Friday Recap September 11, 2026

My Comment

Wednesday's Special Called Meeting was a very stressful night. I will let everyone draw their own conclusions from the actual video and AI Summary I am providing. The resolution to approve the Letter of Intent (LOI) passed by a vote of 19-5, and we are now in a binding 120 exclusive period of discovery with Ascension St. Thomas (AST). The Williamson County Commission is the only legal body that has the authority to sell the Williamson Health.

We commissioners are being informed by the Mayor's office that we are to follow the following rules during the due-diligence process leading up to a final purchase agreement on December 31st of this year.

This is the email we got today, Friday the 11th:

Williamson Health | Commissioner Communication & Information

Following Wednesday night’s meeting, the County is moving into the due diligence and negotiation phase of the Williamson Health process. Questions and concerns raised during the meeting remain important and will help inform the work ahead. We have already begun receiving Commissioner questions. To ensure those questions are answered, information is shared consistently, and Commissioners have regular opportunities to stay engaged, Mayor Marshall has directed that we use three avenues moving forward:

1. Commissioner Questions | Effective Immediately

• Please send transaction-related questions to the Mayor’s Office. We will coordinate with counsel, track questions through response, and make sure information is available consistently to the full Commission.
• Using one administrative point of contact will help avoid duplicative requests when information has already been requested or provided. We want Commissioners to have the information they need while being mindful of the legal and professional fees associated with the transaction.
• Questions and responses will be made available to the full Commission, except when counsel advises that information must be handled differently because of attorney-client privilege, confidentiality, or active negotiations.

2. Property Committee Updates | Beginning in October

• Regular transaction updates will continue through the Property Committee, which meets at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Executive Conference Room at the Administrative Office Complex.
• Updates will include the status of due diligence and negotiations, significant issues under review, upcoming milestones, and transaction-related expenses, as appropriate.

3. Future Information Sessions

• As due diligence progresses and there is substantive information to review, we will schedule information sessions for the full Commission.
• These sessions will be timed around meaningful points in the process so Commissioners can review developing information, hear directly from legal counsel and other advisors, understand any significant outstanding issues, and ask questions.

I appreciate the Mayor's desire to help the commission complete our obligation to sell the hospital, but it is the responsibility of the Commission to vote yeah or nay, and we, in my opinion, should be the ones who create and approve the process going forward. Foley & Lardner was hired to represent the commission and only the commission and, with all due respect, we should be the ones who decide how we monitor progress, ask questions, and clarify the LOI prior to a vote on the final purchase agreement. If we want to run it through the Mayor's office, that would be fine, but it should be our decision.

Highlights from this week

Tuesday, September 8th

WCS Policy Committee:

Overview

• Policy 6.495 ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) private pay is ready for second reading at the upcoming work session — no changes since last review
• ABA private pay rollout is underway with 17 requests and 2–3 fully processed; the main bottleneck is agency-side TBI background checks, which can take up to a week
• Virtual ABA delivery (Zoom) is allowed in principle but must protect student privacy — a separate room is the proposed workaround, though one agency declined that arrangement
• The board agreed not to change Policy 5.802 (superintendent qualifications) during the active search, preferring to keep it broad and aligned with state law

Williamson County Budget Committee:

Overview

• Biggest item: budget committee unanimously approved the non-binding LOI for Williamson Health's sale to Ascension St. Thomas — $700M purchase price plus $195M strategic capital, with a $70M escrow and 120-day exclusivity window
• Committee also unanimously approved opting out of the state restriction on hospital sale proceeds under the new TCA 48-68-206(b), freeing the county to retain proceeds from the sale (which exceeds the $500M gross threshold)
• All department transfers, resolutions, grants, and budget amendments passed unanimously — a high-volume routine meeting with no contested votes
• Resolution 9-26-45 (temporary signs policy) and the Fire Rescue Task Force resolution (9-26-1, sponsored by Bill Petty) both saw no action taken — the sign resolution had no second, and the task force report isn't in yet
• $13.5M general obligation bond initial resolution approved to cover parks/rec and public safety capital projects, including a new $2M placeholder for Bethesda Park drainage issues still being scoped

BOMA Work Session:

Overview

• Board reviewed 9 items at the September 8, 2026 work session — no votes taken, all items set for public hearing on October 13, 2026 or referred for further study
• Harpeth Village PUD (187 units, 75,000 sq ft commercial) generated the most discussion — traffic on Franklin Road and the lack of connectivity to the Factory District are unresolved concerns; board wants more detail before the voting meeting
• Fire department scheduling analysis is in early stages — a shift to 24/72 would require hiring a 4th shift (~53 personnel) at an estimated $8–9.5M annual recurring cost; board wants more data on peer city spending, overtime savings, and workers' comp impact before any decision
• State law (Public Chapter 1044) takes effect in ~4 months and requires development plans to be approved or placed on an agenda within 60 business days, with a max of 2 written deficiency reports — staff says Franklin's current 33-business-day process already fits, but complicated projects may see more disapproval recommendations
• Carter Hill Battlefield Park concept plan and Bicentennial Park Pavilion naming (Ralph E. Drury) are both moving forward through their respective processes

BOMA Meeting:

Overview

• Tom Marsh was recognized for 25+ years of service and retired from his role as Director of Building and Neighborhood Services
• Mayor Moore reported on a Sister Cities trip to Spain (new sister city: Ciudad Rodrigo) and Germany (Bad Soden, 10-year anniversary)
• City Manager Sherman announced the 9/11 25th anniversary commemoration on September 12th at 7:45 AM on the square, the Liberty Park bridge closure for vehicles (replacement already part of the approved Liberty Park project), and a Dolly Parton Day proclamation planned for September 25th
• Franklin First UMC PUD vesting extension (2 years to October 10th, 2028) passed unanimously
• Franklin Road rezoning (Ordinance 2025-919) deferred to October 13th work session and board meeting — 6–2 vote — over concerns about north-south connectivity to the Factory district, traffic, and giving the public time to review changes
• E-bikes and plated vehicles ordinance deferred to October 13th — 7–1 — for language cleanup, signage strategy, and e-scooter/helmet questions
• Rotary Plaza contract at Jim Warren Park passed unanimously

Wednesday, September 9th

Special Called meeting of Williamson County Commission:

Action Items

• [ ] Jesse Neal - Re-raise request for Ascension to cover county attorney fees in LOI negotiations Commissioner Mason raised the issue of attorney fees being paid by Ascension/the hospital. Jesse confirmed it had been requested before and declined, and agreed to raise it again in the next phase of negotiations.
• [ ] Jesse Neal - Send full commission the LOI language authorizing reverse due diligence on Ascension Several commissioners asked where the LOI explicitly authorizes the county to conduct reverse due diligence on Ascension. Jesse committed to sending the relevant language to the full commission.

Overview

• The Williamson County Board of Commissioners held a special session on September 9, 2026 to vote on two resolutions related to the proposed sale of Williamson Health to Ascension St. Thomas
• Resolution SS 9-26-01 (non-binding LOI authorizing the Mayor to execute it) passed 19–5 after a motion to defer failed 8–16
• Resolution SS 9-26-02 (approving the statutory exception to allow sale proceeds to flow to the county rather than a nonprofit trust) passed unanimously 24–0
• Full presentation from Foley & Lardner here

Thursday, September 10th

Planning Commission:

Overview

• Item 15 (Arrington Village zoning amendments) deferred to the October meeting after a county email system failure meant Planning Commission members didn't receive all public emails — public hearing extended to October as well
• TerraVista bond situation continues unresolved — T Squared Engineering plans to submit revised drawings for Pond 1, Pond 2D, and the wastewater road by mid-week next week (around September 16–17, 2026), with contractor on site within a week or two of approval; commission deferred to October rather than calling the bond
• Items 12 and 16 deferred via consent agenda; Item 19 withdrawn
• Items 13, 14, 17, 18, and 20 all approved with standard conditions

Friday, September 11th

Election Commission:

Overview

• Commission approved municipal candidates for the Nov 3, 2026 State General and Municipal Elections, early voting locations and hours, and poll officials for the same election
• Grace Church on Arno Road is tentatively added as a new early voting site in eastern Franklin, pending IT and security review by Administrator Gray
• Early voting runs weekdays 8am–6pm and Saturdays Oct 17 and Oct 24 from 8am–1pm across 8 locations
• Post-election performance audit for the Aug 6, 2026 primary was completed and signed off — all 23 items marked yes or N/A, with a note to better document ballot application discrepancies going forward
• Ballot placement policy still unresolved — commission wants a draft before the next round of candidate qualifications; Administrator Gray to check with the state's administrator of elections on the Wilson County form

Meetings Next Week:

Monday, September 14th

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

Wednesday, September 16th

The Law Enforcement/Public Safety Committee will meet at 5:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin Agenda

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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

Tuesday, September 8th

School Board Policy Committee agenda video

AI Summary

Overview

• Policy 6.495 ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) private pay is ready for second reading at the upcoming work session — no changes since last review
• ABA private pay rollout is underway with 17 requests and 2–3 fully processed; the main bottleneck is agency-side TBI background checks, which can take up to a week
• Virtual ABA delivery (Zoom) is allowed in principle but must protect student privacy — a separate room is the proposed workaround, though one agency declined that arrangement
• The board agreed not to change Policy 5.802 (superintendent qualifications) during the active search, preferring to keep it broad and aligned with state law

Policy 6.495: ABA private pay (second reading)

• Policy is unchanged since last review — all content comes directly from Public Chapter 1112 (TCA 49-10-1501 and 1502) and TDOE best practices issued around July 10th
• Two board-level decisions required by law: providers must follow all district policies and applicable state/federal laws, and any complaints about service provision must be filed in writing with the superintendent for a formal determination
• Policy will go to the work session for second reading — board members were encouraged to raise any remaining questions there

ABA private pay rollout status

• 17 requests received so far, spanning early childhood through high school, from about 7 different agencies
• Only 2–3 have cleared the full process, taking roughly 2–4 weeks each — the holdup is almost always on the agency side, not the district
• Agencies must meet several requirements before staff can enter schools: TBI background check clearance, district listed as additional insured on their insurance, and a signed MOU agreeing to the law's requirements
• Maria Gurego's team set a goal of meeting with families within 10 school days of all paperwork being submitted
• Background checks are the longest step — agencies must coordinate directly with TBI as vendors; if they don't have their own TBI account, they can use the district's volunteer ORI number
• Once an agency completes the process the first time, subsequent requests are expected to move faster
• The intake flow uses PandaDoc for parent forms, then a separate link to the provider agency for uploading background checks and insurance, followed by a school team meeting to review the student's schedule

Virtual ABA service delivery

• Zoom-based ABA is not prohibited under the law, but providers must comply with the same student confidentiality rules (FERPA) as district staff
• The district's proposed workaround is having the student and RBT use a private room (e.g. conference room) during the school day for Zoom sessions — this keeps other students out of frame
• One agency declined this arrangement because their BCBA was out of state and they needed to Zoom into live classroom sessions, which the district wouldn't allow
• Standard ABA practice has RBTs delivering services in person while the supervising BCBA observes or checks in remotely — BCBAs are required to supervise a set percentage of RBT time per licensing rules (exact percentage not recalled)

Policy 5.802: superintendent qualifications

• Margie Padgett proposed adding language to the job goal ("to support student success for all students") and two minimum qualifications: 10 years of experience in an educational setting and a valid educational administration license
• Tanya Hibma, (remote) suggested those requirements fit better in the job description than in policy, and proposed broader language covering fiscal responsibility, community and legislative engagement, and transparent board communication — reasoning that clear policy language gives the board an objective framework for annual evaluations
• Claire Reeves argued against changing the policy now: the district has an interim superintendent, edits could look like putting a thumb on the scale, and a broad policy is more durable across future board compositions and district needs
• The board decided to leave the policy as-is and address specific criteria through the job search process instead

Williamson County Commission Meetings

Tuesday, September 8th

Budget Committee Agenda/Packet, Video Committee members: Chas Morton (C), Guy Carden, Paul Web

AI Summary

Overview

• Biggest item: budget committee unanimously approved the non-binding LOI for Williamson Health's sale to Ascension St. Thomas — $700M purchase price plus $195M strategic capital, with a $70M escrow and 120-day exclusivity window
• Committee also unanimously approved opting out of the state restriction on hospital sale proceeds under the new TCA 48-68-206(b), freeing the county to retain proceeds from the sale (which exceeds the $500M gross threshold)
• All department transfers, resolutions, grants, and budget amendments passed unanimously — a high-volume routine meeting with no contested votes
• Resolution 9-26-45 (temporary signs policy) and the Fire Rescue Task Force resolution (9-26-1, sponsored by Bill Petty) both saw no action taken — the sign resolution had no second, and the task force report isn't in yet
• $13.5M general obligation bond initial resolution approved to cover parks/rec and public safety capital projects, including a new $2M placeholder for Bethesda Park drainage issues still being scoped

Citizens comm: teacher pay advocacy

• Beverly Purvis, president of the Williamson County Education Association, urged committee members to build stronger relationships with the school board, arguing that the disconnect between the two bodies leaves teachers stuck in the middle
• Acknowledged teachers received a raise last year but flagged rising insurance costs and wants teacher compensation to stay front of mind as budget discussions continue

Dept transfers

• Sheriff's Department: $7,000 moved from vehicles to other equipment to fund a special operations fuel tank trailer — approved unanimously
• Woods County Library: $200 moved from other contracted services to gasoline to prevent line shortages — approved unanimously
• Williamson County Parks and Rec: authorized use of a surplus truck from elsewhere in county inventory — no dollar amount, just a record entry — approved unanimously

Williamson Health sale LOI

• LOI authorizes Williamson County Mayor to execute a non-binding letter of intent for the sale of all Williamson Health assets to Ascension St. Thomas for $700M plus $195M in strategic capital
• Capital commitment is significantly front-loaded in the first 5 years, and Ascension's parent company is guaranteeing the capital — both points were flagged as important negotiated features
• Exclusivity period is 120 days from signing, with up to two 30-day extensions as long as parties continue good faith negotiation
• LOI terms are consistent with Ascension's original proposal, with several provisions strengthened at the county commission's direction — including care for inmates, EMS, and athletic trainers
• $70M escrow will cover any excluded liabilities discovered post-closing and is held for 18 months, then remitted back to the county
• Everything owned or used by Williamson Health is included in the sale except the ambulances, which the county is retaining
• The Bone and Joint Institute is included in the sale
• A full asset inventory (parcels, equipment, practice areas) will be developed during the definitive agreement phase — not yet finalized
• Approved unanimously

State law opt-out for hospital proceeds

• Committee approved opting out of the historic restriction under TCA 48-68-206(b), which previously would have directed sale proceeds to an independent body rather than back to the county
• New legislation — championed by Senator Jack Johnson — removes that restriction for transactions over $500M gross; the Williamson Health sale qualifies
• Two-thirds vote required at the full commission; the property committee has already recommended approval
• Approved unanimously

Court & treatment program budgets

• $37,532.20 appropriated to the 21st District Recovery Court from DUI fines — approved
• $197,479.03 added to the 2026-27 General Sessions DUI Court budget from rollover federal grant funds (third year of a three-year grant) — approved
• $141,726.46 added to the 2026-27 DUI Court budget from unappropriated county general fund balance for the DUI Court Foundation — approved
• $639,702.12 added to the 2026-27 budget for county opioid abatement from rollover opioid settlement funds — approved
• $150,231 added to the 2026-27 DUI Recovery Court budget from grant funds, no matching funds required — approved
• $25,134.32 appropriated to the 21st District Recovery Court from a dedicated account (last year's collections) — approved
• $119,235 added to the 2026-27 Veterans Treatment Court budget from grant funds (third year of a three-year grant) — approved
• $25,000 added to the Veterans Treatment Court budget from the Veterans Treatment Corps Reserve — approved
• $97,610.69 added to the Lewis County Veterans Treatment Court budget from rollover federal grant funds (tail end of a grant) — approved

Animal center donations & budget

• $111,000 donation from Calvin and Marilyn Leahue accepted and appropriated to the 2026-27 Animal Center budget — approved
• $10,000 donation from Suzanne Larson Timborough accepted and appropriated to the Animal Center budget — approved
• $1,000 donation accepted and appropriated to the Animal Center budget — approved
• $46,000 appropriated for contracted services after the Animal Center had difficulty hiring — includes a behavioral training program ("fancy footwork") for dogs — approved

Parks & rec budgets

• $176,872.13 appropriated to the 2026-27 Parks and Rec budget from donations and reserves, covering Arts Theater and Peacock Hill — approved
• $8,184.47 conditional donation from the estate of Judith Lee Grigsby Hayes accepted and appropriated — must be spent on the Burrowwood Community Center — approved
• $14,991.78 added from rollover state grant funds, no matching funds required — approved
• $157,100 added for tennis court resurfacing at two facilities (Grassland Middle School and Franklin High School courts), with $52,150 from USTA — approved
• Tennis generated about $2.3M in revenue for the department last year
• USTA partnership reflects Williamson County being one of their top tennis partners in Tennessee
• $176,872 (Parks and Rec rollover from prior fiscal year state funds, TN 250 grant carryover) — approved; "EMIF" label in the resolution is a typo for "other contracted services"
• Resolution 9-26-48 and 9-26-49 authorized the mayor to execute notices of limitation of use for College Grove Park and Wilkins Branch Park for parks and rec purposes — both approved

$13.5M capital bonds

• Initial resolution approved to publicize up to $13.5M in general obligation bonds — this is a required publication step, not a spending commitment; the actual bond resolution comes in October
• Breakdown: $5M for College Grove (approved September 2025), $6.2M for public safety and parks/rec facility improvements (approved July 2026), and $2M placeholder for Bethesda Park drainage issues
• Bethesda Park drainage problem was recently discovered during active construction — $2M is a high-end estimate and the team is still working to pin down the final number, hoping to reduce it
• Participant 4 noted all projects except the $2M Bethesda item have already been voted on and the county is obligated to fund them one way or another

Sheriff budgets & grants

• $171,833.32 added to the 2026-27 Sheriff's Office budget from grant funds (rollover, non-exhausted) — approved
• $3,942.18 added from rollover federal pass-through state grant funds — approved
• $50,000 donation accepted and appropriated to the Sheriff's Office budget — connected to the Amazon show Scarpetta — approved
• $10,415 added via DOJ Office of Justice Programs grant for a jail management software (JMS) system — approved
• $400 added to the Sheriff's Office budget after the state sent $99.1K instead of the expected $98.7K — approved
• Sheriff's Office rollover from prior fiscal year state funds also approved, including over $5,200 in interest that must be appropriated to avoid repayment obligations
• $78,013.98 added to the County Clerk's budget from filing fees — approved
• Resolution 9-26-54 authorized an intergovernmental agreement with Metro Nashville/Davidson County for internet crimes against children — approved
• Resolution 9-26-55 accepted an equipment donation from the 21st Judicial District Drug Task Force (including a coin sorter) — approved
• Resolution 9-26-57 was pulled by its sponsor

Emergency mgmt grants

• $74,728 added to the emergency management budget via Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) grant contract — approved
• $381,226 added via a second TEMA grant contract (new money) — approved
• $102,087.84 added from rollover state grant funds — approved
• Resolution 9-26-32 appropriated prior fiscal year public safety funds from state of Tennessee — approved

911 dispatch interlocals

• Interlocal agreements with Nolansville and Fairview approved, formalizing Williamson County's 911 call-answering and dispatch services for both towns
• Williamson County handles all 911 calls county-wide except Brentwood (which has its own PSAP) and also covers Spring Hill on both the Williamson and Maury County sides
• One dispatcher simultaneously handles Nolansville radio, Fairview radio, and 911 calls — described as one of the hardest jobs in the center
• Towns pay the county for the personnel cost of the dispatch positions; the county receives state funds for the 911 call-answering component

Fire automatic aid agreements

• Automatic aid agreement with Murray County Fire Department and Williamson County Rescue Squad approved — targets southwest county pockets below 840 toward Fairview that are within 5 miles of a Murray County station but outside 5 miles of a Williamson County station
• Agreement is expected to improve homeowners' insurance rates for residents in those areas
• Automatic aid agreement among the three volunteer departments (Arrington, Williamson Fire Rescue, Williamson County Rescue Squad) approved — codifies what had been an informal handshake arrangement
• Departments already operate seamlessly across territorial lines in practice
• Formalizing on paper may improve the county's ISO assessment score

Thompson Station law enforcement

• Interlocal agreement with Thompson Station for continued Sheriff's Office law enforcement coverage approved
• Commissioner Webb and Mayor Marshall both noted Thompson Station is actively working toward its own police department and is stepping up its financial contribution under the current agreement

Misc dept budgets & grants

• $25,000 added to the Health Department budget via a two-year contract with the state of Tennessee for educational policy, expanding health department programs and courses — approved
• $2,000 donation from K Love and the Franklin Rotary accepted and appropriated to the Health Department budget for a backpack giveaway — approved
• $1,655.91 in Health Department donations appropriated for child safety seats (collected quarterly) — approved
• $50,000 added to the County Clerk's budget from a reserve account for new computers — approved
• Resolution 9-26-46 authorized the mayor to enter a grant contract with the state for strategic technology solutions software licenses (no fixed dollar amount) — approved
• Resolution 9-26-59 (statewide partnership grant program, TDOT) approved — county's matching obligation if awarded would be approximately $42,000 (project total $210K, for a link fence on a bridge); full commission approval of the match is required only if the grant is awarded
• Resolution 9-26-60 (late-filed Parks and Rec tennis grant) covered above under Parks & rec budgets
• Resolution 9-26-1 (Fire Rescue Task Force, sponsored by Bill Petty) — no action taken, report not yet received; expected to be deferred at the next meeting
• Resolution 9-26-45 (temporary signs policy on county property and rights-of-way) — no action taken, motion had no second; substantial discussion had already occurred at the property committee

Wednesday, September 9th

Special Called Meeting of the County Commission Agenda/Packet Video Foley & Lardner presentation

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Jesse Neal - Re-raise request for Ascension to cover county attorney fees in LOI negotiations Commissioner Mason raised the issue of attorney fees being paid by Ascension/the hospital. Jesse confirmed it had been requested before and declined, and agreed to raise it again in the next phase of negotiations.
• [ ] Jesse Neal - Send full commission the LOI language authorizing reverse due diligence on Ascension Several commissioners asked where the LOI explicitly authorizes the county to conduct reverse due diligence on Ascension. Jesse committed to sending the relevant language to the full commission.

Overview

• The Williamson County Board of Commissioners held a special session on September 9, 2026 to vote on two resolutions related to the proposed sale of Williamson Health to Ascension St. Thomas
• Resolution SS 9-26-01 (non-binding LOI authorizing the Mayor to execute it) passed 19–5 after a motion to defer failed 8–16
• Resolution SS 9-26-02 (approving the statutory exception to allow sale proceeds to flow to the county rather than a nonprofit trust) passed unanimously 24–0

Chair election

• Commissioner Chas Morton was elected chair by acclamation to preside over the special session, nominated by Commissioner Williams and seconded by Commissioner Torres

Citizen comments on the hospital sale

• Supporters — including physicians, nurses, hospital staff, and community members — cited Ascension's cultural alignment with Williamson Health, its clinical depth, and the need for a larger system's capital to sustain and grow services
• Critics focused on four main concerns: Ascension's recent "immediate jeopardy" status with CMS following medication errors at one of its facilities, the county's existing ~$1.2 billion in debt, the loss of future property tax revenue from a tax-exempt buyer, and the pace of the process given nine new commissioners just seated
• Several speakers asked the commission to defer until the CMS investigation (expected to reach a decision around September 18th) was resolved; others argued the LOI itself is the right vehicle to get those answers directly from Ascension

LOI terms and deal structure

• Purchase price is $700M cash plus a $270M economic commitment covering strategic capital, routine capital, an enhanced EHR system, and a $4M/year community support payment for 5 years
• Key commitments secured include special employee protections, maintenance of existing service lines for 10 years, preservation of the Children's ED, and an oversight authority structure populated by the Commission to monitor capital and service line commitments
• Ascension is pursuing representations and warranty insurance to cover liabilities identified through diligence
• The LOI runs 120 days of exclusivity with two possible 30-day extensions, so long as parties are negotiating in good faith — attorney Jesse Neal confirmed this does not obligate the county to sell
• Neal noted the LOI terms are consistent with Ascension's original proposal and in some areas more specific, and that the commission's earlier demands (EMS services, inmate care, athletic trainers) are reflected in the document

Motion to defer the LOI vote

• Commissioner Lawrence moved to defer, citing constituent emails running overwhelmingly in favor of waiting, Ascension's unresolved CMS "immediate jeopardy" status, and unanswered questions he wants addressed before committing to exclusivity
• Commissioner Sturgeon seconded, adding concern that the LOI commits the county to Ascension exclusively before the full commission had formally directed that course
• Commissioner Todd supported deferral — not because the deal is bad, but to build public trust and allow the CMS investigation to conclude
• Commissioner Petty supported deferral, specifically concerned about CMS's rejection of Ascension's first three corrective action plans and the unresolved question of what happens to the LOI if Medicare/Medicaid funding is pulled by September 18th — Neal confirmed the exclusivity would still apply during the LOI period
• Commissioners Williams, Mitchell, and Mason opposed deferral — Williams argued the two-year process was not hasty, that there are no revocation protections, and that the LOI is the mechanism to get the hard answers; Mason argued deferring to get information is counterintuitive when the LOI is what opens the door to that information
• A motion to call the question passed 16–8 (two-thirds required), ending debate; the motion to defer then failed 8–16

Due diligence language in the LOI

• Commissioners Sturgeon and Fellhauer raised that the LOI's due diligence section only explicitly requires the seller (Williamson Health) to open its records to Ascension, and doesn't clearly state a reciprocal right for the county to conduct reverse due diligence on Ascension
• Neal pointed to Exhibit A, Section 12 (representations and warranty) and Section 3 as authorizing both parties to conduct diligence, and noted that fiduciary duty under state law and AG review would require reverse diligence regardless
• Fellhauer asked whether language could be added to make reciprocal diligence explicit; Neal confirmed the LOI had already been approved by Ascension and the hospital board, making amendments an up-or-down or delay decision — he did not commit to adding language
• The question of who pays the county's attorney fees (Neal's rate: $900/hour) was raised by Commissioner Mason — Neal confirmed Ascension had declined to include a fee-shifting provision when previously requested, and said the commission could raise it again during the LOI process

Resolution SS 9-26-02: sale proceeds to the county

• Commissioner Lawrence explained that prior state law required hospital sale proceeds to flow into a nonprofit trust controlled by an unelected board and restricted to healthcare use — not accessible to the commission or taxpayers
• The commission passed a resolution last November asking the legislature to change the law; the legislature created an exception allowing proceeds to go to the county if the sale price exceeds $500M
• Since Ascension's offer exceeds that threshold, passing SS 9-26-02 by a two-thirds majority activates the exception and ensures proceeds flow to the county's elected representatives
• The resolution passed unanimously 24–0

Thursday, September 10th

Planning Commission Agenda/Packet, Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Participant 15 - Submit revised plans for Pond 1, Pond 2D, and wastewater road to county Package the wastewater road revision and both pond (Pond 1 and Pond 2D) under-drain revisions into one resubmittal, targeting submission mid-week of the following week (around September 16–17, 2026).
• [ ] Participant 2 - Post Hamlet vs. Arrington Village comparison to county website Post the Hamlet vs. Arrington Village comparison slides (or a summary) on the county website so community members can better understand the differences before the October meeting.
• [ ] Participant 8 - Mobilize contractor to complete Pond 1, Pond 2D, and wastewater road fixes Once revised plans are approved by the county, get contractor on site within a week or so to execute the groundwater fix and install the rock skirt on the wastewater road.

Overview

• Item 15 (Arrington Village zoning amendments) deferred to the October meeting after a county email system failure meant Planning Commission members didn't receive all public emails — public hearing extended to October as well
• TerraVista bond situation continues unresolved — T Squared Engineering plans to submit revised drawings for Pond 1, Pond 2D, and the wastewater road by mid-week next week (around September 16–17, 2026), with contractor on site within a week or two of approval; commission deferred to October rather than calling the bond
• Items 12 and 16 deferred via consent agenda; Item 19 withdrawn
• Items 13, 14, 17, 18, and 20 all approved with standard conditions

Announcements

• Jessica (Planning Commission member) is leaving the commission after being elected to the school board — Participant 3 recognized her service on behalf of the group
• Item 19 withdrawn; Items 12 and 16 on consent agenda for deferral; Item 15 staff will recommend deferral during presentation

TerraVista bond update

• T Squared (Nathan McVeigh) plans to submit one combined resubmittal covering Pond 1, Pond 2D, and the wastewater road scour fix by mid-next-week — the wastewater road revision is drafted and ready, the under-drain solution for the ponds is ~50% designed
• Both ponds were graded per plans but subsurface groundwater was discovered, requiring an under-drain solution; the wastewater road is visibly scouring and needs stabilization
• Jones Company's rep (Brent Thaney, True Land) said a contractor is ready to mobilize within a week or two of plan approval, and committed the physical work would be done well before Thanksgiving
• Participant 11 (Floyd Heflin) noted calling the bond wouldn't speed things up — the county has had bonds outstanding for 15+ years — and recommended continuing to let the developer execute
• Commission deferred to the October meeting; broken curbs will be repaired after the pond work is done since the contractor will need to pass through that area anyway
• Jerry Wigger (TerraVista HOA, representing 98 homeowners) spoke during public comment, citing the access road at Stanley Court, sediment basin 5, slope area at the fire pit, damaged concrete and apron curbs, 5 tree replacements, and multiple areas of damaged sod as still unresolved

Lofty Meadows Estates preliminary plat

• Staff recommended approval — 5 lots on 32.3 acres off Arno-College Grove Road, water via Milcrofton Utility District, individual on-site septic (approved by Dept. of Sewage Disposal Management), access via shared easement
• Approved with standard conditions

Franklin de-annexation rezoning

• City of Franklin de-annexed 8 properties (~837 acres) on July 7, 2026; properties are now in county jurisdiction but remain inside Franklin's Urban Growth Boundary
• Staff recommended rezoning from RP-5 to MGA-5 — both allow max 1 unit per 5 acres, but MGA-5 prohibits conservation subdivisions and wastewater systems, which is appropriate given continued agricultural use and UGB status
• No public hearing speakers; commission approved and forwarded the resolution to County Commission for adoption

Arrington Village zoning amendments

• Staff recommending deferral to October because a county email system failure prevented Planning Commission members from receiving all public emails on the item — hard copies distributed at the meeting
• Key differences between existing Hamlet (H) and proposed Arrington Village (AV) districts walked through by staff:
  • Uses removed in AV: apartments, bars/taverns, liquor stores, industrial services, warehouses, entertainment establishments, among others
  • Uses added in AV: congregate independent/assisted living, family subdivisions, animal boarding, athletic facilities, craft distillery
  • Building sizes increase from 5,000–15,000 sq ft (Hamlet) to 25,000 sq ft on Murfreesboro Road / 15,000 sq ft elsewhere (AV)
  • Both districts allow 3 stories, but AV adds design standards to reduce visual impact
  • Density unchanged: traditional subdivisions 2.0 units/acre, conservation subdivisions 1.2 units/acre
• Public hearing speakers raised concerns about flooding (Little Harpeth proximity near Roberts Road), residential density (Cheryl Hughes suggested 1 unit/acre would better match the rural character and public input), and transparency around the process
• Participant 11 (Floyd Heflin, floodplain administrator, 28 years) confirmed FEMA-mapped floodplain exists within the study area for the Harpeth and Arrington Creek; county does not allow structures or grading in the floodplain, which limits developable area
• Participant 14 noted the plan has been in development for ~1.5 years with 5 public open houses, an advisory committee of community members, a draft posted on the county website since early April, and 39 property owner letters plus 120 adjoining owner letters mailed August 28th
• One commissioner suggested staff post the Hamlet vs. AV comparison slides on the county website before the October meeting
• Motion to defer Item 15 and extend the public hearing to October passed

Wilson Branch Farms concept plan

• Revised concept plan approved — 28 lots on 32.14 acres (down from 34.15 acres; ~2 acres removed so adjoining owner can retain barns), off Old Murfreesboro Road, 5th Voting District
• Density is 0.87 units/acre; lots range 0.5–0.75 acres; 13.93 acres of open space; public roads; water via Nolensville/College Grove Utility District; sewer via Triune Sewer Facility; not gated

Tributary Subdivision Phase 2 preliminary plat

• Approved with standard conditions — 36 lots on 55.21 acres off Cox Road and end of Gentry Road, 39.6 acres of open space, public roads, water via Milcrofton Utility District, nontraditional wastewater treatment system
• Applicant confirmed the existing road off Cox Road into the subdivision has been widened (required highway approval), with work currently underway in Phase 1

Vista Creek Subdivision revised final plat

• Approved with standard conditions — 3 lots on 23.18 acres off Old Hillsboro Road, 9th Voting District
• Purpose of revision is to reconfigure shared lot lines of Lots 13, 14, and 15, with septic areas and building envelopes adjusted accordingly; water via H.B. & T.S. Utility District, individual on-site septic

Franklin Board of Mayor and Alderman

Tuesday,September 8th

BOMA Work Session Agenda, Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Participant 14 - Estimate implementation timeline for each fire schedule option Alderman Potts asked for a timeline estimate for implementing each of the schedule options under consideration, not just 24/72.
• [ ] Participant 14 - Document history of Franklin Fire's 24/48 schedule and any prior schedule reviews Alderman Potts asked how long Franklin has been on the current 24/48 model and whether schedule changes have been evaluated before.
• [ ] Participant 14 - Start 30-day naming policy process for Ralph Drury Pavilion City administrator to initiate the 30-day public comment window per the naming policy, then bring formal action back to the board.
• [ ] Participant 15 - Redraft Carter Hill Battlefield Park resolution and bring back to board Staff to redraft the Carter Hill Battlefield Park resolution incorporating board feedback and bring it back for formal action.
• [ ] Participant 15 - Include Ralph Drury's community contributions on pavilion signage Board directed that any signage naming the pavilion after Ralph Drury should also include a summary of his contributions to the community.
• [ ] Participant 16 - Proceed with both Mac Hatcher/Hillsborough and Del Rio Pike intersection projects Board gave informal approval to proceed with both the Hillsborough Road and Del Rio Pike intersection improvements within the existing $3.95M budget.
• [ ] Participant 19 - Research how peer cities handled compensation transitions when switching fire schedules Alderman Caesar asked how compensation transitions have worked in other cities — e.g., whether existing staff are held whole or new hires enter under a different structure.
• [ ] Participant 19 - Identify 24/72 peer cities that don't run ambulance transport Board asked for peer cities that run 24/72 but do NOT provide ambulance transport, to find more comparable benchmarks.
• [ ] Participant 19 - Build detailed apples-to-apples comparison of fire schedule options across peer cities Alderman Potts asked for a side-by-side comparison of all schedule options including ISO-1 status, population, and other key metrics — more detail than the current slide.
• [ ] Participant 19 - Research overtime and workers' comp impact in cities that switched fire schedules Alderman Caesar asked for data on overtime savings and workers' comp reductions experienced by cities that have already switched schedules, to help assess net cost impact.
• [ ] Participant 19 - Pull public safety budget data for fire department peer cities Alderman Brown requested public safety budget figures for the peer cities to compare against Franklin's spend.
• [ ] Participant 23 - Put surety release applications online Staff to put surety release applications online as requested by the development community.
• [ ] Participant 23 - Update zoning ordinance, bylaws, website, and calendars for Public Chapter 1044 compliance Staff to update the zoning ordinance, planning commission bylaws, website, and review calendars to reflect the new 60-business-day and surety release timelines.
• [ ] Participant 23 - Host design professional meeting in late October on Public Chapter 1044 changes Staff committed to meeting with design professionals in late October to walk through the new state law (Public Chapter 1044) changes before they take effect.
• [ ] Participant 7 - Confirm vape shop lighting ordinance language for Harpeth Village PUD Alderman Burger asked staff to confirm that vape shop lighting restrictions are covered in current ordinances, and to flag if any tweaks are needed.
• [ ] Participant 8 - Prepare larger aerial showing Harpeth Industrial connectivity and surrounding approved/pending plans Alderman Blanton and others asked for a larger aerial showing approved plans, pending plans, and connectivity potential between this development, the factory, and surrounding properties on Harpeth Industrial.
• [ ] Participant 8 - Provide middle eight building height before the voting meeting Vice Mayor Baggett asked for the middle eight height figure before the voting meeting to compare against other buildings in the area.

Overview

• Board reviewed 9 items at the September 8, 2026 work session — no votes taken, all items set for public hearing on October 13, 2026 or referred for further study
• Harpeth Village PUD (187 units, 75,000 sq ft commercial) generated the most discussion — traffic on Franklin Road and the lack of connectivity to the Factory District are unresolved concerns; board wants more detail before the voting meeting
• Fire department scheduling analysis is in early stages — a shift to 24/72 would require hiring a 4th shift (~53 personnel) at an estimated $8–9.5M annual recurring cost; board wants more data on peer city spending, overtime savings, and workers' comp impact before any decision
• State law (Public Chapter 1044) takes effect in ~4 months and requires development plans to be approved or placed on an agenda within 60 business days, with a max of 2 written deficiency reports — staff says Franklin's current 33-business-day process already fits, but complicated projects may see more disapproval recommendations
• Carter Hill Battlefield Park concept plan and Bicentennial Park Pavilion naming (Ralph E. Drury) are both moving forward through their respective processes

Development Services Advisory Commission update

• Chair Ben Crenshaw reported strong attendance — quorum at nearly every meeting this year — and welcomed new member Victoria McCoy
• Commission's active work includes feedback on the Franklin development dashboard, the development customer survey format, recent state law changes, the city's surety and parkland impact fee processes, and amended construction plan review fees
• Alderman Brown noted the commission's work is directly tied to making Franklin's permitting process predictable and consistent — for large developers and homeowners alike — and credited it for Franklin's high satisfaction scores
• Board asked members to flag any friction areas they hear about so the commission can add them to its agenda

Harpeth Village PUD rezoning and development plan

• The plan covers 20.33 acres with buildings ranging 2–3 stories, 187 multifamily units (~1/3 for-sale condos), and 75,000 sq ft of commercial/retail/restaurant space, located on Harpeth Industrial Court within the Factory District design concept area
• Historic Zoning Commission issued a preliminary certificate of appropriateness; all building heights are below the Factory's 42'11" max, with step-downs to two stories in sensitive areas
• Staff recommends approval of the rezoning, development plan, and all 4 modification of standards (irregular signage, canopy signs per tenant, vertical blade sign in mixed-use, and building angled from road) — MOS #4 approved with conditions to further define plaza activation language
• Traffic on Franklin Road is the board's main concern — required improvements include extending the three-lane section on Franklin Road to the new site entry, a northbound right-turn lane into the site, and turn lanes at Harpeth Industrial Court, but the traffic study assumed no future connectivity to the Factory (those connections don't exist yet)
• Alderman Brown and Vice Mayor Baggett both want to see the traffic study and are concerned that skipping the undeveloped block between this site and the Factory creates two disconnected nodes that will push traffic onto Franklin Road in suboptimal ways
• Alderman Caesar raised that the site is prepping the Harpeth Industrial / Franklin Road intersection for a future traffic signal, and that future cross-access connections to the Factory are planned but couldn't be modeled
• Board asked for a larger aerial showing approved, pending, and undeveloped parcels — including the Factory's approved hotel — to better visualize connectivity before the voting meeting
• Short-term rentals (VRBOs) are not permitted under the multifamily housing type; light industrial uses remain on the authorized use list per Factory District guidance

West Haven surety bonds modification

• Applicant requested a modification of standard to allow surety bonds in lieu of irrevocable standby letters of credit — no changes to entitlements
• West Haven is vested in the July 1, 2018 zoning ordinance, which doesn't allow surety bonds, so the revision process was used to request the MOS
• Staff recommends approval; public hearing set for October 13, 2026

Vesting rights extension attendance policy

• Resolution establishes that applicants requesting a vesting rights extension must appear in person and communicate a proposed project timeline to staff — prompted by a citizen who raised the issue and suggested the solution
• The city attorney noted the policy helps the board get better information directly from the most appropriate source, since staff is often limited in explaining financing or other developer-side factors
• Vice Mayor Baggett wants clearer language around "proposed project timeline" — he's concerned it could create gray area, and suggested language scoped to what's expected within the requested vesting period
• Alderman Caesar's intent is accountability: if a developer missed on the first vesting period and is asking for up to 3 more years, the city should understand when its resources (roads, sidewalks, sewer, police/fire) will actually be needed
• Vice Mayor Baggett flagged an unintended consequence — stricter deadlines may cause some of the ~11,000 approved-but-unbuilt units to accelerate construction faster than the board would want
• Alderman Burger noted market conditions (recessions, COVID, financing) often drive extension requests and the board should remain cognizant of that context

Carter Hill Battlefield Park concept plan

• The city will own both sides of Columbia Avenue on the battlefield within the next ~3 months after transferring the Deprice property (demolished September 25) from Franklin's Charge
• The concept plan includes park access and circulation, pedestrian/ADA improvements, trail circulation, historic preservation, road realignment/partial removal, and potential consolidation of the 13 individual parcels that make up the park
• Trails would use the same river rock surfacing as other historic parks; the plan proposes closing the Columbia Avenue segment through the site and continuing the sidewalk
• Residents and the Reddick Senior Center asked to keep Straub Street open for now and revisit after the park is developed
• The Granbury/Claiborne Street realignment needs a focused study — staff and engineering haven't determined the right approach yet
• The commemorative cannonballs could be relocated to this site or to Roper's Knob / Hill Haven (a 14-acre city acquisition), as long as they stay within a Civil War historic theme
• Staff will redraft the resolution based on board feedback and bring it back for formal action

Bicentennial Park Pavilion naming

• Resolution proposes naming the Bicentennial Park pavilion the Ralph E. Drury Pavilion in recognition of Drury's contributions — including his role in the original Leadership Franklin class that advocated for purchasing the park site, founding Vintage Affair (raised nearly $4M for women and children charities), starting Mercy Children's Clinic, and supporting the Hundred Club
• Alderman Blanton noted the effort was originally raised by former Alderman Dan Clatt
• Per the city's naming policy, a 30-day public comment window will now open; the board will take formal action after that period closes
• Mayor Moore asked that any signage include a description of Drury's broader community contributions, not just the park connection

Mack Hatcher / Del Rio Pike intersection project

• Engineering scoped both the Hillsborough Road and Del Rio Pike intersections for double through-lanes and estimates each at ~$1.25M — both can be done within the $3.95M already budgeted for the Hillsborough project alone
• Staff recommends proceeding with both projects; the bid is already out and staff needs board confirmation before opening bids
• Project is on track with no delays, but will hit winter months — completion expected early spring 2027
• No state funding is available; city owns all right-of-way and existing grading reduces costs compared to a typical project

Fire department scheduling options

• Franklin Fire currently runs a 24/48 schedule with 160 operations personnel; firefighters work ~800 hours more per year than a 40-hour employee
• Call volume in 2025 was 11,727 calls and 17,437 unit responses, trending up at ~3% annually; roughly two-thirds of calls are EMS/rescue
• Staff presented 5 schedule options: modified 24/48, 48/96, 1-3-2-3, and 24/72 — the 24/72 is the primary focus and would require hiring a 4th shift (~53 personnel) at an estimated $8–9.5M annual recurring cost
• Proposed benefits of 24/72 include better rest and recovery, reduced carcinogen exposure, fewer workplace injuries, and improved recruitment/retention as other departments move to this model
• Peer cities reviewed include Murfreesboro (24/48, actively reviewing alternatives), Brentwood (48/96), Greenville SC (piloting 1-3-2-3 since January 2026 with positive early results), and three 24/72 cities — Kissimmee FL (implemented April 2026), Greenville NC (implemented March 2026), and Plano TX (year 2 of a 5-year implementation, switch happens in year 4)
• Board wants additional data: peer city public safety budgets, overtime savings under alternative schedules, workers' comp trends, and how compensation would work for existing vs. new hires in a transition
• Alderman Brown flagged a retention risk — smaller Middle Tennessee cities with lower financial impact could move to 24/72 and poach Franklin-trained laterals
• Chief Johnson noted EMS transport is also under review given the potential Williamson Health sale and state legislation that could shift ambulance service costs to cities — no change proposed, but contingency planning is underway
• Alderman Burger asked whether false alarm recovery fees are in place — Chief confirmed they are not, and the current approach is compliance and education rather than fines

State law changes to development review

• Public Chapter 1044 requires development plans and site plans to be approved or placed on an agenda within 60 business days of submittal, with a maximum of 2 written deficiency reports — if the city fails to act, the plan is deemed approved
• Franklin's current process gets plans to a planning commission agenda in 33 business days, so most projects won't be affected — the risk is complicated or incomplete submittals
• Staff is making pre-applications voluntary (not required) so the clock doesn't start until formal submittal, giving applicants time to work through issues with staff first
• If a project is denied after exhausting both deficiency reports, the applicant gets 50% of review fees refunded
• Surety release requests now have a 20–30 business day response deadline from the date of submission — staff will adjust the calendar to ensure deadlines are met and will move surety applications online
• Vice Mayor Baggett suggested staff review comment practices to distinguish comments that must be resolved at the development plan stage from those that can be handled later in the process
• Rachel Blackhurst (CREDA) spoke in support of the law's intent, noted Franklin is held up as a model for clear expectations, and committed to encouraging members to pursue administrative resolution rather than legal recourse during the rollout period

BOMA Meeting Agenda, Video

AI Summary

Overview

• Tom Marsh was recognized for 25+ years of service and retired from his role as Director of Building and Neighborhood Services
• Mayor Moore reported on a Sister Cities trip to Spain (new sister city: Ciudad Rodrigo) and Germany (Bad Soden, 10-year anniversary)
• City Manager Sherman announced the 9/11 25th anniversary commemoration on September 12th at 7:45 AM on the square, the Liberty Park bridge closure for vehicles (replacement already part of the approved Liberty Park project), and a Dolly Parton Day proclamation planned for September 25th
• Franklin First UMC PUD vesting extension (2 years to October 10th, 2028) passed unanimously
• Franklin Road rezoning (Ordinance 2025-919) deferred to October 13th work session and board meeting — 6–2 vote — over concerns about north-south connectivity to the Factory district, traffic, and giving the public time to review changes
• E-bikes and plated vehicles ordinance deferred to October 13th — 7–1 — for language cleanup, signage strategy, and e-scooter/helmet questions
• Rotary Plaza contract at Jim Warren Park passed unanimously

Opening formalities

• Alderman Barnhill gave the invocation; Mayor Moore led the Pledge of Allegiance
• Consent agenda items 9–16 passed unanimously, agenda accepted as printed, and August 25th work session and board meeting minutes approved unanimously

Tom Marsh retirement recognition

• Mayor Moore read a proclamation honoring Tom Marsh for 25+ years with the City of Franklin, starting as a planner on January 8th, 2001 and serving as Director of Building and Neighborhood Services since April 2019
• Marsh also served 24 years of combined active and reserve duty in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Commander
• Key contributions cited: guiding major developments including West Haven, Berry Farms, and McEwen; leading permitting, inspection, and technology improvements; and expanding department staffing and career paths
• City Manager Sherman called the director role one of the hardest in city government and credited Marsh with building a strong team and creating career paths
• Marsh thanked the board, the development community, and citizens, and said the department is in good shape for the transition

Sister Cities trip to Spain and Germany

• Franklin signed a new sister city agreement with Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain (about 3 hours south of Madrid)
• The delegation also visited Bad Soden, Germany to celebrate 10 years of partnership — roughly 200 students have been exchanged over that period
• A German-American Friendship Exhibit highlighting Franklin opened in Bad Soden and will run for about 2 months; it drew a record number of visitors on opening day
• Demand for the Bad Soden exchange far exceeds capacity — roughly 50 student applications for about 12–15 spots per year
• Alderman Brown highlighted early conversations about exchanging entrepreneur center connections and firefighter training opportunities beyond student exchanges
• The Consul General of Germany attended the celebration and the exhibit opening — his first time engaging with Tennessee
• City Manager Sherman encouraged anyone interested in joining the Sister Cities board to reach out, and Alderman Berger noted Sister Cities is a nonprofit that welcomes donations (franklintn.com)

City announcements

• 9/11 25th anniversary commemoration is Friday, September 12th at 7:45 AM on the square, led by the police and fire departments and Vice Mayor Baggett (Mayor Moore will be out of town)
• The Liberty Park bridge is closed to vehicle traffic following a TDOT inspection; replacement is already part of the approved Liberty Park project and will be advanced as soon as possible — pedestrian access and ball field parking are unaffected
• The Liberty Park project also includes ball fields, a cricket practice area, pickleball courts, and a general use field
• A Dolly Parton Day proclamation is planned for September 25th (9/25), with a Dolly Parton movie in the park at Bicentennial Park, themed music, trivia, and other activities

Franklin First UMC PUD vesting extension

• The board approved Resolution 2026-57, extending the vesting period for the Franklin First UMC PUD subdivision by 2 years to October 10th, 2028, to allow time to secure permits and begin site prep
• The project is a 6,180 sq ft county ambulance and emergency services facility on a leased portion of the church's 104-acre site at the end of Spencer Creek Road cul-de-sac; the site plan received final staff approval last month
• Alderman Caesar questioned why 2 years rather than the typical 3, and raised whether the facility is still needed given potential changes to hospital and EMS transport arrangements — Vice Mayor Baggett pushed back, arguing this is a straightforward vesting extension and those questions are the county's to resolve
• Passed unanimously

Franklin Road rezoning (Ordinance 2025-919)

• First reading of Ordinance 2025-919 to rezone 20.33 acres at 318 Franklin Road and 1117–1123 Harpeth Industrial Court was deferred to October 13th — 6–2 (Barnhill and Peterson voted no)
• Applicant's rep noted they used KCI (same firm as the Factory) for the traffic study and had multiple meetings with staff, including a deferred month to analyze roundabout/signal options and traffic projections at 25% of existing entitlements
• Alderman Brown wants the traffic analysis to account for the eventual north-south connection to the Factory and whether the proposed turn lanes are sufficient given hotel growth, Middle Eight, and other nearby development
• Alderman Caesar wants the development to incorporate pedestrian and bike connectivity to Harlansdale Park across the street
• Vice Mayor Baggett pushed for deferral so the public has a full month to review any changes before the public hearing, and to allow a work session discussion on the Factory district vision and north-south connectivity — the applicant holds much of the property on the south side of the street
• Alderman Barnhill opposed deferral, arguing the existing process (vote tonight, public hearing and work session on the 13th) was sufficient and that the applicant has already made requested improvements

E-bikes and plated vehicles ordinance

• First reading of Ordinance 2026-19 deferred to October 13th — 7–1 (Barnhill voted no) — to clean up language and resolve signage strategy
• Alderman Brown flagged several language issues: age threshold should read "16 and over" not "over 16," e-bikes should be explicitly named in items 6–9 (including the helmet provision), and item 4 should more clearly prohibit e-motos/motorcycles on sidewalks
• The bigger open question is signage: the ordinance as written requires posted signs where e-bikes are allowed, which could mean a large number of signs — Vice Mayor Baggett suggested it may be more efficient to only post signs where they're prohibited, starting with the least restrictive approach and tightening if problems emerge
• Alderman Caesar wants e-scooter helmet requirements added, particularly for riders under 16 — the 16 age threshold is set by state law and can't be made more stringent per City Manager Sherman

Rotary Plaza contract at Jim Warren Park

• The board approved City of Franklin Contract 2026-0094 with the Franklin Noon Rotary Club for Rotary Plaza at Jim Warren Park unanimously

For all other meetings go here.

Election Commission

Friday, September 11th

Election Commission Agenda Audio

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Participant 2 - Document ballot application vs. ballots cast discrepancies in future elections For future elections, document any discrepancies between ballot applications and ballots cast (items 15C and 15D) in a summary report.
• [ ] Participant 2 - Create a log for sample ballots mailed to voters For future elections, maintain a log of any sample ballots mailed to voters who don't have computer access.
• [ ] Participant 2 - Complete IT and security assessment for Grace Church early voting site IT needs to assess the technical and security requirements for using Grace Church on Arno Road as an early voting site before it can be confirmed.
• [ ] Participant 2 - Look into Thompson Station campus voting site situation Evaluate whether the elementary school campus can be used instead of the middle school gym, which is further from the main campus and near the sports complex.
• [ ] Participant 3 - Ask state administrator of elections about ballot qualification policy form Contact the administrator of elections to ask whether the Wilson County ballot qualification form is acceptable or if they have other guidance.

Overview

• Commission approved municipal candidates for the Nov 3, 2026 State General and Municipal Elections, early voting locations and hours, and poll officials for the same election
• Grace Church on Arno Road is tentatively added as a new early voting site in eastern Franklin, pending IT and security review by Administrator Gray
• Early voting runs weekdays 8am–6pm and Saturdays Oct 17 and Oct 24 from 8am–1pm across 8 locations
• Post-election performance audit for the Aug 6, 2026 primary was completed and signed off — all 23 items marked yes or N/A, with a note to better document ballot application discrepancies going forward
• Ballot placement policy still unresolved — commission wants a draft before the next round of candidate qualifications; Administrator Gray to check with the state's administrator of elections on the Wilson County form

Public comment

• Dana Frick raised concern about vote.safe.org (sponsored by Elon Musk) advertising as a voter registration check tool — she wants citizens directed to go.vote.gov instead
• Participant 1 committed to further promoting the Secretary of State's website in response
• A representative from the League of Women Voters of Williamson County shared their poll observation report (sent to Chairman Duda and Administrator Gray ahead of the meeting), noting the July–August election process was well run with positive comments from all observers
• The League included suggestions and recommendations in the report and said they'll be back to observe the November election

Polling location and signage feedback

• Chairman Duda raised concerns from multiple people about the Thompson Station Middle School gym being too far back on the campus — wants Administrator Gray to look into using the elementary school campus instead, which is more visible
• The same issue exists at a couple of Nolansville locations
• The Aug 2026 election also had a back-to-school event on the Thompson Station campus that made it unusually busy
• Participant 1 wants continued investment in "Vote Here" signage — the large banners are working well but more A-frames and signage are needed across locations

Ballot placement policy

• Commission still needs to adopt a policy for placing qualified candidate names on the ballot — no issues with the current election, but all commissioners want one in place
• Participant 7 cited a past 3–2 vote on a residency dispute (hotel the day before deadline) as a reason the policy is overdue
• Two draft versions are in hand — one from Davidson County, one from Wilson County — and Secretary Graham was asked to get input from the state's administrator of elections on the Wilson County form

Municipal candidates for Nov 3 ballot

• Commission approved all qualified municipal candidates for Fairview, Nolansville, and Thompson Station appearing on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot — motion passed 5–0
• Nolansville and Thompson Station candidates are running unopposed; Fairview has contested races for mayor and commissioner
• Administrator Gray noted that one Fairview Commissioner candidate, Mr. Bynum, has a Franklin mailing address but his parcel is within Fairview city limits — confirmed as a legitimate residency

Early voting sites and hours

• Commission approved early voting locations and hours for the Nov 3, 2026 election — motion passed 5–0, with the new Grace Church site contingent on administrator review
• Hours are 8am–6pm weekdays and 8am–1pm on Saturdays Oct 17 and Oct 24 — all locations on the same schedule
• Approved locations: Election Commission Office (Franklin), Franklin Rec Center, Brookwood Library (Brentwood), College Grove Community Center, Fairview Rec Center, Nolansville Rec Center, Longview Rec Center (Spring Hill/Cross Station), and tentatively Grace Church at 4052 Arno Road (eastern Franklin)
• Grace Church has ~52 parking spaces and a 1,500 sq ft fellowship hall — less than 2 miles from I-65; IT assessment and equipment security review still needed since it would be the only non-governmental early voting site

Nov 3 poll officials

• Commission approved the poll officials list for Election Day, early voting, and absentee county board for the Nov 3, 2026 election — motion passed 5–0, with flexibility for any administrative staff changes
• Most officials served last cycle; a good number of new officials signed up, partly through Secretary of State social media promotion
• Administrator Gray is pairing new officials with more experienced ones at larger locations

High school voter registration drives

• Election commission is conducting voter registration drives at Williamson County high schools throughout September as part of National Voter Registration awareness
• Students who will be 18 on or before Nov 3 are eligible to register now
• Schedule:
  • Tue Sep 15: Fairview (11:10–12:20), Independence (11:45–1:00), Nolansville HS (11:44–1:00)
  • Wed Sep 16: Brentwood (11:00–12:00), Page (10:45–12:25), Centennial (11:45–1:00)
  • Thu Sep 17: Ravenwood (11:00–12:25)
  • Mon Sep 21: Grace Christian (11:05–11:35)
  • Tue Sep 22: Trinity Classical, Summit HS (11:30–12:20)
  • Wed Sep 23: Brentwood Academy (11:30–12:45), Franklin HS (time TBD)
  • Thu Sep 24: Renaissance HS (11:30–12:45)
  • Fri Sep 25: BGA (12:45–1:30)
• Public schools have very restricted schedules; private schools allow more direct engagement with students

Aug 6 post-election performance audit

• Commission completed and signed off on the post-election performance audit for the Aug 6, 2026 Federal/State Primary and County General Election — all 23 checklist items marked yes or N/A
• Item 23 was added at this meeting: review of the risk-limiting audit completed Aug 13, 2026 — marked yes with supporting documentation from Administrator Gray
• Items 15C and 15D (ballot application counts vs. ballots cast) were marked yes with an asterisk — one or two discrepancies were found but not fully documented; a finding was added to the summary page noting that future discrepancies will be summarized and reported
• Item 20 (provisional ballots counted by county board) was marked N/A — only 2 provisional ballots were submitted and neither counted, as both voters were not currently registered

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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