County Commission - Regular Meeting

We're going to start. It is 6 o'clock. The commission has 17 members present. That is a quorum. I will ask Sheriff Chad Parton to call this meeting in session. Thank you, Sheriff. Is Brother Slaughter in the crowd? If you would come to the podium. Somebody be sure his microphone's on unless you know how to. There's a slide switch on it. I should have done that earlier.

brother slaughter will be given the invocation for tonight's meeting sir bow with me please dear heavenly father we thank you for all of the blessings that you have just lavished upon us father we thank you and praise you always for loving us so much that you sent your only begotten son to die for us and then raised him on the third day so that we have the promise of the resurrection Father, we thank you for this great country and the state of Tennessee and Coffey County. Father, tonight as we have gathered to do the business of the county, I pray that all of those who are making decisions, that you grant them wisdom, that you grant them vision in order to continue to make Coffey County a blessing upon those who visit and those who live here. Father, thank you for hearing our prayers. Thank you for answering our prayers. And Father, always again, we thank you for sending your Son to die for us. And we pray all of these things in the precious and holy name of Jesus. Amen.

Amen. Thank you, Brother Slaughter. I'm going to ask Commissioner Jackie Duncan to lead this assembly in pledge to the United States flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Commissioner Duncan. OK, we need a motion to approve the agenda. Had a motion by Commissioner Hirschman, seconded by Commissioner Watkins. Are there any discussion regarding tonight's agenda? There being none, let's vote, please. The agenda has been approved with 16 affirmative votes. Thank you. Having approved the agenda, we're moving down to item number six, which is public comments. The floor will now be open for the next 30 minutes for public comment. Each individual speaking will be limited to three minutes. That is our procedure. And remember, there's no confusion. This is the only time during this business meeting that the public is allowed to speak. Don't be bashful. Anybody come up, speak to any item on the agenda or any Coffey County governmental item whatsoever.

Hi there, I'm Ernest West. I live at 95 Goose Pond Road. My property is adjacent to the property that they want to rezone. When he bought this property, He knew that it was zoned agriculture. It's always been agriculture. I lived there all my life, and it's always been agriculture, and we're a good little community. Goose Pond is really a good little community, and we would like to keep it that way. And I'm afraid if this gets rezoned, I don't know what could happen. It could really be bad, because I hear all kinds of stories of things that could be put in there. I really don't know, but I don't, I don't think it'd be a good thing to have it rezoned. Cuz it's my home place, I've lived there all my life, and I would really like for it to stay the way it is. And I've talked to a lot of people at Goose Barn, cuz I know a lot of people out there. Everyone I've talked to says, no, we want to keep our farmland. So that's the way I feel, and I sure would like to see it stay zoned agriculture. So thank you all very much.

You still had a minute and a half left, Ernie, if you had anything else to say. Thank you for that. Next. Next.

My name is Donna West Fletcher and I live at 7059 Woodbury Highway, which is two doors down from 39 Goose Pond Road. My property goes all the way down Highway 53 for a good long distance. It touches out on Goose Pond Road and again down on Duncan Road. My farm is nearing a century farm. That means that it's been in the same family for almost 100 years. And we realized that Mr. Coon has rights. He bought the property. He knew what he was buying when he bought it. But all of us that have lived there forever, we have rights too. We want to keep it a farming community. The corner of 53 and Goose Pond Road is very busy. If you're turning out, trying to go toward Woodbury, you can sit there five minutes or longer. There's a lot of children, and some of those are my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, that are within a rock-throwing distance of this property. I know of at least 12 children that's right there, and they're in their yards, they're playing, they like to walk to the bridge, fish off the bridge, that sort of thing. My son is a farmer. He farms most of the land in Goose Pond. the hay land that is, and it creates a lot of congestion trying to get that farming equipment in and out. And we would just really, really, really like for it to stay A1 and not changed over to C1. I know that he plans on building a office building, but what if he changes his mind and sells it to someone else as a commercial property? We don't know what it would be. And what if, as a home builder, he decides to put four homes in there as he has up on Farrell's Branch? That's quite congested and not cohesive to the neighborhood. And we would love to see it stay a three and a half acre homestead for some interested buyer, where they could have a home, a barn, a place for their animals and their children to play, and a garden. We have stressed this all along. We are not, though, for anything commercial. for a minor subdivision. And we would like to ask you to please support us in this and help save A1's own property. And thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Fletcher. For everyone's reference, that was two minutes and 52 seconds, so she did a really good job.

Good evening and thank you for this opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Lacey Kuhn and I am here to request approval to rezone our three acre parcel at 39 Goose Pond from A1 to C1 so that we can build an office for our family owned roofing and siding business. I am not one for public speaking, but I wanted to share my heart tonight. I know there have been some concerns raised, including comments that we are outsiders. I would like to respectfully address that. My family's roots in this community run deep. My grandfather, Austin Anderson, and his brother, Phillip, purchased around 2,000 acres in Goose Pond in the early 1960s. My grandfather, my daddy, and my uncles farmed and row cropped that land for several decades. Some of my earliest memories are riding the tractor and combine with my dad, watching grain carts haul beans and corn every fall. Those roads, those fields shape who I am today. When people say we are outsiders, it is hard not to take that personally. I grew up here, and for the past 17 years, my husband and I have been raising our four children in Goose Pond, where we also run an Angus cattle farm. This place is not just where we live, it's who we are. This request is not about changing the character of the area. It is about allowing a local family the opportunity to continue building something for the next generation. My husband has worked hard, taken risks, and poured countless hours into growing our business. We are simply asking for the opportunity to establish a permanent home for it. This parcel is just two miles from our home. It is right there in the place we already live our everyday life and in the community we are already a part of. If you have ever driven through Goose Pond in the evening, you know we are blessed with some of the most beautiful sunsets. At the end of the day, this is home for us. We are not asking to change where our life is. We are simply asking for the chance to stay where it already is and to keep building our future here, where our children are being raised and where our heart already belong. Thank you for your time, your consideration and your service to this county.

Thank you, Ms. King. Well under three minutes. Anybody else have anything they want to comment regarding county business or agenda items? Either one. Anybody in the crowd?

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to invite the Planning Commissioner.

Hold up. Mr. Coon, did you want to speak? Yes. Come ahead. Commissioner Hirschman told me that he wanted to invite the chairman of our planning commission to speak, so that's what he was fixing to do. So you go ahead. We've got plenty of time.

I'm happy to speak after him. It may answer more questions. OK. A couple of concerns that's been brought up about this is building houses. I'm not going to build houses on this property. It's got way too much potential and I think I would regret it in the long run. I am just wanting to put my business there on the corner lot. The remainder of the land I plan on holding on to. As for traffic, I know that's been a big thing. There's four people that work for me. And every single one of us already ride down Goose Pond Road every day. So there's not going to be an increase in traffic at all. All of our material and work is remote, and we ship all of our material directly to the job sites. We do not house any material. There will not be semis coming in out of there. It's just us four that work there. So I wanted to clear that up and let you all know that traffic is not going to be an issue. So that's about all I got, unless you all have some questions for me.

Thank you, Mr. Coon. Anybody else? Anybody in the public sector? Anybody in the crowd? We've still got roughly 15 minutes to hear from you.

I have a question, Mayor. Mr. Coon, Your business.

Hold on. Mr. Coon, if you're going to answer a question, you need to come back to the microphone. Thank you.

Mr. Coon, your business that you're proposing, it will be located on the main Highway 53.

That is correct. The main entrance will come off of Highway 53. We will change the 911 address, and the business address will be Highway 53.

Thank you.

Mr. Coon, I have a question while you're up there.

Okay.

There's a Goose Pond Community sign right there at the corner of your property. I think it's on a county right-of-way. I'm not sure. Do you plan on leaving it there if you open your business?

I don't have, I mean.

There's been some concern over that because it's been there for years and years.

I mean, I don't plan on tearing it down, but I mean, I'm not planning on keeping it up either, I don't guess, but it is on my property, by the way, not the right-of-way.

Okay, that was my question. Thank you.

Anyone else? Do you have a request, Commissioner?

I do. I'd like to request that Steve Cunningham come up and speak to us about this issue. If he would, from the Planning Commission.

Mr. Cunningham is Chairman of the Planning Commission.

Hello ladies and gentlemen.

I'm going to tell you why the Planning Commission decided to approve this. that are by nature designed to be part of the growth. Those places are on state highways, roads deemed collectors or arterials, and of course 53 Highway is a state highway. Second point, there's plenty of water there. The third point is there's a fire hall not far down the road, so you've got fire protection. There are other commercial and mixed businesses around it. The Coons will have to have their main entrance off of Highway 53, and as you just heard Mr. Coons say, I don't know if they can change their 911 address, but that 911 address will have to reflect that their main entrance is off of Highway 53. Can't have a C1 without that. We don't think, as the Planning Commission as a whole, there will be very much more traffic than there already is, since you're gonna be entering and exiting off of Highway 53s. As far as agriculture goes, there's three plus acres, and even though it's open space, It doesn't look as though it's been actively farmed now Most of you know me. I'm farmer I've got a farmers heart and I don't like to see any land turned over like this But this is only fair to the applicant to change that as the Planning Commission thought to change this and Finally, I feel for the neighbors. I really do. I know the neighbors are against it. If you've been in zoning as long as I have, you know that everybody is always against something that's in their backyard. What the Coons have asked in the eyes of the Planning Commission is reasonable and allowable, and the important thing is that their name's on the deed. That's an important thing. We've had this big discussion about property rights, Well, here's where it comes in. And that's all I have. If there's any questions, I'll be glad to answer them. What was my time, Mayor?

I didn't set the timer because I knew you'd be short.

Okay, thank you.

Anybody else in the crowd? Public comment? We're fixing to move on to approving the Minutes from the last meeting get through this agenda tonight. Any more public comment? Last chance. Thank you. We have item number seven, review and approval of minutes. Need to vote screen up. A motion to approve by Commissioner Stubblefield, seconded by Commissioner Watkins, Any changes or amendments to the minutes of our last meeting? There being none, let's vote. The minutes have been approved with 15 yes, one abstain. Thank you for that. Number eight, resolutions of memorials, sympathy, proclamations, and commendations. 8A, that's resolution 2026-13, resolution in honor and recognition of Joseph Michael Hodge, deceased. We have a motion by Commissioner Chambers, seconded by Commissioner DeFord. Any discussion? I'm going to read that out loud, but I've got to flip through it. Here we go. Resolution in honor and recognition of Joseph Michael Hodge, deceased, for his devotion and dedication to the citizens of Coffey County, Tennessee. Whereas Joseph Michael Hodge, deceased, is hereby recognized by the legislative body of Coffey County and every citizen for his hard work as a Coffey County Commissioner serving the citizens of the 4th District since he was elected august 4 2022 whereas his tenure of service was characterized by his engagement and dedication to the people of coffee county be it resolved therefore that the county coffee county board of commissioners hereby commends to the people of coffee county be it further resolved that the family of joseph michael hodge deceased receive a copy of this resolution and that a copy be maintained on file as a permanent record passed and so ordered this 23rd day of june 2026 and it has been it does bear the signature of every commissioner present tonight any discussion regarding this We're ready to vote, please. This has been approved with 16 yes votes. Thank you for that. And the family will be receiving a signed copy of this resolution. Now moving to old business. Why is this old business? Because the resolution to amend our Coffey County zoning map by rezoning 39 Goose Pond Road has yet to receive 10 votes of either no or yes. Therefore, it is an unresolved issue. Just for the record, Last October, this same zoning request was brought here, did not receive the 10 required affirmative nor 10 no votes. It was unresolved. Therefore, it would have been put on November's agenda, but the applicant chose to vote. take it back. He did not want to move forward. The Planning Commission therefore addressed their positive recommendation and rescinded their positive recommendation. So after having given thought, the applicant started from scratch, had to pay his fee, come before the Planning Commission once again, received the unanimous positive recommendation that is before you tonight. So that's a history of this and exactly how all that transpired. So there's a motion, by Commissioner Hirschman, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, and request to speak Commissioner Brown.

I've been asked by a couple of people why does it need 10 votes instead of just a majority of the votes? Is that a law?

It is absolutely a Tennessee state law that it requires a majority of this body. which differs from all your subcommittees and boards. If you have a, say the seven member planning commission, if four members show up, that's a quorum. three of those members can pass and conduct business. But the law states that this body, this legislative elected body, is 18 members. It requires, on issues like this, a majority of the body, which is 10. That answer your question?

Yeah, but what if it's nine? nine, four, and five against. Is that?

It has to have 10. It must have 10. It's just simple. 10 votes or more. Not a majority, but 10. 10 is the majority of the body, not a majority of the attendance, a majority of the body. Anybody else wish to speak? Floor is open for discussion. Commissioner D. Ford.

I just want to make a statement, if that's okay. This is the hard part about being a commissioner. I know we catch a lot of slack, but it's nothing personal on either side, the way we vote. We have to go by what's legal, because I recognize a bunch of faces out in the audience, and I totally get y'all's side that live in that area. 100%. And then I get Mr. Coon's side, but we have to go what comes from the planning commission and the legal aspect of it. But I just want you all to know, however, how this goes tonight. It's nothing personal on either side that we try to abide by whatever the law is, and that's the way the zoning laws are.

it's a hard decision to have to make there's something like this when you there's people you know involved and it's a small town and we all have to live together commissioner jones you have the floor i would just like to say thank you missy for recognizing to these people that cared enough to come forward and i just wanted you all to get a chance to say your piece in all fairness to everyone. But as Missy said, we then have to do what we think is best for the community and go by the law. And we have a great planning commission committee that that keeps us legal and goes by the law but I do want you to know that we hear you and that we are thankful that you cared enough to come forward and and hope that you all will keep coming and feeding us information because this county is growing and it's going to continue to grow and we want it to be done orderly and in a planned fashion and once again we appreciate you thank you

Anybody else wish to speak? The floor is open for discussion. There being none, we're ready to vote. This request to rezone has been approved with 14 yes and two no. Thank you for that. Next item. New Business Resolution 2026-14. Make an appropriation for the various funds, departments, institutions, offices, and agencies of Coffey County, Tennessee for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and through June 30, 2027. That is our fiscal budget year. This is our Fiscal budget presented with a positive, I think it was unanimous of the Budget and Finance Committee. So a motion by Commissioner Hirschman to approve, seconded by Commissioner Watkins. Are there any, the floor is open for discussion by commissioners. Anybody wish to speak to it? There being none, let's vote. This has been approved with 16 yes votes. Thank you for that. Item 10B, next item is the resolution setting the tax levy in Coffey County, Tennessee for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. I have a motion to approve by Commissioner Nettles, seconded by Commissioner Hirschman. Commissioner Hirschman, you have the floor.

I just wanted to make sure everybody understands this, that we are not raising property taxes this year. And I know there's been a lot of concern over the years for many people. I know the appraisals came through, and everybody's seen what their appraisals values are. But the tax levy to our new appraisal rate has dropped down compared to what it was. Please just be patient and you'll understand some of your taxes will not even people. Some taxes won't even go up. Some have come down. I know mine has come down some. Um, and, and of course the value of your property is worth more. I wouldn't sell mine for what it's still valued at, but I'm just saying that, uh, don't be panicking over the taxes because we have no, we are not raising any property taxes this year.

Anybody else wish to speak? Any commissioner not on budget and finance that has questions, now would be the time to do that. Commissioner Morris, you have the floor. He serves as chairman of budget and finance.

The tax levy is going to be reduced to 1.63. And that is because of the reappraisal of people's property. It went up. Most people's taxes are going to stay the same. It's like we were talking last night. A lot of homes went down and a lot of commercial went up. Our tax levy used to be 2.06. So because of your property generating more money for Coffey County, we lowered the tax rate by law to 1.63 to where everybody is as equal as they can get it. Also to the budget, I meant to speak on that. That carries a 3% increase for our county employees. We did not cut the budget like we did last year to where departments were not getting things that they were asking for. That is in the budget. The volunteer fire department, if you need a smoke detector, please call your volunteer fire department and have that put in because they're getting money from rural debt that helps them if you put in smoke detectors. We also found or Marianna found a way to buy five sheriff's department cars out of a fund balance. And it's not sinking that fund balance. It's $325,000 for those cars. But I feel like everybody in here is spending the people. It's your money too. It's our money. We're spending our money as wisely as we can.

Anyone else wish to speak?

I just had a quick comment. We did adopt a certified tax rate.

I'm fixing to make that clear. The uniform tax rate is $1.44. I'm just rounding up. That's what every property in the county, both cities, the basic uniform rate. The rural rate is now $1.63, and it was $2.33. So Commissioner Morris quoted the rural rate only. the total manchester rate is only the county portion that they pay doesn't count what the city tax on it is a dollar 47 and they have to pay a little bit because they send their kids to the county's high school so everybody understands that the rural customers rural property owners have to pay for the real solid waste and school stuff so the total you Property owners need to understand the rate is about 30% less. So if your property went up in appraised value around 30%, 40%, you're probably not going to see much difference in your property tax bill next year. So having said that, we're ready to vote if nobody else wishes to comment on this. This tax levy has been approved with 16 yes votes. Thank you for that. Next item will be 10C, the resolution 2026, 16 resolution to rezone property. Chad Hill is owner, located at 12541 Murfreesboro Highway from A1 to C2. Okay, this also comes to this body with a unanimous positive approval by the Planning Commission. The public hearing that was conducted at 5.30 this evening had no one speaking for or against this. So it comes to you with a unanimous positive approval by our Planning Commission. This has been a motion made to approve by Commissioner Nettles, seconded by Commissioner Watkins. The floor is open for discussion. There being none, let's vote. It's not taking. Okay, this rezoning request on US Highway 41 has been approved with 16 yes votes. Thank you. That concludes business items, old and new, reported standing commissioning and committees.

Okay, budget and finance, Commissioner Morris.

Yes, we canceled the 25th of this month. Our next regular scheduled meeting is July the 23rd, Thursday. Okay.

Okay, thank you.

Hold on just a second. Commissioner Morris, would you please explain how the 3% raise is to be distributed? Yes.

Just for the record. The 3% raise, each department head is going to decide... However they decide to distribute that 3% within their department, no department head can take more than 3%, so they cannot give themselves a larger raise than their employees get. Also, that has to be turned into the mayor's office within the next month to be publicly, if anybody wants to publicly view to see how a department head gave their employees raises. That will be public knowledge in the mayor's office.

Thank you. Continue. Okay, capital outlay.

Commissioner Hirschman.

Capital outlay has been pretty busy here lately. So animal shelter is now, the animal facility control facility has now been completed. The ribbon cutting ceremonies is projected to be on July the 11th. And the time of that will be at 11 o'clock. And it's dogs for dogs. So if you'd like to come out.

We hope to have some hot dogs there for everybody.

So if you'd like to come out and join us on that, we would definitely appreciate it. And you can take a tour of the facility. It's a great facility. And I think our tax dollars were well spent and watched over there on that facility. As far as the health department, they are moving furniture in right now and assembling all the furniture that has been brought in. That facility is scheduled to open up on July the 1st. The one in Tullahoma will be shut down for Monday and Tuesday of the 29th of June and the 30th of June. Only emergency vaccinations will be given from that facility. Um, the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new health facility will be July the 10th. I mean the 9th at 10 o'clock that's July the 9th at 10 o'clock. And I'm proud to say that they're almost a hundred percent complete with all the punch list items on the inside of the building outside is still, there's some issues they're having, they're working out on the outside. But it looks very well, that it's progressing very well right now. Also, we have a ribbon cutting at the TCAT on July the 10th at 2 p.m. If anybody would like to join us there, just make yourself feel free to come on out for that one. And that's all I have right now.

I would like to make note that it's three consecutive days, July 9th, Health Department, July 10th, TCAP facility. July the 11th, new animal control. That's three brand new structures for Coffey County, ribbon cuttings, boom, boom, boom.

I'd also like to say about the, I'll give you an update quickly on the Manchester library. The units are finally cleaned. A testing company will be here tomorrow. So we'll be getting our test results back soon, hopefully. And I'm hoping and praying that that building gets opened back up soon. So there we are.

Okay. Thank you. Health, Welfare, and Recreation. Commissioner Holland is not here today.

He's not here. Our next meeting is June the 25th, which is Thursday, at 6 o'clock.

Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Morris. Law Enforcement, Commissioner DeFord.

We have nothing new to report at this time.

Okay. Thank you. Legislative Committee, Commissioner Watkins. Nothing to report. Okay. Policies and procedures. Commissioner Hirschman?

Our next meeting is in July the 20th at 5 p.m., so if anybody would like to join us that day, they could do that. Also, Capital Outlay will be having their meeting for next month on the 2nd. That is at 4 o'clock.

Okay. Thank you. That's it.

All right. Thank you for that. We are now to statements and announcements. I've got one real quick. This United States flag that's standing behind me represents a nation that I know all of you guys are very proud to be part of. It turns 250 years old on July the 4th of this year. On July the 4th of this year, Saturday, On the courthouse square, there will be a celebration anniversary beginning at 3 p.m. It should be about a three-hour thing. Mark your calendar. Everybody's invited. This will be, I think, I think Tallahoma may be doing something. I think Manchester doing something and Coffey County's doing something. Coffey County's is... 3 p.m. on the old courthouse square uptown Manchester. So everybody turn out for that and wish our nation a happy birthday. Does anybody else have anything, statements or announcements? I will entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Hertzman. Vote, please. We are adjourned by 16 yes votes. Thanks, everyone.