City Council - Regular Meeting

and I think we've probably got a little bit of information about her and her history, and we're going to recognize her for a few minutes, and then we will let her escape.

So, Jenny, you're going to correct me. I went and did my history, but Jenny has served a total of 14 years. as a member of the Board of Mayor and Alderman from 1999 to 2009, and then she came back on the board in 22, in April of 22, and then later in 23 is when our, I mentioned before at our last meeting, is when the charter was changed, and that is when we started to go to a four-year term for our city council members, because that was when the name changed from Board of Mayor and Alderman to the Greenville City Council, and There's a good picture. And then look at, look at Tim too. So she, when she came on board in 2022, then in 2023, the charter changed and renamed everyone, the city council as city council members. And then she served a three-year term because to get us to a four-year term, the first round for ward one was, Their terms were extended to three year and then it went to four years and now we're on a consistent four year term. But Miss Jenny Kidwell, we truly appreciate your years of service to the town of Greenville. Thank you.

Just very quickly, I want to say thank you. I appreciate all you've done, all you've done to help me and our town and very proud to have had the opportunity to work with you. And we've got a couple of little things that we would like to give you. And I've also got somebody else that's going to come up and make a little presentation. So we'll ask TJ Maness from EMS to come up for just a second. Did I say Manus? It's Manus.

This guy right here always butchers it. My 11-year-old is always the first one to call him out when it happens. So we just got to get that right. No, like Kathy said, Ms. Kidwell, she joined the Greene County Greenville EMS board in May of 2022. And I remember her first meeting because she kind of sat there like a lost little puppy dog. I don't know much about EMS. And I told her, I said, don't worry. You know, the general public really don't know a whole lot about EMS, but we're here. We're going to help you through. And from day one, she was involved. She asked questions. If she wanted to know, she asked until she found out. And, you know, lo and behold, her and her husband was even SUBJECT TO SHOW UP FOR SOME FELLOWSHIP AND FOOD ALMOST EVERY YEAR DURING EMS WEEK. I THINK THEY WOULD COME BY AND BREAK BREAD WITH US AND FELLOWSHIP AND JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU'RE WELCOME EVEN THOUGH YOUR TERM ON THE COUNCIL HAS EXPIRED. YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME VISIT, FELLOWSHIP, EAT, WHENEVER. BUT WE DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE EMS BOARD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. You want me to come down there?

Better for pictures. I got my stuff. One of those for you.

Jenny, I'd also like to provide you this. This is a certificate handed by the Planning Commission. Herb was there. You were there for four years in this last time. And today, we all appreciate that.

Come on, development services guy.

I understand And then we also got a certificate saying that it's wrecking in recognition of your 14 years of service on the Rainbow City Council

My golf game.

Yes, so you can start having something. Would you like to say something? Yes, you've got to.

Well, I can speak from here. I can speak from anywhere. I'm like Dolly Parton. Just give me a microphone. I'm not going to make a long speech. I just want to say thank you first and foremost to the citizens of this town, to the town employees, and to all of these friendly, sweet faces that sit here and endure this process and are vested in our community. I have a special... feeling for the council members. Tim Teague and I, as you saw, we were just little children when we came on this board. But it's been a pleasure. We've had some rough times, but by and large, I think everybody has the town of Greenville as in in their hearts and in their minds the best interest of this town and i think i certainly hope that continues i hope you all will call on me if i can be of service if if any of the new council members have want to seek counsel i'll be very candid and and as i told mr bada i'll tell you where all the bodies are buried So thank you all. It's been a pleasure. And if you don't mind, Robin and I are going to go somewhere right now. So thank you all very much. Bye-bye. Come on, let's give her another hand. Thank you. Oh, I didn't even say.

Thank y'all.

Go ahead. Doesn't matter.

All right. I'll start with Mr. Byer. I must say. I will obey the laws of the United States and of the state. I will in all respects observe the provisions of the charter and ordinances of the town of Greenville and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of council member, the duties of the office of council member of the town of Greenville, Tennessee, of Greenville, Tennessee, to which I have been elected, to which I have been elected, and which I am about to assume.

I, Frank Carter, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution.

I started to say, you're going the wrong way. Going the wrong way. Congratulations.

Mr. Carter.

Okay, well, my friend Danny's not here, so I'd like to ask Josh, can you come up and lead us in prayer? And then I'm going to ask Flint to lead us in the pledge. Okay. Can everybody stand up, please?

Lord, I pray that you would be with us today. I pray that you grant this council wisdom and strength to make decisions for the town of Greenville in the best interest of your will. In your name I pray. Amen.

Amen.

Okay. I can't see what that says.

Okay.

As far as Mayor's comments go, got a couple of... proclamations that were jointly written by the town and the county, and I'm going to ask Christina Potts to go over those.

I'm not going to read all this. It's a little bit long, but it is a very important one. We have a proclamation for September 11th. So whereas, as our nation marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks, we pause in solemn remembrance of a day that forever altered the heart of America. On that morning, the United States endured the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil carried out by violent extremist organizations responsible for immense harm and loss of life. In the face of devastation, the courage, heroism, and resolve displayed by ordinary citizens, first responders, and communities across the nation revealed the extraordinary strength of the American character. In the hours, days, and months that followed, Americans stood together in unity, offering countless acts of kindness, compassion, generosity, and unwavering love for country and neighbor. And whereas in the aftermath of our national shock, grief, and recovery, survivors, family members of 9-11 victims, first responders, communities, civic organizations, and governments across the nation began holding annual ceremonies of solemn remembrance, gatherings that honored the lives lost, reflected how our nation was changed, and paid tribute to the enduring strength of the American people. And... I'm gonna skip a little bit down. There was a joint resolution approved December 18th, 2001. The Congress designated every September 11th as Patriot Day, and by public law also approved April 21st, 2009, the Congress requested the annual observance of September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, charging the corporation for national and community service with leading this nationwide effort. Whereas, I'm going to skip down a little bit more, each year, September 11th, reminds us of how much we lost that day in life, in promise, and in our sense of national innocence and how deeply our country and the psyche of every American were affected. Yet, from our mourning grew strength, courage, vigilance, resolve, and renewed national pride. Each year, we recommit ourselves to American patriotism, service, and unity in honor of those who lost their lives that day and those who have since given their lives in recovery, rebuilding, and the ongoing fight to secure liberty and peace. So this will actually be affixed on the 11th day of September, 2026, Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Thank you.

Lynn Broyles and Andy Broyles asked us if we could add this proclamation. So we've had this as a joint proclamation with the county So this is on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders Whereas fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, FASD, are a group of lifelong conditions that can occur in a person who was exposed to alcohol before birth, and these conditions may influence learning, memory, attention, communication, emotional regulation, impulse control, reasoning, judgment, social interactions, and everyday functioning. Whereas... Research estimates that as many as one in 20 U.S. school-aged children may have FASD, yet FASD frequently goes undiagnosed or is mistaken for other behavioral, learning, or developmental conditions, leaving many individuals without the understanding or support they need. And I'm gonna skip down a little bit. Whereas individuals may never receive an FASD diagnosis and may instead be identified with other learning, behavior, developmental, or mental health concerns without the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure ever being recognized, making appropriate treatment, educational strategies, services, and family support more difficult to identify. Whereas this message of this year's awareness is awareness, acceptance, support, look beyond the behavior, see the person, support the family. This reflects Greene County and the town of Greenville's commitment to compassion, understanding, and community-wide resilience. This will be for the month of September, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Month.

Thank you. Okay. I had my 50th year high school reunion last weekend. That was a whole lot of fun. It's hard to believe. Yes, I did. 50, yes.

That's your husband, Warren.

Thank you. Thank you.

Wasn't even a thought in me. I wasn't even thought of on my end. Anyway.

We also have a visitor today. He's come into the meeting. He's going to be part of our Citizens Academy. So welcome, Enrique. We're glad to have you here, and I hope you learn a lot over the next couple of weeks. As far as public comments go, Tracy Solomon has something he would like to say.

Yeah, I just wanted to address the new folks on the council as well as the council. Mayor, council, especially two members, congratulations and thank you for your willingness to serve our community. Just wanted to go through a couple of things here. You both have a lot of support coming to you from this community. There'll be difficult decisions, there'll be pressure, competing interests, strong personalities, and people who are very comfortable with the way things have always been done. I would ask that you not let that discourage you and that there are far more people supporting you than you'll probably ever hear from. We want you to ask the hard questions, insist on transparency, think independently, and make decisions based upon what is right for all of Greenville, even when doing so is difficult. The decisions made in this room have real consequences. They can create jobs or they can cost us jobs. They can attract investment or drive it away. They can increase public trust or erode it. They can build this community up or they can tear it down. Years from now, people may not remember every vote or every controversy, but they will live with what those decisions created. You have an opportunity to leave Greenville better than you found it, stronger economically, more open to opportunity, and governed in a way that earns and deserves the public trust. Again, I thank you for having the courage to step forward and serve this community. Each of you will be in our prayers, and all of us are hopeful for a better tomorrow. Thank you both.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Tracy. Okay, we'll go on to unfinished business. And I do want to say thank you, guys, because it's not easy. And a lot of people are not willing to step out. Tim's comments at our last meeting about if you feel like you want to make a difference, don't be afraid to reach out and volunteer. So thanks, guys. Unfinished business item 7.1 is consideration to approve the minutes from the regularly scheduled meeting held on August 18th, 2026. Those were sent out last Friday. So you've had a chance to read them. Does anybody have any questions or comments or do I hear a motion to approve? So moved. Second.

Second. Second.

Is there any further discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Those against, like sign. Motion carries. Thank you. Item eight is consent agenda items. Does anyone want to remove any item on the consent? Okay, seeing none, do I hear a motion to approve the consent agenda items?

I make a motion to accept them.

Do we have a second? Second. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those against, like sign. Motion carries. New business item 9.1 is the police department presentation on electric bike classifications and Tennessee laws pertaining to them. I asked Chief Pierce to come in and talk about this. It had been kind of talked about a lot around town, and they've gotten some good activities that have gone together, and I think it's made a difference already.

It seems to have. I won't go through the whole presentation here. If you want to go to our Facebook page, we do have the slides posted on there back when we did our presentation. community meeting last month or July. But just to kind of tell you, kind of keep you up to date on what happened. There was some concern this summer over e-bikes and what was allowed and what wasn't allowed and a lot of maybe misinformation or just not knowing uh information and that's not only from the public but from us as well because some laws were uh some legislation was getting passed july 1 so we were kind of in the in between on that as well but um in in it doesn't matter that it's just so they can see um In July, during our SRO camp, our school resource officer, Larry Gilbert, conducted a class with those 100 or so students about e-bikes and bike safety. And then the next week, we held a community meeting here in the boardroom. There was about 12 people that attended. That was also the night where we had tornadoes coming through. So I was happy to have 12 come out. But it was a good presentation. Officer Allison Whitmer, she conducted that presentation, which is a little bit part of it. But then we had a question and answer session with about eight or nine adults and 34 kids in the room. And it was, I think, a very productive and Got a lot of information out with that. Our media partners after that, WGHL, WGRV, Greenville Sun, and some others posted some information, had some articles. I think we got some information out to parents and the community as well. There's not really a way I can quantitatively tell you. We had this many calls or it took away this many calls. But I can tell you there were enough calls at the beginning of the summer that we knew something was wrong, that there was concern. So we knew something needed to be done. And it seems like now, I guess, through information, we don't have that many calls or concerns coming in. That might just be because kids are going back to school or could be from our great job at giving information out. I don't know what that is, but it seems like parents understanding the classifications and what you can and can't do and what you need or don't need. I think that helped them kind of be parents and kind of understand what they can allow their child out to do. But as you can see here, real quick, three classifications of e-bikes, one, two, and three. One and two, anyone under 16 years old must wear a helmet. That's the new law that went into effect July 1st. Class three bikes, it doesn't matter your age, helmets are required for that. Class 1, 2, and 3, they do have pedals. So in order to be an e-bike, they have to have pedals on them. So if they don't have the pedals on them, then you get into the motorized bicycle, the motor scooters, and that's where you end up having to get a license, register the vehicle, get insurance on it, and it's basically treated kind of like a vehicle. The other slide she put together was basically just a general bike safety. Wear your helmet, know the rules of the road, stay on the right side of the road if you're on a bike. It had to be as close to the right side of the shoulders as you can. Vehicles, when you're passing a bike, you gotta give a three-foot buffer. You can't just run up on somebody. Unfortunately, we've had recent. cases in the region where fortunate. But don't carry passengers unless it's designed for it. So if you have a bike with one seat on it, don't carry three of your friends on it. A white lamp in the front, red reflective in the back for safety. By the rules of the road, know that you're on a bike and vehicles are vehicles, and you're not going to win that collision. So be extra cautious if you're on a bike. Vehicles, if you're out and see a bike, make sure you're extra cautious around them. They may not see you. They may not understand. So we've got to share the road, and I'll use it.

Thank you. I really appreciate you doing this. I think it has made a difference. And Kathy and I talked about it quite a bit earlier. And we haven't talked about it at all recently.

So that's a good thing.

So thank you for getting it out and about. And I know that you will continue sharing that during the school year.

Larry Gilbert, like I said, he is going around to the school throughout the school year, and he's going to be giving that presentation as much as he can throughout the schools our SROs are. So hopefully at least let the kids know kind of what we expect of them and what's expected if they get out in the neighborhoods and be safe.

Thank you. Well, it's all for safety. Seeing people doing wheelies down Main Street with cars in front and behind and around,

Chief, what about street legal golf carts? What age do you have to be? So if it's street legal and it's registered, you'd have to have a license. So you'd have to be 16. If it's good to ride on the street and it's legal on the street, then you'd have to have a registered insurance and you'd have to have a license for that.

Are there any restrictions, like age restrictions, on like a middle school age kid riding the E-Box on the road? I know if it doesn't have pedals and it's considered motorized, you have to have a license, but like the E-Box or the...

Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are basically just like a standard bike. So parents just have to kind of know where their kids are and know that, you know, don't let them just drive down the road because they can be out there.

Right.

Unfortunately, there's not a – that was kind of where we thought legislation was going to go, but it didn't. So, yeah, they're just a standard bike.

So you mentioned rules of the road, and if you've got a 12- or a 13-year-old, there's a few years before that's going to be something they're going to be focusing on.

That's what we're trying to get with Officer Gilbert's kind of thing is kind of let him know kind of those tips, stop at stop signs. Even though you're on a bike, that doesn't mean you can go through a stop sign or a red light or know what green, yellow, red means and staying offline.

Or go from one sidewalk across the street to another sidewalk and then back and put the black shirts on at 10 o'clock at night. Okay. Well, thanks again.

Thank you all. Thank you. Thanks, Chief.

All right, item 9.2 is consideration of appointment to fill a vacant council member seat on the Greenville Municipal Planning Commission. Is there anybody that would like to volunteer for this?

Mayor, I had previously served on that as a citizen appointed by you and with Council Member Kidwell's departure from the board, I'm willing to continue serving in that position for the remainder of my term.

Okay, I guess we have to vote on this. Do I hear a motion to approve Matt for the Greenville Municipal Planning Commission? Motion. Do I hear a second?

Second.

Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those against, like sign. Motion carries. Item 9.3 is consideration of appointment to fill a vacant council member seat on the Robie Adult Center Advisory Committee. Do I have someone that would like to apply for that?

I would like to apply for that position. Groby.

Okay. Do I hear a motion to approve Mr. Botta? So moved. Is there a second?

Second.

Is there any further discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Those against, like sign. Motion carries. Item 9.4 is consideration of appointment to fill vacant council member seat on the Greenville-Green County Library Board. Is there someone that would like to do this?

I'm interested, but I want to give our new council members the first dibs at it. I wouldn't want to take all the fun.

I'm not sure I'm welcome back at the library since I was a child.

Aaron? Okay. So would you like to do it?

If you would like to do that, there's some more coming up, I think.

Okay. I would be willing to do it if Aaron will have me. Okay. Do I hear a motion to approve Matt for the library board? Motion. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those against, slight sign. Motion carried. Item 9.4 is consideration of appointment to fill the vacant council member seat on the Historic Zoning Commission. What are you grinning about, Amanda? Always. Is there somebody who would like to?

I will do that.

Okay. Do I hear a motion to approve Mr. Carter? So moved. Is there a second?

Second.

Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those against, like sign. Motion carries. Item 9.6 is consideration of appointment to fill vacant council member seat on Greene County EMS. Is there anybody who would like to? I will do that. Okay. Do I hear a motion to approve Flint as the Greene County EMS candidate? I make a motion. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Those against, like, sign. Motion carries. Good job, guys. Thank you. You going to grab him before he gets away? Okay. Item 9.7 is consideration to approve the bid proposal for the repair and restoration of the chimneys at the T. Elmer Cox Genealogical and Historical Library.

Good afternoon and welcome, gentlemen. We're glad to have you here. So for a couple of years, the chimneys at the T. Elmer Cox Library have been... bad repair recently because with about six months ago one of the chimneys started to collapse and the bricks fell inside there are leaning it is a hazard and they need to be fixed so we put out for bid to repair and restore the chimneys it's in the historic zoning district so they will be repaired and as they were. There won't be any changes. So we got two bids. The lower bid was skyline restoration for $18,750. And if you want to know what that includes, I'd be happy to go over the list. But I would like to accept that bid and get that work done so that that does not become a bigger issue.

Have you planned for this?

Have I planned for it?

Have you planned for it? Where's the money coming from?

I'm going to make it come. No, we did have in what Laura and I called the library reserve. What is it?

They've got money in their fund balance to take care of that.

Fund balance. We did have some money that was left over at the end of the fiscal year at the library because we're a joint venture sort of. We get to carry that money over. So there is money to do that. It's not in the budget, but we do have the money to pay for that.

Okay, and Skyline's done a lot of work around town, and they always do a good job.

They do an excellent job, and they are going to, one of the things, extra things, we did have on the bid to need protective caps installed for additional protection, but they're going to actually custom build them to make them look appropriate and nice. Thank you. Anyway, I would like to be able to accept that bid and get that work started.

So we have a recommendation. Do I hear a motion to approve? So moved. A motion. Do I hear a second?

Second.

Any further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those against, like sign. Motion carried.

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Thank you. Item 9.8 is consideration to approve the bid award to purchase a roll-off container trailer for landfill. Hello, Mr. Morrison. Yes, I had the opportunity to go out and kind of tour the landfill with Mr. Morrison on Friday, and I am, yeah, I'm still, I'm just unbelievable. We've got a lot of work that we need to do out there, don't we?

Yeah, quite a bit coming up. So we approved the roll-offs the last time, the 60-yard containers, and this is the trailer's or the trailer, I'm gonna start with singular right now. I'm gonna try to just buy what we're gonna need and try to do some trial runs with it and see how it'll all work out. So we'll just, we may purchase another one once we get into hauling stuff. But right now we'll just get what we need. So we're gonna, this will be the trailer that pulls it and it's a sole source item because this type trailer don't have a frame and it's able to bend upwards and it's more stable in the landfill because they don't have a tipping floor or nothing down there. So this is the sort of trailer we'll need for that that'll pull that 60 yard container. It will be from the funds that have been approved in the past for the equipment for hauling of our cash flow, our cash account, I guess I should say. So.

Okay, so you got a recommendation. Do I hear a motion to approve this recommendation? We have a motion for Mr. Ahmed to do this. Mr. Teague. I'll try to help me remember in the future to say who does what. Do I hear a second?

I second.

We have a second by Mr. Botta. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those against like sign. Motion carries. Thank you.

Questions you think of, you have, you can call and ask. I'll be like, when you came, I'll be glad to show you around or whatever.

It was good.

It's interesting.

All right, do I hear a motion to adjourn? So moved. Is there any further, or is there a second?

Second.

Stick around for pictures. Everyone, all of you. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Those against, like, sign. Motion carries. Thank you.