City Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome everyone. I'd like to call the regular meeting for March 16, 2026 to order and ask Council Member Tony Bishop if he'd lead us in the invocation. Please. Father, we thank you for another wonderful day. We know it's a little cool outside, but uh the wind and everything. I just thank you that no one was hurt and that we was able to get through another rough evening. We ask that you be with our community as we mourn and and pray for the Pennington family. Be with uh each and every one of those there and all of our military. be with our our special response responders and be with all of them, the hospital staff, all those that take care of us as we go about each day. Bless his blessings upon this community and lead us and guide us and direct us. In your son's name we pray. Amen.

Amen. And if you join us in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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.

Mrs. Graham, when you're ready, if you would please call the role. Yes, sir. Council member Bishop here. Bulkerson here. Isacs here. Jones here. Springsteen here. Tyler here. You have a quorum. Mayor. Thank you, ma'am. In that case, we will ask for approval of minutes from March 9th, 2026. I get a motion. Second. All in favor? I

opposed. Seeing none, motion carries. I want to bring you to everyone's attention real quick. A lot of people worked really hard to do our annual report for 2025. And uh it's we've done this for the last three or four years. Talked about some of the highlights and some of the good works that we've done in the city in the previous year. And so a couple of them that I wanted to touch on. Uh city council lowered lowered property taxes. We often get accused, especially because PVA goes in and does property assessments that raise people's property value, which causes their tax payment to go up, that we get accused of raising taxes, but and the truth is we have lowered property taxes that this honorable body has. Also, another stat that I'd like to share with everyone, in the last three years, our overall crime rate has dropped by 23.7%. I think that's quite an accomplishment, especially that we're growing like we are. uh public works picked up uh 952 cubic yards of debris on the side of the road in different places across town, which is equal to 50 full dump truck loads. I thought that that was pretty interesting. So, they're getting out and doing a great job of keeping our community clean. Another thing that we often get criticized over is the condition of our roads, which I think are fantastic. Of course, we're going to have a pothole or two after we have a freeze like we did, but our street street operations crew coordinated the paving of 11.2 miles of city streets at the cost of about a million2.65 million last fiscal year. And that's generally what we spend annually. Anywhere between 11 and 15 miles, we'll pave. And uh I think our city streets are in in really good shape. A lot of people get that confused, and I'm not picking on anybody else, the county or the state, but we get uh the credit or the blame, whichever you like to call it sometimes, for a lot of arterial state roads that run through the middle of

Elizabeth Town. And those aren't ours to build, to design, to maintain, like North Mberry and Ring Road and 31W and St. John Road and the bypass. None of those are our streets. So, uh, we don't maintain or or build those roads, but a lot of times people get confused because they run right through the middle of the city. Another interesting stat I thought from last year is in 2025 overall traffic collisions decreased by 5.7%. I think that's the uh the outcome of some really good police efforts. It's the outcome of some good safe design in our road networks. But we're seeing that accident number go down, which is always a great thing, especially as everybody can tell, we have more traffic on the road than we ever have had in Elizabeth Town. So, that's quite an accomplishment. And then another thing and last one I won't read the whole report to you, but one that I thought deserves some mention was in in engineering, the city constructed more than 2,000 ft of sidewalk improvements in several areas of town and completed the Helm Street and Terry Court Street sidewalk and drainage improvement project. So 2,000 ft of sidewalks. We we've been budgeting $350,000 a year to build sidewalks in parts of town that don't have them. Uh we've been budgeting that same money to restore sidewalks in the older parts of town. And then there's, you'd be surprised, there's certain neighborhoods and areas of town that have gaps where uh there were sidewalks built years ago and then there's a lot or two that don't have sidewalks in front of them and then there's another run of sidewalks and we've been working to fill those gaps. So just a few things from the annual report. Uh we'll have these at city hall if anybody's interested in grabbing one and looking at it. uh or several other places around the city will be distributing these, but we wanted to show the council first and then we'll start getting those out and Amy will post them on social media here shortly, I'm sure. So, with that, we will move on unless you all have a comment.

We will move on to board appointments and airport board reappoints of Willie Wood and Glenn Deon to serve a term to end March 5th, 2030. Both of them have done a great job. Willy's former councilman, retired fireman, uh been on the airport board a long time. I don't even know. And Glenn, Glenn Deon has been on for one term. And Glenn, course is a pilot, and he's done a tremendous job on that board. So, we're glad to welcome them back. Uh we're also glad to welcome back Pat Clark and Todd Davis to the Elizabeth Town Tourism Commission for reappointment uh for a term to end March 15th and March 15th of 2029. and both of them have been on a long time on the tourism board and really understand that and understand the direction that tourism is heading and what it's supposed to accomplish for our city. And so we appreciate the service for both of them. And with that, unless you all have comments, Judge Howard, we will start reading motions and ordinances and everything else.

Okay, we'll start with the first reading by motion of ordinance number 52026, annexation of property located at Lichfield Road. If I can get a motion and a second to read, please. Motion. Second. All in favor? Opposed? Judge Howard.

This is a first reading. By summary, this ordinance annexes property at Lichfield Road as requested by Delta Living Trust and Charsiah LLC. The property will be zoned regional commercial upon annexation based on the planning commission recommendation. The owners gave written consent to the annexation. The city gave the required 45day notice to Harden County. The full text of this ordinance can be acquired by contacting the city clerk's office. And again, this is a first reading by summary. Any discussion? Very good. We'll move on to ordinance number 6, 2026. Amend zoning map for property located at 106 East Memorial Drive from C1 to C2. If I can get a motion in a second to read, please.

Motion. Second. All in favor? Opposed? Judge Howard.

Again, this is a first reading by summary. This ordinance amends the official zoning classification for the property located at 106 East Memorial Drive from neighborhood office to neighborhood commercial to allow for uses such as a dog grooming facility. The change was approved by the Elizabeth Town City Council. It was found to be in agreement with the city's comprehensive plan. Uh again, the uh full text of this ordinance can be found by contacting the city clerk's office. This is a first reading. Any discussion?

Very well. We'll move on to ordinance number 72026 as men zoning map for property located at 237 West Popular Street from R4 to C5. If I can get a motion and a second to read. Motion second. All in favor? I opposed. Judge Howard. First reading.

This is the first reading. By summary, this ordinance amends the official zoning classification for the property located at 237 West Popular Street from Urban Residential General to downtown mixed use to allow for uses such as an event space. The change was approved by the Elizabeth Town City Council as it was found to be in agreement with the city's comprehensive plan. Again, a full text of the ordinance can be found by contacting the city clerk's office. Any discussion?

Very well. We'll move on to municipal orders and start with municipal order number 20 20 26 reappoint Corey Blunt to the civil service board. If I can get a motion and a second to read. Motion second. All in favor? I opposed. Judge Howard.

At a regular meeting of the city council held on the date set out below. A motion to read and adopt the following municipal order was duly made, seconded, and approved. Whereas the mayor, per statute, wishes to reappoint Corey Blount to the Elizabeth Town Civil Service Commission for a term to expire on March 2nd of 2029. Now, be it ordered that the mayor and his designate is hereby authorized and directed to reappoint Cy Blount to the Elizabeth Town City Civil Service Commission for a term to expire on March 2nd of 2029. It's further ordered that the mayor and/or his designate is authorized and directed to take all steps necessary to perfect this order read adopted and approved this 16th day of March.

Any discussion? Need a motion and a second to adopt. Please second. All in favor? Opposed? Seeing none, motion carries. Municipal Order number 212026, reappoint Rick Horn to the Civil Service Board. If I can get a motion and a second to read, please. Motion. Second. All in favor? Opposed? Judge Howard.

At a regular meeting of the city council held on the date set out below. A motion to read and adopt the following municipal order was duly made, seconded, and approved. Whereas the mayor, per state law, wishes to reappoint Rick Horn to the Elizabeth Town Civil Service Commission for a term to expire on March 2nd of 2029. Now, be it ordered that the mayor andor his designate is hereby authorized and directed to reappoint Rick Horn to the Elizabeth Town Civil Service Commission for a term to expire on March 2nd of 2029. Be it further ordered that the mayor andor his designate is hereby authorized and directed to take all steps necessary to perfect this order read adopted and approved the 16th day of March.

So Rick Horn and Corey Blump both have been on for one term already and have done an exceptional job and we appreciate their service to the civil service board. all these people that volunteer and fill these board spots, the compensation is slim, but uh the reward is great for us because they're great citizens and they have found a way to serve their community as well and do a great job and it's quite the commitment sometimes. So, we want to make sure that we tell them how much we appreciate them serving. Any discussion? Need a motion and a second to adopt. Please make a motion. Second. Got a motion and a second. All in favor? I I

opposed. Seeing none, motion carries. Thank you all. Municipal order number 222026 accepting bid for West Railroad Avenue project. If I can get a motion and a second to read, please. Motion. Second. Got a first and a second. All in favor? I

opposed. Judge Howard. At a regular meeting of the city council held on the date set out below. After first being read, a motion to adopt the following municipal order was duly made, seconded, and approved. Whereas the city prepared bid documents and publicly advertised the project and receive bids that were publicly opened on March the 10th of 2026 for the West Railroad Avenue project. Now be it ordered by the city council to accept the bid from Schroeder Construction, Inc. for the West Railroad Avenue project in an amount not to exceed $497,833. Be further ordered. The mayor and his designate is hereby authorized and directed to take all steps necessary to perfect this order, including but not limited to signing all contracts, documents, obtaining the necessary permits, and approving change orders with the aggregate amount not to exceed $74,674.95. RED adopted and approved this 16th day of March. This is a really good project. Ed, do you mind to jump up and explain to them what it is? I know the council knows, but just for the people that are live streaming and understand that we're trying to replace some aging infrastructure and improve that.

This is the um first phase of our uh community development block grant uh project moving over into the neighborhood uh just north of the downtown area. So, this project uh will help us upgrade sidewalks, fix some drainage, uh do some reconnection of some sewer lines, and then also make some street improvements on that small it's about a twob block section of the the roadway, but uh we need to move the project rather quickly because of some uh funding requirements from from HUD on the this phase of the project.

Thank you, sir. Any discussion? Need a motion and a second to adopt, please. Motion. Second. Got a first and a second. All in favor? I I opposed. Seeing none, motion carries. Thank you all. And last but not least, municipal order number 23 20226 accepting proposals for banking services. If I can get a motion in a second to read, please. Motion second. All in favor? I opposed. Judge Howard.

At a regular meeting of the city council held on the dates set out below after first being read, a motion to adopt the following municipal order was duly made, seconded, and approved. Whereas the city prepared bid proposals and publicly advertised the project and received the proposals on December 31st of 2025 for banking services for the city and utilized a committee review panel of city personnel both elected and non-elected to determine the best proposal. Now be it ordered by the city council to accept the proposal from Magnolia Bank that was dated December 30th of 2025 for banking services for a period of 5 years with the city option of two renewals thereafter. Be it further ordered that the mayor and/or as designate is hereby authorized and directed to take all steps necessary to perfect this order, including but not limited to signing all agreements, documents, opening and closing accounts and and initiating transfer of funds read adopted and approved the 16th day of March.

Thank you, sir. Any discussion, questions, comments? Mayor, I would say that um I think it's good anytime we go out and revisit opportunities that's involving uh the city business. Um I've said that for years sitting up here. Um the excuse always was that well it's it's a hassle to do it and I understand that. But the savings that the city will make off doing this is huge. Okay. And I see in here that the city has the option for two renewal periods. I would hope that we would bid it again because I can tell you in the tourism from tourism standpoint they bid theirs every three and I understand we have more accounts and more things than the tourism operates with but every time they have bid it they have made money and saved money and so I think it's prudent for us to continue to be good stewards of of taxpayers money here to rebid this in five years again to take a look at it.

Anybody else? So noted. Thank you, sir. And I need a motion and a second to adopt, please. So moved. Second. All in favor? I. I.

All opposed. Seeing none, motion carries. And we made it. Judge, that brings us to the public comments phase. Anybody have anything they want to address the council with? With that being said, our next city council meeting will be held on March 23rd, 2026. I would also like to remind everyone to continue to keep the Pennington family in your prayers. I can't imagine what they're going through. I understand that there's going to be a service on Saturday, although I don't know the details. I don't know how much you can talk about that.

I I don't think the details are fully known yet. Um the transfer has has not been made even here. I think the um uh Sergeant Pennington will be flown into um Fort Knox where there'll be an escort over to to prepare everything, but then the service will be at Central Harden depending on when all those things happen. But Saturday is the plan. Thank you, sir. We will not go close session. Anybody have anything else they want to off? Okay, with that I need a motion and a second to adjurnn. Please motion.

Second. All in favor? I opposed. Seeing none, motion carries. Thank you all.