponding stabilizes — estimated 1–2 weeks to monitor
Staff (Participant 6) confirmed the site has come a long way since February and is roughly 99% complete, but isn't ready for bond release yet
Participant 1 asked the team to return one more meeting before moving toward release; staff suggested revisiting in April rather than continuing monthly updates

Arrington Village zoning: staff presentation

The Arrington Village zoning district replaces the existing Hamlet district and absorbs the RD5-zoned parcels within the study area — the boundary expansion is primarily to resolve split-zoned parcels, not to add new developable land
Total study area is 325 acres, of which approximately 90 acres (~28%) is floodplain — no new structures can be built in the floodplain under county rules
Key uses removed vs. the current Hamlet: apartments, bars and taverns, light industrial, warehouses, retail services, entertainment establishments, liquor stores
Key uses added vs. the current Hamlet: independent living centers, family subdivisions, animal boarding, veterinary clinics, athletic facilities, craft distilleries
Residential density is unchanged — 2 units/acre for traditional subdivisions, 1.2 units/acre for conservation subdivisions
New design standards (not present in current Hamlet) include parking lot placement behind buildings, sidewalks and greenway trails, facade articulation, roof forms, and signage requirements
The Arrington Village Plan was unanimously endorsed by the County Commission and unanimously adopted by the Planning Commission in March 2025, following five public open houses and work with the Arrington Citizens Advisory Committee

Arrington Village zoning: public hearing

Nearly all speakers opposed the change, with recurring concerns about density (2 units/acre feels too high given rocky/poor soil and septic constraints), flooding, traffic on Wilson Pike and Murfreesboro Road, and not wanting Arrington to become another Triune
Multiple speakers raised septic feasibility — one resident noted his 13-acre farm could barely support a single home; another said he needed 5 acres minimum for a septic system when he built in 1999
Several speakers questioned the advisory committee process, saying public meetings consistently showed residents wanted to preserve rural character, not enable more development
Jeff Otto and Jane Parolo raised conflict-of-interest concerns about realtors and developers participating in the advisory committee process
County Commissioner Jeff Goodsby (District 4) relayed constituent emails — main asks are no three-story buildings, preserving farm character, and keeping the hamlet feel
County Commissioner Todd (District 10) asked whether the jump from RD5 (1 unit/5 acres) to 2 units/acre for the green parcels had been discussed for mitigation, questioned whether 25,000 sq ft buildings are consistent with the small-scale vision in the plan, and asked about cumulative traffic studies beyond per-project analyses
Winnie Warren (Peachtree Farms, advisory committee member) said every table at the community meetings acknowledged growth was coming and wanted mixed-use live-and-play — she's surprised by the opposition characterizing the meetings as anti-development

Arrington Village zoning: commissioner deliberation and vote

Participant 27 (Robin Baldree) walked through what the current Hamlet already permits — apartments, bars and taverns, indoor gun ranges, warehouses, liquor stores — arguing the village district is actually more protective, not less
Robin suggested two amendments: reduce max building height from 3 stories to 2, and reduce the Murfreesboro Road building size cap from 25,000 sq ft to 15,000 sq ft (matching the rest of the village)
Participant 4 moved to defer back to staff to incorporate the discussed changes; motion failed for lack of a second
Robin moved to approve as presented with the two amendments (2-story max, 15,000 sq ft max); Participant 4 seconded — motion passed with one no vote
Counsel clarified this is a recommendation to the County Commission, which holds its own public hearing; any substantial changes the County Commission makes must be sent back to the Planning Commission

Haley Ridge subdivision final plat

Final plat approved for Haley Ridge subdivision — 9 lots on 46.06 acres off Haley Lane, Murfreesboro Road, 5th voting district
Development includes approximately 36 acres of open space; roads will be public; water from Nolansville College Grove Utility District; wastewater via Triune Sewer Facility
Staff confirmed the final plat is consistent with the preliminary plat and recommended approval with standard conditions

Franklin Board of Mayor and Alderman

Thursday,October 8th

Budget Committee Agenda, Video

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] William Petty - Initiate upcoming Hotel/Motel tax audit
A Hotel/Motel tax audit is due — Eric indicated he expects it to happen in the next year, in partnership with Williamson County and Brentwood.
[ ] William Petty - Look into hotel/motel tax budget projection vs. actuals
Investigate why hotel/motel tax collections appear soft relative to the rate increase and prior year performance; confirm budget projections are appropriately calibrated.

Overview

Committee recommended 2 resolutions to the full BOMA: Res. 2026-89 (accounting officer reclassification) and Res. 2026-90 (compensation plan cleanup) — both revenue neutral
Michael Walters Young and Eric walked through FY28 budget process changes, including staggered submission deadlines, annual action plans, and a Nov 2nd strategy work session at 3:00 PM in the police community room
Outside agency appropriations process was raised for feedback — no changes decided, but Participant 1 wants to see each agency's full budget, other funding sources, and city department interfaces; Participant 3 thinks the current process is sufficient and doesn't want more meetings
No Budget and Finance meeting in November — next meeting is December 3rd for the FY2026 audit presentation by Crosslin
October financials are strong: local sales tax up $200K+ vs. prior year, building permits up 240%, road impact fees also up significantly

Meeting opening & minutes

Committee called to order with roll call — Alderman Peterson, Alderman Caesar, Alderman Brown, and the chair all present
Agenda set as stated and September 10th, 2026 minutes approved without changes, both by unanimous roll call vote

Accounting officer reclassification (Res. 2026-89)

Committee voted unanimously to recommend Res. 2026-89 to the full BOMA — reclasses the accounting officer position to accounting supervisor in the Building and Licensing Department
The reclass is prompted by an upcoming vacancy and is expected to be revenue neutral for the fiscal year, though a budget amendment would go through normal process if needed
Org chart changes also include financial technicians reporting to the new accounting supervisor (previously to the billing and licensing manager), and billing technicians realigning under the billing and licensing manager alongside customer service
A correction to the city court reporting structure was also included — it already reflected actual practice and was fixed since the chart was being updated anyway
Michael Walters Young noted this came to committee specifically because it's a grade upgrade, not just an org chart change — revenue-neutral grade changes don't normally require committee approval

Compensation plan update (Res. 2026-90)

Committee voted unanimously to recommend Res. 2026-90 to the full BOMA — a pay plan cleanup with 14 total changes, no additional cost
Changes include 4 reclassifications (one being the accounting officer to accounting supervisor from Res. 2026-89), 6 new positions approved in prior budget PER requests, 2 eliminated positions, and 2 public safety pay updates
The 2 public safety updates are the approved fire paramedic stipend increase and police starting salary updates

FY28 budget process changes

Michael Walters Young presented internal and elected member budget survey results — internal processes rated high, with the main improvement areas being public accessibility and condensed information
Key proposed process changes for FY28:
- Nov 2nd at 3:00 PM in the police community room — special work session to review annual action plans, strategic goals, and board priorities to feed into the budget
- Staggered submission deadlines: budgets open next week (week of Oct 12th), due between December 18th and February 19th depending on department
- Public safety moved to the end of the presentation schedule to ease administrative burden and allow more time for ongoing research
- Three-year program enhancement requests made mandatory for all departments (previously optional)
- Analysts will pre-screen budgets and prepare one-page summaries for Eric before internal review meetings
- More time added in April for internal review of program enhancement recommendations before final budget submission
Participant 3 wants department budget presentations to focus less on organizational overview and more on specific needs, pressures, and where savings or cuts are possible — Eric agreed annual action plans are intended to do exactly that
Participant 4 wants the budget to highlight efficiency gains and savings, not just cost adds, and suggested charging each department head with finding efficiencies that don't reduce service quality
Participant 4 also raised that the recent compensation reset to the 90th percentile should be tied to visible performance improvements for residents

Outside agency appropriations process

No changes decided — committee gave feedback on what would be useful, and staff will consider modifications
Participant 1 wants each agency submission to show: percentage of total budget being requested from the city, all other funding sources (county, United Way, etc.), and which city departments they interface with
Participant 3 thinks the current process works — doesn't want more meetings or longer forms, and notes that many agencies are volunteer-run and a heavier process burdens the organizations the city is trying to help
Participant 1 suggested flagging 2–3 agencies for committee appearances rather than requiring all ~25 to present
Michael Walters Young confirmed all agencies are already notified of the April meeting date and invited to attend — most don't

October financial reports

Local sales tax is up $200K+ vs. the same point in FY26, showing steady growth
Building permits are up 240% and road impact fees are also up significantly — both attributed to timing of permits and ongoing construction activity
Participant 4 raised a question on hotel/motel tax (Schedule 8) — FY26 actual was up 20.3% but the FY27 budget projects only 4.6% growth, which seemed low given the rate increase already in effect
Eric noted the hotel/motel rate increase is in place and overall occupancy and average daily rate have been strong, but agreed to look at whether budget projections were too conservative
Eric noted the city does hotel/motel tax audits roughly every 3 years in partnership with Williamson County and Brentwood, and expects one in the next year

Next meeting & FY26 audit

No Budget and Finance meeting in November
Next meeting is December 3rd — Crosslin (auditors) will present the FY2026 audit report

For all other meetings go here.

Election Commission

No meetings this past week or next

If not me, who?

If not now, when?

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

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

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

Blessings,

Bill

pettyandassociates@gmail.com

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