City Council - Regular Meeting

Well, No. Neither.

I don't

know why that is, but it has to be through the city. I

was busy.

I I planned on going in there because something was coming.

It's 06:00 time for tonight's city council meeting. Before I call the meeting to order, there's a couple there are a couple items being removed from tonight's agenda. If you look at the end of the business, number 12, resolution twenty six twenty eight twenty three. Resolution twenty six twenty eight twenty three is being removed. And also number 13, resolution twenty six twenty eight twenty four. Twenty six twenty eight twenty four is also being removed. And so so we will not be taking up those items tonight. And with that, I will call this meeting to order. I'll ask Lee Clark to lead her invitation.

Our dear most gracious heavenly father, we just thank you for this day. Just thank you for all the many blessings that you give us each and every day. And, Lord, I just ask you to be with this council as they conduct business of the city tonight. Give them the wisdom and the direction that we wish for them to follow. Dear Lord, tonight, a special blessing on Jayden and his family and friends as the as the family deals with with him. In Jesus' name, pray. Amen.

Amen. Please face the flag.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America

and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

for all.

Hold on, please. Joy Connick. Here.

Jerry Ashley. Here. Camille Burdon. Here. Chris Crowell.

Here.

Chick Bryan. Here. Phil Moorhead.

Here.

Mayor Bill, you have a quorum.

Thank you. And we also have some minutes. The first, the January 28 work session. Motion approved. Second. I have a motion by councilor Morhead, second by councilor Crowell. Any discussion of those January 28 minutes? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Also from February 2 work session. Motion to approve. Second. Motion by councilor Carmack, second by councilor Crowley. Any discussion on those? All in favor, aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. And then from the February 3 regular call city council meeting.

Motion approved.

Motion by councilor Morehead, second by councilor Carmack. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Also tonight, casing some citizens. But before we do that, I wanna do something so do something special. We have a young man in our community, Jayden Bailey, who Lee just mentioned in in our prayer. He's a very special person in this community, and councilor Crow came to came to me a couple weeks ago about about honoring Jayden tonight.

And so at this time, I would ask councilor Crowley to join me at the at the in front of the the desk here. And I ask for coach Jim McDowell and other coaches and James teammates on the Levin High School basketball team to come up here and join us.

Can you move that?

Thank you for this opportunity and thank you for honoring Jayden tonight. I was at a a Living Scent luncheon couple of weeks ago, and I had had not ever met Jayden. And coach McDowell came with him, and we met over here across the way. And he he spoke about his his faith and his struggles in in life, particularly with an illness that he certainly never asked for. But he has he has met that with the determination, and grit that's really seldom seen in in a lot of ways.

For example, when he spoke that day, he said that, after they took his arm off from the surgery, the cancer surgery, that made his basketball shot better. And, I was really inspired by that because today we hear, so many, negative things about, you know, things that are going on in our community. And when, he and coach McDowell spoke that day, it was truly inspiring to me. And, from what I understand, I just talked to to coach McDowell a few minutes ago and he told me that hopefully Jayden is watching tonight along with his family. And, I just wanna mention it's it's always good to to to mention family, I think, too.

So, many of his family, attended in Lebanon High School and actually played on sports teams there, basketball, teams and probably other teams as well. But, his mom is is London, Eli Wright. His stepdad is Mickey Wright. His dad is, Maurice Bailey. Sister is Amira Wright. Grandmother, grandfather, we have to mention them, probably watching as well. Mary and Lester, Eli. Aunts, Scotland, Ireland, and Asia, Eli, and Iceland, McCarver, and his uncle, Eli. Hope we got hope we got everybody that's watching there. Appreciate you all watching.

Jaden, we we love you. Your community loves you, and, we're praying for you and and want you to get better and look for you out on the court as soon as possible.

And, it's my honor to to read this proclamation, c of Lebanon proclamation. All things work together for good for those who love god or are called according to his purpose. Whereas Jayden Bailey is a 17 year old junior at Lebanon High School, where he is a forward for the Blue Devils basketball team. An inspiration to all who know him, teammate and best friend, Jett Emerson shared, the thing about Jaden, I've never seen him sad. I've never seen him a little bit off.

He's the best dude I've ever met. And whereas in June 2022, as he is progressing in his basketball skills and performance, Jayden was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. He has bravied bowel cancer for the past four years. And whereas in August 2025, Jayden has left arm amputated as a result of cancerous tumors spreading throughout his arm. In October 2025, additional tumors were found in his stomach and around his lungs. Despite his battles on the court and serious health challenges off the hardwood, Jaden is described as having the biggest, easiest smile in Lebanon. And whereas when Jaden was asked about his health challenges and future, he replied, through the whole journey, I've been a hugely faithful person. I'm a strong believer in God, so no, I'm

not afraid.

He recently added tattoo with a cross and praying hands on his right arm describes his faith. All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. And whereas Jayden's love for basketball and his faith have allowed him to stay focused and keep playing the game of life, It has been said, he's one the most resilient and extraordinary young men I've ever met by doctor Tracy Hills, medical director of pediatric pediatric care at Vanderbilt's Monroe Carell Junior Children's Hospital. Whereas Jaden is not your average teenager, he has continued to show people his perseverance and determination. And now now, therefore, I'm mayor Rick Bell, mayor of the city of Levin, Tennessee, do hereby proclaim February 17 as Jaden Bailey Day.

Once Blue Devil, always Blue Devil.

Thank you. All these guys can attest some these are several of Jayden's teammates, my assistant coaches, my daughter Bailey. Jaden is he's one of the toughest player. He's the toughest player I've ever coached. He's gone through more things than most of us will ever have to go through in our lifetime, and he's done it the right way.

I went by to see him this afternoon and and talked to him, and, you know, he's still get sending these guys pregame talks. I went to see him on Saturday before we played Mount Juliet, and he's talking to him, talking to him, talking about working together and, and playing together. You know, he's he's a special kid. You know, his family's special, and the way the example that he has set for all of us has really put a lot of things in perspective, not just for me as a as a coach, but I think for his teammates as well. And so this means a lot, and we really appreciate this this act there. And he's he's a Lebanon kid. He's grown up here. He's lived here his whole life, and he loves the city, and he knows that the city loves him. So thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, guys.

We've got a little care package here you can take to him as well.

Thank you.

Oh, what? Yeah. I've just passed.

Okay. Now it's time for communication with some citizens. So if anyone would like to speak speak to us tonight, now's now's your time. If you'd like to speak, please step to the podium and state your name and address, and you have three minutes to speak. There's a light system there on the podium that will kinda let you know where you are in your time. But if you would like to speak to us tonight, now's the time.

We're gonna arm wrestle. My name is John Thurston. I live at 16 Melee Court in Lebanon. I'm speaking on behalf of myself, but I also will, in all honesty, tell you that I am a member of the Wilson County Democratic Executive Committee. And so there is an element of my speech that that will go with that.

My conversation with you tonight is about the hullabaloo, I guess, is the best way to describe it, around ICE building a facility in Lebanon. It depends on which time of the day you look at your email or your telephone to see what the latest message is. As of this morning, they were building one. As of this afternoon, maybe not. I don't know what the outcome of this is gonna be.

I don't know what the genesis of it was, but I believe very strongly that it does not need to be in Lebanon, Tennessee. Tennessee. I'm an old historian by trade. I was a teacher. And one of the things that very personally disturbs me is the parallel that I see between now and 1930 Germany.

The division is incredible. It is very difficult for me as a historian to not see the parallel between the establishment of the labor camps in Germany and what they ultimately became, and the establishment by ICE of detention centers, which are basically housing people before they get rid of them. Now whether they get rid of them by airplane or by other means, I'm not sure at this point whether that makes a difference or not. The fact is it is a very disturbing political process, And I don't believe that it is something that Lebanon as a city, Wilson as a county, should be a part of. And so I'm here to voice my personal opinion around that.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

That's in 106 Chapman Drive. In the near future, I will be discussing some difficult issues at this microphone and in the process, maybe verbally crushing some of your skulls. So here's what I suggest you do when that time comes. I suggest you say, hey. I made a mistake.

I'm committed to the well-being of the city and the long term future. Let's fix it. Next topic. Last city council meeting February 3, councilor Carmack pitched inquiry to Mikaela Kiffrin's big sister, Kristen Rice, whereby Kristen Rice answered that when 231 North And North Hartman in the future connected, it would, basically dramatically impact future traffic patterns around Lebanon significantly, especially on the North side of town. She also said that she had discussed with a landowner at 1544 Rutgers Lane where they would connect about our standard process.

Well, here's what I have to say about our standard process, keeping this short. Doctor Horton used the same standard process housing setback from North Hartman Boulevard as a setback for all other streets in the Doctor Horton development, which was insanity at city hall. Kristen Rice does not establish land use policy, whether y'all elected officials to. Pitching the potato, hot potato to Kristen Rice will not spare y'all if buffer space and right of way space fails to materialize where Rutledge Line will meet North Hartman Drive. Again, 1544 Rutledge Drive.

Before the January 20 third topic, before the January 20 city council meeting, I gave counselors Carmack, Berdine, Ashley, and Brian a copy of an agenda item on the September 23 Lebanon Planning Commission agenda. The industrial zone project off Highway 109 and Old East LaGuardia Road named Summit Cedar Tree by Summit Real Estate Group as in Summit Development, a 150 acres on Maple Hill Road, also on January 20 council agenda. Today, the February 17, Lebanon planning commission preliminary agenda was a site plan warehouse approval for Cedar Tree project, and that 300 so acres is owned by the Donald Trump network. So mayor Bill, maybe you know, maybe you don't. Will the facility that went before the planning commission this morning and will next week, which is Cedar Tree, part of it by Summit Real Estate Group, be in the future the Cedar Tree ICE detention facility?

And, obviously, you have your own time to answer.

Thank you. Who else would to speak?

Hello. My name is Angela Slater. I have lived in Tennessee for thirty years now and Lebanon for the past ten years. I'm here about the concern of ICE. We all heard the news and the press releases. Yes and no. Yes and no. Back and forth. Perhaps it was a near miss. Perhaps it's going to happen.

We don't know at this point, but I wanted to you guys to consider the seriousness of how we got here. Here are some words from Mike Riston from Project Saltbox, the, group of individuals that put that dot on the map showing that that land has been purchased by ICE in Lebanon, Tennessee. We are still trying to find the exact location of where the property is. It has been purchased by ICE in Lebanon, Tennessee. Meanwhile, we get all these information about, specifics, economic specifics such as the Lebanon facility and its construction are expected to bring 7,216 jobs to the area and would contribute x amount of dollars to the g GDP.

Well, they had to get the information from somewhere. It just doesn't come out of thin air. In order for ICE to have these details, this projection, they would have needed to plug the exact specifications of their warehouse into a tool called Implan, which they bought a few weeks ago and ran it through Tennessee's economic model to determine the cost and downstream financial impact here in Lebanon, Tennessee. ICE should have also completed a a detention reengineering initiative report and provide it to the governor as they did in New Hampshire. Somewhere, someone in the state knows where this warehouse is and is likely playing ignorant.

Mike Risson from Project Saltbox. Something is happening. Something is fishy. Please investigate it. I implore you to look into this. Contact the governor, look into Project Implant, and find out if this really is going to happen. Because if it does, an ICE detention center is bad news for Lebanon. You will have to deal with protesters and counter protesters and increased need for police to deal with the situation. Also, you will have to deal with ICE vehicles driving around without license plates or license plates covered. They do that all the time. No license plates around their facility in Downtown Nashville. Metro Police Department, what do you do? We we call them. We tell them they're driving around without license plates. Well, they can't do anything.

They may be driving around for official business. So how is Lebanon gonna deal with vehicles driving around without license plates and deal with people being upset on both sides between the ICE agents who who are feeling confronted and in a bad situation, and they'll become potentially aggressive and and intimidate our people and protesters who are trying to stop us from happening. So please investigate and make sure that they are not coming. And if they are, let's stop it. Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you. Anyone else? Derek? No. Sorry. Thought you're going to the podium. Can't go twice. Go ahead, mister Dunn.

Thank you very much. My name is Jim Dunn. I live at 1709 Drive and take Brian's group. And I have a problem. You know, I'm turning 90 years old, and I've lived in Arkansas, Texas, California, and now Tennessee.

I came here because of my job when I was elected an officer in the labor union. And I liked Tennessee. And when I moved to Lebanon, I liked it even more. Lebanon is a fine place to live. We got good people here.

We got excellent representation of our people. Y'all are doing a good job for us, trying to take care of all the growth that we got going right now, and we're growing by leaps and bounds. I saw somewhere that, we were approaching 50,000 people or more here in Lebanon. So that means that a lot a lot more gonna be going on during the next year or two, but I think y'all are the people to to deal with it. And, you know, I'm probably paying y'all them big bucks.

Anyway, I I I agree with the ones before me. It's it's not gonna be a good thing for us to come in there. You know, when I was a little kid growing up in in South Arkansas, it was the start of World War two. And guess what happened? The government got mad at the Japanese and moved all the people down there in South Arkansas.

My dad worked as a carpenter. They told told him they'd fire him, but he was the only one who had any tools. So I never learned how to be a carpenter either. But I did go down there on occasions with my uncle who had a gasoline truck and carried fuel down to the where they were staying. It wasn't really a bad place like what they do in these days.

They my dad never did build them from these houses to live in. But I went down there and played with the kids while they were delivering gasoline and whatever. But it was hard to get out of there because they had about 20 or 30 boxes of bees at the gate. And not many people had the courage to go through that many bees to get out of there. But, anyway, that wasn't all that too bad. But for everything I read and everything I see, we don't need this as much anywhere. I don't care whether here or anywhere else.

Mister Dunn.

That's it.

That's it.

Well, anyway, I said and I I hope it works for you, but it's gonna be a headache. I can tell you that.

Thank you. Anyone else?

My name is Shannon Whitaker at 405 Alta Terrace. Feel good to see you. And I have to applaud the gentleman. It's hard person to follow. Don't agree with what you said stated. Okay. Mike, I really don't have a statement. I guess I have a question. So this issue has come to the past few days to the front. Right? Is there ICE detention in Lebanon or not? So my question is to mayor and the council. Have you heard anything?

Once everybody gets finished talking, we'll we'll I'll I'll talk to you about what we've what we've been doing.

Okay. Very good. So, yeah, we're all curious. We'd love to know. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else?

My name is Melissa or Melissa Perry. Sorry. Not Brock anymore. Haven't been for a while. But I'm in 1111 Academy Road, and I have a little flower farm out there.

And I have been in Lebanon since 2016. And in the last two years, I've really started investing more in the people and the town as a whole. And one of the things that has really made me kind of happy and proud to be here is the people. And I believe the love and the friendliness that is displayed by who we are as Southerners and just as a city. And I think there's a lot of crazy, sad things happening in the world, and I would hate for anything to come and take away what our city is.

So I think, one, I wanted to say something because I wanna be recorded on the right side of history. And, I just want people to think about what what do you want your city to be? And I I like a city that steps forth in love, and I really do think that's Lebanon. And I hope that there are some really serious considerations that go into everything and investigations that go into what is and what isn't coming and all of that. But I think at the core of it, it should be, you know, who who do we want to be, and what do we want to show the world that we are? And is that a heart full of love or a heart full of hate? And I sure hope we on the side of love. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. Seeing none, I'll move on to to my comments. I do have a couple of things tonight. The first one is this. Scott notified your state that Dave Dixon, is our on our historic preservation commission, he's he's stepping down. And so Dave has served on that commission for a couple years, and I appreciate all he's done for that. So I will be looking for his replacement to place in front of you guys for consideration. So I'll try to do that as soon as possible, but I do appreciate Dave and and and everyone who serves in all of our committees.

You know, they they do on a volunteer basis, and and it's not easy sometimes. And so Dave has done a great job. Also, we'll thank everyone who attended the senior citizen center Valentine's gala Saturday night. Councilor Ashley was there, and councilor Moorehead was there. And so I appreciate everyone who who came to that.

It was it was a big night, a great night, and for a great cause, and a lot of people had a really good time. So so I appreciate that. And also about the the news of of ICE Attention Center. First of all, I want you guys to know that and I can speak for myself, and I know the counselors have been have been on this as well. But I have investigated this to the to the very end, from talking to local elected officials, state elected officials, federal elected officials.

You know, it's just today, you know, talked to people in in senator Hagerty's office. You know, that's that's the highest I've gone. But, you know, this is something when it came out last week, we took it very seriously. And and as you guys have said, this is something that for me as mayor, you know, I I do not wanna see this in Lebanon for all kinds of reasons. So I've I've talked to all kinds of officials, and so we we have investigated.

And, you know, just like you guys, we have read the news reports. They've gone back and forth about it's coming. It's not coming. This keeps going back and forth. But I also want you guys to know that no one from ICE, no one from Department of Homeland Security has contacted us about this.

You know, everything that that I've gotten is is secondhand hearsay, just like you guys. And so, you know, that's where we are. And so, you know, I know that, you know, the federal government, they have certain powers. They have sovereign immunity, which I believe means they don't really have to follow anybody's zoning laws. But I also know this that, you know, a facility like that would need things like water and sewer.

And I talked to Regina Santana, our utility director today, and and there is no industrial property in our city that is approved for that much water and sewer. So I I get I'm just telling you we don't know much about this. And as I said, nobody from Homeland Security, nobody from ICE has contacted us. I've called every elected official I know to call, and, you know, they've all told me they don't know anything either. And and that's where that's where we are.

As we go further, every day, you know, we'll keep investigating. We'll keep making calls until this situation is settled. But but right now, that's where we are. You know, those news reports, you know, with all those numbers they throw out, that's really the information we have too. And and so I wish I had I wish I had more I could tell you. But right now, I really don't. I've I've tried to keep the council updated as as as I've learned things. But at at this point and they may they may know some things I don't. But at this point, that's that's where we are on this situation. So that's all I have. Councilor Carmack?

Thank you, mayor, for keeping us updated on the the ICE situation. And the last update I got was from Channel four News that they had ICE had came out and said that the first release was incorrect and not properly approved in the nice building was not gonna be coming to Lebanon, but again, it goes back and forth. So thank you for doing all your hard work on that and keeping us all in the loop on it. Last lastly, I wanna congratulate Mike Justice, Chief Justice back there for his thirty five years of service to our community, their police chief, and, and doing such a great job in the city. And that's all I have.

Thank you. Counter Asher.

He beat me to the punch on Mike. Uh-huh. I wanted to say personally thank you to Mike. Mike has become a good friend to me. I think that he is just an example of what good leadership is about. He is a great communicator. He sends us the good, the bad, the ugly metrics. He he's just very, very informative to all of us, and we are very lucky to have him. And, congratulations for thirty five years. Hopefully, you got a big bonus or something, like, really nice.

But congratulations on that. I also had some other things that I needed to bring to the forefront. I wanted to speak with Paul Quarter. He told me he was gonna be here tonight, but he's not here.

Yes. Giving me the information.

Okay.

So

so what I wanted to talk about is that we now have a methadone clinic in the middle of town, and that has been very alarming that it's brought droves of people getting methadone clinic, treatment. And, I was interested in what kind of zoning that type of high risk medical treatment would require and what you can tell us about that.

Sure. So they they just found this out today. I think they talked to you earlier. And so, Paul and Obi did a great job following up on this, and they do have some of the answers and next steps. So they looked at the the one on Park Avenue, 1 on Franklin Road. They looked at business license applications, the zoning of it. The business license application was behavioral health care, which does not, support the suboxone, which is on their Oxon. Yes. They have as on their sign up front. The suboxone puts them in the secure and personal group care land use category.

This is only allowed in the COM, which is office and medical zoning district as a conditional use. The city council approved zoning regulations for methadone clinics on 10/18/2022, so we have addressed this before. They have already sent letters out to these two property owners, that they need to get a rezoning and go to BZA if they wanna do a methadone clinic or later use at these two. So they they are on it. I believe that's thirty days for them to respond. And these letters just went out today, but they have already jumped on that and, started down that path. So

in other words, we would have to approve a rezone to allow them to do that. Mhmm. Okay.

Come to us or just BOSA?

A rezoning is what it appears to be for that use. Okay.

That's so can you keep us updated on that one as well? Yes. For sure. I also wanted to, just talk bring up some concerns that I know that I have in my ward. I think that in talking to Mike that maybe this is a problem that is all over the community, but it's our homelessness problem.

And it has become an escalated problem. I am meeting with a number of business owners, this Thursday that have told me stories of being harassed. Their customers have been threatened, encampments. I mean, we've cleaned up a number of the encampments, but just a lot of really concerning behaviors that have impacted businesses, people that have invested a lot in small business that their businesses are being impacted. There's a lot of and and I know that Mike's team is working on this, but there's a tremendous amount of loitering.

There had been some damage done at the Pickett Chapel or at least some property damage done in terms of encampments and things like that that had been cleaned up by volunteers. I was there on Saturday, and there were people that were lying on the handicapped ramp. When I ran around the back of the building, there was a man, defecating behind the building. I went up the street to College Street, and there was five to six men sitting on cinder blocks. So, you know, again, it's a tough topic, meaning that, you know, I think that there's a lot of people in this community that want to help our homeless.

But I think that when it has reached the point that it's impacting people's businesses, people's safety, and those type of things that we have to take some type of action. And I'm hoping that we can form some type of task force to address this issue so that we can collaborate be more collaborative, that we can work with the services that are providing homeless shelter and talk to Mike and determine what kind of resources are necessary for him to be able to make sure that everybody stays safe in the process. But I think that there is litter everywhere. There's loitering everywhere. And I don't think this is what we want our city to look like.

And it it's a serious problem.

Okay. Thank you. We will give a mic and work on a task force can put and start putting that together. Alright. Thank you. Councilor Burnett?

Do you have anything else?

No. I think that's it.

Okay. Councilor Burda?

Yeah. I wanna thank Mike too for his service. I know that, he tries his best to let us know when he's going out of town, and I think that's when his phone probably rings the most. And he does answer, and I truly appreciate your leadership as well and your willingness to spend 35 years with never a day truly off. So I do hope that we have at least honored you with that that much time put in and effort.

So thank you. And and he too is a great mentor and a and a great leader, and I would consider Mike a friend. So congratulations on thirty five years. There's several things I'd like to talk about, including, this ICE. You know, we all, I know, have have looked in to this, to all our resources that we can, you know, go into.

A lot of times, property changes hands or leases. I am a realtor. I know that, you know, there's plenty of leases that have been put out there that we we as a city or and I'm speaking for the county commissioners as well, don't know anything about. The city doesn't become aware of them until you know, like the like the mayor said, what they're asking for utilities. They're rezoning or, possibly, you know, building permits.

But at this time, I appreciate the mayor and and our city working together to know that, you know, that that nobody has contact us in in that manner. You know, we are in a well aware of when people do purchase or or, you know, sign a lease, and I doubt they're signing it as ICE or Homeland Security. So, you know, I'm sure we'll keep everybody in communication on that. That is not something I want for our community as well. I appreciate miss Perry coming and talking about love and and the people in our community.

I I too believe and have lived here, and that's what I love the most about our community. So I did wanna ask our city attorney. Now I know that the federal government has a lot of things that they can do without us. But, the question, do they not have to meet any fire codes or, you know, city zoning codes to protect people like anyone else?

Similar to how the county will come to us through whether it's through the planning commission with a site plan or they wanna do a remodel or an addition. We have rules and regulations that pertain to that. The county is under no obligation to conform to our rules and regulations because they have what's called sovereign immunity. It was basically established in this state. There was a case several years ago, Metro Nashville versus Harpeth the Harpeth water utility.

And Metro, they was trying to get the Harpeth water utility to do something that the Harpeth utility didn't want to. And so it went up to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Tennessee Supreme Court says the Harpeth utility doesn't have to abide by Metro's rules because they have sovereign immunity as a governmental entity. Well, we have it, the county has it, the state has it, and the feds have it. So if we try to impose any kind of our zoning or rules or regulations on any government from the county up to the feds, they don't have to abide by. Now state law would require them to come before you on a rezoning issue, first, planning commission, and then there. But, again, they're not bound by

I just wanted everybody to hear that and make that clear, but, you know, I I'm not for that coming to our community as well. The other thing I wanna kind of bounce off of what Jerry just spoke of. Had an incident in my ward Sunday, which is distressing, disturbing, but unfortunately not surprising. Three years ago, we had a boarding house, group of people who leased or subleased a home in my ward on Pennsylvania Avenue, which is also in our historic area. And we had quite a few people living in the home.

In fact, they had more than what they were supposed to have. And the neighbors came and were very concerned with this home and being in a residential residential historic neighborhood. And we had one death this weekend, and someone arrested in that home and taken out because of drugs. There have not been background checks. This house has been subleased by the Lackey family, and they called themselves three years ago a boarding house.

Now, of course, with all this happening this weekend, I've had quite a few neighbors call me with concerns and, wanna know, you know, have some questions answered that they asked three years ago that I don't believe we've ever, answered them. Number one would be, you know, what kind of organization is in that house? What have they classified themself as? We had an attorney that was supposed to be contacting us. What has happened with that? Andy? Pennsylvania. Yeah. 216 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Honestly, Camille, I hadn't even discussed Pennsylvania Avenue with anybody. And

Okay. Three years ago, we grandfathered them in. Why did we grandfather them in? They were a boarding house. We changed our our zoning. So why were they grandfathered in?

Josh, that's a zoning question. Know I'd it's because of the zoning. I know you weren't the planning director with them, but do you wanna speak to that?

Yeah. So that property is zoned R D 9 that used to allow for boarding houses. And since as you referenced, we have changed that, so it no longer does. The boarding house was already in established use before that, zoning change was made, so they were grandfathered. Changes to the zoning code would not have impacted them because they'd already established the use.

Okay. But that still didn't but we rezoned it like we've done several things, because of this, but we grandfathered them in with more people, and, their classification at that time was boarding house.

Right. So since they were already established as a boarding house, us changing the zoning code to no longer allow boarding houses would not impact them, being able to continue as a boarding house.

Okay. So boarding house is what they're classified as. Is that correct? Because I believe we have an email on April 19 from mayor that said that you did not know the details of the classification, that the city legal department has requested the information, and the lackeys informed us yesterday they have hired an attorney from Washington, DC who specializes in sober housing and sober living providers.

What is That's been a couple years ago, and Steven's had multiple conversations with that attorney out of DC through email and telephone.

Okay. And and they are classifying themselves now as?

They are a group home, and they are subject to the state rules and regulations regarding group home. Chief Baird I don't see chief Baird to speak, but the fire department's on top of that. They they're ensuring that they've got the maximum number of people that are allowed in the residence without having to sprinkle it, and they were inspected it.

Okay. When was the last inspection? Because we've had a death now and an arrest.

That's a that's a fire marshal question.

And answer that.

Camille Camille, if you don't mind me asking, is 216 Pennsylvania Avenue, is that owned you said by Brent Lackey?

It is being rented. It is owned by Dan Midgett. They rented from Dan Midgett, the Lackeys, and now have sublet it to eight people, with no background checks.

What's the name of their I

don't know

what their name of their you know?

According to Facebook or according to Google, it's called set free recovery. Concern to me on other issues. But but

I I mean

I I feel your concern on that with with my full time job along with with this job as well.

I I mean, how can we keep people safe, our our neighbors? You know, the neighbors around them, body bags aren't coming out of the homes. We we aren't making arrests. It's in our historic neighborhoods. And so is there something what is it that we can do as a city? Can we just take boarding houses out of R D 9? Because I am imploring our city.

We already did that. That's correct.

We've already removed them, but they were already established before that change was made. So they're they're not impacted by that.

Okay. So no boarding houses whatsoever. And then what is our policy and procedures, mayor, chief justice, and Andy? Because I know we had worked on that. If I was wanting to put a group home or a boarding house in, what are the procedures I have to go through to do that?

Chief justice, do you do you wanna come up here and talk about this since chief Barry is not here? So

Can you use your thirty five years of experience for this?

Shooks politics real well, so here we go. I don't first of all, chief Barry is is on a business trip as everybody knows, inspecting, I think, a fire truck that seems to be turned out. So that's why he's not here. As far as the process, I I don't know if that's a me thing. I know that we can do inspections, on these type houses. It depends on the occupancy level, things like that. As far as codes goes, the city has more restrictive. They have more restrictions than the codes do. The IPMC, the international property maintenance codes are very limited as far as controlling the aspects of the home. And I know you and I have had a conversation about this particular house.

I would defer to Andy for the legal questions. But as far as what we saw, you know, there there are no violations as far as codes violations or occupancy level violations, things of that nature. It's kinda like a shooting range or a prison. Everybody loves them, but nobody wants them. Mhmm. And I'm sure halfway house is the same way. I mean, I get I get your concern, and it is a concern for us.

I I mean, the neighbors are telling me, you know, they would call more, but they're also afraid if they keep calling on this group. So there's some fear there.

They're afraid of the group or us because we want them to

call us every time. No. They're they're afraid of repercussions because they live. They're their neighbors.

They should call us because it gives us a matrix to go off of like we talked about earlier. We can keep up with with calls for service. I know there's a question about Compassion Hands today. Yep. I got that number just a bit ago, 121 calls just this year. So, you know Can

you get us that number for that address over the past how long has it been?

I

can. So but it's important

It's been since 02/23.

If they have a problem, they need to call. They can call anonymously. They don't have to give us their name. They can call anonymously. We can go check. It gives us a matrix to go off of, but We do. It's very concerning to me that with the arrest we made, I won't comment on the death because that's not over. Yeah. But the arrest we made is public record. I mean, it was it was a drug arrest. So it's very concerning to me that we have a we have a recovery home or a sober living home that we found drugs in. So, and it was the search was done incident to work in a crime scene, which is equally as concerning.

Y'all executed a search, weren't there, what you're saying?

No. We we did a search pending the investigation for a a death. And won't comment a whole lot, but but we had a death there. We felt like it was prudent to to do a search of the home in that in that area to find out, you know, what led to this and we we did discover narcotics.

So Was this a large quantity? Or

You know how this works, Joe. I'd rather not Yep. I'd not say too much.

I'm I'm I'm just I

don't like going to grand jury. I hadn't been in years. Thirty five years probably.

Can I ask you something, Mike? The 121 calls that you've gotten for the homeless issue, is there any other place in town that's gotten a 121 calls just in two months?

I I could look. What's your guess?

You know, Walmart was in the hundreds. If you remember, we

This year, but this is two months into this year.

We dealt with Walmart. No. I'm talking about last year. Okay. Okay. You know, Walmart was a 120. That's but Walmart probably had a 100,000 people through the door in

the Exactly.

Well, we have lawyers in our community that own these homes. We have churches in this community that support some of these homes. We have CPAs in our community that are renting to these homes. I mean, to me, it's a moneymaker. They all say they have programs.

They are not drugging testing, and I don't think as a city we can, you know, hold them to whatever their program is. We had you know, this one, these people assured us that they would, be drug tested. They assured us that they'd be at church. And I think, you know, on Sunday, four of the eight were at church, and four were left at home, including the one that passed away. I mean, our neighbors and our people who own our properties have a right, especially in our historic neighborhoods, to feel like that they are safe.

And, unfortunately, these groups are not background checking. They're coming straight out of jail, most of them. And then when they don't perform their program, they turn them out into the street. And then, thus, we get more homeless situation. So I I'm with Jerry.

I am I know that I asked you three years ago, mayor, to put together a task force, and I don't understand why it hadn't been done. But I am you know, if the city won't do it, I'll be happy to sit in on this group. A lot of my downtown businesses have been affected, and I I know that our police and fire are doing the best they can within what the law is, but I also think we need to make this a priority. I even know from the other side of things that with some of these homes, you're promised a whole lot as an individual, And I think those individuals deserve a safe and clean home, to live in as well. And I personally have been hoodooed by some people in another community promising a lot of things for my child that were never, you know, come to fruition.

So I think we owe it to these people who are living in these homes and these people that are living around it that we're doing everything we can to clean up our community. And I know my constituents in Ward 3, beautification is not just parks. It is about our codes. It's about safe streets and safe communities and living in areas that they can be proud of and not, you know, afraid of. So

I will say that just just I guess because Jason's not here, We do have a lot of communication once we realize there is a problem. Of course, we don't target houses. We don't target because of their residencies. We don't that's not what we do. But There is a lot of

communication

between between me, me, myself, as far as or Jason, and we involve legal when we can and Paul. We'll we'll do more when we can, but that one was troubling. I will say that.

Oh, well. We saw that one coming.

Lack of testing is to me is is speaks volumes. And, Camille, I will

I'll talk to you after the meeting.

And and, Mike, one other question. Do you feel like you have the resources that you need? I mean, if it it seems like this is a lot of work. I mean, it it's gonna take a lot of work to try to get this in check. Tell me about your resources.

The the halfway houses or the?

Both. Homeless. Yes. Just in terms of patrols and addressing those issues and those kind of things.

I think the I think the resources are there. I think we've gotta we've gotta become educated on how to what other people are doing, how we how we fix this. We can't we can't arrest our way out of it because it's not illegal to be on house, you know, but we we've got mental health. We're one of the few cities around that has a mental health worker that's embedded in the police department. You guys proved that and we we have our own mental health worker and we've asked today for her to to start accompanying us to try to find some of these encampments.

Yes.

I don't I'm not really versed on what all our agencies around here are doing for people Mhmm. But I don't understand handing somebody a tent when they don't own property to put it on. Yes. So trying to get them some other form of help to me would make more sense other than feeding them and hand them a tent because all we're gonna do is go get a call to go find the tent

Exactly.

When the when the homeowners because as you know, we we talked recently, codes gets involved because you have a mess. And all we all the only recourse we have is the property owner. And that can cost several thousand dollars for some of these places to be cleaned up. But we unfortunately, then they get trespassed. We the the homeowner the property owner say we don't want people here anymore. If you find them here, arrest them. That's trespassing. I mean, that's unfortunate, but that's how it works. And,

And I think we just have to educate the business owners about what that process is.

Think so. I think we in my personal opinion, I think we did a real good job of getting behind trying to support the homeless, but I don't think we have a plan. I think just feeding them and giving them a tent is not a plan. So Right. We've got a the police department's gotta we gotta educate ourselves on what we can do more.

Right. I mean, it's one of those things that makes everybody feel good until it impacts where they live.

Yeah. Until it's your backyard.

And it it's a serious issue.

Yes, ma'am.

You. Yes, ma'am.

You know, Andy, if you could get with Steven and give us a report about what has been discussed with this attorney and what their program is, I think, and what the states says that they need to be doing to call themselves a sober living or whatever facility. Set free

recovery at the name of it.

Okay. Set free at the oh, I mean, it was first told to us it was the lackeys, and it was just a boarding house. So, I I mean, I guess Andy's saying that now it's a sober living facility. I I don't know. But maybe we can change our zoning too that these are located now in heavy industrial areas. I you know, I don't know.

We we can't do that. Why? As Paul has told you on a couple of different occasions, if you're gonna relegate those sober living houses to industrial, then you might as well rezone all residential to industrial. Because under federal and state law, they have a right to live in residential areas.

That's what we had that m test. Yeah. Well,

that still went round and round, but other cities aren't having the problems that we're having.

And But the reason I said to tell your constituents to call is because if we ever find ourselves filing a nuisance petition against a particular location, the number of calls of service are a key piece of evidence we'd present in that matter.

Well, I I thought we had a process and procedure, and maybe chief Baird can come speak with us next time, that they're supposed to register with us. Is that correct, Mayor? They're supposed to, you know, contact us to get the fire chief to look through, and then they're supposed to have regular schedules?

That that is correct. That there is there's a process for for them to register. And, again, chief mayor is not here, but I have texted him and he as chief justice said, he is on well on business. But when he gets back, I will have him explain that process to you guys. I you know, that he's the one who who does it, his department, his and his, you know, fire marshal.

I will say this, you know, that you know, and and and, councilor Miranda, I know you said that other cities don't have this. I meet with mayors every month from cities around ten around this this area, and and they have issues just like we do. We do follow our federal guidelines, and we've we've had, you know, we've had meetings internally. We've had meetings with MTS. We are very limited on on what we can tell people about where they can live, and and, you know, that's that's that's a basic right is having somewhere to live.

I mean, we're very limited on what we can do, but I can assure you, the fire department, police department, planning, everybody has has done everything they can. We've we've we've we've heard the concerns of of your constituents and and that you've expressed. We've established a program. We've established policies, but there is a limit as to what we can do. And we cannot go into somebody's house and see what they're doing in there. I mean, I I think that's been pretty well established, but but we will keep working on it. I I promise you that.

Well, I, you know, I want people to come here and live and feel comfortable and that they're being heard. I also asked you, mayor, concerning work sessions. We used to have set work session days set so that we can make sure that people are here. I would like to request that we have an established one day a month that is a work session. If we use it, great.

If we don't use it, that's fine too. But that way, we all can make sure that we are here because I think each and every one of us want to be a part of work sessions and learn all we can. But we most of us do have day jobs, and it is hard to to get, you know, where we need to be when we don't know when they're happening and we're getting a week's notice. So can we start establishing Thursdays again or Tuesdays for a set meeting once a month? In that way, that's when the work session is. And, again, if we don't need it, we don't have to, you know, use it.

Okay. Sounds good. We will establish that, but we also may have work sessions off those dates that for pertinent information that comes quick. But we will establish a certain day to have work sessions. And if we need one, we'll have one. If we don't, we won't.

That sounds good. And I, you know, I appreciate you know, I don't think there's anything that's an emergency that we can't plan a couple weeks in advance, when it comes to work sessions. And I think dealing with six people schedule isn't that difficult. That's all

I have. Thank you. Councilor Crow.

Thank you, mayor. Just want to make a couple of comments here. First of all, appreciate all my fellow counselors either wearing blue or white tonight and Tanya for getting the yellow ribbons together for us and the care package. While we've been talking, I got a a text from coach McDowell that he'd been to see Jayden tonight and gave him the care package. Tanya, and they have been watching livestream with us.

And, hopefully, they hadn't fallen asleep by now, but but but they did see the part where we we the mayor read the proclamation, and it brought a big smile to his face. So, Jaden, we're pulling for you, and I love you and and your family as well. Just a couple other comments. I mean, lot of this has been discussed pretty heavily, but certainly with regard to the challenge of of those that are that are homeless and dealing with recovery, it's a difficult issue. Obviously, I think we wanna care for people that are on the street.

Any of us could wind up on the street at any time, and any of us could be addicted to something at any time. And and we've all, I think, probably dealt with that in our family. So wanna deal with people with with compassion and and the intent to help them and make our community the best place that it can be. And I I think all of us are are signed up for that. So, hopefully, we get people at the table that have all those goals in mind.

And and my only comment with regard to a detention facility here is I'm I'm very disappointed in our federal our federal communication. This this whole issue has sent our community into a a, you know, into chaos for the last few days, and and it's really, ridiculous in my opinion, that that this has happened. There it could have been addressed much earlier. I'm sure there are things that they can't tell us, but they should be able to to, you know, not communicate poorly. And so I'm I'm very disappointed in our our federal communication there. But otherwise, once again, pulling for you, Jayden, and turn it back to you, mayor. Thank you.

Thank you. Councilor Brian.

Thank you, mayor. If there is a homeless task force, I would like to be on that task force. I've had a lot of experience with the homeless, you know, working with compassionate hands, driving their bus for the last four years during the wintertime to help house and feed the homeless, both male and female. And I have a lot of different ideas I'd like to, you know, pass on about why that is and what we can do to help them and not enable them. There's a difference between helping and enabling.

I know that firsthand. Okay? Secondly, I just received this from senator Mark Pody. This is an email from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Public Affairs. I'm gonna read it to you.

It says, good afternoon. Please see our correction to an earlier email attribute to an ICE spokesperson. ICE has not purchased a facility in Lebanon, Tennessee. That statement was sent out without proper approval, and this mistake has since been rectified. Regardless, every day, DHS is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe.

It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrest in states across The US and is actively working to expand detention space. ICE is targeting criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, rapists, criminals, gang members, and more. 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in The US. So that's the latest, and I'm glad to hear it. I'm sure you are too. Thank you.

Thank you. Council Moriart.

I'll try to be quick. Mike, congratulations on your thirty five years. That's a long road. Hope you stick around a few more for us. You're doing a great job. Jaden, if you're still watching, I don't know you, but just listening to your story, I find you to be one hell of an inspiration. I think it makes all of us feel or at least makes me feel how lucky I am to have what I have, to have my health. And and I pray for you, and and I wish you the best going forward. As far as the senior gala, I was there as well with the mayor, and I think Jerry, it was a wonderful time. If you didn't get an opportunity to go, it is a it is a lot of fun.

It's a good meal. They had a band this year. Sorry. You weren't there, tick, to DJ Forrest, but, we had a great time. And and the money that's raised is for a really good cause for the senior citizen center. And just to go on record with everybody else, this whole ICE thing was you know, came out of nowhere. Nobody had, to my knowledge, any idea that it was coming at all. I am would be 100% opposed to that. But, obviously, based on listening to counsel with sovereign immunity, I don't know what ability we have or do not have to stop it. But, in my opinion, it would be a terrible thing for Lebanon.

The only good thing, is that the mayor mentioned in any of the industrial area that we have now, we do not have, I don't believe, water or sewer capacity to handle a facility like that. So if the federal government goes forward that, I would assume they would have to be spending millions of dollars to upgrade all of our sewer and our water, to be able to do that, which I don't know how many years that would take, but that would sure put a wrench in the process.

That's all I have. Thank you. We have consent item with three or consent with three items on it. Order number 267350, second reading, authorize a budget amendment for the wastewater treatment plan for emergency capital maintenance repairs by Regina Santana, utilities director. Order number 267351, second reading, authorize a budget amendment the sewer department for developer contribution related to the Bartons Creek sewer project by Regina Santana, utilities director. Or some are twenty six seventy three fifty two, second reading to authorize a budget amendment for the sewer department for the Bartons Creek interceptor sewer project contract b and to approve the final change order by Eugenia Santana, utilities director. Approved. Second. That's from councilor Crouse. Second by councilor Carmack. Discussion. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you.

Now to all business, order number 267342, second read, amend the official design Atlas of the city of Levant, Tennessee by changing 718 West Main Street from from duplex residential to commercial mixed use in Ward 5. Request by Gary Whitaker.

So moved. Second.

Motion by councilor Brian, second by councilor Carmack. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Resolution number 262812. Second reading to adopt any plan services for the annexation of say it again.

Portion of.

Portion Of The Republic right of way known as Martha Leber Road to be added to Ward 4 request by Willis County Road Commission.

Motion to approve. Second.

Motion to to councilor Crowell, second with councilor Burdine. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Resolution number twenty six twenty eight thirteen, secreting annexing property a portion of the public right of way known as Martha Lever Road to be added to Ward 4 request by Wilson County Road Commission.

Second.

Motion by councilor Crowell. Second by councilor Carmack. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. 03/26/7343, second read, amend the official zoning Atlas of the Sea Of Levin, Tennessee by requesting zoning approval of portion of the public right of way known as Martha Lever Road to single family residential to be added in Ward 4 request by West Canyon Road Commission.

So moved. Second.

Motion by councilor Crowell. Second by councilor Carmack. Discussion. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. 03/26/7344, second reading, amend title 14 to fix criminal errors with the comprehensive zoning code update request by staff.

Motion to approve.

Motion by councilor Carmack. Second by councilor Crowell. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Now for new business. Order number 267361. First reading to approve a budget amendment for the street department to purchase road salt by Lee Clark Public Works Director. Motion to approve. Motion by councilor Carmack, second by councilor Crowell. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Course number 267362, first ring to authorize budget amendments for the hazardous duty supplement benefit by Sylvia Riekel, HR director, and Lindsey Wolfenbarger, finance director. Motion approved. Motion by councilor Morehead, second by councilor Carmack. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you.

Motion by twenty six seventy three sixty three. First reading to approve of the updated utility bill billing and other customer related policies and fees by Harley Jones, CS manager, and Lacey Wolfenbarger, finance director. Approved. Second. Motion by councilor Crowell, second by councilor Brian. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Motion by twenty six seventy three sixty four, first reading to prove bids or contract for the 2026 Street Paving project to approve the related budget amendment, project c l two six zero zero one by Jake Pruitt, capital projects manager, and Christian Reichs, executive director of engineering and planning. Motion to approve. Yep. Councilor Morehead. Second by councilor Carmack. Discussion? All in favor, aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you.

Twenty six seventy three sixty five, first rate approved bids award contract for the 2026 Street Striping project and to approve the related budget amendment, project c l two six zero zero two by Jake Pruitt, capital projects manager, and Kristen Rice, executive director of motion and planning. Motion by councilor Morehead, second by councilor Brian. Discussion?

Yes. Kristen, would you mind to get us a list, I know you've done it in the past, of what streets we paved this past year? And This

past year or this this project?

Well, this past year.

Yes, ma'am.

And and, you know, what streets we what streets we striped as well. Okay. And and do we have a list of what's coming up too?

We do.

Okay. Yeah.

Do you want that?

Yes.

Yeah. Okay. Both.

Do want me to run through them? Or email them to Email

them to us? Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

Okay. Any further discussion? All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? Thank you. 267366, first rating to waive general fund fees, Willis County's new building at the James e Ward Ag Center, located at 945 East Beard Parkway by Metty Nitti, engineering director of development, and Christian Rice, executive director of engineering and planning.

Motion approved. Second.

Councilor Crowell, second by councilor Carmack. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Works number 267367, first reading to authorize an upgrade for the telephone and radio recording system for central dispatch and to approve the related budget amendment by chief Jason Baird.

Motion to approve. Second.

Motion by councilor Crowell, second by councilor Burdine. Any discussion? All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? Thank you. Household twenty six seventy three sixty nine, first reading to approve the reclassification of existing part time position to full time for the accounting department to approve the related budget amendments by Lindsay Wolfenbarger, finance director.

Motion to approve. Second.

Councilor Carmack, second from councilor Ashley. Discussion?

Me and Chris don't sound a lot alike.

Yep. Too you're quick. Any discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Resolution for twenty six twenty eight twenty eight to approve an agreement with Pitney Bowes for the city's postage machine by Lindsey Wolfenbarger, finance director, and Lee Carr, public works director.

Motion to approve.

Motion for councilor Carmack, second with councilor Ashley. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Versus number 262821 to adopt an extended insurance coverage during approved leaves of absence policy by Blanca Olaskoaga, benefits administrator, and Shelby Reichel, HR director.

So moved. Second.

Motion by councilor Crowell, second by councilor Carmack. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Resolution number 262822 to approve the revised debt management policy by Lizzie Wolfenbarger finance director. Motion to approve. Approve. Motion to to Motion to Motion Motion We are adjourned.