City Council - Regular Meeting

Good to see everybody. This is the biggest crowd we have had in some time and everybody's smiling and that's good if you're sitting up here because we've had some crowds this big and you look out and everybody looks like they're ready for a fist fight. So, I'm glad we don't see any of that tonight. So, it's good to see everybody. We do have a quorum. Uh, April won't be able to join us tonight, but we do have a quorum. So, if you would, if you'll bow with me, we'll have a word of prayer before we go any further. Our father in heaven, we're thankful for yet another day of life and the many blessings you've given us. Lord, we're thankful to live in this community. We're thankful to live in a free country. We're thankful for all our friends and neighbors who make this such a great place to live and enjoy life. We ask now that you'll be with us as we make decisions that they'll be pleasing in your sight and that you'll go with us and forgive us of our sins. Amen. All right. Got a set of minutes there in front of you or should have.

Okay. Got a motion to approve the minutes. Is there a second? A second. Any discussion on that? If not, all in favor say I.

I. opposed. Minutes are approved. Public business comment part of our uh uh meeting. If you have something you want to address to us, feel free to do that. Um come up to the microphone uh and tell us your name so that we can get it in the minutes and uh then we'll be glad to hear what you got on your mind. So, somebody's got to go first before they can go second. There we go. Hello everyone. Sarah Goble with Watertown Chamber. So, um I just want to uh remind everyone next Friday is Halloween, so it'll be on the square. We're doing um all the shops are doing uh 5:30 trick-or-treating. And then um in the gazebo at 6:30 is the um Halloween costume contest. And um Josh Brown at State Farm has um donated $50 cash prize to every um category, which was great. And then uh Brandy at the local collective also has done a $50 gift certificate for the group. So, and then you'll be MCing it.

I will.

Wonderful. And then I also just wanted to go over some events in December just in case I'm not here next month. But um on Thursday, December the 4th is the Wasel Walk. Um it's uh we're doing late night shopping on the square and we're also doing the Christmas tree lighting. So um nothing has to be closed, not any roads or anything. And then the Christmas parade. Um, I got good news that um Nick Bears from Channel 5 News is going to be our grand marshall. So, him and his wife Deb and some of their pups are going to be um in the parade. So, that's great. Um and then it will start at 3:00 from Ramlick Baptist Church um down to Jules Market as normal. It's on Saturday the 6, December 6th. And we have 3 or 4.

Starting at 3. Starts at 3. Did you say Halloween on the square? The trick-or-treating will start at 5. 5:30. Good. Yes. 5:30. We get inundated with people early. Yes. So 5:30. I mean, some people might still come a bit early, but that's when we've officially said. Well, I mean, everybody's welcome. I think it's great. Yeah. But I'll get with um the chief about the parade, you know, about closing the route. Okay. So, that's that's it. Got anything you need us to vote on? Nothing. No, I'm good this time. Good. Looks great. Thank you, sir. Do we need anything special with the train? We've got two more trains coming in, right? Um I think we have to f this week.

Okay. Yes. So, um November 15th. November 15th. Yeah. Is the Christmas train. Okay. Yeah. And so we will have um all the reads up. April's got it on the calendar um for the city to put the reads out for then. And then we'll have the gazebo decorated with like wreaths and lights. We won't have the Christmas tree up then because it's a bit early because it's going to be a real tree. Um, and so we don't need No. Nope. We're good. Thank you, sir. Come on up and join. Hello. Hello.

So, let me introduce myself. My name is Mason Smith. This is my classmate here, Ashton Roach. We are with uh Cumberland's nursing program. And we're in the class community health. And so we've been doing a little bit of our research. And one of our projects is we have to draw we had to draw a piece of paper from a cup and you get randomly assigned a uh place to go and we pulled Water Town. And so after Yes, sir. Good. Oh, it's a pretty town. We love Play the lottery.

We've been Yes, sir. We've been doing our little drivebys, doing what we can. see what we can learn. It's been a great time so far. Um, so basically what our plan is from what we've done with our research is to do a food drive to give back to the community. We're going to get a lot of clean food cans and stuff and also educate the community on healthy foods to prevent diseases, things like that and just give back and find cheaper options that are healthier for people. Um the main thing that we we have our plan and our idea set up like we said we want to do our drive and give back and we got our donations going right now currently at school and at other places right now to get food and be able to provide for everybody. Um the thing that we've kind of run into is having the location and the pub having it public. Um, we're looking for November 1st from 9 to 12 and we just need to find a location that's public that will be good for the community to find us and get educated as best.

I Okay, so my first thought when y'all chime in is Diane Han is having like a new draw for the Jake's blessing box. Okay. And it's a huge building and there's food and diapers and all that kind of stuff that it's sometime in November. Like do you happen to know when your mom Okay, I was thinking the 15th. She probably would not care to have it on that day. Y'all are too or maybe y'all can coordinate with Miss Han. Okay. She might say no, let's move it to the 15th or whatever. But she's been on social media to try to get the community to come out. Yes, ma'am.

Advertise that again. up all year long and people can come when they need it and Yes, ma'am. It's a great thing for our community. Yes, ma'am. So, that's just an idea. Yes, ma'am. And I have a question for Chief. Is the fire department doing their cook on the first? I was just thinking that what what time did you say that? From 9 to 12, sir. But we can work with times. It doesn't have to be that specific. Well, well, we we could we can make that work. Yes. I I don't My thought with it being on the first Saturday and you're doing barbecue on the first Saturday, maybe their location could be in conjunction with you here at the firehouse, right?

Absolutely. Because that that's a public location and we got parking over here for anybody that comes and you're already drawing people in for the barbecue that we have on the first Saturday every month for fundraisers for the fire department. That might be something you have to partner with. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Any leftovers? Then we can protect the blessing box. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Yeah. November 1st is your solid date. Yes, sir. Well, we would never reject the opportunity, but we do have assignments that are due the what is it? 19th. Yeah, the 17th.

The 17th. We have a big paper about the project. So, but of course, we wouldn't turn down if that was the only option. So, the first would work best for us. Well, we're glad to have you and you just set it up. Yes, sir. Works the best for you and all of these folks here will cooperate with you. If you need something, call the office here. Yes, sir. Let us know. Well, appreciate you guys. Appreciate y'all. Contact um somebody's email. Get in contact with the fire chief. Okay. Thank you.

Thank y'all. Appreciate you coming up. [Music] Well, now I have a question and I have the assistance water park is not repairable. The wood is rotted. I've tried to re looking at it every, you know, sawdust and glue, but it's beyond repair. So, we have to decide what we want to do as far as a sign and you have some ideas

and I just sent it to everybody but how how I don't have your number. If you'll give me your number, I'll may not want to give it to everybody. Um, but you can look you can look. We're thinking of a new sign for the park and u you mentioned an insurance. We might have the insurance. Yeah. I didn't Did it get hit or did it just fall apart? I thought Oh, it's just worn out. It's It's worn out. I thought it got hit. Well, it may have one time. It's been there 30 years. Yeah. It's completely rotted. The wood there. I couldn't even put a screw through it. Yeah. You know, so it needs to be replaced. However, we can do that. Uh we can bring it up on the agenda next the next meeting

to think about some way to fund a new sign for the park. Um, and it was $1,500 roughly. Uh, that we found one place, but or he actually found the one place, but I'm sure if we put it out there, we might find some other places, too. That 3x8 PVC. It'll be painted. He didn't do it. That that's just a small, but 3x8. It'll be painted either green or purple or whatever we we wanted wanted to do with that. again. Um, didn't didn't I just know him and and he does it in his house. So, okay.

If you'll send me your PDF on what you're wanting for sure, I'll send it to Jacob and get you a quote there. He can probably He does CNC routering while plast stuff. You can probably route one out of that stuff. Has to last like forever. So, yeah. So, we need to decide what we're going to do with it. I think there's another one over here, too. That's We really ought to replace them all. That might just fall into conjunction with a sign that I want out front. With that, I think with that, I think I'm going to sit down. Thank you.

Uh we once again had calls this week from people to know where to come to pay their taxes or whatever. And we had to tell them to turn next to the horse sign out here. And that horse sign ain't going to be there forever. So I won't sign. But yeah, I'm going to make y'all vote on it sometime down the road, but not tonight. Well, we'll put that together and and do that. That that needs to be done. And the old one here probably needs to be replaced at the same time. So, I'll put that on the agenda next time. Right. All right. Thank you for that. Anybody else? Chief, I didn't see you come in. You sitting back there. I'm so small.

You hiding? Yeah, you're hiding out. You're you're hiding out. Come on up, Ren. I thought we were going to have to beg you. I I was just waiting. I was just waiting. So, another November 1st date. Uh this will be our third

fourth fourth annual family fun day that we've been doing at the park every year. Um we scheduled it or not scheduled it yet, but kind of trying to get a tentative date of November 1st. The thing with the food there is it's not going to be till like 4:00 4:15. So most of the time I think the fire department's kind of done serving by that time. Is that about right? Yeah. Usually sold out by then. Uh so ours will be 11 to 5 and same thing as every year. Inflatables for the kids, raffles, um chili cookoff, cornhole tournament and um all that kind of progresses as the day and we always save the chili for the last. So the chili cookoff don't start really till late. Um so trying to get that again. We'll same thing as always. will do the event insurance and and send it over to the ladies up front. Um seeing if the park bathrooms will be open. Last year they was. I think the year before that they wasn't. So we got some portaotties brought in. Um so we'll get with

Give it to two or three days notice. Okay. Yeah, we'll get with Bob and make sure that's still good to go. And then also our Christmas meal on the square. Um, I know it's a little early, but I think last year we just kind of wrapped both into one, you know, so we didn't have to come back to the meeting, but I want to do it again the Saturday before Christmas, so that falls on December 20th. Uh, last year, same time we did it 1 to 4. Got got Santa Claus involved. So, that was pretty fun. Uh, and we kind of teamed up with a police department. I'm not sure what their plan is this year, but we'll be glad to, you know, do whatever we can to to help out. So, just looking for both of them dates and approval to move forward with that.

So, you're asking for uh for us to Okay. the family fun day from 11:00 to 5:00 on November 1st. Yep. And the Christmas meal on December 20th from 1 to 4. 1 to 4. Yep. And that'll be at the gazebo just right there. Question with the gazebo. I know last year we closed down the outer portion of the square. Mhm. which would probably would need to do that again if you're serving food right there and have some tables. Mhm. Probably be okay. I'm guessing after after 12:00 you start to Yep. Yeah. Most of the businesses we noticed last year when we started setting up the businesses was already kind of closing down and people leaving, you know, barber shop.

One o'clock. Yeah. Yeah. One o'clock is pretty we want to bring that up. That can be a issue sometimes. Yeah. Is there a motion to approve? What part are we closing? The outer part between the gazebo and the bank. Those parking spaces. Yeah. The section of parking spaces right there. Well, the inner is where everybody drives, but we any I'll make a motion to approve. Got a motion. Is there a second? Discussion. Everybody understand what we're doing? It's a great thing Randy do for the community. We appreciate that and business I guess. Thank y'all.

We appreciate that. All in favor say I. I. I. Didn't think it'd be anybody. Hey, thank y'all. Thank you. Okay, we'll go ahead and get into if there's nobody else, we'll go ahead and get into our agenda and move things along. We've got uh Dale, I think you're up first tonight. All right.

Uh we have had some more issues with wipes in our system. Um the pump station at in the Edna Grooms Avenue was uh pretty well filled up with wipes and had to be cleaned out and one of the pumps was had wipes and impellers and stopped up. And um I did talk to one of the property owners that owned some rental properties over there and asked him if he could inform his tenants, not the flush wipes. Um it's pretty difficult to know where they come from though. But being a small area that it's coming from just a slight few of houses, but um other than that, I don't have much for you tonight. Anybody got any questions about?

Okay. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Uh, Chief Police report, you're up next. Come on up. Tiny, you said you loose. Y'all have any questions for me? The stats or anything? Anybody? Is that you stalking me earlier? Yes. Let's make sure you have your seat belt on, sir. I was trying to get you brace. was not mad. You like all right. Easy. That's a good one.

Anything that doesn't involve spending money, which I like. Um, but we're going to have to spend some on some other things. There he is. The newlywed. Yes, sir. Congratulations. We just got back uh a couple days ago. I'm still on ocean time. So, you look tan or you're married at some point.

Maybe both. Uh we had uh last month we had 46 calls. Um an increase of 10 from the same month last year. Everything's going pretty well. Um a gentleman that we went to church with several years ago used to say that it's a poor frog that won't croak for his own pond. So, I'm going to brag on some of these guys over here for a minute. U for many years, uh the fire department has had a medical response and we've had people licensed and um assisting people medically and and we've always had several to do that. Um we have three right now that are finishing up their lensure and um that seems to be going well and as long as that does uh go well next month as far as I know will be the first time uh since established in chart by charter in 1928 that we've had 100% of our membership have medical license. So I feel like that's a a pretty big feat. um some larger departments that can uh pay and hire people as they will. That might not seem like much, but it is to us. So, it's uh I'm proud of these guys for that. It's a big accomplishment.

As you should be, and we all are. That it's very good. You might croak to the lady on the newspaper there. She might get you a little publicity on that. That's right.

Uh other than that, I don't have anything for you unless you've got any questions. I've got one the uh drone that we bought for the city or for the police department. Uh I should ask you when you didn't. Uh we don't have a one person qualified to uh or certified to operate the drone. Uh no, we have three and I might have got in a little like I the Baker School Baronics in Lebanon. I'm sorry I didn't get it approved for the council to pay. They approved to pay it but you asked me to bring it back. Uh and they wouldn't invoice us. So I apologize for that. But we reimburse. We have three that are licensed to fly our drone now.

Okay. You didn't have the one. That's accurate. So, they passed Friday. They went to their test last week. And I I believe that we have one that is licensed to uh to fly drones. So, that might be something that we can coordinate with him in the event that it's needed and we could have someone else to do that. Yeah.

You know, I always come back to this house. You and I are the oldest ones here, but I we've come a long way in this department from having a fire drill on Monday night from 7 to 8 where all the guys came out and threw some water out on the road and went back and parked the truck and hope you didn't have a fire. These guys are trained now. I mean, it was, you know, it was the Mayberry type response and it's what we had then. I'm not being critical of it, but we've come so far and so far the police department. Absolutely. Who would have thought about having this many vehicles, this many officers, but we need them and uh so it's good. It's the moral of that story.

About how many do you have now?

We've got right at 20. We That's pretty well where we stay. I hadn't uh counted the numbers lately, but we we pretty well got a full roster, which this day and age, it's hard to keep people when you are paying them. So, uh keeping a full roster of volunteers is we're lucky for that. That's amazing in itself that there's that many people willing to do it, take their time, spend their money. It's a credit to them and the community. And I want to brag on them and the police, but during the mileong yard sale, um the police helped out on the square, um the fire department volunteered their time and worked the streets walking up and down. I think they said they walked seven miles that day.

Um the firemen did. So just thank y'all for being involved in the community and helping out. Absolutely. All right. Anybody else? Thank you, Chief. Yes, sir. Um, I've got a prepared agenda, but I I know of at least one person that needs to to get out of here. And I'm going to call Cody Bllye up. Um, Cody, of course, is one of our guys that works on the street streets and whatever we need done. But he's got a request tonight. The the guys want to buy a utility trailer and tell them about it, Cody, cuz I'll

mess it up if I try to. that's brand new is from BJ's trailer service. And the reason we're needing it, it's getting to the time we're having cut brush again. Okay. I'm actually putting that in my dump truck right now. And it is getting to the point I'm tearing my dump truck up. You know, we're going to tear the hydraulic cylinder off of it. Sticking the boom in there. We actually we borrowed Mr. Dale's trailer before the hog brush. It's a lot more accessible. you know, I can have the guys take it to where I need them to take it. They can unload it. And another point is with this trailer, it's big enough I can haul our mowers on it. Okay? So, it it's putting more hours on our equipment having to drive from the city shop all the way to Purple Tiger Drive and back just to mow, you know, 10 15 minutes. So instead of me tearing our equipment up, I would rather have something like this, you know, that's brand new. We get to sit there at the shop. We're actually going to have it locked down to the uh dump truck at all times. And like me and Bob was trying to explain to the guys the other day, you know, we we have a little 4x6 trailer, but that's not enough. I mean, we can only haul so much. So, like when we have events with the 9/11, the Christmas events and all that, we have to have somewhere to put the wreaths and drive those around town. The chairs, tables, anything that y'all need us to do around town, we can put on there and go with it. So,

what size is it? It's a It's a 6x4 by 14 utility trailer with a spring lift. And right now the pricing on it without tax is 2350. We don't pay tax. Yep. And it comes straight from BJ's trailer. May me or Mr. Bob one would go down there and get it, bring it back straight to the shop. And do do they offer a warranty on there? I'm pretty sure BJ's trailer does. I haven't looked into that. Bob's the one that found it at BJ's, so I mean I'll give him Yeah. I I figured they at least had a year warranty on it. Okay. But yeah, other than that, that's all I got for you tonight. I recommend that to you guys.

I'll make a motion to I'll second a motion, second to approve that purchase. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. I. You did good. Thank you. You're welcome, buddy. Um, Zach, I should have asked earlier. Was anybody want TV L? Okay, good. All right. Um, Ryan Rich is here with us tonight. I'm going to jump out of my agenda a little bit and get to the folks that are here and tell us what you got, Ryan.

All right. So, my name is Ryan Rich. I run the library over here on the square. Um, two weeks ago I met with the county mayor uh during the budget committee meeting uh to present my proposal for us to buy the land behind the library when it goes up for sale, the plot of land back there. Um, I've been talking with the owner back there about prices and stuff and he plans to sell it at market value to us. Um, that way the city doesn't have to worry about the cost if the county gets involved. Uh the reason for this is mostly because the library has seen increased patron use, programming, and community engagement, but we can also use it as a parking lot for future events and everything else because parking is needed on the square. Um nearby street parking is limited and they post challenges for families, elderly patrons, and those with mobility needs. And the growth has come to Watertown. Every day I have someone that just moved here come to the library. Um, and y'all are prepping the sewer for more homes and everything in the area. So, the growth is coming whether we like it or not. Um, what I presented to the mayor was the owner is wanting to sell at market value to us. Um, my original proposal I brought before y'all before was incorrect with pricing. So, I sat down and worked with him. Uh, the property is assessed at $187,300. That was using Wilson Countyy's assessment ratio of commercial and industrial at 40%. So, it puts the market value about $468,250 for the property. Um, I looked around at local demolitions and gravel lot companies to estimate the total cost of the project. I went with the most extreme cases, which is about $45,000 for demo and lot leveling.

And so the total cost before taxes for the whole project be $513,250. And I'm open to any questions y'all got. Y'all, take a deep breath. He's not asking for that tonight. No. Uh, didn't you tell us that the county would be 2027 before? That's the latest date. Yeah. So he may go fall 2026 depending on if he can get enough steel in from the dairies and stuff. So

Ryan approached it the right way. He went to the county looking for the money and they gave him a warm reception and he didn't ask for your money that night. But after he left they started say don't you think water tow something on it. We'll talk about that. Would this be in the libraryies name or the city's name? It will be in the county's name. Um the plan is for us to buy a portion of it back afterwards so we can have a little bit of an expansion, but the rest of it will be parking loted. Okay. Cuz I'm just You may want to know this, but I would just be worried about EPA stuff. Yes. Coming from there.

Well, I talked to him. He showed me he gave me the reports and stuff. They have passed everything for the last six years with green. They haven't used anything toxic waste since he took over. Um, so there's no hazmat issue or anything in the soil and he has all that paperwork ready to show. So that's a good question. How does they have to be your demolition on that? The stuff that's in there, how will they dispose of what's there? So it's mostly just a steel pole barn building with walls that they threw up in there. But they will take everything that's

they're taking all their equipment and stuff with them. Um, I know there were supposed to be three lots they were selling. They own the end of the square. If you're looking at the library, the end on the left, they own that. They want to keep that for storage because they can't get a storage building built on their new land yet because of the tariffs. So, they do zinc dromate and other chromate structure plating. So, yeah.

Yeah. So, I went with the most extreme cost of demoing. So, I try to cover that. So that uh I asked Ryan after he met that night with the county folks to come tonight and so you wouldn't hear from somewhere else and let him present this here. So he's not asking for anything tonight, but he'll be back to see us in the near future. I think I think so. Yeah, the county's already asked me some more questions since then. So yeah, I think they're very interested in helping us out here. I do have one question. And you'll need to go back to uh LOL about this, but

when he says market value, you're going off the tax record for doing your math. Or is he thinking getting an appraisal done? Cuz market value and the appraisal value with the factors can be two different numbers. Exactly. Yeah. off record he did say he would give us a discount but um I don't know what that is yet until we get it probably appraised like you said so okay but this was just so like I had something to present to the county and then but until a realtor and others get involved we don't know the exact numbers for sure but this was the most extreme assessment

hopefully we we wouldn't need a realtor so there'd be no commissions to anybody involved but you might need an appra appraiser for sure. Okay. Perhaps a survey and a survey. Yeah. I know the county wants to do a survey on the land. You you would need a survey for sure. All right. Other questions? Good questions around the table. All right. Thank you. You're welcome. Appreciate it. And if y'all need this, I can give it to you, too. All right. Let's hear uh I'm jumping around, but I'll save the stuff I've got till last, which ain't much, but uh train museum. You ready to talk?

Sure.

Come on up, Chris. Uh kind of just a little update on where we are. Try to keep it short here. Um since we had our we talked about it last meeting, we had our kind of kickoff event. So, it's publicly announced kind of thing. But, uh, the plan is, uh, we we've been working on this. I've been something I've been working on for about two years. We've got a board now with 501c3. We've been working for about a year. Um, and the whole the whole pl the premise of this is to kind of work in conjunction with the steam engine that's coming and the excursions that are here and really develop that. the steam engine is going to change in a dynamic way what the train is all about in our town. Um an example is um when it first comes they expect what they call chasers to come along. So it's not just the 500 people getting off of the train. There'll probably be another several hundred to a,00500 people showing up when the steam engine comes. So it's it's a big event. It's very important. So the what we've been developing uh is really working to create communication between Tennessee Central, Nashville Steam, the city, uh the train museum, uh the city organizations to just really prepare for this kind of a thing. Uh and and there's a plethora of cr questions that kind of need to be addressed even along the lines of the the turntable and the railard and those kind of things. Um, so we're really working to facilitate kind of getting that communication going. Um, I've been meeting with Tennessee Central National for a year better already. So, they're very excited about the whole project. Um, along with just the facility, uh, two things we're wanting to really work on is one is building

that relationship uh, to kind of have that communication. Um, as you probably all aware, natural steam wants to expand once they get up and running. Um, the steam engine just it doesn't turn on and off. I mean, it it takes 10 hours to build up pressure kind of thing. So, when it's on, they want to use it. So, in the in the, you know, foreseeable future, we're going to probably be seeing more trains and different types of trains, maybe multiple days of trains and things like that. So, it's something we're kind of talking through with them to really prepare for. Uh, and those things will kind of affect the town just even from the city services kind of thing from the uh, you know, police and fire and and sewer and those kind of things. And then how are we going to interact with the turntable and turn the train around and all those kind of things. So, we're really working to build those relationships. Um, and we're kind of trying to be the go-between to get everybody communicating, uh, if you will. And the the other part of that is just the the marketing aspect of all of that. Um and the the tourism aspect of what that's going to be. Um I was sharing with the group the other night the the um one example is without us even doing anything when the steam engine shows up because of the numbers they're expecting we're going to at least double if not triple the people we have coming to town. Um, so it's just by default we're going to be building kind of a real tourism base. Um, so that's something we're really working towards. Um, and that's kind of what the museum is all about as well. How do we take the other 300 days out of the year and turn that into something that we can do to draw people to our town. Um, and the the railroad is kind of a gift to us. It was important to Watertown back in the day. uh and it's going to become important again and it's going to have a big impact on what we're doing here. So, um one of the things that we talked about

uh at our meeting the other week was was kind of developing that and what that looks like and communicating with the city um and on some of those marketing ideas, moving that forward um promoting the train. I'm really working with Nashville Steam, Tennessee Central to develop kind of a comprehensive message that includes Watertown. Uh I've spent a lot of time talking with um Jason Johnson from Wilson County Tourism. Uh going to be meeting with him some more. Uh he's connecting us with some of the state folks. I met with some state folks a week or two ago. Uh, so we're kind of moving that up the ladder to really develop Watertown tourism and Watertown marketing, if you will. Um, because I know several meetings ago, Laura, you had mentioned about, you know, there used to be a sign, a billboard, those kind of things. Uh, we've been visiting some welcome centers and things like that and there just there isn't any Watertown information. You go to Cookville, you go to their information center, there's nothing about us. if you get the state tourism guide, vacation guide that they put out every year, there's no water town in it. Uh so just things like that that I think we really can move forward. Um and it's a it's a large task because there's a lot of people involved. Um so we have started down that road. We developed a brochure that we've been handing out starting on the trains in October to really start with the train people to talk about Watertown, talk about the history of Watertown, talk about what's coming. Um, and as we develop that in through the next year, uh, there'll probably be, you know, things that we'll interact with the mayor's office on messaging and things like that about Watertown. Uh but Mike and I have spoken several times about the project and and Laura's actually on our board. So um you know there's already we're already working

that relationship. Steve and I have talked several times. Um you know I just want to part of Mike asking us to you know share at some of these council meetings is to really um kind of bring that loop together. I think uh and and we have a Tennessee Central and a Nashville steam person on our board as well. So, we're working very closely with them. Uh, so again, I think it's what I hope to do in the in the coming months. You know, if you ever have questions um through Laura or for me, just reach out so that you know, if there's things that we need, we're we're a 501c3 nonprofit private organization. So, we're we're working on the facility down those roads, but there will definitely be city interaction. um you know on the on some of the infrastructure side and safety sides and what does that mean when we have you know 15 or 2,000 people showing up every weekend instead of 500 uh and those kind of things. So, uh, I just kind of wanted to share where we're at, what it's looking like, kind of things we're thinking through. We've already started that communication, um, and and want to keep it going, but if you have any questions at any time about what the facility is, what we're doing, what that's going to look like. Um, I think it's ex as we've gone along and shown it to people, we've got a kind of a video that some of you have seen that shows the rail yard all the way up, you know, through the through the red building over here, which will be the museum. Uh, it it's it's very significant and it's super exciting just to see it all complete. We met with a couple other museums and they were jealous, if you will. Uh we have, you know, you know, we have a turntable and a siding, an excursion train and, you know, outdoor storage space for old, you know, old train cars and locomotives and a and a

museum coming. And we kind of have all of the pieces that most museums only have one or two or three of. So, they're super excited for the potential we have here. And I think Tennessee Central and Nashville Steam are as well. And this is a real great way for us to get a seat at that table and communicate with them to make sure that Watertown is maximizing the things that they're doing kind of for our benefit.

We're going to from the meeting that we had 10 days or so ago, we're going to have a spot on the agenda for them each month to update us on where where they are, what we can do for them, what they can do for us or whatever. just keep the local communication going. A lot of outside as well. And I'm just sitting here thinking the other thing the uh steam engine fall open house is November 1st. November 1st when everything else is going on. So yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. And exciting. We're uh Watertown Rail Museum. We're going to have a booth there and we're to the point now where we're participating with them. Um, so you know, while they and they have a lot of people come through, you know, to to view the steam engine, we'll be able to be there and start showing people. And at the yard sale, I had set up a booth over by the hardware store. And it was it was a lot of fun. Had a had a great time talking to a lot of people who came by, able to show them the plans, talk about the steam engine and the railard and the turntable, and it really kind of made it real for everybody and kind of to see it all come together. So uh but but any at any time if you all you know please feel free to reach out any questions or thoughts or uh this is a this is a long process. I mean this is a this is a 2 to four year deal just to get down the road and and the steam engine is probably going to come online all continues well in the next 12 to 18 months. So we're not far away from from big changes coming.

Thank you sir. We look for you every month or somebody, right? Well, I don't know if somebody Yeah, I appreciate it. Thank you. Thanks.

And let me just I usually update y'all on things we got going on. Let me jump on just to deal with a turntable and then I'll come back. We've got some other folks here that want to speak to us, but the uh we continue to have our monthly meetings with the on the Chrissy grant with the Federal Railway Administration. Was shocked that they had not shut down. They actually held their meeting last Thursday and we'll have another one December the 18th, but we at the same time that was going on, the National Eastern Railroad Authority, which I chair was meeting and we entered into an agreement with the authority and the city of Watertown. It's an operating agreement for the railard. So, uh it's more of a agreement in principle than it is really fine tuned. But this is something the federal government had to have before we could go any further. So, we've got it and that's uh that's done. So, I'll continue to keep telling you on that side and Chris or somebody else will update you on all the good things that are going on. Um Jeff Tungs is here wants to talk to us about several things with our parks and recreation program. So, I'll have Jeff up and then uh we will have gone a long way through our agenda. We might make it.

So, um I think the first thing on my list here, I thought I would take advantage of being up here to update you on everything else that we're doing just so you have an idea of what's going on with sports and in Watertown. mayor put on the agenda tonight for ball field lights for the little field. Um we we did a a really rough estimate, but I'm thinking we're pretty good. But really the the only expenses that that we'll have is is the the wire and the lights. Um I've got boxes. U Middle Tennessee Electric has agreed to hang the lights for us. So, realistically, it's just a matter of paying for the the pieces that that that go. Um, we we talk about just allocating $2,500 to do that. Um, the wires about $900 and the lights are about $900. Shannon Spec said he had hung some at a ball field and said two of those lights would light up that whole park over there. I I figured for three um just so we if we need to redirect one towards the bridge, we can redirect because there there four in a bank um is what I've I've looked at. So $2,500 ought to get us if we can get the city to dig the ditch. Um we should be we should be fine. Um it's about $460 ft give or take from the pole to there. And we'll be using the electric. We'll put a box off of the electric on the helellipad. So, we don't have to have a new service or do anything like that. We'll just tag in onto their to their box and and run it.

Okay. Let's take those one at a time. Uh, and I'm recommending it by the way, but the uh how we'll pay for it. We we y'all know, but folks out here may not know, we run our parks and recreation department off of user fees, not really user fees, uh sponsorships, donations, and concession sales. And we have enough money that we do that every year and we make it, but it doesn't allow us to put aside any money. And uh we've never put any tax dollars over there. It's always, you know, we tell you to eat as many hamburgers as you can. If you don't like hamburgers, we sell ice cream. Uh, but spend your money there and and it helps to and the good folks that run their businesses here. Uh, do a wonderful job supporting our program and our kids. Now, I've gotten on my soap box again a little bit, and I'm prone to do that. I apologize, but we set aside $75,000 of ARP money. uh wanted to use that or still want to use it as possibly seed money for matching grants, but I don't mind recommending that we take $2,500 of that and do this project. That'll leave us with $2,500. So, I'll recommend that to you.

And that's the field across the Little Field. Have you looked to see how much it would be to just put new bulbs if we're going to have Middle Tennessee Electric out here anyway? Can we redo the bulbs on the big field here?

That's a beast all into unto itself. Now, Steve and I have talked several times about doing that. I've been told, I think Steve also that that if we can use the wiring that's there, it's very possible that that could be done. But we're still probably looking I would say 10,000 just in lighting per field. Um and I don't want to say Middle Tennessee Electric will do anything o other than what they they've said. Um so you know that would be another thing to do but but it it's possible to do that with the exist as long as the wiring is good up there. Those changing the bulbs I don't think is the is probably I know I've been told you can put LEDs. Is that what you find?

You can you can either put LEDs in there or there's a conversion that can happen but you have to change the the the conversion because I think those are three-phase lights that are up there. I think we have to change the So if we just could use the wiring the wiring is more than adequate as long as it's in good enough shape. We could just change the just rewire the the new lights and that may be something we talked to spec about. Yes. It was it was a pretty simple process to swap over from the big light and the big systems down to LED except you're at 60 ft. Yeah. Yeah. That's what I'm referring to more than anything is the

Well, that was my thing is if Middle Tennessee Electric's going to be here already to do those. If we could utilize them the same day instead of bringing out someone out bring them out another day, could they inspect? Could they at least start the process? I don't know what this process is, but it needs to be done in the next year or two. That lighting's pretty bad. Well, we we also need to keep in mind, mayor, I know you mentioned the the seed money on some grants that 75 70 75,000 whatever's left in there, I think we have to spend it by the end of next calendar year.

We do. And the big grants that I've been looking into about expanding the park on the back side of the creek at the state level, you are allowed to use if you already own the land, the land value can be part of your matching funds. Okay. Which that is a great benefit to us because we've got close to 20 acres back there. And with the with the value of land going up, I mean, that would give us a good matching fund. $2 million. Yeah. So, um, so you're saying let's take a look at this money and spend some spend it on some other things. That was going to be my recommendation cuz I've also been I've also been looking at um restroom updates.

Yeah. And you can't do a whole lot with the restrooms at only 70 $75,000. They just you you would be surprised what a new restroom ADA compliant is going to run you 150 to $200,000. um if you don't totally new but

you know and then remodeling still you got the issue of uh I mean it adds restrooms add up quickly they're expensive so uh I think we would be better served to go ahead and look at trying to use that money to maybe do the lights on and I know the the horse arena they've complained about the lights too I don't know if we'd have enough to but I mean we need to look at the lighting on the whole facility Um, okay. Not only that, updating the lighting will to LEDs should reduce our power bill when they're used when they're when they're in use. So, I mean I mean they'll use less power.

You know, one of the things I found in government, and I don't doubt y'all's word at all, but everything always gets sold that it'll it'll save money. And I just discussed to them yesterday, it had been two or three years ago, they convinced me we needed to change the telephone system, all of this stuff. how much money it's going to save you. And now we've got three systems that we're paying more than we've ever paid in our life. I don't know where the savings are, but I agree. Inflation. Well, yeah, but the I agree the LED lights just like putting them in your home. You should save money. But usually when somebody's got something for sale, they find something else to get that extra money they're saving. You got to be real. I know the TVA has had some energy incentive programs in the past. There may be something through the TVA. They've had some pretty big incentive programs in the past. You might want to contact TVA. Um, actually had the TVA come out and do an energy assessment at one of my facilities in the past and go through and tell you where you can save money on different items and how much money they would give you on different items. You might get somebody from the TV actually come out take a look at.

All right. Thanks. So we need a motion for the 2400 coming by easier. I make a motion that we approve for the lights on the little field. Three lights. Yeah, I think three will be will be plenty. And if I didn't do it,00 not to say 2500. Okay, I'll second the motion. Got a motion and a second. Discussion. All right. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. Carried unanimously. You want to move to the gym? The gyms. Oh, okay. Um, of course I have this list and I'll lift that off. Oh, well, go ahead and do your No, no, no. I'm going to add the I'm just put

I just got two of them on here on so we may not be able to take them up tonight. No, no. These are just Okay. All right. Um the uh gym they they're redoing the gym floor in the big gym at the high school or at the middle school and it's going to cost about five grand. They've asked us to pay something. I suggested to the mayor $1,000 um for it. Um I was trying to help them with the old gym, but it did it was supposed to happen during fall break, but it didn't. But but they are doing the big gym and I've asked if if we could give $1,000 for that. So

we use it our teams play up there. They don't charge us anything that pays a lot bill. Seems like a very fair trade. So certainly recommend putting $1,000 in. I make a motion and I'll second that. Okay. Discussion. Somebody's briefing. All right. All in favor say I. I. Okay. That passes. All right. J. Okay.

Um this is just a list of things. Um and I I wrote them down as they came. Uh junior high baseball. Um they're they're still using this. I think everybody knows the the park. Um and they have volunteered their ball team to do work at the park and they want to do it within the next couple of weeks. So, if you wanted to have suggestions or y'all want to say make suggestions, my biggest thing was clearing the tree line, the water line, the tree line, trying to clean that out. Um, I imagine that would take all day if, you know, there's probably 20 of them and their parents, but I say parents. I don't know if parents are coming. I just know the kids are coming, but I'm assuming that there'll be some parents come help. But the tree line was the one thing I knew that they want to paint the dugouts. They want to repaint the dugouts. Um, I told them I'd help with the paint for that, but but they didn't want to paint. And so if there's anything y'all can think of that you would rather have them do, I'm I just threw out suggestions. I I

those sound good to me.

Um, just maintenance and upkeep, you know, anything that they're willing to do and they're they're doing it as community service. Just just so you know. Um, so I'll I'll relay that to him. Um, basketball. Um, we have taken on Southside this year for our basketball program. Uh, Southside Elementary. Um, they have not had a basketball program in four years. Um, WWBA would not allow them to play there. This is too far. I get it. Um, and the blue league is strictly for feeder schools to Lebanon. So, they're fell under the same thing that Tuckers did. They they didn't have not had a ball program. So, we took Tucker's on last year and this year Southside has has requested that we try to try to get them involved. I'm trying to set this up so they can have their own. They have more kids in elementary school than we do. So, it won't happen this year, but next year they probably have enough for their own league and they can do their own thing. Um, their biggest problem is I think they got rid of one of their gyms and turned it into a auditorium. So, they only have one gym. Um, I've asked um Larry Tomlinson to see if he could find a church that would be willing to let them use a gym in Lebanon to practice so that they don't have to come here. We have we probably have enough time in our gym times that we could fit them in. Um, right now the numbers are 105 at Southside, 63 for Tuckers, and 204 or 206 for Water Tank.

Um, we'll be at probably 250. That's where we've been for the last last three or four years at 250. But uh again, Southside will have their their own before then. But their biggest problem is gym time um because of that one gym because their junior high girls and boys both have to use it. So it puts it at 7:30 before before we can get their gym. Um that doesn't because we've tried to cut our practices at 8 here. So we might fit one in there at 7:30, four days a week, but or really we practice two on a an hour. So we could get eight eight teams and I think right now they're they're at eight or nine. So we'll just see how it how it folds out here in the next couple of days. Um

when's your season going to start? Season should start the first uh Saturday in December. Right. It's the boss back there. I'm just the boss. That's the boss. Yeah. first Saturday, December 6th.

Great day in SEC Championship. Boy, there's a lot going on here. I love it. Um that um brings me to the to the next thing is our football. Um our football won all of their playoff games sat this past Saturday and so we're playing again this Saturday. we had draft times um scheduled for right in the middle of of all this um there there hasn't been because of fall break and all the other things and because of football it's it's really hard and that's what we had talked about the coordination of all four of our schedules baseball soccer and and football all trying because we draw so much from the same kids so it I I have to work around all that and the fact that we're in the playoffs is a good thing, but it kind of messed our schedule up and uh we we have to have the numbers to see exactly what and when and how we we can do it all. So, I always try to get everybody to sign up, but we'll still have 50 kids between now and next week added to what we have. Um, but having said that, we've moved our our our draft day a couple hours later so we can accommodate. Hopefully, we can accommodate. Now, there's a bunch that have flag and seniors, so they may wind up staying and not come back, but they'll all get on a team. We'll draft them on a team no matter whether they're there or not. Long as they're signed up, everybody gets assigned a team.

Are the football games here? No. No. Are they Westmore? West M. Yeah. Um, so anyway, that's that's kind of where the the football and the uh the basketball. Um, I I didn't know about the the credit cards if I I need Yeah, I've forgotten that. We need It's okay. I I just that remind me please. Quicky will get the grease.

Um, Lowe's. I would like just to mention Lowe's. They've donated paint. They've donated a lot of stuff for us. They do. And anytime I ask, they bend over backwards. So, just so you know, Lowe's does a lot for our community. Things that that you won't see most of the time, but but they do a lot for us. Um, Park Sign, Bill Moss, we need to do that. Yeah, he's called for me today and I need to get calling back. Yeah. David Johnson, by the way, is the junior high baseball if any of y'all know him. Um he also is a uh um public relations runs a public relations office or something. So

just thought maybe somewhere down the line we might put him to work at something else. But but that he's not a teacher. He's just volunteers for the kind. Um unless y'all got questions for me. That's where we are. If we make it whatever teams we get we get through this we'll play next November 1st at Gordon will be the championship. Okay, they'll be playing playing up there. November 1st. It'll be a day and a half. I still need sponsors and I still need coaches for basketball. So, anybody want to coach, just come on down. Gotten a little long in the tooth for that. That's all I got. We'll see.

Very good. Thank you. Appreciate everything you're doing and Haley and the whole family. They're glad take they've taken a real interest that the uh banquet for football will be November 8th at 8:00 or November 8th at 3:00 middle school. Anybody else? Okay. It's not [Music] heard that sound before. The drone. Okay.

Sorry. the uh All right, let me go through two or three things I had left and then we'll move on to what the council wants to talk about. The uh we're a quarter of the way through the year, obviously a few days past the quarter, but uh Steve Casey, Laura Croman, Chromemer and I met last night and went through our budget first 90 days. We don't see anything that's really alarming. We have one or two things that are probably out of whack a little bit. Time may heal them or we may have to make some adjustments somewhere. The next big marking point will be halfway through the year to see where we are. But one thing I do want to say because we've got some merchants here. Our local sales tax is exceeding what we budgeted and that's good. It's good for us, but it's good for them as well because they're making sales. And um right now it is about um let me see if I can do this math in my head real quick. 8 to 10% ahead about what of what we budgeted. So hopefully that'll that'll hold up well. Um and this one and we don't know the answer to it. Maybe some of y'all do, but our beer tax is doing really really good. Uh we're almost 50% at 25% of the year. So uh whatever y'all are doing it, keep on doing. Uh I shouldn't have said that probably. I'll I I'll get forgiveness. Um but everything else is holding up pretty well. We do have a payment due uh November 1st on our big sewer bill. We have the money. We'll be wiring that October 30th. And the large increase we had to do that still regretfully had to

be done is doing what it's supposed to do. It's it's covering the debt. So, um any questions of me on that? Okay. The uh on the current uh projects I've already mentioned the turntable. Let me uh mention to you um sewer projects ongoing. Hopefully we're beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. And on the water projects, um got an update today. The tank painting project is underway and sand blasting of the interior has started. The system is operable now with temporary storage and we should be back in service in our tank in 45 days approximately 45 days. Um the contractor is ordering materials and expected to begin the piping work in November and the flow meters with Ry Engineering is ongoing as well. So we got a lot going on right now. Uh water and sewer is not something you really see unless you turn on the water tap or flush the commode and it doesn't work.

But uh everything seems to be going well and a little bit uh just pray we don't have a fire. Let me say it that way. We'll have the water to deal with it, but it will put us in a strain. And the only other thing is we need to elect a member to the JCDB. It's referred to as position number 11. It belongs to a council member from the city of Watertown. So, and I think that is the council's council elect. I think Steve Casey is on there now. and his term will expire uh his current term will expire January 1 of 26. So they're asking us to either reelect him or elect somebody for that seat so that there's continuity here.

I would like to make a motion to reelect Mr. Casey. Second, it's breakfast four times a year. No, I I don't I don't have a problem. This uh there's some good information that's always provided at that meeting. And uh fortunately, my full-time employer is flexible enough to allow me to take hour and a half, two hours once a quarter to go attend something. You do a good job representing. Good. All right. Got a motion and second to elect Steve. We better vote before he gets the chance to back out. All in favor say I. Hi. Hi.

Okay, that is all I have other than to say we will meet again in November on November the 18th. Believe it or not, not November the 1st. Uh we'll meet on November the 18th, 3rd Tuesday. That will be right uh about seven or eight days before Thanksgiving. And so uh the holiday season should be in good uh good swing by then. And I will reiterate, I put it in my article this time. It'll come out in the next day or two. Please support our local merchants. Um, it's good for them, it's good for us, and they do a lot for our recreational programs. So, um, please support them and have fun on Halloween. They do a lot Halloween, Halloween on the square. It's fun. Kids enjoy it and it's enjoyable as an adult to watch the kids have fun. So, uh, that's all I have. How,

uh, the, uh, yard sale went good. You and I talked. Yeah. And, uh, we had some few problems with cars when we go being stubborn, want to go both ways. And, uh, and we had some people, two or three, that sit up on the sidewalk. You couldn't walk down sidewalk. head down the street and I think I talked to you about one of them and so but it was pretty good. I I thought I thought it was too we those are those are things that are fixable. Yeah.

You know so and I don't think we had any problems whatsoever with the beer. Um, we I didn't see a whole lot of people over there. We We didn't have problems per se, but we've got still some that were leaving the premises to go out into the public and we have an ordinance. Matter of fact, I made a copy of it to discuss tonight. If you need that wasn't from the beer garden that chamber put on. I know. And I know and that was one of the things that I was going to talk about too. Um

but open containers of beer beer or alcoholic beverages are prohibited on uh uh public uh streets, public property and on private parking lots. Yeah. And always as part of mine, I would like to recommend that our police start giving cookies to anybody that comes out with open beer. I think that'll stop it. Yeah. I don't think anybody had any problem with it being sold in the beer garden. I thought went very well. But uh but when they But I think that'll stop that if you just please see somebody with a open container of beer out on the street.

But not just beer. I mean it's any alcohol alcohol or wine taste in there drinking a ticket right there. I think if we have to make a a motion and get it done or whatever we need to do that the law's on the books. It'll be up to them and you know use their discretion talk about the guy walks out of the front door and you stop him and say get back in there and he goes I'm not right back. He says well I'm going to rent my You can stop at that, but if you can't the other way, just write a ticket.

I'm going to go ahead and mention that this past Saturday there the wine the Del Monaco was set up behind the red building and not this past Saturday, sorry, I guess two Saturdays ago. And um in on the square in the business that I work at, we caught five or six people with their wine cooler slushies just walking around. And I we purposely said, "Where did you get that from?" "Oh, Del Monaco." And so when we approached them the yard sale day cuz they were mad cuz their people couldn't walk through our beer garden, but we were following the rules that we were set before the beer board. They were mad because their people couldn't walk through there and they said we always had and they said they had their own security and that they made sure nobody was out on the street.

Then fast forward to the week next week there was people out on the street. So I'm with you mayor. If they're out on the street if we can't do it for our own citizens which we shouldn't. I'm not saying that then we can't do it for these white trained people. So okay I'm off. Anything else? No, Steve. I I Well, I have one question, but Cody left. Have we made any progress on the old city hall? We have and we'll we'll talk about that. I know I keep saying with with the cooler weather. I don't know if we It's time to get in there now. Okay. But that was it. Laura,

so the wine train, I just mentioned that. The other thing is I know that Cody and Bob had mentioned that moving the bleachers every time we have an event was, you know, uh, starting to hurt them. So I looked and we can get three row bleachers for about $5,000. And they're the storeable kind. So they will fold down and and we can put up. It is great on train days to have somewhere for these people to sit. Even if we don't have huge entertainment, it's just a courtesy for our town to help provide that. And as um as Chris said earlier, we're only going to grow with that. So, I would like at some point, not tonight, but us start thinking if you find a better deal or y'all find a better um thing, I I think we should kind of go in maybe with the with the chamber and split a few sets of bleachers. Um, and I don't even know if the chamber would be willing to do that, but I'm thinking we we're needing something like that.

You don't mind explore that with the chamber and I can put on the agenda back here when we get back. We could add wheels. Yes, some of these had wheels. But I'm saying we could add wheels on these and hitch on the front where we can move. It can be done. They and they I think they have wheel kits for them just like for container trucks, trailers that they make a kit that you can put on and they'll just come off the next.

Okay, that's something to I'll look at that too. My only thought too is putting these big bleachers up. Some of our businesses weren't happy with putting them up at the time that the city could. Let's say the city can't get out, has to do it at 11:00. Well, that's taking up five or six parking spots all day Friday when we really don't need them till Saturday. So, that was my other thinking about having the portable kind is we can leave it open until the Saturday event, but I'll look at that, too. Thank you. That's it. Thank you, Kayla. What's on your hat? Is that New York's hat?

Nashville soccer. Nashville soccer. That was like the main Good looking hat. It is. Keep get NY wine out of that. Mike M's got to cut. Oh, Mr. H. Put that in the yard sale. That was a good one. It's going to be a rough year for me. You've already got me. I'm afraid he's going to get All right. U Zach, we got anybody over there that wants to talk? We're all good. We're all good. All right. We got one more motion we're ready for then. Motion. Thank you, sir. Second. Everybody rise and go home if you're and hitch.