City Council - Regular Meeting

as far as the show I was like,

I will call the football city council meeting for Thursday. What is the date? November 6th to order. May I have a roll call, please? Councilman Baji here. Councilman Walker here. Mayor Weaten here. Vice Mayor Eldrich here. Councilman Gilbert here. Five present. Thank you. At this time, I would like to ask those who wish to do so stand for the invocation given tonight by Pastor Mark Davis, by Branch Community Church, followed by the pledge of allegiance.

Good evening. Let's pray. Father, we just want to pause for a moment and recognize you are our king. You're our creator. when we're thankful and grateful, Father, that we get to live in a land where we can do this, where we can pray, we can do things uh, Father, democratically, make decisions, and realizing that you're the one who set it all up, that every good and perfect gift comes from above. Father, we thank you for this council. We thank you for our town. We pray your wisdom would fall on this place and especially for our council members and our mayor and our vice mayor and for all those uh that are working in our city who work hard every day to protect us and to serve us. We're thankful for them and thankful for you and thankful for this time that we get to give get to be together in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.

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, pastor. Item three, consider approval of agenda as presented. Are there any changes? Yes, ma. There will be one change. We're going to pull item 7B which is ordinance 251019. This will go back to the planning commission and the council will hear it at some point in the future. Thank you. Do I have a motion on the agenda as amended? So move. Got a motion by Vice Mayor Eldridge, second by Councilman Bachi. Uh any discussion from the council.

Okay. Go ahead and vote on that. All votes correct. Five. Yes. Motion carries. Thank you. 5A. Consider approval of minutes of council meeting held on October 16th, 2025. Is there a motion? Motion made by Vice Mayor Eldridge, seconded by Councilman Gilbert. Any discussion from the public? Discussion from council. Go ahead and vote on that.

All votes correct. Five. Yes. Motion carries. Thank you for the consent agenda. 6A. Set a date 12425 for a public hearing on ordinance 0251 11120 reszoning 208 East excuse me East Steven Street tax map 53k group J parcel 20.00 00 home from RD single family and duplex residential to CL local commercial 6B consider approval to purchase the third of three 12 months of Microsoft 365 sub subscriptions excuse me first approved by the city council on September 21st 2023 and 6 C consider awarding bid for steel poles is there a motion on the consent agenda so move

motion made by councilman botchi seconded by councilman Gilbert any discussion from the council okay go ahead and vote on Hit the rock. All votes correct. Yes. Motion carries. Thank you. On to new business. 7A. may hold a public hearing and consider on first reading ordinance 025 1018 amending the zoning code section 221 CL local commercial and section 222 CG general commercial to permit subdividing commercial units on individual lots upon review by the planning commission Mr. board.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. Um, currently, uh, the Cookville zoning code allows single family attached developments such as town homes to be subdivided on individually owned lots. Uh, the planning division has received multiple requests from developers asking for similar flexibility in commercial developments. Uh, the planning division proposed an amendment to sections 221 and sections 222 of the zoning code. This amendment would add new provisions um sections 221.3b and sections 222.3b to allow for attached commercial units and commercial cluster developments to be approved as a use permitted upon review subject to specific standards. Uh some of these standards include the propo any proposed attached or cluster commercial development would require site plan and subdivision plat approval by the planning commission meeting the requirements of the Cookville subdivision regulations. Access to individual parcels would come from internal streets or shared parking areas uh unless otherwise approved by the planning commission. Uh these developments would follow the same design and access standards used for the planned commercial development uh districts minimum lot area. in these developments could be calculated based on the overall site as long as the final plat included restriction prohibiting future subdivision uh that might reduce overall densities. Um the planning commission may also approve reduced lot widths and front setback uh reductions for from internal streets within a development to allow for better site design and layout. All developments must comply with architectural design requirements uh included in the zoning code and the general sign regulations uh also in the zoning code. uh any proposal that included u any type of residential conver uh component or a conversion to a residential component would be required to submit a site plan to receive planning commission approval before proceeding. This amendment would apply to the CG general commercial and CL local commercial zoning districts. It would allow for individual ownership of commercial units within larger

developments, creating greater flexibility and more diverse ownership opportunities for small businesses and investors. Uh our view of this, we felt like the change supported uh Cookville's continued growth by encouraging modern and adaptable commercial development patterns while maintaining appropriate oversight through the planning commission. At Monday's work session, uh some council expressed concern with commercial ownership agreements within these u the standards adopted the standards proposed uh would require uh um the the developments to meet the standards of the Cookville subdivision regulations. Uh in our in our subdivision regulations, we require uh maintenance agreements submitted for any development with private street components. So that's where we get what would be similar to an HOA for a commercial development. Uh but Monday at our at our work session Monday, the city attorney president, Mr. Danny Rider, uh had pos some questions about parking requirements, specifically about handicap parking requirements. Um so at this time, I recommend we refer this back to the planning commission so that those concerns could be addressed about handicap parking. Um happy to answer any questions from the uh council. I felt like since we had already advertised for public hearing though that we would at least move forward with what was recommended by the planning commission. So happy to answer any questions from the council on this.

Thank you. Is there a motion? Come on. Oh, you get a question. Okay. Well, we're going to open it for public we're we are going to do the public hearing still and then we can have discussion at the public hearing. Is that what you Sure. Okay. But we need a motion and a second to open it up. I got a motion. Mhm. My second. Mhm. Second. Second. Then we're making a motion to take it back to planning. That's my recommendation. Obviously, it's up to council. We're going to open it for the public hearing. We're going to do the public hearing. Thanks, sweetie. Huh. Yeah. Since we've already scheduled it, right? I think that was our agreement. We're going to go ahead and do the public hearing.

Yeah. Sweet. So, we got a motion second to open up the public hearing. Okay. So, at this time, uh we will allow we will have the public hearing. Sir, is there anyone who would like to speak on this agenda item? Okay, seeing none, we will close the public hearing. Uh, now discussion. Um,

I I still have some concerns with this. I think the handicap parking was one of them. Um, and just the idea of not necessarily how it would apply to new construction. I could see the viability of this. Um, certainly for areas that were designed for it. Um but the viability of like many of our old shopping centers and strip malls that are in Cookville, um them having multiple owners um within those developments make it harder I feel like over time. I mean in in some instances might make it easier, but when you look at improvements to these centers um improvements to those things, you know, you're having to get multiple owners in line both financially and agree to get something improved. And I think that's a higher burden than for someone to decide to sell it or, you know, improve it themselves if they or sell it if they can't. And I think that's my my biggest concern. I think handicap parking alone illustrates that. You know, one use might be a restaurant which needs a lot of parking. The next use might be something else that doesn't need a lot of parking. Well, use over time and developments changes. And so how these are how these these these subdivision requirements um that we're requiring that are similar to our residential subdivision requirements should be much more in depth for a commercial property because there's so much more to consider than what you would consider with a residential subdivision. There's more challenges like use with a residential subdivision. there's only one use and and you know lot size doesn't change over time. Um and so you know with commercial properties often they can get reconfigured. The square footage can change. Um you know you might end up

with more than one use in one parcel. And so I think that just it's it's very complicated. I for one would like to study it a little further. But I would move to I mean if we want to focus on the handicap parking but I think I have some other concerns as well. I would move to I would like to make a motion to amend the motion on the table uh to move this to back to the planning commission for further study and any further discussion. I don't think maybe discuss it before before we Yeah. Yeah. I I'll hold my motion for discussion. We'll continue discussion.

Eric, no. None of those I don't think any of those points could be are all of them are worthy of discussion. I I suspect the ordinance though speaks to most of those and if you bring a site plan and I I my my inclination is to try and make something work here. I think the spirit of this is is helpful for commercial development. I think getting ownership and uh another another opportunity versatility for for for owners take you know whether it be just something short of pride of ownership or or whatever reason like you said some small business being able to start up and have ownership. I think that's a a good thing we should try and enable. But don't doesn't the ordinance speak to, you know, or or or just the planning commission process of the site plan. Even if it's an existing facility, they have to submit a site plan. They have to meet those things. And if they don't, they don't qualify. And so it kind of solves itself through the ordinance, does it not?

And we had quite a few discussions about this. It didn't come out of the planning commission the first month it was presented. Um, you know, we talked about old existing centers. I mean, there's a higher threshold they would have to meet, right? I mean, there's you have to have 1 hour firewall separations, you know, two 1-hour firewalls to do any subdividing with the air gap. The property lines run through the air gaps. Um, and and and to speak to parking. I mean, we have buildings that want to change uses a lot of times, but whether or not they can meet the requirements to change uses uh is what, you know, either permits that change to happen or doesn't happen. Yes. Yeah. I mean, so, um, and we require, you know, a change of use to demonstrate that they meet the requirements of the code, whether that's parking or, you know, any of the other factors that might be. Uh, you know, some some occupancies require sprinklers, some do not, right? I mean, you've either got to meet that or you do not. I mean, there square footage requirements are different thresholds. you know, if you're woodworking, things like that, you have a much smaller square footage requirement to sprinkle a structure versus, you know, other type of commercial uses. So,

I I I tend to agree with Eric, but I think the ordinance already speaks to all that. I think too, if I understand you correctly, it's just more of a burden and a challenge, a heavier lift to get all the other property owners. Let's say you have to come up with some kind of plan and you want to change. Now you've got a higher uh burden uh to meet to get the other property owners to agree.

These commercial ownership agreements, you know, like a commercial HOA are pretty complex agreements, right? I mean, they really are. And that, you know, that's um something that lots of different centers have in place that share parking areas and have common elements within those, whether it's the driveways, the access, you know, your parking areas. But uh I do think Councilman Walker has a point with how this could get comp complicated. Um for whomever is proposing to do this, right? It has to be a property owner that's going to bring this forward and present a plan for consideration. Uh

but if they if they solve those complexities, we shouldn't I don't think we should get in the way of that. coupled with the ordinance that already regulates everything.

Subdivisions that have really bad ohas don't do well over time and and and so you don't want that happening because of the complexities on some of these commercial properties. We don't want to see commercial properties remain at their lowest use because they can't overcome the complexities that this would require that somebody figured out now to get it sold, but 20 years from now, now all these owners have changed hands. people have not knowingly entered into these complex transactions that are just because they felt like it was the right thing to do for their business, but 10 years down the road they go to sell it and they can't get the same use or they can't get the same thing. I think the public also has an interest. I mean, when we go to uh widen roadways, are we going to be dealing with one property owner or are we going to be dealing with 12 when we come across one of these? I mean, if we if the city enacts with commercial property o over time, I mean, how would this affect something like Fifth Street is several of these? I mean, is that that many more property owners that we've got to negotiate with each one? Um, if one doesn't like it, the other five within the property who did approve it, you know, how does that work out? Because they share.

We see that with LLC's a lot now, right? I mean, you have multiple owners in LLC's a lot of times that own a, you know, a property and it's, you know, somebody's got to be able to negotiate on behalf of that LLC. Somebody's empowered to do that negotiation or or sign off on an acquisition or something like you're talking about?

Yeah. Well, I mean, would this work the same way? Would this work to give one person power to negotiate for the other property owners within that? the agreement was speaking to it presumably and if not you'd have multiple agreements and yes there'd be more work and I'm in favor of less work for anyone including the city but we can't we can't necessarily mandate that just in the on the on the just on the on the chances we may have to ask a few more people something I I don't know that that's that's a a point of consideration that we should be blowing on I agree yeah we don't but I do feel like there's more questions and answers right now.

Certainly from our seat, we want to make sure that the our legal staff's comfortable with what's being proposed. So that's a first step to move it forward for our recommendation. We got to make sure that yeah spirit is to allow business. I just don't think it's quite clean enough to move through. Um and that's just yeah just me cuz you just brought some stuff that I do have questions about as well. So I would like to have a little more legal look at it. Um and so that would require going back to the planning commission. And I would just ask you and there's not any significant changes we can keep it the way it is. Correct. Am I understanding?

I don't changes aren't sub substantive. I would defer. Um but

well, so Mr. Rider and I discussed this today. The issue is the plan from the from the work session was I think you mentioned the HOA would be the person to deal with and do you have an HOA in the ordinance as it's written now and there was some conversation with John about including the HOA the question is can you amend it to include the HOA right now um to if someone wanted to do that or would it have to go back to the planning committee the opinion was that if you're going to include HOA in this ordinance that it needs to go back to the planning commission, have them vote on it, then we that way.

Okay. That's what Mr. Rder came up with today. And I I think it's healthy to, you know, have one more bite at the apple, I think. And we'll have I mean, yeah. Yeah. For for ju but just to quantify things so it doesn't go back, you know, as a nebulous kickback to planning commission. Hey, what what are the things we want to solve for? Let's get some handicap application. Uh the points I think Eric's points are a list of details, but for me that's hey, does the ordinance already speak to those or does it not? And then the HOA element. That way it's it's quantifiable of what we're asking the planning commission to do and we can get with you before we really handle.

Yeah, we can, you know, obviously I'm happy to hear from council specifically about what your concerns are, what you'd like to see addressed. I heard you tonight Walker will I'm still trying to understand it myself. I mean you know again these are complex agreements. Um so I'm trying to understand the difference between this and something like Eagles Point. Um you know is that own my assumption is Eagles Point's owned by multiple people where they own different properties within the sub. So, so in a way we already allow the subdivision of different commercial properties. Um, and and then they use complex overlays to make this happen, right? That's a perfect example, but it's a, you know, larger scale, but you know, I mean, guess what we were thinking about was, you know, possibly smaller scale stuff. So Eagles Point does have multiple owners and there is a private permanent vehicular access easement built to city street standards that connects from interstate drive to South Walnut Avenue and that is the street frontage for the academy location for the PetSmart location. Those two they don't have public street frontage which is what the subdivision regulations require or a street built to city street standards. And one of one of the deterrents to that are rideaway widths, right? I mean, nobody, you know, if you're going to do the 50ft rideaway uh you know, and build a public street, you know, that that's that's really the difference in and and helping with flexibility to allow it similar like a townhouse development.

But John, those aren't under individual ownership, each individual business. You've got multiple parcels that are separated, but like where you've got five guys, the ice cream place, those aren't those are all in one track. It's like five tracks. It's not really a condominium type development that you're That's not a good example of a condominium type development. I'm talking about doing is letting each of those individual units have separate ownership. Yes, that's just a subdivision like Eagle's point is. But each of those businesses would have separate ownership of their business. That's the condominium development. Yes.

That's just a subdivision what you're talking about, Eric. and that is split up and it does have easements which it met all code. So this this is the whole different thing than that but it has you know there there are individual parcels within that but no it doesn't divide up each individual commercial unit into a separate ownership. That's correct. So how does this differ than the downtown buildings where they are all connected and they all have public street frontage? They all have public street frontage essentially. So this really comes down to parking and how it gets shared. Is that kind of how what I'm understanding? Sold for use parking and use and use

well there'll be utilities in it too but how how's that divided? I I do have a question about that. But so it's the utilities are they getting run to the individual still has been estimated. Yes.

In town homes it's been done in separate ways right I mean a lot of our town homes early in town home development here had all you know they were master metered and had individual you know it was privately held utilities. We pivoted from that and you know we have public utility lines like water that runs through there. The sewer is private beyond um you know internal to the development. So uh water is mostly public obviously the electric is you know not privately owned but water and sewer but all that's manageable through the site plan process. I mean that they'll come up with a the department will come up with their preferred scheme of management, you know, whether it be easements or it's private public private dividing line starts here or there. They they work through that.

Well, sure. But I'm just trying to understand so like if we if we bring water into commercial buildings to the building to the lot, then we're going to be responsible for the water line going under the commercial parking lots. depends on how it's worked out because that's done different ways now. In some cases that is the case but we that would be older developments. We don't allow that now. Okay.

It's private. But you got other things to factor here too. It's just like any type of cond residential condominium development. But for example, when you cut these into individual parcels, each one can't have a freestanding sign. So you still got a HOA. It's not an HOA. It's a property management agreement that would apply to that. But John would have standards for all this. You've got storm water that each parcel didn't have their own storm water. They're all tied into this. So, it has to be a comprehensive look at the development. It just allows individual ownership of the units within that development.

So, it sounds like got some questions. Need to get a few more things hammered out in the spirit of keeping this going and and hopefully finding a way to move forward with this. But, um, is there any more discussion on it? Okay. So, I'll make my motion to move it back to planning commission. Okay, I'll second. A motion and a second by Councilman Bachi. Isn't that what we were already voting? I think we No, we made a motion and we took it off to have more discussion. Oh, his got removed. No, his never got removed. Yeah, his was to go back. Yeah. Oh, just just for handicap parking. Oh, okay. But you want to add more more? Yeah, we've got a few more things and we'll make sure to get with John with his more specifics and then Wow. Yeah. Okay. 30 minutes. So, you need to withdraw that motion to start over or

No, I'm I'm just Or you amended his motion? I thought we just had a motion in a second to put this ordinance as presented on the table. No, no, it was toend motion. Going back, but you want to add Okay. We send all our motion to amend it. Why don't we just resend and start reset? You would like to make a motion on what they would like to do with this. A motion to resend. I'll I'll make a motion to send it back to planning commission to review the discussion points we've had. We need a vote to rescend all the motions. Somebody make a motion to resend all the motions. I'll make a motion to resend all the motions. Got a motion in a second. So, let's take a vote on that to resend the motions. Add that in. Get the motion to rescend his own motion.

Sure. When it's getting ready to be unanimous,

the rules are pretty clear. You can have a doover. Okay, you're having a doover. Got to vote on the do though, so you got to push your buttons, right? Okay. 5. Yes. Motion carries to resend all the motions. Now I need a motion to send it back to planning commission if anyone wants to make that. I'll make a motion to send back to planning commission for further review. A motion second. And a second by Council Walker. Any more discussion on that? Okay, we'll vote to send it back to planning commission. Okay. All votes correct. Five. Yes. Motion carries to send it back to plan commission. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Uh let's see. We remove 7B. So we're moving on to 7 C now. Consider resolution R251 1117 directing the community development department to take the necessary steps for the city council to consider holding a referendum on proposed DOS DOSA branch road annexation area for the Tuesday May 5th 2026 Putnham County primary election. Mr. board.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. Um, city council held a public hearing on a proposed plan of services and annexation by referendum of the Dodson Branch Road annexation area at the September 4th, 2025 city council meeting. This annex an annexation was initiated by an annexation request from a property owner to annex approximately 65 acres located within within the city's urban growth boundary. Upon studying the annexation request and to efficiently and effectively deliver public services, the city upon its own initiative included additional area in the annexation bringing the total proposed annexation area to approximately 275 acres. With the city including additional territory, a referendum is required to annex um this area. The next step to move forward would be for council to pass a resolution calling for a referendum to be held on the proposed annexation. Uh we consulted with the Putham County Election Commission and they have advised that holding a referendum during an a regular election cycle would be much more cost-effective than conducting a special election. Resolution R25117 directs the planning division to take the necessary steps and provide required notices for council to consider a resolution calling for a referendum on the proposed Dodson branch road annexation area. Uh with that referendum to be held at the May 5th, 2026 Putham County primary election. This will require council to hold another public hearing on a proposed plan of services and an annexation referendum uh to meet the required timing and notice requirements of Tennessee code annotated. So I recommend approval of this resolution. Uh happy to answer any questions from council on this.

Thank you. Is there a motion move to approve? Motion made by Councilman Walker. Is there a second? Second. Second by Vice Mayor Eldridge. Any discussion from the public? Discussion from council. Okay. Can take a vote on that. Although it's correct. I guess motion carries.

Thank you. 7D. Consider on first reading ordinance 0251 1121 amending the municipal code of the city of Kville Tennessee title 5 chapter 7 hotel motel tax. Mr. Council hotels within the city limits collect 3% occupancy tax for each room rented throughout the month and a return and the payment the tax due is required to be remitted to the city by the 20th of the following month. The occupancy tax collected by each hotel should be set aside and not used for any other purpose so that the when the return and payment are due, the hotel has the funds to make the payment. If the return and payment are remitted on time, the hotel receives a 2% deduction of the tax due as a handling fee. If the return and payment are not remitted on time, the hotel does not receive the 2% deduction and interest and penalty of 1% each are assessed on the total tax due for each month the return and payment are delinquent. Penalty and interest are meant for oversight such as postmark or filing errors and not as a tool to justify the refusal to pay collected occupancy tax that is due. The majority of our hotels file and pay their occupancy tax on time. Uh many of the delinquent returns that we receive are just due to oversight such as postmark or filing errors. And when we reach out to the hotels to inquire about their delinquent return, they respond to paying in a timely manner before the next return is due. A few hotels, especially within the last couple years, have made it a practice not to pay their occupancy tax returns on time or have paid with bad checks. The amendments included in in ordinance 0251121 have been reviewed by our attorneys and will amend the municipal code to update language due to changes in TCA, clarify existing language in the municipal code, and add need to tools to collect delinquent occupancy tax and hold hotels accountable. Highlights of the amendments include

5-73. This will make it unlawful to operate a hotel if their occupancy tax is delinquent 30 days or more. After discussion at Monday's work session, we added the 30 days or more to that item. 5-762 changes the way deductions for stays of 30 continuous days or more are handled due to a recent change in TCA. 5-710 clarifies how interest is calculated. 5-7103 adds the possibility of add auditing all the hotels owned by someone if they become delinquent at any single hotel and the hotel owner would be liable for all the audit cost. 5-7104 makes a hotel owner liable for the city's cost of collection if the city files suit in court to collect delinquent occupancy tax. Finally, 5714 will require all hotels to maintain a registered agent and office in Tennessee where legal notice can be served to allow sufficient time to communicate these changes to our hotels. The effective date of these changes will become effective February the 1st of 2026. Uh I recommend approval and first reading of ordinance 0251121. And I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.

Thank you. Is there a motion? A move. Motion made by Councilman Boti. Is there a second? Second. Second from Vice Mayor Eldridge. Uh any discussion from the public on this discussion from council?

I'd just like to say I think it's important to have these rules. Um when these hotels and motel collect tax off people staying um they are paying that tax, the city of Kville and the hotels collecting it. So for them not to pay that on to the city of Kville is akin to theft and I think that that is not okay. And um I certainly think we need to have these rules in place and actions in place to make sure that that the uh these things are happening as they should. And I do know that most of our hotels, if all of them except for maybe one, um do pay their taxes on time and correctly. So I appreciate your work on this.

On on that note, it's important I think to point out none of this changes anything for the folks who are doing what they should be doing. Yes, that's correct. So yeah, this just and and this isn't something we just arbitrarily made up. This is a problem we've had. Uh it's cost the city a lot of time and effort to collect these taxes that are ours uh that go towards our tourism um industry. And so um I'm glad that we're finding a way to make it a little easier for y'all hopefully to collect that. One one point of clarification, the actual hotel motel tax rate in Kville is 10%. Seven of that goes to the county. We only get a lowly 3% of that. So county is the one that gets the bulk of this. So just

everybody out. Yeah. So yeah. All right. Any more discussion? Okay. I've got a motion in a second. Um so we will go ahead and vote.

All votes correct. Yes. Motion carries. Thank you. 7E. Consider authorizing the city manager to execute a contract for ERP software for financial recordkeeping, purchasing, payroll, timekeeping, human resource capital management, and cashiering. Miss Niceman.

Good evening, mayor and council. As you know, we have been evaluating options to upgrade our citywide ERP software since 1997. We we have used local government corporation systems, which are now outdated and inefficient for our current operational needs. The proposed ERP solution will centralize purchasing and timekeeping and provide sorry um integrated functionality between modules to streamline processes and significantly reduce our reliance on our current paperbased systems. With the assistance of soft resources, our software consulting partner, we have conducted a formal RFP process, hosted demonstrations with the top three vendors, and after careful evaluation, I'm recommending that we enter into a contract with Univiveres utilizing SAP by design for the ERP platform and PDS for a payroll and HCM for human capital management. The 10-year estimated cost of this solution is $2,430,785, which includes onetime implementation costs in the first year. As you can see, the schedule pricing is based on the number of users for both financial and payroll modules and may vary slightly over time. Throughout negotiations, we have secured a three and a half% annual increase cap, which is favorable compared to typical industry rates. The implementation schedule is projected to take approximately 13 months from initiation to go live through competition or through completion and could extend up to 18 months depending on project needs and scheduling constraints. I'm happy to answer any questions regarding this recommendation but respectfully request your approval to enter into an agreement with Univiveres for the implementation of this ERP software.

Thank you. Is there a motion? Move. Motion made by council bot. Is there a second? Second by Vice Mayor Eldridge. Any discussion from the public on this? Discussion from councel. I'd like to say thank you for your hard work. I know this is been an arduous process and these aren't decisions that you made ultimately you made decision but you had experts guiding you through this and all that. So um we appreciate your support that you guys are supportive of us spending this kind of money on software. the city manager is willing to do this and that Brenda even started this whole process.

I think that the hours that you will save by going through getting an automated system will pay for itself anyway. I think so too. Ollie, I appreciate you recognizing Jenny about this and that's to put a lot of hours in, but the party's just getting started. It is getting this infamous. So Jenny and and several other of our staff will be spending a lot of time with this, but this contract includes help from Yeah. Well, the next the next item will address that. Yes. So, yeah, good job. Lot of work. Any other discussion?

All right, we'll go ahead and take a If James and Chad are done chitchatting, okay, I'll take a vote. reload. All votes correct. Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. Moving on to 7F. Consider authorizing the city manager to enter into a professional service contract for phase three uh enterprise resource planning consulting. This last letter. So the same on the same agenda item like from before. This uh soft resources has been an invaluable partner in our search for a new ERP system. Phase one, they provided critical support with system evaluations and needs assessments. In phase two, they guided the city through the request for proposal process, coordinated demonstrations of the products, assisted in vendor evaluations, and supported contract negotiations. During phase three, soft resources will assist us with the implementation of Univaris ERP and the permitting and licensing software that has yet to be determined. And this implementation phase is expected to take place over the next 13 to 18 months and is a budgeted item. I respectfully request approval for the city manager to proceed with this phase and a not to exceed amount of $227,700. I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thank you. Is there a motion? Move to approve. Motion by Councilman Walker, seconded by Vice Mayor Eldridge. Any discussion from the public? Discussion from council. All vote.

All votes. Correct. Five. Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. And 7G, consider Medicare Advantage plan renewal for January 1, 2026 to December 31st, 2026. Mr. Millions. Mayor, council members, I'm asking your approval and authorization to renew our Medicare Advantage plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield for 2026. This runs on a calendar year, not a fiscal year as our regular insurance plan does. We've been a participant in this since 2017. We currently have 159 participants. That's an increase of two since last year. The only change in this um which is uh fairly significant is an increase in the monthly premium which goes from $277 to $299.20 or $22.20. We don't really have any choice in this if we want to stay in this plan because this is a systemwide blue cross systemwide increase for the Medicare Advantage plan. Um but I believe the our participants and this again is for retirees um are happy with this program and I would recommend for your approval to renew with the new RA.

Thank you. Is there a motion? Motion made by Councilman Bot. Is there a second? Second. Second by Vice Mayor Eldridge. Any discussion from the public? Yes.

Uh Trent Stro, City of Cookville. Thank I was going to speak during the public comment, but this seems to be the perfect time for this item right here. Um, thank you for um I actually wanted to commend the council for reviewing the renewal tonight for the city's Medicare Advantage plan for your retirees. And it just might seem like another agenda item that you have tonight, but many people in our community, it does provide peace of mind. Uh, one of my mentors who's retired from the city's electric department after decades of service depends on this plan. Uh, like many retirees, he's on a fixed income. having coverage that helps costs lower and helps with prescriptions and doctor's visits makes a real difference in the the quality of his life. Um, that's what this renewal is really about. It's making sure the people who built this city can still afford to take care of their health after years of taking care of all of us. The city also provides healthcare for employees under 65, I'm sure, as well, just like most employers do. And the county does the same for teachers, school staff, and other public workers as well. Um, in both cases, the local government helps cover part of the cost so workers and retirees can help access affordable care, hence cost sharing. Um, that's what a subsidy really means. It's an investment in people, not politics. Um, now imagine if this plan wasn't renewed and every retiree in Cookville showed up here at city hall frustrated and angry because they're seeing their premiums double or triple overnight. That'd be a real mess. Um the outrage would be justified though because these are people who earn the right to stability after a lifetime of work. They shouldn't have to choose between groceries and medication. Um what's happening here connects to the larger national conversation about whether to keep federal help in place for families who buy coverage through the marketplace. Um like a worker who probably works at Seven Senses, actually I know works at Seven Senses for $9 an hour. Um, it's the same kind of using shared resources to make affordable health care for people who otherwise might struggle to pay for it. When the city renews this plan, it's actually doing what good employers do. It's making healthc care more affordable for

those who've dedicated their careers to public service. And that's not political. That's responsible. And that's what good government looks like. So, I thank you for continuing to invest in the health and well-being of those who've invested so much in this community and for setting an example that affordable, dependable healthc care is worth protecting. So, thank you for giving a subsidy for the city of Cookville employees and retirees tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else would like to speak to this item? Okay, seeing none, any discussion from council? Okay, go ahead and vote. All votes correct. Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. That concludes the agenda portion of the meeting. Is there anyone who'd like to speak to the council on any non-aggenda items? Seeing none, I do need to make an announcement. Uh we have a meeting scheduled for January 1st of 2026. Uh I will not be up till midnight the night before. I'll probably be asleep by 10:00, but uh we are going to go ahead and cancel that meeting on the 1st. Um if anything does come up, we need to have some type of special session. We'll let everybody know. So January 1st, 2026 meeting will be cancelled. Um also, we've got Veterans Day ceremony. The high school one, correct? Yeah. Uh oh, no, no, this one's tech. We have a lot of Veterans Day stuff. I know the Veterans Day parade is uh Saturday 8:00 um starting at 10:30 in the courthouse. This is um the tech veterans day ceremony is on Monday the 10th and I think the high schools is on the 11th but don't quote me on that. I'll quote you on that. The 11th. Okay. Yes. So, lots of Veterans Day celebrations going on uh and rightfully so. So, if you can participate or join any of those, please do. And we will adjourn the