Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I'd like to welcome everybody to the regular scheduled city commission meeting for Johnson City on Thursday, May 7th at 6 o'clock held at the municipal and safety building. I'd like to call the meeting to order. For the first order of business, I'd like to invite Dr. Matthew Young with Fountain of Life Bible Church to come up for the invocation and the pledge. If he is I don't know if I see him here. So um commissioner can I have a similar beard. Yes. Okay. Perfect. [laughter] Everybody

let's all stand. Gracious God, we thank you for the opportunity to gather together peaceibly as neighbors to seek the common good. We pray that you may grant us each wisdom and uh insight that we may make decisions that are good for today and good for tomorrow. We pray all these things in your most glorious name. Amen. Amen. 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.

Miss Ball for Mayor. The first order of business is item 3.1, which is to consider approval of the minutes for the regularly scheduled city commission meeting held on Thursday, April 16th, 2026. Move for approval. Second, Miss Louse. Commissioner Fowler, abstain. Commissioner Gats, yes. Commissioner Wise, yes. Vice Mayor Brock, yes. Mayor Cox,

yes. Next items are under proclamations, resolutions, and presentations. And I think the mayor needs a microphone. The first one is a presentation of proclamation for police week. Chief,

thanks, Deputy Chief.

Thank you guys for being here. Um, I'd love to read this proclamation. This is an important one to to us and the commission. But whereas there are more than 750,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States, including the more than 150 members of the John City Police Department. And whereas in 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation that designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as National Police Week. And whereas since the first recorded death in 1786, there are currently more than 24,000 law enforcement officers in the United States who have made the ultimate sacrifice and been killed in the line of duty, including four members of the Johnson City Police Department. And whereas the names of these dedicated public servants are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC and the Johnson City Police Department will soon honor its fallen with a tribute of its own. And whereas it is important that residents understand the duties and responsibilities that law enforcement officers assume, the hazards they endure, and the sacrifices they make each day so that we may all live safer, more peaceful lives. So now therefore, I, Greg Cox, mayor of the city of Johnson City, Tennessee, in conjunction with the National Observance, do hereby proclaim May 11th to 16th, 2020 2016 Police Week in Johnson City, Tennessee, encourage all citizens to join me in thanking our officers who so bravely serve to ensure that this community is safe and to also pay tribute to those that have lost their lives in the line of duty. With that, thank you so much for everything that you guys do. But I can't imagine what you guys feel like putting that uniform every morning. And I'd love if you guys want to share a few words and of encouragement. And there might be a few commissioners that may

want to pop in there, too. But Chief, uh, thank you, mayor, and commissioners and city staff, administration. We appreciate it very much. Uh, it is an honor to serve the citizens of Johnson City. Uh, this acknowledgement means a big deal to us. Uh we invite everyone to come out and see the memorial that will go up next Friday uh outside the police department window there. And again, thank you very much. Thanks. Sit down. [applause]

Thank you. [applause] The next mayor, the next proclamation is clinical trials day and we have accepting Tara Browning and from and valid representatives.

Hi there. Thanks for being here. I'd love to read this proclamation to you guys and let you say share a few things when finished. Whereas on May 20th, 1747, Dr. James Lynn conducted what is recognized as the first controlled clinical trial, laying the foundation for the evidence-based methods that modern medicine relies on today. And whereas clinical trials are essential to advancing medical knowledge, improving health outcomes, and bringing safe, effective, and life-saving therapies to patients across Johnson City, the United States, and around the world. And whereas clinical research professionals including investigators, nurses, regulatory specialists, data managers, and many others play a vital role in ensuring clinical trials are conducted conducted ethically, responsibly, and with the higher standards of scientific integrity. Whereas 190,43 registered studies are currently underway in the United States addressing serious costly diseases and conditions including asthma, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression, diabetes, GI disease, oncology and on and on, I'm sure. And whereas the contributions of volunteers who participate in clinical studies in Johnson City are indispensable, advancing public health and expanding treatment options for future generations. And whereas increasing awareness of clinical trials opportunities helps improve access, promote diversity in research participation, and reduces disparities and health outcomes for underrepresented communities. Now, therefore, I, Greg Cox, mayor of the city of Johnson City, Tennessee, do hereby proclaim May 20th, 2026 is clinical trials day in Johnson City, Tennessee, encourage the citizens of Johnson City to join me in the special observance. So, thank you very much. And just tell us a little bit about clinical trials and if there are opportunities around here and how they can help outcomes and why they're important.

Sure. I'm a little nervous. I wouldn't expect it to happen.

No, that's okay. Um, well, just real briefly, I've got about almost 30 years of um experience in clinical trials in some manner. um my roots are here in Appalachia uh specifically northeast Tennessee and there is a huge health disparity um here and um I'm very passionate about bringing um opportunities that we wouldn't normally have in the health care realm to the people of this area specifically oncology and cardiology is what um is real big with the clinical trials. We do a lot of oncology um chemo research and a lot of cardiology uh heart stent uh device research and I think we've got something like 200 and something trials going on right now. Not all of them are clinical, some are uh a different sort of research but research nonetheless. And uh one of our investigators is nationally and globally known right here in Kingsport. So that's exciting. But um but I just I'm very excited about this. Thank you. Well, thank you so much. It's interesting to know that that's going on here and with ballot and and ETSU and different organizations. So, thank you so much for being here. [applause]

Mayor, the next proclamation is for Kids to Parks Day in Johnson City, which is May 16, 2026. Accepting the proclamation is Sam Miller, assistant director of parks and recck and David Compton, community engagement specialist in parks and recreation. Here kitty kitty kitty or puppy or puppy. Oh yeah. [laughter]

Hey, [applause] come on up. Hey. Hey Sam. Well, I'd like to read this proclamation, but first I'd just like to thank you guys for presenting earlier and and parks and wreck and everything you guys do is so impressive and when it comes to opportunities for kids here and the camps that you guys put on and how activated they are and um you know, one of the biggest things we hear is more needs for places to play and that's the best thing you can hear because everybody's activated. Um and I think that's changed a lot over the years. So, thanks for that. And let me read this if you don't mind. Whereas May 16th, 2026 is the 16th Kids to Parks Day organized and launched by the National Park Trust held annually on the third Saturday of May. And whereas Kids to Parks Day empowers kids and encourages families to get outdoors and visit local parks, public lands, and waters. And whereas we should encourage children to lead a more active lifestyle to combat issues of childhood obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hyper cholesterolamy. And whereas kids and parks day will broaden children's appreciation for nature and outdoors. And whereas kids to parks day recognizes the importance of recreating responsibly while enjoying the benefits of outdoors. Now therefore, I, Greg Cox, mayor of the city of Johnson City, Tennessee, do hereby proclaim May 16th, 2026 as Kids to Parks Day in Johnson City, and encourage all residents to celebrate the importance of parks, outdoor play, and connecting children with nature. Um, and I'd love to talk a little bit more about that. And Dr. probably I'm sorry I butchered that word. and uh [laughter] a a little bit about um just just the parks and um and even the right now we still have surveyor going on of just getting some input from I love JC's parks too as as well but you care to say a few words Sam.

Thank you. Thank you Mayor Cox and commissioners for recognizing kids to parks day. My name is Sam Miller and I'm the assistant director over parks for parks and recreation over programming and operations. I'm joined this evening by David Compton, our community engagement specialist, and our adorable mascot, Frankie Fox. We are delighted to receive this proclamation for Kids to Parks Day on behalf of our entire parks and recreation team. Kids to Parks Day is a wonderful reminder of the importance of getting kids and families outdoors and it helps to build a lifelong appreciation for the natural and recreational resources that we're so fortunate to have right here in our community. I want to sincerely thank the commissioners and our city managers for their continued support of parks and recreation. Their commitment ensures that families in our community have access to safe, welcoming, and vibrant spaces for people to gather, play, and connect. I'd also like to take an opportunity to recognize our amazing staff of dedicated parks and recreation professionals and the volunteers who work behind the scenes every day to maintain and program our parks and facilities. It's their efforts that make programs and events like kids to parks day not only possible but very meaningful as well. Mayor Cox, commissioners, city managers, it is our honor to serve our community alongside you and we very much look forward to in continuing this important work together. David here is going to tell us all about the event that we've got coming up on the 16th. David, what do you got for us?

Uh so kids of Parks Day takes place May 16th. Uh we have over 20 parks in our city and this year we're going to be doing it at Metro Kuanas Park. Uh if you're not familiar with that, it is kind of centralized right here in Johnson City. Uh new last year there was new pickle ball courts, tennis courts. Um we're going to have some great community partners there to help us as well. Um JCPD will be there with Nice Swer as long as along with Sorba Tri Cities, Trek Johnson City will be there, Science Hill Lacrosse, and then JC Rugby will be there as well. It's a free event. I recommend you come on out. If you don't know about that park, it's the perfect day to come out and explore and look forward to seeing you there. Anything else? Thank you. Thank you guys so much. [applause]

I'll pat you on the head.

Mayor, the next proclamation is building safety month. We have Brian Ross and the building services staff here with him. Everybody should go to the I love JC Parks website and fill out the survey. The feedback is really helpful for parks and reccks to know where they're doing well at, but also where they can improve. So, just to remind everybody that while you come up. Well, how are all you guys? Um, got one one last one that's a little heavy on on proclamations today, but um, whereas May is recognized as building safety month, an annual worldwide campaign presented by the International Code Council, raising awareness about the critical role of building codes and safeguarding our community. And whereas building safety month provides an opportunity to educate residents and businesses about the importance of building codes, the role of the city's building services department in enforcing them and the ways these efforts protect our community from hazards while supporting sustainable growth. And whereas so far this year, the city's building services department has performed more than 5,000 inspections, and we're 5 months in, I think, processed over 1,400 permits demonstrating its continued commitment to public safety, responsible development, and the well-being of all who live, work, and play in Johnson City. And whereas May 13th specifically is recognized as World Facilities Management Day, which honors the dedicated facilities technicians across the profession, including those in city's facilities management division who maintain our city's buildings, parks, and facilities. And whereas recognizing building safety month affirms the city's appreciation for the dedication and professionalism of building safety personnel who help ensure structures throughout the community are built strong and built to

last. Now therefore, I, Greg Cox, mayor of the city of Johnson City, Tennessee, do hereby proclaim May Building Safety Month in Johnson City, Tennessee, and encourage all residents to recognize the vital role of inspecting, permitting, and facility staff play in keeping our community safe. And just seeing those numbers, sometimes I realize I need to be more patient when I'm waiting for things through department. So, 1400 permits, and that's that's reviewing a lot of plans. And you know, when you look at how big some plans are for some some commercial structures, I don't know how you keep them all straight. Um, but we all really appreciate you and appreciate how you guys are evolving with the city and looking for new ways to keep our customer service as top-notch and um, I really love how you guys are stepping up in all of that area. Would you care to share a few things? Brian,

thank you, Mayor. I just want to tell you a little bit about these the the group of folks that these uh that they that we represent here. We really have a couple of groups. We have our facilities management uh team, a couple representatives of there uh and our custodians and they are charged with making sure our municipal buildings are secure and safe and clean and and uh available, accessible to to the general public as well as city employees. Um they also work with other departments, park and wreck, uh public works, water and sewer. They have facilities uh staff, schools, uh they collaborate to just just make sure that all those facilities are running well. And then we also have our uh building division I refer to as our building safety division. And those are our permit technicians and inspectors and um code enforcement officers and also work in conjunction with our fire marshall and those fire prevention officers. And these are this is these folks are part of the reason that when you go to bed in that home you just purchased or entertain on your back deck or shop in our stores, dine in our restaurants, um worship in our churches, send your kids to school that you don't have to worry so much about the structural integrity of those buildings or god forbid how to get out in an emergency because they help ensure that those buildings are designed and built according to the state and local standards that uh to protect you. So, not only are these folks technically proficient, they are committed to their roles and above all just great people and I'm proud to work with them every day. So, thank you all, [applause]

man. Thanks for your leadership and organization and you guys too and been here a long time serving the city. Thank you so much. Does anybody want to share anything?

Yeah, while you're coming back up, if I might say something to Chief Dy. Um, y'all got away before we could say anything here, so I wanted to jump right in here. A number of years ago, I went on a ride along. Um, and everything was going really smooth. It was kind of a quiet night until it was wasn't a quiet night. And, uh, we got a call and we went out on Cherokee Road. I won't tell you how fast we were going, but I was looking at the speedometer, but we went to a call and and there were four people who were committing a crime. And I think at least two of them had weapons. So I was down in the floor of the car by this time, you know. But it really made me think so hard about um what I experienced and to realize that our officers experience that every day and that every day our officers go out and it could be what this proclamation was about of loss of life. And so I just want to say thank you to the entire police force for the dedication for putting yourselves in harm's way to protect the citizens of this city and thank you for your leadership and the command staff that we have today. I really appreciate it and I won't I won't go out on another one of those rides, but uh but it was very meaningful to me and I wish people in our community could could get a better sense of that of what y'all go through. Thank you.

I would just echo that my ride along was similar. It was hours and hours of boredom interrupted by periodic adrenaline rushes. And I don't know that I could do that job, but uh those who do do it honorably. And um I think for residents particularly, go on a ride along, go to the water and sewer treatment plant and go to Iris Glenn because there's a whole side of what goes on in our community that makes our community possible that you don't recognize exists um most days of the week. And that's to the credit of the people who do that work. And you can get it all in if you take Johnson City 101. Go to all the departments. We'll put a plug in for them there.

Yeah. Um, one thing that I learned during my ride along, um, just in in having just general conversation with the officer is how much they care about the work that they do. Um, how much they love our community. Um, but one thing I took away, um, from my evening with this, uh, young officer is he talked a lot about his family. And I don't think that we can even understand the feeling that some of these family members feel when they watch you put on those those uniforms. So, um, in addition to our incredible, uh, police officers, also the sacrifice that their families make. Um, you all are in my prayers. I appreciate the work that you do and and thank you for doing what you do to keep our community safe. I'm going to chime in

with uh I had to do one of my things I'm learning how to be better at and that's give a few talks and I did one yesterday and I don't um I it echoes what Commissioner Wise just said about a a theme that Warren Buffett carried out through his life was the invisible work and that's kind of the idea that really um all the invisible work that goes on around that no one sees and that's because it's running so well and that water and sewer and police. A lot of that reminds me of that is we it's the invisible work. We have no idea how complicated it is to get water from our Uniccoy County, three different springs all the way to Johnson City and pumped up to 18 different towers and um but then just to manage a police department of 150 policemen and um that invisible work that we don't realize is going on is because it's going on well. So, thank you for that. Commissioners, the next item on the agenda is public comment on on the agenda. We have one person signed up, Cindy Humphrey, to speak on item 8.1, which is the Antioch Road development.

Good evening. How is everybody today?

Um, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, thank you, Cindy Humphrey, 3102 Vixsburg. I forgot to say that. Sorry. Um during the second reading there were several questions brought up by citizens as well as some of the commissioners and I was wondering if they were answered prior to this meeting. The first one was um has the 501c3 been researched by the city attorney? I know he was just handed that two weeks ago and I didn't expect him to be able to do anything. I mean he had just handed that paper. though. Um, and I understand it's a land use decision and not a development issue and that if the plan development is not in line with that 501c3 if it actually does exist, then that's a different requirement. But why would you authorize a land use that goes against that 501c3 if it really exists? Again, it's happenence. We don't know if it exists. Um, a citizen asked also all the commissioners minus Vice Mayor Brock because she praised you for already being there. Um, if they had looked at the property and if not, would they do that before they make a decision? So, I just was wondering if that happened. Also, we had talked about the process used um to inform the citizens and we were told that it was according to state statute and that Commissioner Weise had asked about possibly looking into discussing that for future reasonzoning issues. So, I was wondering if that had been discussed yet as well. Um it was discussed by several people about the grade within the the development being 11%. Um but in the physical features of the reszoning it states that it's a gradual slopes gradually 60 ft downward towards the northern border northern border. How can it be gradually and be 11%. So, there's a little disconnect there. Um, with the and I know Commissioner Gets was talking about um the bus stop, and that's what I'm really concerned about.

Um, with a new bus stop on Antioch Road that has no shoulders and no sidewalks, where will the students wait for this new bus stop? Also, with that hefty grade, and I'm going to use hefty because 11% is a pretty hefty grade. These students are not going to be walking to that bus stop, which means the parents are going to be there in their cars waiting for this bus. So, it begs the question, where are all those cars going to wait for this buses? Was that considered in that traffic study that was referenced in here as well? They they did reference adding a new bus stop, but what about all the extra for the people waiting for these buses? Um, and Vice Mayor Brock brought up that she often, you know, travels through Antioch Road, um, because she lives in the area, but well, you had mentioned that you come over Semon and you hang a right, but this property that we're talking about is to the left. Um, and it's farther down. And another part of that is it's at the bottom of a hill. Um, which also poses safety concerns for those waiting for that new bus stop with no shoulders and no sidewalks. Thanks, Cindy. You had that time to the tea, I think.

Well, I had a little bit more, but that's okay. [laughter] Thank you. Thanks, commissioners. The next item for consideration is the consent agenda. Instructor, my right, see if there's anything we want to pull. Commissioner Fowler.

No, sir. Yes. poll uh 6.1.3 and um 6.4.1. Commissioner Weise, I would ask to pull 6.1.2 just so Miss Rice can discuss what that is and how we have our plan structured. And Commissioner gets might have already been mentioned. Thank you. Well, I think those are the ones 6.1. So, item three. I'm excited about that. Okay,

mayor. Item 6.1.2 is to consider approval of the renewed stop loss insurance contract with Blue R, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Company. I think our HR director is here. Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, and all of our city staff. Good to be here with you tonight. Did you have questions for me specifically? Yeah, if you would just describe what this stop-loss insurance does and how it marries up with the way we do health insurance, just for those who may be interested in those sorts of things.

Absolutely. Uh stop off stoploss insurance is a reinsurance product through blue re which is a blue cross blue shield of Tennessee company. It's a secondary insurance for the city since we are self um self-pay. We we are not fully insured. We are responsible for the cost of all of our claims for all of our covered members. So, what this does is if we have a claim that reaches 350,000 or more, then the stop-loss insurance will kick in and will cover the claim from that point going forward. We did unfortunately have $2 million plus claims over this past fiscal year and the renewal was up a little bit um 16% but I will say the city we have pretty healthy folks. Uh we that's the first time I think that we have had to use the stop-loss. Um I'm not sure if it was ever or if it was many many years ago that that was actually brought into. We did go to market uh with our broker to check other insurers to make sure that we were you know making a fiscally sound decision and either they were at the max increase that the law allows at 50% of our premium or they declined to bid. So that's why we stayed with Blue Re.

And what is the advantage to the city in essentially self-insuring up to that stop loss coverage? It it controls the um the scope of liability that the city has. We know that we could be on the hook for any one person up to this amount and we try to keep it at 350. And I think it is generally cheaper to self-insure than if we were to go to Blue Cross and try to buy a plan that does what our self- insurance does. Generally speaking, in my experience, yes, very much so. Especially for an organization this size, but it also gives us more flexibility to design a plan that fits our population.

Population. Absolutely. That it does give us a lot of leeway if we were somehow unfortunately forced to go on to the state plan. And I'm using air quotes here like um some of the other um places have had to do. It takes away all of our decision- making and pretty much whatever happens, whatever increases that they say that we're getting, we're getting. You know, at least with this, I can go back to our broker and ask them to sharpen their pencils.

Yeah. Also, as being self-funded, we've elected to um have a clinic, an employee clinic where they can go for smaller items or be triaged for something else. That has really been something that it get gets people to some health care earlier, I think, because the convenience of it. Is that that a correct statement? That that is a very correct statement, Miss Brock. Um, our utilization for our healthcare clinic runs in the high 80s for appointment utilization. That place operates like a a well greased wheel. So for flu, you resp chronic illnesses on

we can do labs, vaccinations, the whole nine yards. The only thing they don't have x-ray equipment. Yeah. Other than that, they can pretty much, you know, triage you, take care of you. You're in and out in 20 minutes most of the time with a medication that you may need in your hand and that's it. Well, as you're saying, we have fairly healthy employees and I think the the whole plan together with the health clinic probably helps helps individuals make choices that um help keep them. I definitely think so. When that's a Z co-ay and you get the level of care that you receive at that health clinic, um yeah, it's a great thing. It's a great recruitment tool for working here at the city

and looking into it and the expense and trying to look at uh what we spend on having a nurse practitioner on staff and and what they do and what it would cost to have the say people going to the doctor and have to sit and wait. Um there's a tremendous cost savings there and then also just not having the admin fees that blue cross that that would be running through the insurance company. There's no profit margin that we're trying to make. gets a net neutral and take care of our employees. So, it's really impressive what what HR's put together for for them. So, thank you. Long before I came, but thank you. Yeah, you manage it well. Okay.

And next item for discussion is consider approval of a memorandum of understanding between the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, better known as Sorba, and the city of Johnson City. We have Dr. Maggie Darden here for this item. Hello, mayor, vice mayor, commissioner, city management. [clears throat] I have with me I'm Dr. Maggie Darden, planning and project manager with the parks and recreation department. And I have with me Abraham McIntyre, who's the executive director of Sorbetry Cities, and Roy Sawyer, who is our build partner with American Ramp Company. And we'd be happy to answer questions that you might have about this project. I think it'd be just uh good to do a high level overview of of of the project and then where we are in the process and of course uh for me personally what's the timeline [laughter] to completion.

Um well I'll I'll give you the high level overview. So um we have a park that currently exists called Tannery Knobs that's um in purpose for mountain biking. Um we have intermediate and advanced trails with a little bit of beginner in there. And so we have a a need in um our system to have some beginner and intermediate progression to get people to that advanced level. Um and so we have some amazing community partners who step forward to help us meet that need. Um Grant Summers who donated the property where Lower Tannery and Upper Tannery are both located. um who have has worked with Abraham um very very um closely to kind of guide the process. Um we also have a partner with Rotary Club of Johnson City who have um fundraised money to help us with a bicycle playground which is a skills progression course feature that allows people to work on their mountain biking skills not necessarily in a high-risk area on the mountain so they can get comfortable with that. and that's for people of all ages who are interested in trying out mount biking as a sport. Um, so I just that's an overview of our partners. Um, I'll let Abraham talk a little bit more about the grant that he's received, which is an amazing grant.

Uh, good evening. Uh, one, just thank you all for believing in this project for so long. Um, some of you have been advocating for this for a long time. So, um, we appreciate that. We um I've been a year in my role with uh with Sorba as executive director and um was at a conference and heard about this project diabetes grant through the Tennessee Department of Health. Um basically had two tracks. One was healthy food and one was healthy uh spaces to get people moving and we fit very well into that. Knew that this would be a good spot for Tannery for those funding. So it's a three-year $450,000 grant. So we um can spend up to $150,000 per year for that. So, we've scheduled that out over the next three years um in coordination with the fundraising that we did with Rotary for their um $350,000 that they'll be putting into the project. And so, um so there will be um we are starting and as Royy's here, really excited that he's here. Um but ARC will be starting in June um breaking ground on that and we'll be starting on a small um skills um loop around the upper pump track and so we'll be able to finish that and then work on the other trails through the woods as the design and process is working with Rotary on the the rotary bicycle playground on the lower section. um they are very busy uh and so we're excited that we got into their uh into their design uh phase, but they also their build out of their the wood and uh steel features are about four to six months out. So the bicycle playground portion, the rotary bicycle playground will be into the fall, probably into the spring of that actual uh buildout and finish. Um but we'll be able to um open some of our the first phase of our project diabetes funds uh which will be that top section and then we've got connector trails that will be connecting the top portion of the um the park with the lower uh section and as April Norris the director of parks and rec shared she said it's great to have this the beginner stuff but we want to be able to advance up the mountain and so really

taking that on. Is it safe to say, Abraham, that the Lord tannery will also be a place where if people don't want to advance their mountain biking skills, they just want to bring their their small children over to play. That that's going to be a place that's safe. It's u fenced in places where the parents can sit and watch and just turn them loose and let them just pedal their legs off.

Absolutely. And actually, I had I had that thought um Commissioner Brock about two weeks ago. I really wanted to go to Tannery and my wife was not home and so I had the both boys and I was like it's just like I want to go ride but they just don't have the greatest spot to be by themselves yet. One would be fun but the other and I just had this moment of like oh my gosh I'm so excited to be able to go to Tannery. They can ride the beginner pump track. They can ride the rotary bicycle playground. I can go do my laps, come back and know that it's a great space on top of having green spaces there that we're working with parks and wreck very closely with to design out. They've got pavilions. And so this is not just a just as rotary or just as tannery right now is not just mountain biking. There's hikers and runners and and also just people that go up and see one of the best views in Johnson City. Um some people even take Christmas card uh pictures up there. Um and so to be able to have a space that is truly and I think this is the I think the main point that we want to make too is that um these are these are multiple partners coming together to build out to fully build out Tanner Knobs to what it was always uh dreamed to be um when Grant brought this up to us 10 years ago. And so this is we're bringing all the partners together. Um there's different funding sources. There's a lot of different ideas and partners um but really building out this one space for for it to be um inclusive for for all.

Well, it's great to about the grant um kind of who all participated in putting this grant together to to win it like you did. That's great. I know we did one originally for the pump track.

Yes, the pump track in 2019 was um the healthy built environment through project IB or through the Tennessee Department of Health. Um, and actually when we were doing the RFP process for this latest funding, um, there was a builder, trail builder, and when I kind of shared our story, he said, "I'm sorry, did you say you got health money to build trails?" And I said, "I did." And I said, "We hope to get tourism money and economic development money and, um, quality of place, uh, which is so important here." And so really looking at all the different, uh, avenues for funding to build out projects here in Johnson City, but across the region as well. Yeah.

Well, and I just that's a lot of money. $450,000 grant, Rotary coming up with 350 and Mr. Summers donating land, but you also your time and you know, time's a resource you can't buy. And I uh this is an asset for a community that we need to take advantage of more. And I totally agree with you. I was there on Saturday with my 5-year-old who was tired of the upper green loop. And I'm like, well, we'll do the next one. And he screamed the whole way down and [laughter] bounced on every corner. I'm like, well, there'll be some, you know, by the time he's ready for the smaller stuff, he might be o over it by then. But thank you and just encourage you to stay motivated with Sorba and figure out how to link all of our assets together and tell the story of because right there tannery knob I mean you could ride bikes a lot of directions from that spot and so encourage you to just keep doing what you're doing and I'd also just like to thank public works as well. um they have made it come alive and so one of I had a moment um we always thought it was going to be at the bley pad thing shifted so we got over here and I was a little bummed about that but really when you walk out this I was down here just today and we walked out and you just look up you're going to be able to see bikes and people and having fun right out the back door from this building so it's really amazing um how all those assets are coming together so again thank you all so much

and Abraham there are a couple things that I wanted to make sure we emphasize you talked about the partnership which I think is huge huge. Um, but all of these groups coming together to create something that you had you and many others had a great vision for that's going to enhance um our community in a way that that we wouldn't have had. But it's it's government, it's nonprofits, it's, you know, individuals and private businesses. And I think it could be a model for how we can look at solving some of our our problems and challenges and opportunities. So, I commend you. I commend others, but I I really think we don't want to lose the vision of of partnership with uh lots of different folks to make Johnson City um even more special. So, thank you for that.

I'll get on my because this is a subject I could talk about forever, but placemaking is super important to me and communities that have done it well have had people like you step up and do it and then the government and can can help and aid. Um, but it's it's something that when you got a community that steps into it, it's when you get really good quality projects. Um, and so it's a great example of that. And I know we have a lot of people in our community that want to support different things. They don't know how. We had somebody give a million-dollar fire truck. And I think we are looking at at an option for an avenue to help people that want to do placemaking, maybe be able to steer them in the right direction and have not quite so much in for for lack of a better word, the bureaucratic process. And I don't mean to but in reality when you guys come together and do it and we can aid it really can move quick and be successful. So encourage others to do it too.

I do do. Okay. Sorry. Yes. Thank y'all commission. The next item that was requested information about is the award of our financial and compliance audit to Blackburn children's deall.

Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. I'm Stephanie Laos. I'm gonna answer any questions you have about the audit contract. Yeah, I'm the one that pulled that. Um I just just kind of a little bit of overview that that we bid out this process uh every several years. Um we we are a big account to audit. Is that a correct statement? Absolutely. Very much so. And so uh Blackman Children and Stal have um been a support partner with us for many years and knows the city business quite quite well. So yes,

I just wanted to kind of bring that to the attention. and I see m Miss Dal Jones sitting over there and say thank you for all the the help and work. And a couple of years ago, I think it was your first year um Miss Laos that you came in and we were converting to the financial software that was that made it a very challenging year. Yes, ma'am. And they they helped out a lot with that.

And we hope to make it a lot easier this year the way it's been the last two years and be on time and everything. We had three three firms uh submit proposals to us and uh Blackburn was the the the local choice and they definitely met all the the needs that we we wanted that we had uh were were most important to us. Okay. Thank you. With that is can I entertain a motion? Motion to approve. Second. Miss Lass, you call the role. Commissioner Fowler, yes. Commissioner Gats, yes. Commissioner Weise, yes. Vice Mayor Brock, yes. Mayor Cox,

yes.

Commissioners, the next item is um item 7.1, which is to consider the approval of resolution delegating authority to the Johnson City Housing Authority to enter into a pilot agreement and approval of a pilot agreement between the city, the Johnson City Housing Authority, and Fair View Apartments. Good evening, mayor, commissioners. I'm Alicia Summers, assistant city manager. I'm here tonight with a request for a payment in lie of tax on behalf of the Johnson City Housing Authority. Uh, and we've been through these several times uh with the Industrial Development Board as the primary carrier on these. So, this one's a little bit different in that this time it's the housing authority. So, the subject property uh is on East Fairview and Steel Street. It was originally built by the housing authority in the 1950s. It's 8.2 acres and it was used for low-income housing using those HUD housing vouchers. Uh formerly there were [clears throat] 25 buildings and 60 individual units and that property was vacated in 2020. So these are a few uh slides images of the current condition of the property. There's been, I believe, three fires uh there since 2020. Additionally, the police department and the fire department [clears throat] have both used that for some training. And uh when this uh project gets moving, they expect demo to begin in July. [snorts] So, the project itself again is to demolish those buildings that are on that 8.2 acre site. They'll create 96 new residential units. Those will be uh in uh 20 I'm sorry in four buildings. Uh and they are a mixture of 1, two, three and four bedroomedroom units. Uh they'll be one singlestory common building that'll be used for the office and the

clubhouse. The construction materials are 50% brick and then Hardy board. Uh the project has a total capex of about almost $25 million. There'll be uh wheelchair accessible units as well as units equipped for the audio and visually impaired. They anticipate the completion to be in October of 2028. Here's an image of the concept plan of the site. You can see there's four main buildings and then that small smaller building in the middle is that clubhouse and office space. This is another overhead image. There'll also be additional amenities on the project. There'll be bike racks, a new children's playground, again the community center, free laundry for the residents, a covered mail kiosk, and a community garden. Um, and just a note, too, that the current size of the residents that are over in Keystone in a one-bedroom unit, they're in about 500 square ft. These one-bedroom units are at 785 square ft. So substantially larger. And like our other report our other pilots that we've entered into through the IDB, uh this one will also have a reporting requirement. So they'll be recorded uh required to report those uh characteristics uh annually on September 1st of each year. And then there's also a non-compliance which we're all used to seeing uh that if they do not comply then they'll pay 100% of the property taxes for that particular year. And again as I mentioned this one is going through the Johnson City Housing Authority. So it has a little bit different process. Uh it has already been through the Washington County Board

of Commissioners. that was on April 27th where they approved their uh their actions through a resolution. And uh tonight what we're asking is um for a sorry uh delegation of authority to the housing uh to the housing authority to negotiate and enter into pilot agreements and also to approve the pilot between Johnson City Housing Authority and Fairview Apartments. So, the authorization for this one comes initially through a cooperation agreement that uh Washington County and uh the city commission entered into with the Johnson City Housing Authority in 2016. And what that did was uh enter into an agreement not to levy taxes with the housing authority. And it also included uh a portion where 10% of the shelter rent that the housing authority um receives gets paid to the city of Johnson City to offset the cost of services. And we've seen this uh slide before on other pilots uh for housing. Uh the benefits of these kind of improvements on the quality of life for residents have a positive social impact. It improves their quality of life, promotes good physical and mental health, and fosters better self-esteem. This falls in line with our 2026 strategic plan with the priorities quality of place and economic vitality. It also supports the horizon 2045 plan under the strong neighborhoods chapter. So for your consideration this evening is a resolution delegating authority to the housing authority to negotiate and accept payment in lie of taxes and also approve the pilot agreement between the housing authority and fair view

apartments. We also have Sam Edwards here with the housing authority if anybody has any specific questions for Sam. So Alicia, um and maybe Sam wants to come and answer this. Um the um one of one of the missions of the housing authority is um housing replacement. Most of the housing that has everybody's familiar with in Johnson City was built in the 1950s and and at that time it was we build these cookie cutter, you know, brick twotory or or townhouse units that all look alike and that's where people who need rent assist are going to live. And so the the um the improvements in that mission is to build higher quality of housing. Do you want to talk just a little bit about that Sam? And uh that even though we're not getting any net plus housing, what you're going to accomplish in what you're doing?

Yes, ma'am. So if you consider the units that we currently have in Keystone, um as you said, built in the 1950s. So, um it's a struggle to maintain those buildings. Um the current infrastructure is failing in those buildings. Um our maintenance team do an excellent job. Um but they can only do so much. So, what this will do will excuse me have brand new units for 96 families to move over from Keystone. Once those are um vacated, people are moved over, we then will work on replacing the Keystone units themselves, the entire property all all together. So, um you're talking going from units that are, you know, can't meet ADA compliance, um different things like that that um you know, walls that are plaster walls and and things that are just beyond repair. Um even though you know our team does an excellent job at what they do, but um it can only last so long and um this is a very needed uh step for our property, our community and and I think it'll be a big benefit.

Is there central heat and air in the Keystone units or There are or but that was put in later, right? Yes. Yeah, that was adapted in but they do they do have heat and air. Absolutely. Sam, the model where you leave buildings standing idle while you build another building and then you move the people, is that a local decision or where where is that process coming from?

It's completely based on funding. So once a property is vacated, HUD still has ownership of the property. So we still have to go through certain channels to get that removed from the property. Um once we do that, HUD has several tools that we use to try to move people around to create new units. Now, they don't have any funding that they offer to build new units. So, that's where we go to the state and apply for tax credits, and that's what we've done in this situation. So, um the demolition can be a little bit faster, um at some times as long as HUD approves that. and and just to kind of there's there's a whole area of the city I haven't been able to understand as much but you've got kind of the HUD vouchers with properties right so we can't really get new more vouchers than we have right so we can't be adding because at first I was like well why don't we just add units and deal with what we have I think it's better than but we can't really get an increased number of vouchers so for replacing the units.

Yes. Is that correct?

Yeah. HUD has no method and and no no plans on issuing additional vouchers or additional assistance. Most housing authorities as we are doing are moving away from public housing assistance and moving more toward a voucher system uh a true voucher system that um has more stable funding and higher levels of funding. So, um, beyond that, what we try to do is to build additional units that, um, we can either use the vouchers that we have on the HCV side, um, or we can just try to rent those at a lower a lower cost, a lower rent, um, than you would see in the private market. So, we're doing a we're doing a pretty good job with that. Uh, we've built several units over the past few years. Um, we're currently working on 10 new new units that we're going to add to the community right now. So,

so you doing those kind of projects? You and I talked about this when we got together, but uh those project you're looking for vacant land. Absolutely. In Johnson City or infill building projects where you might put a a duplex or triplex. Yes, ma'am. And and it could be rented at a lower market price. Yeah. Without vouchers. Yeah, absolutely. We have funding. We have different mechanisms and uh we use our nonprofit development on Keystone Development to do most of those projects. So, trying to add additional units um that we can somehow rent at a lower cost. Thank you.

Absolutely. Thank you. Move approval. Second, Miss Louse. Commissioner Commissioner [clears throat] Fowler. Yes. Commissioner Gats, yes. Commissioner Weise, yes. Vice Mayor Brock, yes. Mayor Cox, yes.

The next item for consideration is to is the purchase and sale agreement between the city of Johnson City and Lisa No for Culver's franchise for Mike Flowers Real Estate LLC for property located at zero sales avenue in the former Optimus Park, which consists of plus or minus 1.88 acres. Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, uh, Miss Ball. I'm Steve Willis, deputy city manager. The item you have before you this evening is a purchase and sale agreement uh between the city for the former Optimus Park, one of the lots there designated as lot 3B. This agreement is for a total selling price of $1,125,000. and to orient the commission on where this is located. Uh this is of course north state of Franklin, the intersection of Sales Avenue, the Publix grocery store sits about here. This is an ETSU medical facility here, then Caring Hearts Cardiology on either side of North State of Franklin. So the parcel lies in the area that's highlighted in green here with the arrow. I'm happy to have Miss Lisa Nooks here with us this evening who would like to share with the commission prior to your vote what her plans are for this parcel. I believe both she and and her family are here with her and I will let her share some fantastic news. I don't want to steal her thunder. So, Miss Nos, if you'd like to come up to the podium that thank you for being here and thanks for listening to us talk for a while and we're

Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure

excited to hear about what your plans are. Good evening, Johnson City city commissioners, city manager, assistant city managers, and city staff. My name is Lisa Nos, and I'm honored to be here tonight as a resident of Johnson City and hopefully a future business owner. For the last 25 years, I've worked in marketing for a variety of businesses, including nonprofits. And yet, I've always felt there was so much more I could do for myself, my family, and my community. Last April, I decided to take the first step toward becoming a Culver's owner operator by filling out Culver's online application. After many interviews and even more paperwork, I'm blessed to be standing here in front of you tonight with my parents and my daughters sitting behind me. When I was awarded a Culver's franchise, the next step was to choose a territory. We knew we wanted to live in this area of the country, but we hadn't landed on exactly where. Last June, we visited Johnson City for the first time, and immediately we knew this is where we wanted to build our future. Beautiful mountains, a great school system, a vibrant downtown, a premier regional university, and a tight-knit, welcoming community, just to name a few of Johnson City's greatest features. Although, I know I don't have to convince you. Johnson City is a beautiful family-friendly community and I may be biased, but I also think it's the perfect community for Culver's. Culver's is not just a restaurant. It's a gathering place for the entire community. Place to hang out with friends after football games, take a break while running errands, stop for a visit after church, or grab food through the drive-through during your lunch hour. It's also a great place to make memories. I look forward to serving up great food, excellent service, and genuine hospitality. And more importantly, I look forward to being an asset to our community by providing good jobs, community vitality, and by giving back in many ways. As you prepare to vote on

selling property located at State of Franklin and Cells Avenue, thank you for your consideration tonight, and thank you for being a part of my journey. Thank you. Thanks for being here, too. I said that has to be your your parents sitting there with the Culver's t-shirt on. Yes. My daughters Violet and Iris for my flowers. Oh, hi.

Happy to have all of them here with us this evening. In terms of process, commissioners, once or should you elect to approve this purchase and sale agreement, then an earnest deposit would be made in the amount of $20,000 that would start the due diligence process on this property, which could last up to 150 days. And there are extensions possible if we run into any roadblocks, which we do not anticipate. At that point in time, once we have a closing date set, we would bring an ordinance back before this commission that would require three readings in order us in order for us to convey the property. I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Sorry to get you all the way back to your seat then to ask my question. Do you have a sense of how long the process will go to where how long does it take to build a culver and get one open? About five to six months. So once we go through the due diligence period, we should be able to break ground November. Okay. So at this time next year is when we plan to leave open a year. I mean my only my only disappointment is you're really far from my office, [laughter] but but I'll make the trip. Joe, nothing is far in Johnson City. [laughter] Yeah, that's true. Um well, do we have any questions or can I entertain I'd make a motion to approve.

I'll second. Slouse. Commissioner Fowler. Yes. Commissioner Gats. Yes. Commissioner Weise. Yes. Vice Mayor Brock. Yes. Mayor Cox. Yes. And just reiterate that um this accomplishes a lot of things that I love to see, but um the city has some land that has better uses and this is the perfect use for it. And I think I played right field in that T-ball field all the time. Right. Probably. and had plenty of ice cream afterwards. So, it's neat to see things kind of evolve in the community. So, you would like to honor that as much as you can have green space. Should have mentioned that when I was speaking and um just do something in the restaurant to honor what that space.

Yeah, that sounds great. Well, thank you. Will uh let me just ask Will will the Culver's face state of Franklin? Not sure yet. Okay. We're looking at the plans right now. So as soon as we purchase civil engineers out there looking at all that right now. Thank you. And Miss Nooks, thank you so much for choosing Johnson City as your home and where you want to build your business. I think your comments um it it really resonates. Um but also I hope others uh in other parts of of our country see the same thing in Johnson City that you did. So, thank you for those kind remarks.

Commissioners, the next order of business is to consider ordinance 4938-26. This is the third and final reading for reszoning of zero Antioch Road development from A1 to RP2.

Mayor, Vice Mayor, Commissioners, Riley Pony, development coordinator. There have been no changes and staff still recommends approval. I do have a couple questions and I want to acknowledge Miss Humphrey's um presentation to us well organized and all. I don't know from a legal standpoint if it's our responsibility to um verify or not verify the status of the will. Um have we had a chance to look at that or Okay, I can speak to that. Okay,

we did receive the will and I asked Carl McInurf who handled some real estate matters for the city and I thought he had been involved with this. It was Bulis Snider Rose's will. He did review that and he gave me back the opinion that he did not think that the 501c3 designation affected the real estate. there were some other assets in the will that he thought that that restriction on how those funds were spent, but that it did not did not affect the real estate. And I I would remind the commission that even even if there were some restrictions with the land, that's not really a consideration when you are looking at the resoning of the property. But we did look into the will and that was uh his opinion that that again did not affect the real estate in the situation. And Miss Pundy, if I could ask a question. My understanding and maybe if you can do you happen to have the site plan somewhere in the slide deck. Um my understanding is that the development would have sidewalks basically from beginning to end in the development and that the school bus stop was at the entrance to the development. The proposed school bus stop was it the entrance and Antioch? Is that correct?

Yes. So the new school bus entrance would be at Antioch where the proposed development the entire road system inside would be built to local road standards which would include sidewalks on both sides. So there it effect would be a sidewalk to the point of boarding the bus. Correct. So it's not

No. Oh, I'm sorry.

So, um, with Antioch not having sidewalks, then the bus is going to have to stop and they'll have to go from the end of the sidewalks of the neighborhood to to catch the bus through a shoulder or something like that. It would be really great though if we could approach the um developer of this project to uh clear a spot so that the gathering of the students could could be safe and not standing on Antioch. So I would kind of put that in as a as a request. The other point Sunni brought up was the 11% um incline or decline, but that was that was the um stub road up at the very top, wasn't it? Correct. just that road going up for now when it comes down what does it turn into you know does it go down to 5% or 2% or flat or whatever

but that's what I recall from from the 11% and I and I commented on that that's pretty pretty steep access but those kids will not have to be excuse me the students will not have to go up there because they won't be catching the bus from up there

correct When you compare, sometimes we get these requests and we're dealing with a parcel that has a use that is maybe a gradation different than what's around it. You know, we're we're looking at town homes adjacent to single family. This is proposed to be single family in an area that's full of single family. How would the density of this particular neighborhood as far as houses per acre, how does the density of this neighborhood compare to the neighborhoods around it in terms of the number of houses per acre?

Sure. So, the proposed density for this development would be roughly 1.9 units per acre, which is under the average of the existing surrounding ones. Um, the existing developments average about 2.2 units per acre. Um, and we can see on the map here, the property in question is depicted at nine as number nine, and you can see the surrounding subdivisions and their units per acre. Um, and it does come below that average. Do you have a picture just of the zoning, the current zoning map that's more just like the colorcoded map in that deck? I bet she does.

There it is. That's simple. I and so the green depiction is A1 agriculture and then your yellow your darker yellows your RP3s and your lighter yellow is your low density R2s

and so Miss Humphrey you know I appreciate saying that and I I did go to the site and I hesitant to walk too much around on um but and it's it is beautiful woods and changes hard. But when we're looking at zoning and the zoning that we've seen, that really changes the character between neighboring neighborhoods and you know that is a consideration. But when you look at what could currently go in agriculture and currently go there, it could be way more um dense or just noxious as a term, a planning term I think of of feed lots and you could have pigot. There's just a lot of things that can happen in A1 that really don't reflect the residential around it. And it is hard to think that when you see the woods and how it's laid out there, but the reality is a lot could happen without anybody say so right now at all. Um, and so I I appreciate seeing something with not quite so much um that changing the density between the neighbors that we've been used to seeing lately. I think this one is is more in line with what's around it. Just my two thoughts. I do I um when when you do have these access points that are old and neighbors are there, I mean, I can appreciate that change is hard, too. And I do think um that the sidewalk there, I would like to kind of stay a conversation. It might even be better for them neighbors, you know, on that portion. I don't want to I I have my own you mentioned I think sometimes sidewalks are overly uh required. This is a situation where I think it still might need to stay a part of the conversation if there's a reason for it to be there or

just when we think about a land I think sometimes we get presented these questions and people think we're deciding between trees and 48 houses. What we're really deciding is the propriety of land use. And so if somebody come and said, I want to put an industrial light industrial site there, it would be totally out of keeping with everything that's around it. And we would make a land use decision to say that's probably not what should happen here. But we can't re we can't use our authority to regulate land use to tell somebody they're not allowed to develop their property. Is that an accurate statement?

That would be correct. Yes. And so what we're left with is trying to decide what is or is not appropriate relative to our broader plans for development and this particular property in relation to all the properties around it.

And so I understand that there are reservations. You know, I've lived in a neighborhood where something was happening directly behind me or down the street from me and it is disruptive. At the same time, when I think about a number of the requests that we've had over the years where you're dealing with single family abuing some sort of denser multifamily, this is a really nice transition because it's actually slightly less dense than what's around it and it's single family. And so with that thought, I appreciate the concerns folks have, but I think this is kind of the optimal outcome in relation to all of the other outcomes that could happen. So I would make a motion to approve

before we'll get a second. We'll have discussion, I think. And I tonight, we are just approving the reszoning. Correct. that going from A1 to RP2. But if they decide to to go ahead with their plan, does that come back to y'all and come back to us again to vote on what they're putting there? So, if the reasoning goes through tonight, the concept plan that they have provided becomes binding. And so, that would be the first step in the development process where then would be a preliminary plat, construction plans, and final plat. Any deviation that is deemed significant from the provided concept plan would go through the planning commission and city commission again.

Okay? Because I'd really like to see sidewalks also going out to the bus stop area with a space for them to wait for the bus for safety's reasons. So I don't mind approving this to change, but I'd really like to make sure we have safety for the kids going to the bus stop. So yeah, get we still have an open motion. I'll go ahead and make a second. Okay, I'll make a second. But I do have question one last question. Okay, we'll have discussion now. Okay, this is for state.

Just remind us one last time the traffic study, how many how many trips a day will be going in and out of the new addition? Now there's two. We don't we don't know which way they're going to go, but what was the addition of traffic? I don't have those exact numbers, but Anthony Todd is here. Here he comes.

I'm Anthony Todd, traffic engineering manager for the city. Um, we did have a traffic study done for this and there's a total of 693 uh trips. That's both in and out. Um so it's not 693 times 2 that is the combination of the in and out is 693 during the peak hours uh there would be 41 uh in the AM and 54 in the PM. So what they do is they analyze the adjacent intersections and the access points and they found that all of those would operate at a acceptable level of service at B. There's a level of service that goes from A to E. And so this would be a level of service B on the higher end.

Is that then that number is for the whole development and presumably it would split between two entrances or is there a way to put a weight on one entrance over another?

They do put a weight on it. uh they put more of the weight toward uh Walnut because there was more of a concern of the Walnut intersection with um Dresden and so they put more weight there to overemphasize that. Um and so even with that it still came back with a level of service B and that was the the lowest level of service that we had. Do they do they also look at the number of ways that a person can get to the part of town they want to go to? Because from from Antioch, I mean, you can go out to Walnut, you can also, if you're going west, you can go the other way and wind up in Jonesboro. You can cut through a neighborhood and get over to Greenwood. Uh so and then through Dresden over to Huffon Road I guess or and then out to Walnut. So there's several ways out of that and I'm sure the neighbors who live there now, you know, utilize those. I certainly do because I live not too far from there. But is that a consideration y'all?

It is. So they they split most of the traffic between uh Antioch going back out to Walnut and then Dresden going to Walnut. There were some also that went down um Signal Drive, I believe it is. um that goes back toward the university. So, they expected some some of the traffic to go more directly toward the university. Now, with the Burlington project that's going to go on, we're going to be making several um I'm looking at city man. We're going to be making a number of improvements over on Walnut around the Burlington project there. That's with additional traffic signals and things like that. Yes. Yes. Yeah. So, that's going to help.

It will. Are there any improvements at the intersection of Walnut and State of Franklin? Uh, yes, ma'am. There are our our public works crews. Do you want to answer that, Nick? Our public works crews are doing several intersection improvements from uh Walnut, State of Franklin up to and past the hospital. So, we do have designs currently in process to improve those intersections. Okay. And isn't there an improvement at um Walnut and Antioch as a part of the Burlington project signalizing it or widening it or Yes, sir. That's correct. We're widening Walnut, but we will have signalized intersection there at the new Antioch intersection.

Is Antioch going to go straight? We're going to straighten that out so you're not you're not crossing the railroad tracks at a 90 degree angle. Yes. as part of the Brush Creek development. It will be a new intersection um at grade crossing going directly across the middle of that development. Okay. Thanks. So, we've got a motion and a second. Any other discussion? All right. Miss L, you call the role. Commissioner Fowler, yes. Commissioner Gets, yes. Commissioner Weise, yes. Vice Mayor Brock, yes. Mayor Cox,

yes. Commission. The last formal item on the agenda is public comment under other. We have two individuals signed up for this item. The first is Coach Chris Karajio.

Hey, coach. And I'll just uh remind you got three minutes to speak on the subject. We got a new clock

board. Yep. You get the clock. Okay. uh Chris Karajio, Win Salbrook Lane, Johnson City. Uh first of all, I want to personally thank and commend Steve Willis and city staff for the excellent review and presentation uh that was made regarding the repairing the Freedom Hall pool and the possibility of proposed aquatic center this afternoon. Um I found it succinct, insightful, informative, factual, transparent, and very helpful. Uh the timeline that was presented was also excellent and gave all of us a perspective of what comes next. Commissioners, I want to thank you for your willingness to review the initially announced decision to permanently close Freedom Hall Pool and your willingness to put in the time, the conversations, the emails. I understand um that have have recognized the value that the pool still has for our community. This is the point I want to make. Many hours have been spent in meetings, discussions, correspondence since Freedom Hall was closed over two months ago on April the 4th. Now is the time for action. I urge the commission to task city staff to move forward with the bid process to repair Freedom Hall pool. This will give us a solid cost number and implementation timeline which in turn can then be used to firm up and approve appropriate financing which will then get us to the point where our community can once again benefit from Freedom Hall Pool and the

programs it will house. As always, I offer any expertise and support that I can in this endeavor. And I got a minute, so there's any questions, I'll be happy to answer. Song and dance, right? Thank you. That's probably the shortest talk I've ever given to ask my kids. Thank you very much. Yield yield your time to the floor, I guess. Is that how it works? Our next speaker is Bailey Townsen. Hi, Miss Townsen. Thanks for being here.

Well, for having me. Good evening, city commission, city management, and team and staff. My name is Bailey Townsen of Foron Circle, Johnson City, Tennessee. Um, I am a 2017 graduate of Science Hill High School. Um, I appreciated hearing from those earlier today during the work session meeting. Um, and I believe that you all understand the impact of Freedom Hall Pool, um, and what it has had on our community. And tonight, I wanted to share my own small piece of that story. Um, earlier this week, I ran into my old swim coach while I was at the community center helping a friend improve her swim technique. The interaction reminded me how deeply connected this community remains through swimming, not just in the water, but in life. Over the years, I have found myself connected to swimmers in countless ways. I've been involved in clubs and classes, worked alongside students and providers, taught swim lessons, met co-workers, restaurant staff, neighbors, and families who either swam themselves or had children who swim. Recently, a co-orker asked if we could stop abbreviating BSC because they immediately associated it with the Barracuda Swim Club. That speaks volumes about how this rooted program, how rooted this program is and the lasting presence it has in our community. I started as a barracuda swimmer, swam through middle school and high school and later swam for the ETSU swim club when a former teammate helped start the program. I was not a phenomenal swimmer, but I was a dedicated one. I worked hard, showed up every day for myself and for my team and learned discipline, accountability, and perseverance. That is what this community team and coaching staff has fostered for so many young people. a space where individuals could challenge themselves, experience discipline, build confidence, and learn how to balance school, sports, and life responsibilities. Nearly 10 years after graduating high school, I still have close relationships and friendships with former teammates. I have swimmers in my book club, my Bible study group, and I've attended weddings of former teammates. Freedom Hall Pool is more than a building, and swimming was more than a sport for me. It gave me the

foundation, determination, and work ethic to pursue difficult goals. And that shows through growth, commitment, and consistency even when things felt intimidating or out of reach. I sincere sincerely hope that this is a way to bring this budget to fruition and continue supporting this incredible program, Community Resource, and the generations of swimmers who will come after us. Thank you for your time and consideration tonight. um I wasn't able to um showcase my t-shirt quilt, so um I brought my swim scrapbook um starting in seventh and eighth grade. But thank you all again. That's awesome. Thank you.

So um I just kind of point of order, I guess. Um to to move forward with the bidding process, we don't really have to have a motion and put it on an agenda and have a motion to for that to happen. No, ma'am. It's okay. So, I think we made that pretty clear. Yeah. I mean, we haven't with this group, but Well, just to kind of clarify just what a process could look like now that we've gotten some great information

um and for people that came to speak and um so the city will put together a bid packet, send it out, um and hopefully we can get some on-site visits and get bids back and then we can review what they are, what they look like, what the scope is. And then the next step is to decide to fund that project or not. Right.

And I guess another point of information, we never announced permanently closing Freedom Hall. We announced closing Freedom Hall with no funding to fix it. And so that can sound permanent and it may be semantics, but I think the issue with the pool was the fundamental failings of the infrastructure were such that we would much rather have been dealing with this pool 10 years ago and have a more deliberate thoughtful approach. Unfortunately, we're getting to deal with it now [clears throat] with it a more immediacy. But just as a point of clarification, it was not a permanent closure. It was a closure without an identified plan for its repair and that remains still an open question as to how best to accomplish that

during a time where we had an aquatic study that required more discussion than a but I think it's worth just for those that are concerned as the coach would have heard earlier um you know if we go to bid it's probably six weeks before we actually even have something back. And so this, you know, you're getting to see government work in all of its imperfections. You know, this is not going to move as quickly as it would if we were just putting a pool in your yard because there's a whole lot of other uh rules and stakeholders related to procurement that have to be checked. So, um it is a priority, but it's going to take some time

and a determination of funding source as well. Well, if all things fall in place, we could see Mr. Willis, in nine months we're close. Is that correct? Yeah. It It's really this dead nine months from now. Not nine months from now. It'd be longer than the bid, right? 6 to9 months was build time and the bid bid just to lay it out for I think people were here, but it looked like two weeks it takes to put a bid package together, send a bid out. It typically is two to three weeks open time for the bid. We may keep it on the longer side to allow for on-site visits. Yes. So that's five, six weeks away.

Yes. Um and so there won't be a lot of update for the public until we can get that back because we won't know anything. Is that fair to say? That's very fair to say. And that is a public process. The bid would be posted on the city website. And then the respondents tab once we receive respondents is also posted on the city website under the purchasing department. And and we're not talking about optional site visits. I mean we're we're expecting any bidder to come and look at it because we don't want bids that are that's kind of flying blind. That's correct. That will be a requirement. Okay.

Well, with that I think that's for tonight. I will call the meeting adjourned.