City Council - Regular Meeting

All right, we're going to call this January 6, 2026 city of Gallatton council meeting to order. Um, at this time we will start off the meeting with invocation followed by the pledge of allegiance by Councilman Javant and Councilman Alexander. I do an invocation. Thank you.

Let's pray. Father, we're truly thankful for what you've done in the past, but Lord, we come together tonight, this first council meeting of a new year with excitement about what is ahead. And so, we ask you to lead and guide uh this city. Uh let us do things that are pleasing to you, Father. Let us let us always be listening for your direction and your will. I pray blessing upon each council member, department heads that are here, Father, and our citizens. God, I just I thank you for for being part of this community and I ask all these blessings to be in the strong name of Jesus. Amen. Amen.

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, justice for all. Thank you. This time we'll do the roll call. Vice Mayor Hayes present. Councilman Alexander present. Councilman Carter present. Councilman Fan here. Councilman Fenel here. Councilman Jones here. And Councilman Juvants. We have a quorum.

Thank you. All right. This time we'll do the approval of the minutes for the city council meeting December the 2nd, 2025. Motion to approve. Have a motion. Councilman Jones. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman Fan. Any discussion? Changes. All those in favor?

Anybody opposed? Motion carries. All right. This time we'll do public recognition on agenda related items. So if anybody would like to speak, please come up and give your name and address for the record. Anybody? Nobody. Okay, public recognition is closed and mayor's comments.

Yeah, I've got to leave again shortly, but I'll offer just a few remarks. Um, just really want to say happy new year. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. So grateful for the people who work for the city of Gallatin and really all sectors who work during the holidays, especially on those days when most of us get to be with our families. So my gratitude to them. hope we enter this year renewed um refreshed, excited, looking forward to the new year and looking forward to a positive new year. And with that, just a couple of comments that not comments but events I do want to share with you. Um coming up very soon and she's not um with us this evening. She had her own Christmas celebration to be doing this evening. Uh it was Rachel Nichols birthday on the 9th. There is a legal aid clinic happening at the civic center um with the legal aid society here in Gallatin from 4:00 to 7:00 on the 13th of January. on the 14th American Red Cross blood drive. We actually met with the Red Cross today. It was interesting to see how many units of blood are generated out of Sumar County. And for the number of drives that we have compared to larger counties, we do tremendously well. So to all of those who do donate blood um on a regular basis or just occasionally, you really are making a difference um with that life-saving blood. So thank you for doing that. Um on the 19th is the Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Um, most city offices are closed. There is the Unity Day parade and program happening on that day. This on the 19th, of course, the parade is at noon. It starts here in the city hall parking lot. The program follows at 1:00 in the Gallatton High School auditorium. And then coming up on the 28th of January is something that I hope u many of you will be able to attend. Um, this is a speaker. I've never met him before, but his name is Jeff Seagler, and he runs um oh, I he's written books. He has a blog, he has socials um called revitalize or die. And he is particularly focused on

downtown redevelopment, but he has great um philosophies on um maintaining vibrant, healthy, sustainable communities, especially those like ours that have a long history and and giving great opportunity for prosperity to both citizens and business owners. So, he's actually doing the chamber kickoff event for their annual government relations meetings and that's going to be on um the 28th of January and it is at Northfield Church. It's from 11 to 1. Reservations are required. I think we are working on another opportunity for some community engagement while he's in town, but we will update that in time. And then on the 1st of February, it's Vice Mayor Craig Kay's birthday. With that, I'm gonna turn it back to you, sir.

All right. Thank you. All right. This time, we'll move on to the agenda. And let's see. Item number one, second reading, amended ordinance number 02510-59. Councilman Fenel. Thank you, Craig. This is amendment amending ordinance of the city of Gallatton, Tennessee, adopting by reference state traffic offenses and rules of the road. Motion to approve. Second.

Motion and a second. Councilman Carter. Any discussion? Vice Mayor Hayes, I need to make an an amendment to this on the effective date. We did not get the second reading in by January 1, so it will not be effective, of course, January 1. I need to change that to January the 7th of 2026 on both item number one and number two. I'll my make a motion to amend my amendment to change. I'll it to change it. Yes. Stephen second. Okay. All right. We have a first and second. All right. Any discussion? Do we need to do them separate amendment or not? Yes, you need to do amendment first.

Okay. And motion. All right. Any discussion on amendment? All those in favor of the amendment. Um Oh, anybody post? All right. Amendment carries. Now on to the motion. Motion to approve. No, it's already been Is there all those in favor? We've already approved it. Yeah. Gotcha. Okay. I I Okay. Anybody oppose? Motion carries. All right. One is [clears throat] passed. It's a little different presentation than the mayor. So, yeah. Different rhythm. Rhythm. Rhythm. [clears throat] All right. Item number two, second reading ordinance number 02510-60. Councilman Fan.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. This is an ordinance to amend chapter six of the Gallatton Municipal Code regarding municipal courts and a motion. Second. Have a motion. Second and that is with the amended date. Correct. We've already done that. Make a motion to amend the date to January 7. Second. All right. Have a motion on amendment. Any discussion on amendment? All those in favor of the amendment. I Anybody opposed? Motion carries. All right, on to the ordinance. All those in favor. Anybody opposed? Motion carries. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. Item number three, first reading ordinance number 02512-65. This is an ordinance approving purchase and authorizing funds in a total amount of 940,000 from water sewer 2025 bond sales for water treatment plant land purchase. Motion to approve. Second. I have a motion second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Anybody opposed? Motion carries. All right. Item number four, first reading, ordinance number 02512-66. Councilman Carter.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. This is an ordinance amending Gallatton Municipal Code Chapter 17 article 2 se um section 17-59 and chapter 17 article 3 section 17-180 water and sewer rates. Motion to approve. Have a motion. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman Fel. Any discussion? Yes, Councilman Javant.

Uh thank you. Last time when I went in front of us asked uh to get numbers on the difference if we were not charging for uh meter for the uh irrigation accounts Mr. Kell. So I talked to Jackson Thornton u ran through some numbers based on fiscal year 24 data it would be at least a 27 cent per CCF increase in the rate uh based on 2025 year to date it would be over a 50 cent per CCF increase in the rate they recommended not doing it just because of the seasonal um change in the revenue with the meter charge it's consistent and with the putting it in the rate it would be a seasonal and more unpredictable than having it in the meter charge.

Thank you for that. Um I still agree with my constituents who don't understand why they get to me charge when they don't use the meter. Um, and I think, yeah, that make it easier for us on on an accounting point, but I don't think it's fair to charge people when they don't use a meter. Um, but we have to maintain the infrastructure to get the water there when they want the water um, year round. So it's it's not really the the fixed costs are always there whether they use any water or don't use um thank you. I'm I'm going to make a motion to remove the meter charge on the uh irrigation account when they not use and to put the 20 cents on top of that right to compensate on the irrigation account.

We have an amendment. Is there a second on amendment? The amendment dies for lack of a second. Any other discussion on the motion? Any other? All those in favor? I. All those opposed? I'm going to abstain.

Okay. Six and one abstension. So, okay. All right. Item number, let's see, number five, first reading ordinance number 02512-67. Councilman Alexander. Thank you, Vice Mayor. This is an ordinance amending Gallatin Municipal Code, Chapter 17, Article 4, Section 17-57, Water Tap and Installation Fes, Section 17-63 through 17-65, Utility Service Extension Regulations, and section 17-17, [snorts] application and fees required for sanitary sewer service. And I move it adoption.

Second. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? No discussion. All those in favor? I. Anybody opposed? Motion carries. All right. Item number six, uh, first reading, ordinance number 02512-69, ordinance appropriating 15,000 from project Warhawk for building codes department expenses. Motion to approve. I have a motion and a second by over here. Who? Councilman [clears throat] Javant. Any discussion? All those in favor? Anybody opposed? Motion carries.

Item number seven, first reading ordinance number 02512-71. Councilman Fenel. Thank you, Vice Mayor. This is an ordinance awarding bid and authorizing funds in a total amount of $2 million from natural gas reserves for 2025 annual gas line construction. Motion to approve. Second. Have a motion and a second by Councilman Fan. Any discussion? All those in favor? Anybody opposed? Motion carries. Item number eight, first reading ordinance number 02512-73. Councilman Carter.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. This is an ordinance appropriating $750,000 [clears throat] for the Blloth Avenue storm water project. Motion to approve. Motion a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Anybody opposed? Motion carries. All right. Item number nine, first reading ordinance number 02512-74. Councilman Jones.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. An ordinance of the city of Gallaton, Sar County, Tennessee, amending plan Gallatin [clears throat and cough] character map and sub area designations map by changing the community character areas from the rural and suburban character areas to the general urban character area and expanding the number four Gallatin Gateway Industrial Center sub area onto a portion of a parcel PO 106003.0 O totaling 325 plus 48 acres located south of Highway 31 and north of Gateway Drive. Motion move. Second.

Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Councilman Javant.

Thank you, sir. Um I still have an issue with that because um again we know what they want to do. Do they want to do industry all back there? But uh we know plan can change and um if we change that to general urban character uh that means if plan change we open all that area to high density uh we cannot support right now. Um I think an option will be and that can be done really really quick uh to create um an industrial character area in the book. We can do that. That's part of a prerogative. um we have already the plan so we know how it's formatted that can be uh quickly done bring back to us and add an industrial character knowing that um we're going to have that in a new zoo. So if we do that um you know we protect we protect this area just in case thing changes and we kind of go in front of the new Zoko by creating something was going to be there would have to change anyway probably with a new Zoko when when it's adopted. So um we have you know in the planning department people who are who can do that uh it's basically if we look at the description uh of the character areas it's 20 25 lines um that that can be done in an hour. I'm pretty sure these guys are good enough to do that really quick and bring it back to us. And we add the industrial

Thank you. the industrial character area to the map um and we protect if something happened uh we you know we have actually a character area who who match what they want to do. So, um, I would like to ask planning if that's something they could do in house really really quick. I don't want to put you on the spot, but that should be that should be pretty easy to do. Uh, matching what we already have. That doesn't have to be printed. We just uh we just need to put it in place and say, "Hey, the the industrial character area is going to be that that that that can be that that and and we vote on it and it's there and we put that as an industrial area to match uh the zoning they're going to request. I think that's pretty reasonable. Uh protect the neighbors. um take us in advance with the new Zelco and at least for sure that what's going to be there match the character area because again there is no industry or anywhere in that map where that should have been there. So uh that's my thinking.

Brian, you want to answer that? Um, vice mayor and council members, it sounds easy when you say it. Um, it's not as easy as I think it would um, maybe sound. Um, just this process alone is a 3 to four month process [snorts] by itself. Um, these guys are they are trying to get it reszoneed to industrial. Um, I know that process is already kind of getting underway now. Um, but just the just the process of taking it through that would be the three to four months plus you're talking about whatever amount of time staff time it takes to develop those changed plans. When you're doing a plan like the like this, you generally want to get your public input. You would try to pull it through a public input process similar to what we did for Zoko, something like that. Not not at the scale of Zoko, but there's there's more involvement to it than just a hey, let's just do this and let's go. Um I if that's what you guys direct me to do though, I mean uh you know how however the council would like for this to go. Um I I do know we have an applicant that is trying to move and steps along the way that we cause delays on would further hinder their project. So I'm just

I think we should I'm trying to give you my best understand.

Yeah. And I appreciate that. Um I think maybe we should start to uh because again I'm thinking of what I've seen all these years where you know developments arrive they say we're going to do that and suddenly they disappear and someone arrive behind and they they use what's already there to do something different. That can happen. We have no idea what can happen in the future. So um I think the the the industrial character area should be in a plan garin that should be there that should be a tool we should have to put somewhere if we need to um maybe we should start the process keep going with that and um see where it goes but put that that industry character area there. So we protecting the neighborhood because again if we change to suburb to uh it's general urban general urban is is massive if something change and they want to build a subdivision there it's at the top at the top line we have so um I think we should we should look into creating uh an industrial character area and um we can do that. That's part of things we can do in the plan. And I don't think to do that we need uh to create a character area. I don't think we need to do public meetings and stuff like that. That should be um that should be, you know, so think about it, you know.

Sure. Uh I again I think that would be a decision that the council as a whole would want to give direction on to our department. U if you are interested in pursuing the comp comprehensive plan amendment that is um city initiated instead of um you know applicant initiated. Yeah.

Um, again, I've given you kind of last time we we had the question come up and I given you know my my this is kind of our best interpretation on how to how to go about this process without having really great uh clarification on, you know, what uses are okay with what character areas, what zoning is okay with what character areas. Uh we evaluated the existing character areas on the map and where our industrial areas are and those are all general urban. um you know so we we took that into account and then you know also seeing that there was the sub area with it um that further solidified that you know that can be the justification that you all use when determining if the zoning that someone asks for is appropriate or not. And so again, it it is your decision. If you re decide to reszone a property, you don't have to do what someone asks just because they ask for it. You can base your determination on the things that we have in our documents and and so we felt like that was justification enough to go down this route. So,

thank you, Brian. Thank you, sir. All right. Any other discussion? If not, all those in favor? Anybody oppose? Motion carries. Item number 10, first reading, ordinance number 02512-75. Councilman Jones.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. An ordinance of the city of Gallatton, Summit County, Tennessee, reszoning a 77 55 plus or minus acre parcel [snorts] medium density residential plan residential development district with a preliminary master development plan for Meyers Hill located east of Dobins Pike and north of Hicks Lane authorizing the revision to be indicated on the official zoning atlas repealing conflicting ordinances provided for severability and provided for an effective ive date. Motion to discuss. Second. Have a motion and a second. Motion to discuss. Oh, to discuss.

Second. All right. Discussion. Anybody? What's the density on this? What? What do you say? What's the density? medium.

Mr. Rose, you looking that up? It's 190 lots on 77 acres. [clears throat] It's 2.46 units per acre. That's what I was interested in. That's well that's Yes, that's well within the uh allowance of the community character area uh which is two to five dwelling units per acre. Um yeah, so it's on the low end of that. Okay. And Councilman Alexander.

Yeah, Mr. Vice Mayors, I mentioned this in December and [clears throat] uh there's an attachment from their presentation on December the 9th. It's attachment number five, page 116 from the agenda packet that day that gives an an overlay of what that project looks like compared to the rest of the area. And I urge uh fellow councilman to to look at that. uh granted um to the side of the project, you have [snorts] Triple Creek Park with zero density. Um but even when you look around uh north and south of there, there is nothing that dense. And even in in their photo uh to the far east um where there are some subdivisions off of Hartsville Pike, they're a little bit larger lot homes. And then this this thing here is is so many houses crammed into a smaller area. There is some open space for obvious reasons, but um uh this is a lot of houses really crammed. It just to me doesn't make sense to fit in to this part of town. There's nothing else that dense. Um, looking according to what they submitted. Um, attachment 5, page 116 of December 9th. If you can look at that through the minutes or whatever, I that's what concerns me and why I'm not in favor of it. Thank you.

Did it show what?

Thank you, Mr. Rose. That be good. That's the one, right? Yes, Councilman Jos, I agree with Councilman Alexander, but my my main concern is Xlane. Um, again, Xlane is part of the requirement to be widened. Um, so hopefully you guys went dry there. I did. Um, and even if Xland got widened a little few years ago by the county, um, when I drive with my truck, I'm the only one on the road. That mean nobody passed on the other side. And the way it was widened, that cannot go more because of uh the water on the side. So, um, at the meeting, the last meeting we went, and I'm going to site word for word what the developer said. Um, we went out and measured the road to where it's widened to right now. It's average about 18 ft in this in this narrowest place. We have looked at specifically whether we can put asphalt on top of it within the current right of way. We can. All we have to do is go get a permit which is a routine thing from

the county. It's automatic. It's by right. You've got to put the right rules and said you got to put the right war righties uh in place. It's not a matter of whether we have right to do it or not. We can do it. So um I'm not familiar with county but what I know is that the city uh has to go through a process. It's not automatic and it's not uh a right. It still has to come through us. So um I contacted the planning at the county. Uh I got their answer and last night I went to um there was the highway uh highway committee meeting at the county. So I went there and asked a question and after the meeting I talked with uh the superintendent of road and that was a different story. It's not automatic. That's to go to a process and per the superintendent that's to go to planning that's to go to engineering. Um and the county didn't widen that road more because they can't because of water issues on the side. So again, uh there is what county official told me and what the developer told me and that totally opposite. So between who I'm going to trust, I'm going to have a tendency to go to the superintendent of frauds because that's his job and he knows what he's talking about. So um that's not going to be as easy as it seems to widen that road so we can have fire trucks in case of emergency to go on that road. So that's not a right. Uh

that's not automatic. I mean that's going to be a long process if it goes and the staff got told too is that if we widen that road for is if the developer decide to widen that road and get the authorization to do it, the county is not going to like that road. they're probably going to ask us to take it over uh and take care of it because now that's more asphalt for them to take care of and they have a budget too and they don't like to spend more money than they have to. So um it it's that came here first that got denied and we come back with almost the same development except the road was supposed to go through the school disappeared and now we are another road on land. That's not going to work. Um we we can't approve something from the start shows not going to work because that make no sense. Uh you know I encourage the developer to go get all all his permits from the the county get the county approval to widen that road to at least 20 more because 20 is just going to be the minimum. And again, if we put 20 ft road and we have a fire truck and a truck like me on the other side, that's not going to go because there is nowhere to go. So that that doesn't even fit the minimums of safety, common sense safety. It's not just a number. It's common sense. And we need to start to put our constituent safety in front of money or dollar sign or whatever because that's our job. we need to protect the people who live in the city. So, um

I can't I can't vote for that. Um and uh I'm going to make a motion to deny the reasoning. Um because again, if we look at the the density, uh it's a it's a false density. There is so much land in that parcel they cannot use. There is this antenna all the all around the antenna they cannot use. There is uh wire they can't use. So the density is a fake number again here. But um I'm going to make a motion to deny the reasoning. Second.

Okay. We have a motion and a second to deny the resoning. Any discussion on that? All those in favor? I. All those opposed? No. Wild Corner, please. What can we get to Royal Con? Well, I don't think we need a roll call. Four to two or 52 to approve. Okay. All right. We have a represent Well, can we pull Nick Tuttle up here first?

I'll second it. Can we uh pull Nick Tuttle up here, please?

Nick, do you agree with everything that Pascal I mean, Councilman Javance?

Um, for the most part, he is um saying what is true. Uh, but it's it's a process process like we would have. there's an application, there's um there's a requirement that they would have to submit plans that could be approved. Um so, but if they meet the requirements, I I I don't want to use the term by right, uh but if they meet the requirements, there's really not a good reason for the county to deny uh the permit and for them to do the work. So, um it is about as normal of a process as you could expect uh when someone is making an improvement to to a roadway. Now, um obviously they're going to have to have survey, they're going to have to have plans. So, there there is a process and there is a lot of work that goes into it. Uh but if they can show uh through survey and design that it can be done, uh then then they should not have any trouble with getting a permit and making the improvement. Um, I I would agree that the county is likely going to be interested in the city maintaining it. Um, I have had a conversation um with the the county planner um along those lines and I expressed that that would be a challenge uh for us because it's very likely that we wouldn't be able to allow the rightaway to be annexed because the properties um are are likely described to the center line of the road and there's not really a dedicated rideway that uh could be given to the city. So, that could be a challenge. uh that that could um but I don't I don't know that the county would pursue that or not. That's just a a comment that came from the county planner. So, uh what I hear that again we're talking about approving

something who maybe not not going to being able to happen uh because of technical issues with the county. And again, why would a city take over a road just to be able to sub subsidize basically a development uh who make no sense on that area who got already denied for the same reasons um because mainly of Xland who's not Xland cannot sustain this kind of development uh because of the school traffic, because of the school buses, because of, you know, even fire engines not going to not going to fit there. Um, and we're we're going to be on the same situation we had before where they're going to be approved. They're going to build 30 or for 30 houses and suddenly they can make the second [clears throat] exit uh for safety reason and where where are we going? So, um I think we need to uh to postpone postpone it until uh the developer can come to us and say he has approval from the county uh to widen weeks land. We have an agreement with the county or not uh before authorizing authorizing that development. So um and that should take it's a process so that should take probably four four to six months uh maybe a quarter 3 months uh to get that. So, I make a motion to postpone uh

for 3 months and uh to have the developer come back to us with with county uh assurance that the road the road will be widened and and probably have an agreement with us uh at that point. Got a motion. I'll second. Second. Any discussion on that? All those in favor? I I All those opposed pass unanimously. Okay. Thank you, gentlemen.

All right. Moving on. Item number 11, resolution number R2509-67. Councilman Javance. Thank you, Vice Mayor. which item sorry 11. Uh it's a resolution accepting public improvements by the city of Garat and Tennessee in Carlton phase 7A. Uh make a motion to discuss. Second. Please say a motion to approve. Discuss. Discuss.

Discuss. Yeah. All right. Second. Okay. Motion to discuss. Councilman Alexander. Right. Did you second? Um discussion. Mr. Vice Mayor, we had asked u for uh Mr. Tuttle to bring back a report. I think he's ready to do that.

Okay. Mr. Tuttle. Good evening again. At at a previous meeting, I think this went back to November, um a video um was shared uh that that showed some storm water running uh in a ditch and through the backyard of uh some homes on uh I believe it's pronounced Jacomao, but I don't know if that's correct or not. Um Tacoma Court. And um as you can see from uh our memo that I shared with you this evening set on your desk. I know it's a little bit lengthy uh but we did explore the issue and this was something that we had already um had been involved in and looked at and um talked with um a couple of the property owners that um were experiencing some of these issues. um that the the short response a summary of this um memorandum that you have before you is that um the the storm water that you saw um was from May of 2024. It was considered approximately 100year storm event. Uh so it was a pretty significant storm event for the area. Um the the ditch on the back property line was it did um exceed um the capacity it got into the backyards as we understand it did not flood any houses or crawl spaces or units or anything of that nature. Um some changes have been made um since that. Uh the the developer u home builder uh did make some some minor improvements, but there were also some negative things that happened with home build or homeowners that moved in and um put fences in and and did some other things within their own backyards to create some some other issues that um are there. So, um, we

believe that as far as the infrastructure goes, that the infrastructure was built, um, as it was designed, um, and it was, um, designed well enough to handle, um, accommodate the 10 to 25 year storm. The 100-year storm was exceeded, but we didn't see any, um, really, you know, any issues that, um, were above nuisance level. Um, and so we continue to recommend acceptance of the infrastructure. You think there is anything that can be done to avoid that kind of river type? It would be significant work uh to to make that it which would require work within the backyards. Um probably removal of fences. Um there's always improvements that can be made. It's just how much money um and how much cooperation will you have uh to make those improvements?

Make sure Mr. Tuttle I got this right. So a Burm and two more inlets have been added since that May 24th since that video was recorded. Correct. And you feel [clears throat] that's been a help? I I do. Yes. But I also think that there have been some things that have been done by homeowners um that have probably compromised it a bit. Um so Mhm. I you probably talk about building walls and on the backyard. That's what you're talking about as a potential solution. No, no. as as a potential issue problem

what the homeowners did. Oh, right. I believe um fences uh there was some grading work and I think that there there was um I don't know that we detailed um all of that work but yes

if you appe with it if you think there is nothing we can do more uh make a motion to approve. Have a motion and a second by Councilman Carter. Thank you for looking into it. Appreciate any further discussion. All those in favor?

Anybody opposed? Motion carries. All right. Item number 12, resolution number R2510-75. A resolution of the city council. Resolution of the city council of the city of Gallatin, Sbury County, Tennessee, authorizing the property owner and applicant to submit an application to annex 4.47 acre parcel uh tax map 146 parcel 094.01 into the city located south of Nashville Pike and east of Cisbin Road. Uh motion to approve. Second. A second. Councilman Fan discussion.

U Councilman Hayes. I don't I don't support this um at all. I remember when um that property at Gene Young's that's what we're talking about right there where they started putting the apartments in the back and it's right behind it I believe and it butts up next to uh Rusty Williams's house I think. Yeah, I'll resend my second also. I changed my mind on the second.

You were drawing it. No, you withdrawing it. Okay. All right. All right. I'll withdraw my first and I'll make a motion to discuss then. How about that? Second. All right. I just don't want to put a continuation of the apartments into town homes. Something town homes in some council. That was my question. Um and we had talked about it at the uh at the work session. What's the purpose of annexation? And we we've received nothing. Um I'm like Councilman Fenel. I got an idea of what it is, but I think everybody does. Yeah. So

motion to deny again. Motion to deny and second. Any discussion on that? All those in favor? I. Anybody opposed? Motion carries. All right. Item number 13, resolution number R2512-88. Councilman Carter. Thank you, Vice Mayor. This is a resolution to eliminate services provided by the city of Gallatton natural gas department related to lighting natural gas pilots for customers. Motion to approve. Second by Councilman Jones. Any discussion? All those in favor? I.

Anybody opposed? Motion carries. All right. Item number 14, resolution number R2512-90. Councilman Alexander. Thank you, Vice Mayor. This is a resolution accepting public improvements by the city of Gallatin, Tennessee at Meadow Glenn at Fairway Farm, section 3A. Motion to approve. Second. We do 15 as well. Legal. We need to do these. Okay. All right. We have a second by Councilman Carter. Any discussion? All those in favor I. Anybody opposed? Motion carries.

All right. Number 15, resolution number R2512-91. Councilman Alexander. Thank you, Vice Mayor. This is a resolution accepting public public improvements by the city of Gallatin, Tennessee in Meadow Glenn at Fairway Farm, section 4A. Motion to approve. Second. Second by Councilman Carter. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Anybody opposed? Motion carries. All right. Item number 16, resolution number R2512-92. Councilman Carter. Thank you, sir. This is a resolution to revise [clears throat] the city of Gallatton personnel classification plan and add additional headcount within the Gallton Economic Development Agency. Motion to approve.

Have a motion, second by Councilman [clears throat] Alexander. Any discussion? Yes. Could I ask uh Miss Bass to come up here, please? Miss Bates Barry, this is the I mean Rosemary, this is the item that was discussing trying to get somebody to uh go out into the world and see if we could draw any interest into a sports complex. Yes.

Okay. And is this position right here did I was gone, but was this created for like two years to give the guy an opportunity or is this a permanent position? It is created it and Miss uh can Jimmy can probably answer this better than I can but my understanding it's created to be a permanent position that at any time if it's not working out and we figure out this is not going anywhere that we should stop. We do think that it will take at least two years for significant impact to be made because you're entering into the professional world of sports. um try to find a professional

and yes and it takes a professional to do so um and uh someone who's you know well versed in those arenas and I didn't [clears throat] mean that as a pun or anything um but um yeah it's going to take time nothing something might miraculously happen big news in the first year but I doubt that that project if it were to happen would come to fruition in that first year

that's exactly what It's a two-year minimum process to get and in fact much like much like our industrial projects uh the manufacturers that come here, we often will work with them up to two years or more in some cases before we're able to even announce who it is and that they're coming. It just takes that long. However, over looking over u the agenda that I missed and what was done here, um I think the pay scale was set at 60s something,000. Is that correct?

Yes. I really don't think that that's enough money to draw somebody of a professional caliber to go after um an individual that we need to try to land a program as such here. Um and I'm just asking out to my fellow council people what's their concerns on this. I think if you get the right person, it's going to take more money than that. I agree with you, Councilman Fan. Councilman, uh, wasn't there a range? It wasn't just 60 60 to 75 or something. Thank you.

Yeah. Oh, there is a range. I'm I'm sorry, guys. So, okay. When will we set that? I have a question about that range if I may. Okay.

And this isn't probably I should ask this I've asked this to Miss Kenjami before Jimmy before this meeting. that range is not an automatic. I I get to hire you at 75,000. I have to have permission from the mayor to do so. So, if she says no and which, you know, that's her prerogative. I'm not saying being critical, but if she says no, then um it's stuck at 67. Maybe with some wiggle room on we only have five steps now. So, maybe with some wiggle room on step one, I mean step two, possibly step three. I think in my opinion, and I'm not technically disagreeing with um our HR [clears throat] director, um I understand the position that she's in. This job should not make more than any department head, and it shouldn't make more than any assistant department head,

but it's only a two-year. We're looking at a two-year stretch. And I think that advertising it for a starting salary of 67, it we're we're going to get people who might have played basketball in high school. And I don't think we're going to get the professional type of um resume and application, but we might. So I'm at whatever you choose to. We'll make the best of it that we can. What's your suggestion? Um, I don't really know the steps very well and I would prefer that she address that because I don't really know what would top come in under those two categories.

So, we'll have a panel like we always do it go through the top. No, no, it will be hired by the department

director. Yeah, it's hired at the department head level. Um, it's not a department head position, which is where you all come in and do a panel. Um when asked during the the work session, my opinion based on comparable information and geographical adjustments and whatnot um was anywhere between 60 to 80 85 which would be SA or SB. The people who were here decided to go with SA um which is that 65 to 75 68 73. I don't have the the scale directly in front of me right now, but it is still five steps. There is there is higher ability in those five steps and I didn't

I would prefer you bump it up so that the top is 85, but I am not necessarily disagreeing with her or her reasons for what she suggested.

Yeah. So it it with the way that we set up the comp plan, it the position could be hired anywhere between step one and step five based on department head discretion with in conjunction with HR. That's one through five. Then anything above step five would require approval of the mayor. So there is again based on our compensation plan no top out um for where it could go. There is nothing that says this is a short-term position as of putting it into the comp plan. It's in there until y'all take it out. Um, so there's there's nothing that says this is only a two-year thing. Um, if it's two-year thing, get a consultant. Thank you.

Um, in which case you could pay a whole lot more, granted, but Oh, no. I'd like to make a motion that we go with the range of 67 to $85,000. Got a question first. Hold on. We got a motion. So, is there a second? Is there a second? So, we we don't have a range that's 67 to 85. So, we have a range that's 635 to 70, which is where those who were here at the time decided to put it. Then, it's 68 to 75. Then there is 73 to 80, but again, there is the ability to go on top of that with approval from from the mayor. Then there's 78 to 86. Put it at SD.

Let me adjust my motion. I'll make it to the higher side of it to the would you say the 70 to the 73 to 80? Yeah. Or just under 81. That would take it to SC two pay per pay per pay per pay period two pay grades above where it was established at the the work session. Just heads up for those. We have a motion in a second. Okay. Any discussion? Do you have something? Did you have anything that you said you had to Yeah. Do we have the total description of that position yet? In front of you. Yep. Is it other is it uh events other than athletics?

The way that it is written, it's not intended to take over teams that want to rent the fields or schedule a soccer tournament uh for Little League or something like that. This is more of a job to address a more professional level of sports and sports comprehensive sports facilities that would bring tourism dollars into the city of Gallatton. So, it's not a tour, it's not a tournament management position. It's a business development position.

Right. That was my thing from the get-go. Bring somebody here and try to find a person in the United States that's willing to come here and build a facility and pay for it and run it. I'm not wanting to do something to cross over into our park system. Chattanooga, that's not what I'm after. Chattanooga proper has a has a Chattanooga tourism. You consider this a position to to promote the city? Pardon? This would you consider this a position to promote the city? Heck yeah. They better be promoting the city of Gout and that's going to be their job. Council Javas, do you have anything?

Yeah. Yeah. Um I I voted yes initially uh for the position, but the the more I thought about it uh and looking back at the way that was done um I I can't vote yes anymore. Um I think that will be a slap in the face for other department who have been requesting position for years uh who have been turned down. Um and I think uh again it's all about looks uh depending on the outcome of the position um we're going to have an issue because the way that was brought to us. I think it's too early right now. Uh I think we have plenty of things to take care of. We have a new complex to build. uh and um if you talking about two years um I agree that the consultant uh will be probably better than uh a position because a consultant can be tailored to what we need uh c can be tailored that mean we can we can have a contract the way we want it and make an agreement on result uh uh BZ uh instead of you know having a position salary for two years with maybe no result. I mean um and the consultant if they are on on result B they're going to work they're going to make sure uh they're going to bring us something so they can

make money. So, I don't like the uh uh I'm trying to find a word to uh the end the uncertude maybe that the word of two years where you know and and I agree with you that take time. I was in aviation when owner buy an airplane that take two years too that take people generally two years to make their mind of what they going to do. So um and so I I can vote no for that. I think we'll be better with a consultant and maybe in few years uh revisit it. Um so that that the way I think uh

you know I don't agree with that. Um, I'm out in this world. Uh, it's almost every weekend I'm traveling somewhere for sports activities, whether it's basketball, whether it's football, whether it's dance, whether it's cheerleading. I think there's a great need in this. Uh, if we can land something like that. I know they are looking. I don't want to turn around and wait two years and miss our opportunity to have something like other places have got. Uh, I think this is about the citizens. I think it's about the kids of Sar County and and all the other areas that are touching this area. I think that's the most the best way that we can draw in any kind of tourism money is by launching something like this if we're get if we was to get lucky enough to do that. Also, this is not like creating position and keeping this position in here in Gout. And this is only given a certain amount of time to see if we can put our name out there and actually uh land something like this.

A permanent position. Yeah, it's a permanent position. So, well, I mean, after two years, if he's not producing, then nothing's going to happen. Then we just eliminate the position. Yeah, it's not. That's the way I feel that that she's got to write that up. Uh I'm just totally for this and trying to find the right person. I don't think that there's any way we went about anything wrong with trying to do this at all. I mean, heck, if we can spend $100,000 for Christmas lights, which I was all for it, why the hell can't we spend a little bit of money and try to get something in here that everybody would like? That's what I that's where I stand on this. Any other discussion?

I'd like I'd like to say I think this position is 10 years behind. We should have had this 10 years ago. They just if they open up a facility, I mean, I'm I'm I'm good with that. You know what I'm saying? Bringing in new stuff. That's not going to affect the workers of the parks, you know what I'm saying? To keep up these facilities or nothing like that, is it? I mean, I don't want our guys from the park or gals, either one, but to be having to take up that cleaning up, you know,

my my vision is that this person will be charged with assuring that private entities and private dollars. That does not stop any of these as any regular developer from asking for a tiff or an ID or a pilot or those sorts of incentives. But even those bring in revenue to a certain degree. Um especially during construction pilots don't apply those years. What? So whatever they have to spend those years developing the property, they don't get any incentive or abatement till it's open that gets a certificate of occupancy. But um it is a and it's not necessarily just a comprehensive building. That's my vision that it's a comprehensive allpurpose sports building, but that it would be run by a private entity. And sure, they're probably going to ask for some things from y'all if that comes to that, but then you get to decide. And and I will only support what I think is right for this city. I [snorts] think if you know me by now, there are some manufacturers who have approached us and after many months of discussion in learning more about them, I have said, you know, you're just really not a good fit for us. So, if you want to come here and you can buy property and you can do it on your own, that's up to you. But we're not helping.

And I don't mean that in a nasty, we don't like we're not helping you. I just mean we're not we we prefer not to be involved in your endeavor. You're on your own. Okay. Any other discussion? Okay. All those in favor? I. Anybody oppose? No. Are we right? That's my Oh, that's right. We got We didn't need to vote on the salary change. We got carried away there. All right. That would move it from SA to SC. Okay. That was a salary change, correct? Okay. [clears throat] All right. That's the 73 to 81. That was an amendment. Yeah. Okay. Now, on that was the amendment. Yeah, that was the amendment. Okay. So, no for me for the amendment.

Okay. All right. So, 52. Yeah. Can we can we make it clear? As long as we make people clear. Yeah. On what we voting on. Can we retake the vote? Make clear of the amendment. So everybody know I don't have problem doing that. I don't have problem. So we're we're voting on the amendment right now to make the salary change. Okay. What SC? It would go to SC. Yes. From SA. What the meaning? What the max? So it is incoming range of 73 to66 to 80,764 and some change. Okay. All right. All those in favor? I anybody opposed? No. No.

So 43. Right. Councilman Alexander. No. 43. Okay. Now on to the motion. Original motion. All those in favor? I. Anybody oppose? No. 61. Thank you. Just a reminder that money for the headcount will [clears throat] be allocated later. Yeah. Item number 17, resolution number R2512-93. Councilman Fan.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. This is a a resolution amending the city of Gallatton personnel rules and regulations rule 166 section 16-2 and 16-3. And I so move second. Have a motion and a second by Councilman Jants. Any discussion? All those in favor?

I. Anybody oppose? Motion carries. Item 18, resolution number R2512-95. Councilman Fenel. This is a resolution to update the city of Gallton composition compos comprehension pay by removing assistant director of codes positioning and adding commercial plans reviewer within the codes department. Motion to approve. Second. Have a motion. Second. Councilman Alexander. Any discussion? All those in favor?

Anybody opposed? Motion carries. Item number 19, resolution number R2512-98. resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a software software as a service agreement between the city of Gallatin and Tyler Technologies for the purpose of moving enterprise ERP ERP and enterprise permitting and licensing EPL software from an on premises environment to a Tyler technologies hosted cloud environment motion to approve. Second motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I.

Anybody oppose? Motion carries. All right. Through with the agenda now to other business. Anybody up here have Councilman Javant?

Thank you, Vice Mayor. Um I was yeah I'll talk about that later but um I would like to uh bring something to your attention regarding the grant agreement uh was made between the city and the IDB for the um development and the target money um that's on the terment conditions uh 4D. Um I said that the developer agrees to commence construction of the project within 120 days of the effective date. Effective date was May 2125. So we are uh past that a lot. And um I drive there almost every day. Uh nothing has been done there. So it's in default of the contract and uh I would like to apply the contract. Um 5A. If the developer fails to comply with any of the terms of this agreement, uh we should give them a notice to comply. So, um I would like to uh have that body approval for having our legal to send a notice to the developer to ask where he is with that because he hasn't comply with the contract. Um and I think you know if we have a contract we need to stick to it. I

I don't have the agreement right in front of me. I have reviewed it in the past, but I I wasn't prepared to speak on that tonight. But if you tell me to give notice, then I will give notice. Um I I need to look at 4D. That's what I was going to say. You probably need to look at it first. Um did you get with her before this meeting to discuss? He asked me to send at one point he asked me to send him a copy of it. Um and I sent that to him, but I don't have it in front of me. Is that that's accurate? Right. Yeah. And I mentioned that, but you you're busy. That was before before the early days, so I understand you you haven't looked at it. So, um So, can we give give her time to look at it? Yeah. Maybe bring it bring it to us next u next session cuz

that's what this body wants me to do. Then we'll bring it to pretty clear in there. Motion. Do we need a motion? Yep. Evidently have motions. Is there a second? Motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? All those oppose. Motion carries. Sounds like it. I. Paul did. I said I. Paul said I. There were silent eyes.

All right. Any other business up here? Any other business? All right. This time we have public recognition on non-aggenda related items. Oh, I'm sorry. Come on. You have to be quick. Be quick. No, I mean quick to get up. [laughter] I I was trying to I was trying to motion from back there. Hi, council. Um, so I just wanted to take a moment to introduce our new assistant director of human resources. This is Leah Presley. He uh officially joined us last week, has really gotten neck deep into all kinds of processes and everything as of yesterday full-time as city hall gets back into the swing of things. And uh just wanted to bring her here to to introduce her to all of you. And

can you say her name again, Courtney? I'm Leah. My name is Leah Presley. It's nice to meet you. Thank you. Leah speaks for herself very very well. She is not shy. I'm not shy. Hello. Thank you all for the opportunity. I'm happy to be here. Um I come from Leverne HR. Um, and I've been there four years. I'm grateful to be here. Thank you. Welcome. Welcome. Yeah. Welcome. So, you know, Jason Cole, I think, is mayor. You know, Mayor Jason Cole. Good. We competed really hard and heavy at um um TML this year. So, I'll definitely send him an email to let him know we won. Oh, yeah. You should tell him. You should definitely do that. Thanks. Thank you for the opportunity.

All right. Anybody else department has All right. This time we have public recognition on non-aggenda related items. If anybody like to come up your name and address for the record, anybody? Public recognition is closed. All right. Have a motion. Second. Second. We're ajourned. Leaf.