City Council - Regular Meeting

I know what? What's all? The new year. Now we're decorating.

Yes. Uh-huh.

Does he do a good job?

Guys ready?

He's the.

Okay. It's time for night city council meeting, so I will call me to order. Ask Lee Clark, leave your invitation.

Just thank this season

you

that we're entering into, the Christmas season. Just be with those people that are struggling through this time. Just be with them. Comfort them. Just be with the city council as we conduct business in the city tonight. Just whatever we do may be pleasing to you. In Jesus' name, I pray.

Amen. Amen. Let's 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 is wrong.

Okay, please.

Joy Carmack? Here. Jerry Ashley? Here. Camille Burdon? Here. Chris Crowell?

Here.

Tick Bryan?

Here.

Phil Morehead?

Here.

Mayor Bell, you have a quorum.

Thank you. And we have the minutes from December 2 meeting. Motion approved. Second. Councilor Morehead, second by councilor Crowley. Any discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Now it's time for communication from citizens. If anyone has anything they wanna talk to us about tonight, please step the podium, state your name and address, and you'll have three minutes.

Eric Dyson, 106 Chapman Drive. Through the years, the now fourth attempt to develop a 150 raw acres on Maple Hill Road arrived into the city planning process in August and will land on the city council's agenda at the next meeting on January 6. I don't know whether I'll be back from the turtle races in Tahiti by then, the sixth, so I'm gonna weigh in right now. Combined as one request for approval, there are two different proposed residential projects with two different proposed densities. One on a 150 acres on Maple Hill Road and the other 96 acres between Carver Lane and Maple Hill Road.

I don't have an issue with the proposed development on the 96 acre track, and I'm not addressing that part. The planning department recommended against this project yet on November 17, the majority of the Lebanon Planning Commission voted to recommend approval to this body. I'll now expose only one of the failures of a majority of the members of the Lebanon Planning Commission on this topic on November 17. Adjacent to the 150 acres, there are a total of 250 more raw acres, then nearby even more raw acres. The Leadenhall Planning Commission failed to consider the future development impact of the entire area and including future development on the 2,000 plus acres out Maple Hill Road in the Coals Ferry Pike corridor, all the future traffic using Maple Hill Road.

The future land use plan fails there as well and is an example of the mindless nitwitery that can be found in the future land use plan, a topic that I'll dwell on here in the future. One of the deceptions by one of the front men for this project in several public meetings has been that the 96 acre track would be developed into one acre lots by local builders such as Bobby Eastland and Jordan Fleming. But it has multiple times publicly been deceptively omitted the intended developer of the 150 acre track. Who that is? Summit Development LLC was created in 2024 and is a hidden arm of Signature Homes in Birmingham whereby after four months, y'all are the first to learn that and there is much more to learn on that front.

The residential density on the 150

acre track is being presented as r s twelve twelve thousand five hundred square foot lots, which is

the wrong density for the 150 acres. But the proposed lots are for only 8,500 square feet and units to be only five yards apart, which is one half of a first down. If the 150 acres remains on annexed and in the county, then in the future then future development would be required to have 40,000 square feet or near one acre lots. Bingo. That would be great.

And also, thereby the same as the reasonable development being proposed on the adjacent 96 acre track. So I'm about to run out of time, and I brought this diagram here, which is very significant. I'm gonna make sure I get back from the turtle races into Haiti to be at the next meeting to show you what's on this board is my point when I'm here next. Stuart Lawson, you can now come out of your panic. I'm not going to show your fishing holes.

Stuart thought that's a point. Stuart Thank

you. Anyone else?

Philip Donald. 914 Maple Hill Road. And I I appreciate what mister Dodson had to say. What I'm concerned with is what the public is hearing about this project that Summit develops development's wanting to do. It was quoted in the newspaper that this project is actually 427 homes less than what is what could be built there, and that's that's not accurate.

And like you said, if it was left in the county, that's 40,000 square foot lots. So I just would like that to be heard by everyone because it the the SP committee, it was sent forward with a negative recommendation. The city planning said that that they didn't want it. It's it's too much for them to maintain five miles of roadway and everything that goes with that infrastructure. And then yet when it went to the planning commission, it seemed like it went through really fast.

There was an amendment that I I couldn't even wrap my head around that was voted on immediately, and it passed on through with a positive recommendation. So I talked to some folks, and they were under the impression that this could possibly have 700 homes on it, and that's just not accurate. Thanks for your consideration.

Thank you. Anyone else? Come on, mister Dunn.

Where I walk was a lamp. You know? When you get to be nearly 90 years old, you just kinda get to walk a little person usual. My name my name is Jim Dunn. I live at 1709 Blermont Drive, and I don't have much.

I just gonna say to all of you, we on behalf of my people out there with the homeowner, we wish all of you a Merry Christmas. Hope you have a great New Year. I hope all all of you enjoy the holidays. And we also wanna say that, you know, Lebanon is one of the fastest growing cities in America. I've lived in four states, and I moved out here mostly because there wasn't nobody here.

But I left Downtown Lebanon the other night around the loop there, and I counted a 161 car before I could get back around the Main Street. So you you got a lot of things going. I know that all of you work hard, and I just wanna know want you to know that that we appreciate all the work that y'all do, and keep up the good work. We won't always agree with you, but this is a good group to argue with. So anyway, Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all of you, and we appreciate the work you do. Thank you.

Thank you. And nice hat. Anyone else like to speak? Okay. So now I do have a few things. One, some sad news. A couple days ago, Carl Wood passed away, and Carl Wood served as counselor for Ward 1 from nineteen ninety seven, two thousand five. And before that, he worked at TDOT. He was TDOT commissioner for a while. And so I just wanna send out condolences to his family.

Many of you know Jody Vance. He's Jody Vance's father-in-law. So so please keep their their family in your prayers as they go through visitation tonight and the service tomorrow, but mister Wood was a big part of the city and and obviously served. And so we appreciate everything he did, and and he is one of Joey's predecessors. So he served that served that area well, and so we just wanna remember them tonight.

Also, tonight, I'm reappointing Tyler McNutt to the airport commission. And so he has served one term. And his term is almost up, so he's agreed to to serve another term. So I appreciate that. Also, I did send you guys an email a few days ago announcing our new finance director, Lindsey Wolfenbarger, and she's sitting right over here.

So so we went through a really good process, interview process, had a panel put together, and councilor Crow, he served on the interview panel. And so and so, Lindsey, she's accept that position. I'm I think we all work well together. I appreciate you doing that, and Stuart's gonna be hard to replace. But but we know you can do it.

And as I said before, if if if we need Stewart in time in the future, can find him part at Bass Pro Shop. But but they've already started the process of transitioning and work Lindsey worked on Stewart to get to hit the ground running. So so, Lindsey, thank you. Is there anything you'd like to say?

Alright.

Thank you. And then, you know, this is our last meeting this year, so I just wanna thank everyone for the work with this that you've done this past year. And as mister Dunn said, it is hard work, and and all the counselors work hard to to do this. And so I appreciate everything that you guys have done. I just want wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I know there'll be a lot of comings and goings over the next few weeks as people travel both to here and from here, so everyone be safe out there and and really remember what this is all about, you know, about Christmas, you know, what we're celebrating. And and we'll be with family and friends and and get a lot of gifts and sitting on a lot a lot of Christmas trees, but this is about the birth of Christ, and and and this is a special time of year. So everyone, please enjoy it. Councilor Carmack?

I wanna echo what you said about Carl Wood. He was I didn't I was in school at the time that he was on the council, but I knew him and used to watch TV and see him on the council meetings. When I was first elected, of course, he called and talked to me about it. So keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. Also, general Tommy Thompson's family in your thoughts and prayers. He's one of the longest serving district attorneys in the 15th Judicial District. Had the honor of knowing him since I was a kid, and it was, it's a great loss of the community, and he served the community well. As far as the Maple Hill, items that you are talking about, we'll we'll discuss that in in January and when the New Year gets here. And, but if 700 homes being able to be put on it, Josh, that's incorrect. Right?

Because it's an it's an SP, so it's controlled by us.

That's correct. The proposal's an SP. So the number of units would be set in that SP. The number that, I think they're referring to would be the maximum possible amount, based on the future land use plan. That's not typically a realistic number that you would get. But if you were to take the total area of the property and and multiply that by the allowed density in that future land use category, that that's the number you would come up with.

And the other acreage that was mentioned as well, we're not required to annex them anything. Correct? I mean, it's not like we have to annex all that in. It's not going to come.

That's correct. It's in our growth boundary, but we do not have to annex it.

I also wanna wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you all.

Thank you. Councilor Ashton?

I don't have anything. I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone. Have a great holiday.

Thank you. Councilor Burda?

I don't have that much to say either other than merry Christmas and have a happy New Year. And thank you, mister Dunn and your HOA, for all you do for us and and remembering us. And, you know, there's a couple people, mister Dunn, miss Conrad, that always come and and make sure we're doing everything right. So we appreciate you all, even though you're not elected, but sitting here with us every night that we are. So Merry Christmas.

Alright. Thank you. And councilor Crow?

Looks like a lot of time has been yielded to me here tonight. So

Oh, no.

Do that.

Their coffee. No. I'm just kidding. Did wanna echo what Joey said about condolences to the the Wood and Thompson families and and their loss. It's really tough to lose someone during the holidays, and so our condolences certainly go out to to those great families.

I want to echo what the mayor said about Lindsay too. Had it was a privilege to serve on that search committee and evaluation committee, and I really didn't know Lindsay that much. Had I think it's planted some flowers with her over at the Hartman Park across from the high school there and got to plant a flower too with with she and her one of her children, maybe a couple of them. But she she definitely has an impressive background with the with the state and her education training. She's definitely had a continuous learning along through the years and has shown a lot of initiative and I think has has grown a lot with Stuart's leadership and and the department, and certainly look forward to working with her and excited about about that.

So wanted to just mention, my wife and I, were in a wedding out of town in South Carolina over the weekend when the In N Out opened, but one of the ladies that served served our table was from originally from Pennsylvania. And she said, you know, where are y'all from? And I said, Tennessee. And she said, oh, I saw where the an In N Out was opening in in in Tennessee. I said, actually, it's in our hometown.

So she said, well, I'm planning on driving up there just to just to partake. And so it's I'm assuming about eight hours you happen to fly this time. But, anyway, a lot of attention there and excited about about that and several of the other businesses coming not only to to Ward 4, but throughout the city. So it's exciting time to be in our town and always appreciate folks holding us accountable and making sure that we're the best that we can be. And I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you, mayor.

Thank you, councilor Bryan.

Thank you, mister Dunn, and thank you, Derek. I appreciate what you're doing. I know you don't hear that a lot, but I do. And welcome. I got a Carl Wood story if you wanna hear it. Carl Wood and Jane, his wife wait. That was the Jetsons. We're good friends with my in laws, JT Robinson and Martha Robinson. They were good friends. They used to eat down at Frankie's all the time, meck, when Frankie's was open. And we were down there with him one day, and Carl asked me. He said, do you have a metal detector? I said, well, yeah. I do. I do have a metal detector.

He said, will you come over the house and help me find this landscaper's wedding ring? He was putting mulch around the shrubberies and things. And when the guy left, his wedding ring was gone. And I said, sure. I'll be glad to. So I went home, got the metal detector, met Carl out there in the yard. I said, just show me in a general ballpark area where you think he lost this ring. He said, well, it was right over here by this mulch, I think. So I started got about a, you know, 20 by 20 square. I started, you know, swinging that thing.

All of a sudden, see, that's a good sign when you hear that. It started going off. And I I reached down into the grass. I didn't even know what I was reaching for, and I pulled that ring up out of the grass. And it was one of those black wedding rings, so it would have been impossible to have seen it. You know? And I gave it to Carl, and Carl took it down the pawnshop and hawked it. No. He no. He I called him later.

He called the guy, and the guy came over and got it. And he said when that guy saw that ring, he started crying because he just knew he he never told his wife that he lost it because he knew he would she would kill him. You know? So that was a a Carl Wood story, and, you know, that's one thing I remember about Carl. He was a real funny guy. You know, we always cut up a lot together and everything, but he he was something else. That's all I have. Thank you.

Councilor Moorehead.

Okay. I don't have anything near as exciting, but, I do wanna thank, mister Dunn and mister Dodson because I do think they keep us on our toes. It's always interesting to hear what's gonna come out of your mouth, Derek, to see what we failed to do or what we're thinking about failing to do, apparently. The I do enjoy having you here. Welcome. I do wanna welcome Lindsay. Looking forward to working with you. And I do wanna thank the staff, all of the staff, for all the hard work they do all year. It's not an easy job trying to run the city, and they do a fantastic job. And for those of you that are traveling, please be safe.

I would like to think that I'm gonna see everybody back here the first of the year. So wherever you're going, be careful. It's it's not that big a deal if you're late that you get there safe as opposed to, not making it there because you're trying to be in a hurry. And Mayor, I just for the first time now, I realized when I grew up, we never did get gifts at our house. They always talked about that was the birth of Jesus Christ. We couldn't afford gifts. So now I know that some people do get presents for Christmas. I'm a have to go and talk to my wife. And for the Christmas parade, that that was a fantastic parade. Hopefully, everybody was there.

It was really, really a good time. I could not believe the number of people that were out there. Four of us were on the float. I think I had probably as good a time as any of those kids did throwing out candy. I was sitting next to Dick. We're we're hitting people. We were having all kinds of fun with it.

You know? Tell them about that. There was this little kid and, you know, those little, Hershey's little nugget Yeah. You could sling those things like rock. And and I was people were holding their hands out, and I was throwing them. You know? They were catching them. It was exciting until I hit this little baby in the back of the head. You know? Then it it wasn't funny. It wasn't funny anymore.

But that you did that.

Did. I know. But I said,

it was him.

I did. I crowned him right here.

The last thing I do wanna say was, at the last meeting, I said I would give my critique of, Councilman to crowd performance of It's a Wonderful Life. We we did go to that play. It was amazing. If you got to see it, I really, really was impressed with all of the characters, particularly the one guy who played about eight parts. I don't know how he was able to keep in character with that many people and remember all those different lines. But I do have to say, councilman Crowley, you did a hell of a job as Clarence. I'm very impressed. You did a good job. So thank you. Thank you. That's it, mayor.

Thank you. We have a consent agenda that has four items on our reading, each one of those. Order number 257320. Second reading approved bids for a contract for construction of Leven Square Northwest Quadrant Park renovation, project c l two five zero zero one, and to approve related budget amendments by Lee Clark, public works director, Christian Rice, executive director of engineering and planning, and Rick Bellmayer. Twenty five seventy three twenty one, second reading to authorize budget amendment to roll over the general fund portion of the Northeast quadrant of the Square Improvements Project, c l two two zero zero two by Stuart Lawson Commissioner Finance and Revenue.

Twenty five seventy three twenty two, second reading to approve budget amendments for replacement vehicles for the meter reader department by Stuart Lawson, commissioner finance revenue. Twenty five seventy three twenty three, second reading to approve gas system rehabilitation and improvements contract addendum number four, with James n Bush Construction Inc, and to approve the related budget amendment by Chad Mueller, gas department manager, and Regina Santana, utilities director. Second. Motion by councilor Morehead, second by councilor Carmack. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Now to all business order number 257317.

Second reading to amend the official zone Atlas of the Sea Of Lebanon, Tennessee by changing undress Southeast Taylor Pillar Road from rural residential agricultural to light industrial and Ward 3 request by JD and IOS.

Approve. Second.

Motion by councilor Berdyne. Second by councilor Carmack. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. That's twenty five seventy three twenty four. First reading to approve grant contract with Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for playground improvements at Don Fox Park to authorize engineering services and to approve the related budget amendment by Christian Rice, executive director of engineering planning, William Porter Parks, recreation director.

Motion to approve. Second.

Motion by councilor Carmack. Second by councilor Crowd. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Motion on twenty five seventy three twenty six. First, we're ready to approve a budget amendment for the street department to roll over funds for the purchase of a a tilt front hitch by Lee Clark, public works director.

Motion to approve. Second.

Motion by councilor Carmack. Second by councilor Crow. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Twenty five seventy three twenty seven, first reading to authorize the issuance of a refund to Bridgetown Foods due to to gas overbilling and to approve the related budget amendment by Chad Mueller, gas department manager.

Motion to approve. Second.

Motion by councilor Burdine. Second by councilor Ashley. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Order number 257328. First reading to approve the consent decree in Tennessee River Keeper, Inc. Versus City of Lebanon, Tennessee US District Court case number three two three c v 01369 and to approve the related budget amendment by Andy Wright, city attorney.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Motion by councilor Morehead, second by councilor Crowell. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Resolution for twenty five twenty seven ninety nine to authorize the advertising for bids for the 2026 paving and striping projects by Christian Rice, executive director of engineering and planning, and Jake Pruitt, capital projects manager. Motion by councilor Carmack. Second by councilor Crowell. Discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you. Thank you, everyone. We are adjourned.