Town Council - Regular Meeting

Let's [music] stand together.

[music]

actually squeezes through. [music] [music] [music] Heat. Heat. N. [music] Good evening and welcome to our town of Smyrna Town Council workshop for April to set our agenda for May. Before we move into any items for discussion, um I'm going to ask Mark Atkins to do our prayer and tonight Dennis, will you lead us in the pledge? If you'll stand with us, please.

Let's pray. Father in heaven, again we come to you today, Lord just uh thankful and grateful for everything that you do and give to us and the way you look after us each and every day, Father, and bless us in our lives. We do ask you to continue to watch over those that serve our town, all of our first responders and protectors, uh all the people that make the city run. Father, we say a special prayer for Dave tonight. He can't be with us this evening for uh dealing with a family issue. Father, we just pray safety for his travels and safety for his family as they deal with all the things they have to go through. Go with us now. Forgive us where we fail you. We ask these things in your name. Amen. Amen.

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mark. Thank you, Dennis. First item is building safety month proclamation. Miss Amber, are you going to do that for us? Yes, ma'am. I am.

Okay. Whereas the town of Smyrna is committed to recognizing that our growth and strength depends on safety and essential role our home homes, buildings and infrastructure play both in everyday life and when disasters strike. Whereas our confidence in the resilience of these buildings that make up our community is achieved through the devotion of vigilant guardians, building safety and firerevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, trades people, design professional, laborers, plumbers, and others in the construction industry who work year round to ensure the safe construction of buildings. Whereas these guardians are dedicated members of the International Code Council, ICC for short, a nonprofit that brings together local, state, territorial, tribal, and federal agency officials who are experts in the in the building environment to create and implement the highest quality codes and standards to protect us in the buildings where we live, learn, work, and play. Whereas these modern building codes and standards include safeguards to protect the public from hazards such as hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes, wildland fires, floods, and earthquakes. And whereas building safety month is sponsored by IC to remind the public about the critical role of our community's largely unknown protectors of public safety, our codes officials who assure us of safe, sustainable, and affordable buildings that are essential to our prosperity. And whereas built to last, the theme for building safety month 2026 encourages us encourage us encourages us all to get involved and raise awareness about building safety on a personal, local, and global scale. [snorts] And whereas each year in observance of building safety month, people all over the world are asked to consider the commitment to improve building safety, resilience, and economic investment at home and in the

community, and to acknowledge the essential service provided to all of us by local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal building safety and fire prevention departments in protecting lives and property. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Mayor Mary Esther Reed, on behalf of the town council, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as building safety month. Accordingly, I encourage all of our citizens to join us as we participate in building safety month activities. Great. Christy, do you want to join us? Sorry, Christie. I'm going to go back to school and learn how to [laughter]

It's been a long day. It has been. That's right. Well, we appreciate everything you all do in our community and so we will present you all with this proclamation and Okay, am I mean uh Heather, we're gonna have to get us do you want to get us centered or we anything you'd like to say? No, I um I really appreciate this. This is an honor and we are going to enjoy the next month. That's for sure. Great. Perfect. Good. Thank you, ma'am.

Okay, we will move into our items for discussion tonight. Council items one through nine are proposed consent agenda items. Um so we will start with item one which is approval of a professional services agreement with Gallagher benefit services incorporated for employee health plan and benefits consulting services effective January 1, 2026. Sure.

So mayor and council good evening. Uh Gallagher Benefit Services acquired Bernard Health who is our previous uh vendor for these services. So, uh, while technically this is a new agreement, it's pretty much a renewal agreement for the same type of services we were getting. We have the same people working for Gallagher that were working for us with Bernard Health. Uh, the rates are the same as our our most recent contract as well. So, this is actually just getting into writing that we're now working with Gallagher Benefit Services instead of Bernard Health. Questions for Jeff on this? Um, I've got one question. I was reading through this agreement with them and I'm not sure you have the agreement with you.

I've got the agreement on page six under the annual financial reports the end ofear accounting. Um my only question was about the physician visit details. I didn't know how how that affected the HEPA laws and open records. Um, so they're, yeah, they're going to get like how many visits there were. They're not going to get like details of appointments, treatment details. They're going to get like aggregate information about how many visits there were to to look at those assessments. That's all I have. Yeah. Other questions?

Okay. Item two is approval of the terms of an authorization for the mayor to execute a contract with the Department of Commerce and Insurance with the state of Tennessee. Hey, Dennis. Good evening, Council Mayor. Uh this is a new contract with the uh state of Tennessee Commerce and Insurance Department. Uh this is for uh $16,150. New grant contract. This is to help pay for a um uh basically um Jaws of Life tool uh light rescue combination tool from Rescue One and its associated kit as well. Um I believe that's it.

Questions for Dennis on this? The only question I have is probably the chief can answer it. Uh what do y'all say if he's not sleeping or [laughter] That's the wrong chief. It's the police chief we have issues. Oh, okay. But um Brian, are we going to phase out all the hydraulic ones and go to battery powered or or Cameron? [clears throat] Okay.

Yes, sir. We we're in the process of phasing out the hydraulic tools. uh the uh a lot of the [snorts] pumps are already being phased out and very few departments even buy the actual hydraulic tools. So we've we've started uh phasing those out. Um the most recent rescue that's coming up. Uh we were able to we've got a hydraulic set as backup and then battery as our front line. This will just kind of supplement that. They actually end up being cheaper in the long run once you don't have to purchase the the pump and then the extra hoses and things like that. Okay. Thanks. Yes, sir. That was something we had to get used to because we've not done that. And so to hear that you're thinking, "Oh my goodness, [snorts] battery operated, you know." So the technology demonstrated at the citizens academy.

Now the the technology with these the uh the lifting force, the spreading force, and all the uh the numbers for it are meet or exceed what the hydraulic tools are. They're more mobile. They're quite a bit more mobile. Um the personnel u they absolutely love using them. And as you all saw at the the open house that we did, they they worked just as well. Thank you. Yes, sir. Great. Item three is discussion and potential authorization for the mayor to execute an agreement with Chime Master to replace the clock mechanisms for the town of Smyrna Event Center. Um you all know that the clock um has not been right at all. Um I would say [clears throat]

it when Yes. But you on three different sides on each side it's all different. So um this is the agreement to replace the clock mechanism. I have a question. Do you all want to replace the clock or would you rather replace it with something that is not a clock and just um material that fills in the spot. [clears throat] I would rather replace the clock. Okay. My my thought is how often does someone use that clock to really Well, they're not at all because it doesn't work.

Right. [laughter] Right. And would it be more suitable for, you know, one of their logos or something or something [clears throat] architectural up there? That's just or even just plain field. Doesn't it have a logo on the top of it? No. It's got a copper canopy fire thing on it, doesn't it? At the very very top. Lightning. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Grounder. Yeah. Looks like you're I can go with the flow either way. Really? I mean, I'm like Jerome. I like the clock. It looks good. But it becomes a maintenance item over time,

whereas maybe something a little more scientical because it's it's got a analog clock. So, what is the will of the body? Do you want a clock? Steve wants clock. Jerome and Mark could go either way. This does have a threeyear warranty. Okay. So, we know it'll work for three years. Yep. At least. Got it. Okay. I'm not sure the old one work that long. I agree. Jerry, do you have any burning desire for a clock or not a clock? I just think about Back to the Future. [laughter] I mean, how is Marty going to get back home if we don't put up with

I guess I like the clock. Okay. Okay. G, I'll go with the will of the council. Are you sick tonight? I just take it on a case by case basis, you know. Okay. So, we'll move forward with the clock and if anybody between now and when we vote on it gets a burning desire one way or the other, then we'll let that be known at the meeting. How's that go? Does that work? Okay. Item four, approval of the Smyrna Police Department standard operating policy relative to the crime suppression unit. It's nice to see you awake, sir.

I'm fully awake. Uh, mayor council, this is our standing policy we're we're putting through for our crime suppression unit. They're already in operation and uh the the main part of this I want to get across is they're doing some outstanding work already and we're really being able to utili utilize them as a proactive unit uh that doesn't pull away from our patrol units when they're actually answering calls. We can use this unit to address concerns that are coming up or crime trends that we have in the in the town. And uh so far they're doing an outstanding job. They made some some significant arrest already and they're doing a fantastic job out there. So,

questions for Jason on the crime suppression unit. I had I had one question, Chief. Uh the um minimum um I guess experience was one year. And is that and you know this is outside my realm, but is that enough experience to be on the crime suppression unit? one year of of experience. Typically, we we have two to three years for most units to go into these units. Uh what we've seen with this is a lot of times nowadays with the uh shifts that we have, 10-hour shifts and stuff, a lot of people don't necessarily want to put in for these specialized units. And also with someone with the years, we want to identify people that are motivated. They're out there want to to work,

okay? And show some some drive to do some of these things. And sometimes you'll see, and I I saw it before I came here, uh when you go to different shift hours and have the days off that you have, uh a lot of officers do not want to put in for some of these positions. Uh these hours are a little skewed and different. And a lot of times they a lot of officers want to stay in the shift that they have. And this was a modified shift where you're working later hours and so it's harder sometimes to get people to do those roles. And then I noticed also it's a sixmon uh range of of that unit for that person. Yeah. Probably could be renewed though.

Yeah. Be renewed and and look and evaluate kind of what kind of work they're doing because we want to make sure the people going to these specialized units are actually, you know, doing some some good work. So, all right. Thank you. Other questions about the s the crime suppression unit? Okay. We will put that on the agenda. Item five, approval of the terms of an authorization for the mayor to execute uh bianial contract with the Tennessee Department of Transportation for litter pickup, mowing, street sweeping, and road repairs.

Thank you, mayor, council. Uh so, in the past, we've gotten an annual contract from T DOT. This year, they decided to go to bianual contract. So, this is a two-year contract. Uh total is for $571,975.88 over that 2-year period. I've got the breakdown of the road repair at 371,96068. Mowing is 109,900. Litter is $36,11520 allowed per year or I'm sorry for the two-year contract. Is that honestly enough for any of that stuff?

One thing I noticed Steve might have picked up on this is $50 an acre. Steve [laughter]

Well, yeah. Mowing and litter, you know, like we had discussed before is anticipating or mowing is anticipating of mowing four times a year. We obviously mow a lot more than that. We're on about a two week cycle. So, we mow it, you know, twice a month instead of uh what they would pay back, which is about once every two months. Road repair does cover it. It pretty much covers all um that we need. Our biggest expense each year in well that can be each year in road repair, salting and plowing. This year because of the ice storm, we will be maxing out our u our annual contract with T dot on that.

Okay, questions for Tom. Yeah. So, I guess the biggest question is how much does this obviously this doesn't cover all of our expenses for those roads, but is this like a 60% thing or do you have an idea? I I don't know. I I haven't really looked at from that perspective, but I can look into it kind of. Just curious what our actual cost is versus what they're giving us back, which I know it's not one to one, right? But it might be a conversation we want to bring up at our next joint meeting just to say, you know, look, if these are T day T dots and we're having to do it, you're not paying us enough to do it, right? Yeah, I can look into that. I can tell you what their answers going.

I know what it's going to [laughter] We have We have state representatives that said bring stuff to us. That's right. This is a good one to bring. Okay. Other comments or questions on this one? Okay. Okay, then we'll move on to item six, which is approval of the terms of an authorization for the mayor to execute an agreement with Capitol City Construction for reconstruction of the retaining wall and guard rail along Industrial Dive.

So, we went out to bid on a repair of the retaining wall and the guardrail that got damaged about two two and a half years ago, I think, on industrial tractor trailer. Most likely, the tractor trailer hit it and drove off. So, we don't h we don't know who actually hit it. Uh we had two I'm sorry we had three biders come in. Adams, Capital City, and Jared uh builders. Uh Capital City is the lowest responsive responsible bidder at $289,819. If you look at the what they have put together in their proposal, there's a little bit of a discrepancy in there because they had a typo. um one of the items, item number 403-01, the cost should have been $250, not $2,550. We did make them aware of that. And even with that change, uh they're still, of course, the lowest bidder.

Crazy. $288,000. And unfortunately, it's all on us. And and that was one of my questions. Um, and I know we can't insure everything, but are there any assets in the town that are insured from, you know, for damages um, uh, that occur and we don't have anyone, you know, to hold responsible? Yes. Yes. [clears throat] Henry, risk management has a lot of those items as long as they're on, we had them listed on, you know, on our list obviously to be covered,

right? But from traffic lights to those the traffic boxes and things like that uh or anything else as long as we have it listed that's what we found is ensuring that we have the the proper I don't know how we would list every pole and guard rail or whatever. Yeah. I I don't know. But how do we decide which items are going to be on that insured list and which ones aren't?

I'd have to talk to Henry. I just know because of maybe two years ago we had a traffic box that was damaged and so I don't know you have to to list the specific ones, okay, but the actual types of items and so we discovered that one was not covered. So we Henry went back and and we have it on there now. So not sure there should be some sort of logic based on estimated repair costs. Like in this case, we have a vendor who's 288, but we also have some in there that were over 600. If all of them had come in at 4 or 500, we'd be paying a lot more, right? So, right. Um, not necessar I don't know if this is the right one or not, but obviously something worth a half million dollars is a lot different than

Yeah. a $10,000 red light, you know. So, I don't know what the logic is, but it seems like we probably want to look at those high cost items that would could tax us pretty hard if we had to do it. Maybe Jeff can look at that on Friday afternoon about 4:00. I'm not sure he'll do anything tomorrow. [laughter] I think he probably won't be. Yeah, I'm thinking about in about two hours we'll get home and getting out. [laughter] Do you really think he's worked at all this week? Uh, he said in a couple meetings. [laughter] You said it in a couple minutes. I I believe he dead. I've got confidence. Oh, listen to Jerome sucking up over there. I've got confidence. [laughter] I'm working on a

You got You got something pending before the city of Msburg. [laughter] Okay. So, we will put that on the agenda and we'll move on to item seven, which is approval of the terms of an authorization for the mayor to execute a contract with Blankenship CPA Group PLLC for audit services for the year ending June 30th, 2026. Sierra,

good evening, Mayor and Council. Um, the town is required uh to complete an audit by both the state and the town charter. Staff recommends Blankenship CPA Group due to their extensive experience working with local governments, enterprise funds, GFOA requirements, comproller requirements, and single audits. Uh, Blankenship has estimated the fees to be about the same as last year. They won't know actual costs until field work begins, and that's scheduled for July. questions for Sierra. But this is a fixed contract fee, right? So, [cough] we [clears throat] are going to pay what's listed. It could be more if they dive in and find anything else. So, if it comes more, does it come back to us? I believe so. I'll have to check on that.

Okay. Because the way I'm reading this is we're basically approving up to 44250. I think last year it came in under that, but I was just telling Jerry Blankenship Weaver at the time used to do my taxes. Oh, and I used to get my taxes done with the same company for $150 a year. [laughter] I don't think I can walk in the door over there for that now. Other questions? Okay, we will put that on the agenda and move on to item eight, which is approval of the terms of and authorization for the mayor to execute a contract for the purchase of a Pierce Custom Enforcer walk-in rescue apparatus for the fire department. Chief,

you tell how excited he is. Look at me. I know he couldn't wait to get up here. He didn't defer this to Cameron, did he? [laughter] Well, he's done most of the leg work on this, so I I easily could have. But no, this is um the next in in our fleet purchase plan. It's a uh walk-in heavy rescue unit through Sidens Martin, who we've contracted all our Pierce apparatus through. Uh it's purchased through the Source Wall Cooperative, which we found that we get the best pricing that way. And uh the total comes to just over, believe it or not, $1.6 $6 million. Um, we're looking at a delivery uh estimate of about 48 months and that's when the payment would be due. So, there'd be no money up front until it's delivered.

Questions on this? Yeah. How how many more of these do we have to buy? Actually, I just talking to the chief about that. I think this is our last apparatus purchase to bring before you until about 2032. So, good. We're pretty good. One of the things before you came on that we really made a conscious effort to get our fleet where it needed to be and then start on a good process. We had done that with the police department, but um needed to get caught up with the fire department. Yeah, there have been a lot of catchup in recent years and and it's noticeable. We're we're in good shape after this.

But before 2032 gets here, you're going to be asking for a new fire call. I'll be honest with you, when 2032 gets here, I may not be here. So, you might be talking to the guy in the bag that um yeah, we've uh we're working on HD will be here. [laughter] We're working on seeing what uh what we need to do with station two at the airport, especially the impacts of the National Guard moving on base. Sand in his boots propped up. [laughter] Okay, we will put that on the agenda and move on to item nine. Approval of the terms of an authorization for the mayor to execute an agreement with Boozer and Company for appraisal services to purchase property around the water treatment plant for a future plant expansion. Hello, sir.

How are you? Wonderful. Good. So, uh we've had we have in the fiscal year 26 budget uh to purchase property around the water around the water plant for future plan expansion at some point. Uh ran into some roadblocks. So, we've redone and kind of restructured several different options uh that Boozer needs to do appraisals on so we can turn the negotiators loose to go out there and and see what we can do. Questions on this?

I I do have a question, Mike. on where there's 1, two, three, four parcels and or you know varieties of and each one of them has their own separate fee but we're totaling all four of those fees to I guess 13,000 but like number one is A, B, and C and then number four is a separate track. It seems like we're doubling up on some of those. Um, for some reason,

it's a great question that I'll be honest, I don't know the answer to the way he's doing these reports. You know, he's dividing it A, B, and C, B, and C, C, and then four is the property in front of the water. And I looked at the maps. If you look at the maps, you'll kind of see there's some like A, B, and C contains all the properties except that one number four. So, to me, the maximum would be number one and number four, which would be $8,000. But if you don't mind, just look at that. Yeah, I'll take a look at it. But, but what he did is took the house out on one of them, right?

And then, uh, the one is just the 6 and 12, 7 acres, whatever it is, directly behind the plan. I think that's the way he divided it that way, but I'll confirm. Other questions? Okay, we'll put that on the agenda and move on to item 10, which is consideration of an ordinance relative to an update to the sewer use ordinance, and that will be a second reading. Uh, yes, ma'am. This the updates to the sewer use ordinance were a result of the pre-treatment audit inspection with TDC U for the changes and language that they want are requiring put in the sewer use ordinance, and nothing has changed since first reading.

Any questions for Mike on this? Okay. Item 11 is consideration of an Thank you, Mike. I consideration of an ordinance amending the text of the Smyrna Municipal Zoning Ordinance Article 4 supplementary provisions applying to specific districts section 4.010.2B regarding parking requirements for elementary and middle schools and this is a second reading. Kevin,

yes, Mayor and Council, this is a text amendment to the zoning ordinance regarding very specific use and parking requirements. Uh this was something that we we looked at as staff and [clears throat] and studied and and and brought this forward. Nothing has changed on this since she looked at it on first reading, but it would have basically essentially we would change be changing the minimum parking requirement for elementary and middle schools, but there would be no change on the high school or or vocational trade schools.

Questions for Kevin on this? Okay. Then we'll move on to item 12, which is consideration of an ordinance relative to the reasonzoning of property located on tax map 26, part of parcel 12.02 [clears throat] to go from C2 to PCD. It's requested by SEC Incorporated on behalf of CSC Properties LLC. The property requested to be reszoned contains approximately 2.21 acres and is located on Lee Victory Parkway. Yes, mayor and council. This is one you all deferred last month on first reading. So, this would still be coming back for first reading still. This is on Lee Victory Parkway. It's directly across from the intersection with Herald Lee Drive. It's about 3/10en of a mile northeast of the intersection with Almovable Road. Uh the land use plan would support the uh 24 gateway character area which be a mix of uses and services like hospitality, retail, restaurant, and multif family. Um this proposed PCD is to allow quick service oil and lube business in addition to all other uses allowed in the C2 district. The concept plan that they submitted um was shows that sec the other use on as a a bank. Uh access would be via an existing private drive which also provides access to Parkway Baptist Church. A single access will be constructed from the private drive to access both lots. Uh there would be off-site water and sewer improvements which would be required to provide access to both utilities. Uh the proposed elevations for the oil and lube business do meet design review. The elevations for the bank do not. We did receive some revised elevations u this week um believe yesterday. I did send them back to them and ask them to give us a little bit more detail on them. The revised elevations for the bank do appear to meet designer review now. So once I get the final ones, I would probably have that ready for you for the council packet. Um um the entire property is in the 100red-year flood plane. So a flood plane development permit application

would be required as a part of the grading permit. Uh a traffic study was done for our previously proposed development plan which did show that the intersection of the private drive and leave victory parkway would be at LOSF uh which would would necessitate the installation of a signal. Uh this was revisited with an updated signal warn analysis and that does show that that signal is warranted. U it's that signal has been submitted to T dot uh by the developer for review. We have not received final approval from T DOT yet. Uh but signal installation is is subject to their approval but if approved would be installed by the developer. Um we did look at at the discussion the other night uh at first reading there was a few several things that came up and so there is some additional information in your packet that we did not have at that night which was one um there was an an agreement between the church and the property owner uh from 20 or 22 and so that has been agreed to. We do have that recorded copy there in your packet. So that as far as access and if they need to use that easement for construction of utilities or anything like that is they are was agreed to. So that's

church has agreed to the church did agree to it and was that the agreement from 22 or is that a new agreement? That was in 22. Okay. It was signed in May of 22. I think it was recorded in June of 22. Looked like it was signed by the trustee. One of the trust one of the trustees of the church. One of the church trustees signed it. Yes. Okay. Along with the current property owner,

um that was one of the items that was discussed other night. The other thing was to um was looking at the flood plane issue and obviously the road as well as the the buildings. Um I did look at and that is also in your packet and it is on the screen there just if anybody needs to see it. This was the drawing the design that was done uh for that road when it was built. Uh it was built roughly at flood elevation um in the area that's that is would be inundated with in a flood is was built at elevation roughly 530. Um the flood elevation at the time that that was designed was 532. Uh [clears throat] the flood maps have been revised since then. Uh and it actually the flood elevation actually was decreased to 531.4. Uh however, this still would be within the flood plane. It didn't change the flood boundary really. It just changed the the elevation. Um so this would still be within the the the portion of the road. Um from kind of Lee Victory up around the curve as you go onto the church property, the the elevation rises and it does come up out of the flood plane. The church itself is not in the flood plane. Um but the the the road leading to it is as it is today. Um so that's just some additional information uh for you there. Um also uh did have convers with the the applicant um with regards to the building itself and the concern about the pits um where the oil change would be taking place. um they would be floodproofing the building and they the the valvalene has has this is something they've dealt with before and they are have are prepared to flood proof the building essentially which FEMA requires them to either elevate the building or floodproof below up to that 1 foot above and so um they would be

floodproof be required to flood proof the building up to 1T above which would if it worked correctly would prevent the flood waters from inundating the building. So they're off one mile lane that gas station they put in something similar to that. Yeah, they did flood proof to the to the elevation. That's correct. Kevin, that a private drive all the way from Lee Victory till where it hits um 100 ft all all the way to Tridenton

to Tridon. I couldn't Yeah, there's at some point um coming from Tridon towards the church property. I think that's actually on T dot ride ofway. It was provided as a to provide access when as a limited access road, but they there is a a piece of it I think as it comes from Tron towards the church that is actually on T dot right away. I think once it gets to the church property from that point on it's all on private property but from um from this private drive here is um the agreement covers 100 ft or

it's 100 ft from the Lee Victory back 100 ft right which is where they've shown on their concept plan where their drive would come off of. Yes. [clears throat] Now wait a minute. You said it went from Lee Victory to Tridon. This road. Well, it was the part from Trion up to the church has been there when there was not the church wasn't there and there was a house on that property. Well, that's old Amville. Well, I mean it may I don't know what it was before. I mean orderings on Amville is what I'm saying.

Right. Yeah. But but as you come up from Trdon towards the church, there is a portion of that portion of the road up to the church property is actually on um T dot ride ofway. Let me see if I can Yeah, it doesn't I don't know if it's maybe one of these maps. Yeah, if I can get my pointer to work here. Um this area here up to roughly right here where the where the kind of the center of the circle is there. That's on I believe that's actually on T dot ride ofway. And then once it crosses onto the church property and then as it goes all the way up here and back to Lee Victory is where that's all private either on the church property or on uh it was the church actually owns the drive. They that property actually was was changed hands uh from a previous owner uh to the church back in 2014 or 15 or many years ago. I can't remember exactly when, but so again, the church owns the road, but they there was an agreement from 22 to to allow them to access the first 100 ft of it. So anyway, the [clears throat] nothing uh nothing's changed with the recommendation. The planning commission did recommend it with the three conditions regarding [clears throat] the building elevations on lot one meeting designer review uh the flood plane permit development permit application being required and then the signal water analysis showing that the traffic signal was warranted and that the signal would be installed pending the approval by T DOT. So I think that's all I got. questions for

Yeah, Kevin, thanks for pulling up that agreement and and providing it that that cleared up a lot of things. Uh I have a couple questions on the, you know, the access from Lee Victory into those sites. Um um that 100 ft is below the 100redyear flood elevation. How do we, you know, since we require, you know, our roadways to be above the 100redyear flood plane elevation, how do we address that or or do we?

Um, yeah, I think it might be I mean, without physically elevating that road another probably foot and a half or or more, two and a half feet. Yeah. Yeah. Um, you really couldn't at this point. I mean, typically, again, we we would typ if it's typically we would have them the road would have been elevated. It wasn't elevated. Sure. So, um, as is right now. Yeah. I mean, I don't know that we could it would be pretty difficult to to raise the road and it wouldn't be foot and a half to two feet and make it function. I guess you'd have a you have to slope it and um

it'd be pretty hard. And but when they start building that side up above the 100year flood plane, you know, the access off this access road is going to have to be elevated as well, isn't it? They would probably have to for ADA purposes, especially with the bank site, right?

Yeah. They're going to have to elevate. Yeah, most likely they would have to have some elevations within the parking lot as well [clears throat] just to make it accessibility. Um the other couple things was will you know since a signal is warranted will T dot allow a signal to be installed to I guess access the private drive um here you know that's again they've they have submitted it I know on the other side Harold Lee Drive is a public road right

so it is public on the other side right So, um I don't know if that will factor into it or not. I would think it might. I know in the past they in years past I know T dot would not allow a signal on a private road, right? That's why the first couple hundred feet of Midway Lane off of B. [clears throat] So, what happens if they don't allow it? Do we does it come come back or you know if they don't allow it? I don't know. Yeah. Right. Do we have to come back here? because I I I don't know that there's going to have an issue. That's approval. Contingency approval, right? It's a contingent, right? Yeah. But I I wasn't part I was

I'm just what if in the worst case and they we had a Zoom call. I know I think maybe Mr. Taylor, Mr. Rose may have been on that call. I tried to get on the call and Mcast wouldn't let me. Right. I hit the We can just wait and see what T. Um, so I I wasn't able to join that call, but I think maybe they were, but answer some. Yeah. Yeah. Um, that that's all I have. I'd just be interested and see how we're going to do detention on this site, you know, after we Yeah. build it up and everything. That's all I have, Mayor.

Good. Okay. We'll move on to item 13, which is consideration of an ordinance updating municipal code title 7 fire protection and fireworks chapter 5 open burning subsection 7-501-7-509. Chief, this won't cost you a thing. [laughter] Um, mayor and council. The first one did. Yeah, I know. That was my point. Um, oh, am I doing that?

That sounded like a no. We think that was a hold on. Okay. Um, I know that some of you have received uh complaints about the burning out on Jefferson Pike and and in various areas and Mr. Sanuchi asked me to take a look at our existing municipal code as it relates to open burning and what we found in working with Chief Lawrence and also in talking with Christie uh that it's exceeding has been exceedingly broad and probably not updated in a long time. So, um, I sat down with James Lawrence and we pulled reference materials from, uh, EPA, Department of Environmental Quality, NFPA, neighboring jurisdictions, and put together these recommendations based on, uh, industry, industry standards and best practices for open burning. Uh the purpose is to uh increase clarity, consistency and enforcability of our open burning ordinance and again to align the ordinance with the best practices from the various sources I mentioned a few minutes ago and uh the reason for that is the current ordinance only states general fire prevention goals and really doesn't base uh or have various parameters built into the ordinance itself for burning. So obviously it's a quality of life issue in addition to a fire safety issue and especially as it relates to vulnerable populations, the elderly and persons with chronic respiratory issues and those are most of the complaints that we get. So the amendments you should have the uh existing uh municipal code with redlinined uh recommendations in it. Uh the first change involves subsection 502. It introduces permit categories. We don't have those currently. Um one is for land clearing and commercial developmental burning. Another one would be would apply to residential yard waste and uh then recreational fires, uh grills, small backyard fire pits, which no permit is currently required or would be required under the new recommendations.

Uh, subsection 703 or 7503 allows the fire department to impose specific conditions including burden location, materials, time restrictions, weather considerations, red flag days, those sorts of things, uh, and required safety equipment. And the current ordinance is very vague and only giving general discretion to the fire department without listing specific conditions. It gives uh the fire department and the codes department authority to suspend burning. um and adds required additional safeguards such as air curtain destructors, burn pits, and other approved methods. Again, primarily for commercial burning. What's a air curtain destructor? Well, funny you asked.

Oh, okay. So, what it is is if you're doing large scale commercial burning like we're seeing again out across from station 4, um it requires a pit to be dug and then this piece of equipment can be rented which blows a constant um gust of air over the fire pit and it reduces emissions and because emissions are caused by incomplete burning. Obviously, it helps more complete burning and reduces those emissions by up to 90% um by both causing the fire to burn hotter and creating an air barrier over that pit. Um and then brings those contamination levels below 3 to 5%. Okay. Thank you.

That's a very common methodology, very common requirement for for developmental burning. A bar.

Uh section 7505-1. This is an entirely new section that deals with just um commercial development. We would require a minimum of a 20 acre property size in order to burn rather than chip and haul away. Uh it would be limited to 500 ft setback from adjacent structures or neighboring properties. Uh limited to on-site vegetation only. Again, may require a pit or a pit and an air curtain destructor. uh restricted Monday through Friday only 8 am to dusk and would require continuous attendance. This just gives an example of what that might look like. If you've got a 20 acre plot, you'd have about 11 acres in which you could burn and still remain within those parameters. a residential yard waste. Um, we would require a minimum of three acre residential property size and that would be required to be set back 50 ft from any structure and 100 ft from neighboring residences. Again, limited to on-site vegetation only, Monday through Friday, 8 am to dusk. And also continuous attendance required. And those um those requirements have come from the Department of Environmental Equality, the EPA, and our own International Fire Code, which we just recently passed. So, a residential lot may look like this. If you have three acres um with a home on it, you'd have just under two acres in which you'd be able to to burn on. And then the third new section, recreational fires, uh section 7506- or.1 um that [clears throat] would require a 25 foot setback for any open fires and 15 ft for grills or portable devices. Uh maximum seven square foot

fuel area, which is about a three foot threeft round fire pit. Um again limited to wood, vegetation and charcoal continuous attendance and then no uh permit would be required for that and no limitations on on weekdays only. Um again treated wood pl uh would it would prohibit treated wood plastics rubber asphalt and other toxic smoke producing materials. So, hours and general conditions, this is 7509. Um, again, just a restatement of the requirements for open burning re restricted from 8:00 a.m. till dusk. Fires are subject to immediate extinguishment by fire department if there's any violation of weather conditions or or permit requirements or if we feel that it's just too dry. Um, and the current current ordinance does not define burn hours. [snorts] So, that's a summary of our recommendations. I'd be glad to answer any questions.

Questions for Chief? Yeah, the only question I had, Chief, is the 20 acre minimum. Um, so just say other developments or we've had that issue with, you know, air contaminants and every everything with neighbors having respiratory issues, right? How how does this new ordinance address that? The the ordinance would enable us to require them to do the pit in the air curtain destructor, which we don't currently have available. Even if it's less than 20 acres, if if it's a commercial development for less than 20 acres, they'd be required to chip and haul. They wouldn't be able they wouldn't be able to burn. Okay. Okay.

Chief, on 7506.1, I think I understand it, but there may be others out there that might not. So, the open uh it mentions portable fireplaces, grills, and similar devices shall be at least 15 ft away. I I want the public to understand that's not a a gas grill. No, that's like a solo stove separate. The open the portable open flame devices, right? and and grills are mentioned separately with only a 15t requirement. But a but a permanent grill that's attached to a say a gas line it can be closer

though all all actually all under our international fire code all grills for food preparation are supposed to be 15 ft from from the structure. Well, there's a lot of them that aren't. Yeah. And and we're we're not something we're going to go peeking in people's backyards Yeah. about. And to be honest with you, if it's a grill hooked up to gas, we're probably not going to get complaints either. Yeah. So, it's just a recommendation going forward if they're looking to install one. I got primarily. Other questions? Thank you, sir. Okay. Item 14 is consideration of an ordinance to approve year-end budget amendments for the fiscal year 2026. Sierra,

thought you had a I thought you had a a slide up there, so I was looking at the slide. Sorry. [laughter] Did you think I thought Did you think I thought you were the [laughter]

Okay. Um, these are our routine year-end amendments. Just like the original budget, any additional expense must be offset with either an increase in revenue, a decrease in other expenses, or a use of fund balance. The the largest amendment on here are is our estimated year-end transfer um to pay for capital projects in the future. I did overshoot it a little bit just in case we end up better than anticipated. I don't want to be restricted by a budget amount. Um, the remaining amendments relate to updated personnel projections for police and fire. These amendments are mostly offset with decreases in personnel projections in other departments. Questions for Sierra that's sitting over to my right. [laughter]

I'll let you know where she's at. Thank you. Okay, then we will put that on the agenda. I know they're moving around. Item 15, consideration of an the consideration of an ordinance adopting the budget for fiscal year 2627. And I think you have a wonderful slide presentation for us, right? And and it's on my left side. [laughter]

Okay. Okay. So, I do have a lengthy presentation tonight, but I tried to summarize some highlights at the beginning so I can get the important information out there before anyone glazes over. Um, the biggest highlight is that there is no recommended tax increase for the upcoming budget year. Keep in mind that 2026 is a reappraisal year. And also keep in mind that your tax bill actually includes two different components, city taxes and county taxes. If the county raises taxes or you completed a recent improvement to your property, your bill will go up. Otherwise, your bill should be approximately the same as a previous year. We are not increasing city taxes. This is how your tax dollars are spent in the town of Smyrna. The average appraised value in Smyrna is $420,000. I provided a range of plus or minus $50,000, but the average person pays $46 per month in property tax. Major highlights on this slide is that over half of your taxes are dedicated to providing emergency services. And that $7 per month supports almost the entire park system, including maintenance, groundskeepers, the pool, golf course, event center, SOAK, community events, and support for various sports. So, I think that's a deal

and I think that's really important to highlight. Right. I mean, when you think about $46 a month, I mean, right now, that's less than most people spend on filling one tank of gas up for their car. And you think about all of the services that you are receiving within your community. So, um I agree. I think it's a really good deal. Um this is a summary of new positions that we will be added to our team. Major highlights is um seven positions in the police department. This will help keep our police staff in the ideal range of citizen to officer ratio and four positions under the umbrella of public park or public works. This will provide additional manpower to help keep up with both the maintenance and construction of roadways. The fiduciary fund is our pension fund. We ended 2025 with a fully funded pension which is quite the accomplishment. It has taken us taken us almost 10 years of aggressively funding this fund to get here. Um, now that we're slightly overfunded, we'll ratchet it back, but we'll continue to keep it as close to 100% as possible. The assets in this fund are tied to the market, so there will be slight fluctuations from year to year. Maintaining a low, or in our case, z pension liability contributes to our AAA credit rating. Um, I won't read this entire slide to you, but this is a highlight of our some major capital projects across all funds um that are on the horizon. The few projects that are on this screen account for 55% of the total budgeted projects. And the same with these are some major roadway capital projects that we have on the horizon. Um roadways and utility relocations. These projects account for 27% of the total FY27 budget. So the key takeaway here is that the town is budgeting 28 million in infrastructure improvements. The $7 million in equipment primarily consists of emergency vehicles.

Um this is our outstanding debt. We have one general obligation bond from 2019 left. Um this was issued to pay for road projects. The utility debt primarily relates to plant expansion and various state revolving fund state revolving fund loans. This is hot off the press information. Um yesterday the comproller issued a financial health dashboard for cities in Tennessee. As a ratio of general debt to total assessed property values, the target ratio set by the comproller is 8%. Um the town is at 6%. Um so to translate we have a very low debt liability. All right, if you remember nothing else, those are the highlights. Let's dive into the details. Okay, let's start with the budget timeline. The fiscal year begins in July and by December, departments are required to submit their requests for the next budget year. The town manager conducts budget hearings to sift through needs versus wants and align spending with overall strategic goals. The town manager presents the recommended budget to council at retreat. Open discussion ensues. The budget is presented at f to the public at first read today and ultimately passed at second read in June. The budget is implemented in July and the cycle starts all over again in December. The town's primary operating fund is the general fund. We're required to adopt a balanced budget in this fund. We're anticipating $37 million in revenue, which will cover all of our personnel and operating costs and contribute almost $4.3 million towards infrastructure and equipment. These are the top 10 revenue sources for the town. As you can see, local sales tax is the largest revenue source. After several years of very large year-over-year increases, 11% and even 13% in some instances, we're now seeing a leveling off of growth. We're estimating a modest 2.8% increase in FY27. So, HG shop local.

Property tax revenue is our second largest revenue source. Remember that there is no tax increase in FY27. This source naturally grows as residential and commercial properties continue to be developed. This $16.2 million is an estimate. We'll receive the final assessed value report from the Rutherford County property assessor in May. The 8.2 million in state share and state share tax is also an estimate. The state allocates revenue based on population. The state is using a different method to estimate populations in FY27 FY27 and Smyrna's estimate should be released also in May. This chart just shows revenue by category. Again, local sales tax is the largest piece of that pie. Other local revenue includes hotel tax, business tax, other taxes, and other revenue includes various fees listed on our fee schedule like park rentals, golf course fees, permit fees. Okay, looking at our expenses compared to FY26, we're recommending a pretty modest increase. Um, the driving factor of this 5.5% increase is personnel costs. This category includes salaries, insurance, and all other benefits. This chart displays expenditures by category. Now, this is a different breakdown than the slide about property tax. This slide only shows operating expenditures, and I broke down the categories into further detail because I like details. Um, again, you can see that public safety accounts for more than half the total.

Yeah. Do you hear that, Chief? [laughter] This section displays our contributions to other government agencies and nonprofits. We pay our share for various state and county services. These expenses are pretty routine. The major difference in FY27 is a $250,000 contribution to the child advocacy center. These funds will go towards a new facility. We have several special revenue funds. Re revenues that come into these funds are restricted. It can only be spent on certain activities. We usually like to save up money and then spend it down. So it's not unusual to see deficits in these funds. It just represents a use of fund balance. The major revenue source in state tree aid is our allocation of the state fuel tax. The this revenue can only be spent on roadway maintenance. We are using fund balance to make an additional contribution towards uh miscellaneous paving, milling, resurfacing and uh striping. Um the next special revenue fund is the drug fund. The the major revenue source comes from forfeitures and seizures confiscated by the police department. These funds can only be spent on drug abatement activities. We spent a good portion of the fund balance in this year for an armored vehicle. So, we will be saving back up over the next few years. The impact fee fund is another special revenue fund. The main revenue source comes from fees assessed to developers. New development creates a demand for additional public services and infrastructure. Impact fees help shift that financial burden on to developers. This revenue can only be spent on projects that are directly connected to community growing pains. So that's infrastructure equipment infrastructure and equipment for emergency services, roads, and parks. I think this information is interesting. Um from FY16 to FY25, we've collected more than 29 million in impact fees. These funds help offset the cost of growth and ease the burden on taxpayers.

uh property tax abatement fee is what that is.

Yes. Um so what projects are being funded from the impact fee this year? Um fire station 2 design, patrol vehicles, expanded ranks require expanded fleet, um rotary soccer park expansion, Rock Springs Road at Old Nashville Highway, industrial drive improvements, and new sidewalks. The internal service fund tracks our insurance activities. Since the town operates a self-insured program, we like to keep the fund balance between 2 and 5 million. FY26 beginning balance was FY25 ending balance. So, you can see we ended FY25 at 1.7 million, which is outside of our comfort zone. Um, the primary revenue comes from transfers from other funds. So, we took an aggressive funding strategy in FY26 in order to build back up. You can see that it was successful getting us to uh an estimated 3.3 million in FY26. We ratcheted back the aggressive strategy in FY27 which accounts for that decrease in revenue that you're seeing. The last two funds are called enterprise funds. They are required to operate like any other business. We can't use tax revenue or transfers from other funds to keep them afloat. They have to be self-sufficient. These funds track our activities for utilities. Just like a business, the operating revenue needs to cover the operating expenses. My predecessor Rex would say, "Does it pencil?" So, I'm showing here that water sewer fund does in fact pencil. We have a budgeted operating income of 1.2 million. Operating income is an important metric, but so is change in net position. We take the operating income, add in the net nonoperating revenue, and then add in net contributions and transfers. This gives us a budgeted positive net change in position of 21 million. And it's important to keep in mind that in that net position does not equal cash on hand. We don't have $283 million sitting in the bank. Although we are currently saving as much money as possible to pay for a future sewer plant expansion, the

bulk of this 283 consists of net assets, which is property, oath treatment plants, and equipment. Our other enterprise fund tracks activities related to natural gas. By far the largest expense in this fund you can see is u natural gas for resale. And as you can see this fund also pencils with a budgeted $2 million operating income. Once you add in net operating hold once you add in net nonoperating revenue and net contributions and transfers. We have a budgeted change in net position of 2.2 $2.2 million. Again net position does not equal cash on hand. This 31 million almost wholly consists of gas lines and equipment. All right, capital projects. Very exciting. Um, this is our last fund. As you might expect, we use the capital project fund to track activity related to capital projects. A capital project is anything large and or non-recurring. So, think infrastructure and equipment. This fund can be confusing, so I want to quickly review it line by line. Starting with revenue. This fund does not generate its own revenue through taxes and fees. So you may ask yourself, how are we coming up with 11.3 $1.3 million in revenue, Sierra? This very festive slide shows you that we get revenue from outside sources and transfers from other funds. The outside sources primarily consist of grants and interest income. uh the transfers from other funds primarily comes from the general fund but the special revenue funds contribute for any eligible projects. The next line is expenses. This fund can only be used to pay for capital projects related to general fund activity. This primarily includes roads, police, fire, large IT projects and so on and any finance projects. Um we are planning to spend $19.8 8 million on various general

fund projects. Okay, I know this slide is hard to see, but it's a breakdown of capital project expenditures by department. So that middle line is the total general fund of expenses of 19.8 million. Remember, the utility funds have to be self-sufficient like a business. They have to pay for their own capital projects. So once you add in their projects, you get the whole picture. I covered a lot of the main projects in the highlights um at the beginning of this presentation, but this is the bottom line. The town is budgeting to spend $ 36.5 [clears throat] million on infrastructure and equipment in FY27. How in the world are we going to pay for all that? Well, this is how. One of the largest funding sources is fund balance, which is in this fund represent savings from the general fund. Since FY18, we've been transferring pretty much every extra dollar over to this fund in order to pay for large projects without raising taxes or issuing debt, which is impressive. Be impressed. Um, the utility funds are covering their portion with their fees and previous debt proceeds. And I think this is the most interesting part of the slide. Only 12% is coming from an FY27 general fund contribution. That means we're able to cover $36.5 million worth of projects and only use $4 million of current tax revenue. Okay. This last line I want to cover is the $ 8.5 million deficit. So, this means we're budgeting to use $ 8.5 million of our quote unquote savings in this fund. [clears throat] I think it's important to highlight what projects are strategically important enough to warrant using our savings. These projects include Cedarstone phase 2, new fire trucks to replace aging ones, a contribution towards the $2.3 million budget for roadways, which is miscellaneous paving, milling, and striping, design for Lee road improvements, our grant match for improvements at Sam Ridley and Old Nashville Highway and pedestrian crossings at Hazlewood. During the budget process, department

heads sketch out their capital project plans for the next 5 years. This is called our capital improvement plan or CIP for short. As you can see, we have outlined $239 million worth of projects across all funds for the next five years. This chart breaks it down by year and by recommended funding source. There are lots of projects on that list, but these few projects represent more than half of that 239 million. These projects include for fire new trucks and new stations. Several road projects including Almavville, Lee Road, Rock Springs, Rocky Fork, and Weekly Lane. Several water sewer projects inflow and infiltration infiltration, Lynwood and Mason Tucker booster station. And for parks, we've got Cedarstone and Rotary Park. How are we going to fund $239 million worth of projects? Our options include continuing to use our capital projects fund balance, which is our savings, re-evaluate impact fees more frequently, re-evaluate utility rates, issue long-term debt, cut or delay some projects that are not aligned with our strategic goals, and uh continue to aggressively seek out grant opportunities. I'm almost there. We're almost to the end. Peace schedule changes. Okay. For [clears throat] parks, fee changes primarily consist of increases in facility rental rates and membership fees. I won't go through everyone. The golf fee changes listed here will primarily fund some exciting improvements to the golf course um cart paths and bathrooms. We're also formally adding the junior and military rates to the fee schedule. Most of the fee increases in general sessions and traffic court are statutory changes. Most of the changes on the probation fee

schedule um relate to changes in services offered. Got crazy. The storm water fee change will primarily serve to keep this fund afloat. This fee has not been increased for over 15 years, so it's just time for an update. This fee primarily funds drainage improvements and maintenance for flood prevention. We have a slight fee increase in water, just a few cents per several thousand gallons. A similar small increase in sewer rates. Um these increases in the utility funds help water and sewer fund cover its own costs. And we are making some changes to the gas fee schedule. We're creating a new tier of base rates to separate separate out the commercial customers by size. Large stores and manufacturing plants will pay $70 per month, but the mom and pop stores will pay the same. Um, residential base rates are increasing $150 per month. And these rate increases will help cover the gas will help the gas fund cover its own costs as well as cover the expenses for large projects on the horizon without taking out any debt. The end. Sierra, it's amazing. You did a great job. You always do a great job. And Jerry loves all of the new

all the graphics.

All the graphics. um all joking aside, um what you and staff do to put this together and to get all of these things that we're seeing in our community for about $46 a month is pretty close to amazing. Um a lot of people don't realize we are now the 11th largest city in the state of Tennessee. Um, and to know that we're doing that um, on 52 cents property tax is really impressive. So, thank you to you and to um, all the staff for what you do to make this possible

as we grow too. Um, and it's inevitable. It's everywhere. It's all around us. We're not immune to that. But uh the amount of funds that we've set aside and budgeted for infrastructure, I want some people to understand though infrastructure doesn't just happen when we snap our fingers. We have a lot of governmental things that we have to process through. There are sometimes environmental studies, traffic studies, rightway acquisitions, all those things that have to take place and it takes a little time. Uh we're working on a lot of those now for the next two to three years in front of us and that's why we budgeted that money. But uh I leaned over and I told the mayor here a minute ago, I said, 'You know, Sierra loves this. You can tell it's in her veins and so um Rex did a good job as your mentor. We miss Rex, but you know what? We're gonna keep right on going and I can tell you're gonna do an awesome job. So I appreciate what you did.

Thank you. Great.

Yeah. I'd like to say thank you Sarah and all the department heads and and to the council. I mean, we spent two full solid days doing a deep dive into the numbers, and I know we went through this fairly briefly, but this budget will be available, you know, for anyone to review if they've got questions, but we uh we we went through it and I know the department heads went back and sharpened their pencils. And I just want to say thank you to everybody. I'm not sure the majority of citizens realize how much time and effort goes in from staff and then um what comes to us and um it's a lot of work. So um so

we can think about when they start working on it. Yeah. I mean, you know, not long after this one gets adopted, y'all start working on next year.

That's right. Okay. Um we will add that to the um agenda. And item 16 is consideration of an ordinance adopting the property tax rate for fiscal year 2026 2027 which is no tax increase and is so as stated there will not be a t a property tax increase due due to the 2026 reappraisals. We intend to adopt a revenue neutral rate which will come out in May. Um, the average citizen tax bill should stay about the same unless the county raises their taxes or the property owner has completed a recent improvement. Okay. Okay. Um, item 17 is consideration of an ordinance adjusting the pay for the town uh court clerk.

Are you taking that? Just from the agenda item, obviously this is something that uh town manager Sanucci had had placed on the agenda for the council. I believe that you may have discussed it at the retreat. Uh as you may be familiar with article 9 of our charter for uh the elected officials specifically at the court, the either the judge or the court clerk. uh their their uh salaries are set by ordinance. However, if you're going to change a salary or update it uh whenever you pass it, they can only receive it once a new term begins. And so, there is a new term every four years for the court clerk. Uh that new term will begin this August. Uh for the judge, that is an eight-year term. So, it's why the judge's pay is not before you right now. her uh salary is uh or term ends in 2030. And so uh just before you I think the update is why uh Mr. Sanuchi put this forward and uh I think the proposal on here has moving it from 938.99 to uh 106 flat. And um we looked at this in comparison to other communities um that do similar work and similar size and felt that this was a fair salary for this position and for the town. So any questions on this?

No, Jeff Craig's here and he helped us with that, too. So Jeff, thank you for diving in and getting those numbers for us so we could have something as a as a barometer as to what other communities such as us pay for that position. Uh Lisa does a good job down there at the courts and so we want to make sure she's amply paid and uh just there was a process in this to arrive at a number that should be a fair number for her. Have we discussed this number with her? Has anyone do you know? If they have, I'm not aware of it, but I wasn't aware of this. Okay. I'm just kind of hate without, you know, speaking with her about what

I would I know that Dave had originally talked to her and with the death in his family, he may not have, but we'll have two weeks for him to have discussion with her between now and then. So, okay. Um, we're now down to public comment, the town's public comment period. We need to probably say that this salary is available for the new clerk, whether it be Lisa or whoever is reelected. Correct. That we can't just arbitrarily raise her her salary. It won't go into effect. No, it won't go into effect till after the election. I know that, but she's running unopposed. So, it's going to be her. Well, they had qualified yet. But,

either way, it would be whoever whoever occupies the office. Yes. We we can water it down. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So, um the town's public comment period shall be reserved for those citizens that have signed up to address the town council or board or committee at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting pursuant to the town's public comment policy. Speakers are limited to three minutes. Additional comments may be submitted in writing. Amber, I did not see any on our agenda tonight. Okay. Um, anything Cameron Chief? Oh, what's the front of that notebook look like?

Is that the town? Is that fire chief association?

Yeah. I don't speak frequently, but as long as I'm dressed up, I decided to come up again. Um, this is uh just informing you of an emergency purchase. One of our older fire appar apparatus went in for what we thought was some bad wheel seals that contaminated the rear brakes and those who have old cars understand how that happens. Um once we got in there uh it snowballed on us and we had glitter in the differential which you know you never want to have and our axle shafts were ground down. Anyway, it resulted in an entire new rear end uh for a cost of $29,04127. So, just making you aware of that. And in an effort to end on a good note, we have four recruits that are graduating from the State Fire Academy tomorrow. They're in a class of, I think, about 25. Um,

we were very fortunate to have an applicant pool of almost 400 potential firefighters this time and were able to scrape the cream of the crop for sure. And I was notified by there's there's two uh positions uh in the recruit class that are honored positions. One is when the class elects a speaker uh to represent them and the other one is obviously the validictorian. We found out yesterday that both the speaker and the validictorian are Smyrna firefighters this year. So we are very proud of this group, very proud of these folks and uh are anxious to get there tomorrow and and see them graduate. So thank you Heather. Let's make sure when we [clears throat] do our press release that we I'm serious question.

Uh driving the apparatus truck with the differential grinding. Was there any any particular uh driver? It was No, it was so fine you could you couldn't feel it with the diesel. You couldn't feel it or hear it. Um it was it was the leaking that that triggered the initial problem. And even the repair shop didn't know until they got into it, started disassembling it that it was as bad as it was. Okay. Thanks, Chief. Carl, come here. Jimmy, you're all dressed up tonight. Is there Oh, I knew day. Oh, wait. come up here and so you can share on camera. That's right.

Like to invite everybody out. Uh kids safety day this Saturday uh 9 to1 in conjunction with Stone Crest Tristar. So we'll uh we'll have that from and police fire going to be there. Who else is all going to be there? We got like 24 different vendors going to be there. So the event center at the at the event center. Perfect. Thank you, sir. Casey Lou. No. Mike. Jason. Jason, you not gonna tell us about Front Street? No. [laughter] He learned from Charles. That's Tom's project. [laughter] [gasps]

Um, Jeff. Chase. Listen, Jason. No, Tom. Sorry. That's Britney. Uh, yes. Uh just had to announce an emergency purchase of $15,500. We had a guardrail hit on Hazlewood between uh Enan Springs and College Street. And so we had to make that repair, but just needed to announce that tonight. Great. You're not going to tell us about Front Street?

Not unless you ask. But [laughter] uh so this week we are working on three different crosswalks. One at Division, which is a stamped uh has depot district stamped in. I went down looked at today. It looks really good. We're going to be looking at uh putting some It's an embossed stamping, so we're looking at filling that embossing with some material. Going to be talking to Jeremy at Front Street tomorrow about putting something down in there to help give some extra support. Uh also did a new crosswalk going over to basically like breaking bread that area. There's a lot of people who walk that way anyway, so wanted to improve safety and added a crosswalk there. Uh the third one they're working on is the entrance into the long parking lot. We're going to be finishing that up. And so we're going to be opening the roadway back up uh probably Saturday morning and then we'll probably keep the one at um the long parking lot closed through um Sunday just because it's uh it took a little bit longer to get over there. Then next week we're going to be uh down at the section putting two more crosswalks in, a raised one and a flush one between College and Wright Street and closing that off. But uh that'll go out as a road closure to everybody. I'll make sure that the merchants know as well.

But that's our other that's our plan. Okay. Thanks. [clears throat] Uh Kevin,

Mr. Sanuchi had asked me to kind of update the council and the public as well on a couple things. One being the projects. Well, we'll go ahead and do this one. They put the map up. Um there was we received revised drawings from um Kroger uh that has nothing to do with their site but had the access um uh from their site from Bulldog Drive, I'm sorry, from Bulldog Drive onto the school property. uh the school itself as well as um someone from from the SRO or Homeland Security or something had asked them to make some changes. Um essentially I think this one yeah this is um the uh the revised drawing. I think the next one is we probably have a separate slide that has the the original plan essentially there there was and I don't have the maybe this one will work. Yeah, there there was always going to be an access basically here. They were going to Thank you. because I know this one will broadcast on the TV better. Um there was always going to be an access essentially from the access here at closest to Lee Victory is going away. That's not changing

at T do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do DOT at that was at T do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D's insistent as part of this consistent that's a better word at T do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do DOT's insistent that to provide more more stacking room for the traffic so that that that is going away and that's still that's not changing will they open that up so that you can go into that parking lot from there do you know cuz right now I don't not not from Bulldog Drive. No

no I meant from JJ Williams Drive it right there where your era is right there. I think I think that area that area where is driveway now is they are going to add some parking into that area. I think you will be able to to get to the parking lot there. Yes. But you would not be able to access Bulldog Drive from there. That's not changing. Um the what is changing is and there's always the access which is across from this is the access from Bulldog or yeah into Kroger. The access here is still going to be there. that's going to become the primary bus access. That's not changing. What has changing is it they it will now be two vehicles wide instead of one vehicle wide. What the major change? Well, you have the existing access to the back of the building. That's not changing. The the original plan had another access into this parking lot across from this drive. [clears throat] That is going away. So, you're not going to be able to access the parking lot from Bulldog Drive except at the back or at the bus access here. So, that's a change from what was approved originally. We just wanted to let I guess put it out there, let everyone know this was not something that the town asked for, the Kroger asked for or anything like that. This was asked for by the school. And so, um I'm sure they had reasoning behind it. I don't know. I hadn't talked to them but that so

I did have conversation with Trey Lee who actually as soon as we got wind that Kroger was looking at this site, we actually made sure that someone from the school board was in those meetings and was having discussion. um especially once the developer tried to get access from Chicken Pike and was not allowed access from Chicken Pike. And so um T dot let us know very clearly that the only access for this property was going to be Bulldog Drive. So, I had since Trey was in from the very beginning on behalf of the school board, I did call and have a conversation and he said that this decision was from school staff and from Homeland Security um not his decision. So, um I just want to make sure that the citizens know this was not our decision or like Kevin says the development's decision. This was from staff at Smyrna High School [clears throat] and from Homeland Security.

Anything else on that? That's all I had on that. No. Okay.

The other thing, and I don't have a slide for this. This is just the u the DNRC Transportation Policy Board did adopt uh the long range plan for the 2050 long range plan. I did want to kind of give a just a brief overview of the projects that were included in that that affect Smyrna. Uh one being the uh choice lanes project is one thing obviously that's going to have great effect on us. They did they did include that project uh in the long range plan uh with private the private dollars uh no federal dollars. um a couple that are actually in um actually about three projects that are actually in Leverne but are very near our border. They're they are some sort of advanced traffic management system I assume it so that'll be positive. Uh they are looking at some multibo improvements on Jefferson Pike which does interact directly with Lowry Street on the north side. They are also looking at that that's in the current um horizon year the the first set of or tip the current tip a couple others that are in the uh further out that including old Nashville highway widening as well as extending Samley Parkway from the where it currently ends which actually will be in partially in Smyrna. So, I'm curious to see how that'll work out. But that is in in the long range plan with some money. So, um over to Blair Road in from Blair over to where Blair Road comes back around and actually in Lever. um the SPRA projects, all the projects that we currently have federal dollars on such as the uh some of our sidewalk projects, the the Jefferson Pike, Sam Ridley at Nissan intersection, all those

were carried over. Um the new uh projects um that would uh were our projects that are again in that 2040 um horizon year. The next kind of the next set of money uh was the widening of Sany Parkway from Old Nashville Highway to Lowry Street. And then we actually received significant amount of money. This is all anticipated money at this point, but um for the Smyrna to Mchuan connector road. So um just wanted to bring those up to the council and to the public. So that is what we have at this point from the from the NO plan.

Just so y'all know, a lot of work goes in by the [clears throat] NO staff, but also from staff from each one of the communities to make sure that they have that information. and Kevin does a great job in working with the um TCC or the technical committee in making sure that our projects are heard about and hopefully get put on the list and Kevin meets on a monthly basis um with those individuals from other communities. So, job well done, Kevin. I'm going to have to speak up and say nobody does a better job of promoting all of these things than Murester Reed and keeping our projects on the forefront and on people's minds. There's a whole lot of that that is uh passed over and not known about, but she works very hard on it, very diligent about it.

Appreciate that. Well, it goes back to the point I I said earlier, the planning of this, it takes a while long, you know, she's very involved in it. Her staff's very involved in it. Dave, all everybody that works here at the town has given a strong effort to make sure we try to do what we can for our citizens to to help with infrastructure and all those things that

people see that we need and sometimes complain about. It just takes a little bit of time to get there and uh but it's it's in the works. Um, real quick, Tom, you don't have to get up. Somebody asked me again about old Jefferson and Jefferson because you know the middle lane, the median is not built to hold a car. So, uh, I've got a couple neighbors that have asked me about that out there. And so, with the two lanes coming from town, you can't really get across four lanes. Sometimes you got to get out in the median and wait for the following two lanes going towards town to clear. So, they're sitting diagonal

diagonal in that island and it's uh I see it a lot myself because I live out that way but it may be something we need to look at down the road here before too long about I know we discussed a signal out there I don't think we budgeted for one but um I think no but T dot said that they were willing to look at it once the road was built and I think it may be time to put a bug in their ear is all I'm saying because I believe something bad could happen there at some point so that's all All right, Christie. Sierra Heather Chief that Sierra stole my seat. [laughter]

Got it. Got it. Uh, Amber. Yes, ma'am. I started my morning crying this morning. I'm not going to end my evening crying, but it is fitting that I get to sit beside Jeffel for his last meeting with us. So, [clears throat] um, just want to formally wish you well. You hired me 11 years ago and, uh, now you're leaving me, so there's that. You're firing him now. Right. There's that. But, no, you've been a a fantastic mentor, a great boss, and an even better friend. So, I appreciate that. Yes. Now, get out. No, [laughter] I'm kidding. And and welcome to Kyle. You're gonna scoot over.

That's right. No, sell the floor. Um, and you know what? I forgot to say that under other and you forgot to tell me. Oh, uh, oh, I did, but the meeting is not over yet, so I can do it right now. Okay. Do you want to do it or you don't mean to? Yeah, I'll do it. So, on May the 12th, obviously, as council is where you did conduct interviews this past week uh, for the town attorney's position. And so that 12th, it wasn't even April 12th. No, I said May 12th when you're going to have the meeting. Oh, okay. council meeting in a regular council meeting. Uh you'll have a town attorney agreement the last night

employment [snorts] agreement that will be on the agenda. Uh so you'll approve that on the May 12th. Great. Anything tonight?

Uh I have a large dissertation. No, I just want to thank uh the council and the citizens for 30 years. It's allowed me to feed my family and Jacks as well. But uh also also of course thank all the directors uh all the employees wouldn't be uh wouldn't be able to do it with without them. Had a lot of good times. I know uh police department about fell down when I left but uh they they've built back up but anyway thank you so much. Thanks for thanks for the things you you've done for me and uh prepared me to uh do even better things. So great. Thank you.

Drum. I've got a few announcements. Uh but first of all, Jeff, thank you for uh your career and contributions to the town. Um not only do I appreciate your friendship, I appreciate your um integrity and what you've done for the town. And I know you're not going far, but uh uh we'll miss you.

Yeah. I do have a couple of per public service announcements. Yeah. The Citizens Academy. Our Citizens Academy class wrapped up with visits to the Smyrna Golf Course, Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center, and the Smyrna Event Center. Participants got a firstirhand look at key recreational facilities with activities at each stop and a closing mill together. Thank you to everyone who participated. We appreciate your engagement and interest in the community. This was the uh first inaugural citizens academy. Um a lot of us attended it, went through it. I think Jerry even has the uh shirt number one shirt on. And but I want to thank all the citizens that took their time to go through it to learn about about the uh the way the town operates and think we're going to put this on once annually. So, and appreciate Todd Spearman, all the council and the mayor and Dave Sanushi and all the department heads and everyone that was involved with it. I think I think it was just a home run for the town.

Talking to the participants, they were all like they were amazed at all that take all that takes place, but they were also very thankful. They said that each one of the ones that did presentations each night um they made it informative but also fun. And I think we're going to present them with something. Yes. Yes. Yeah.

Um also, um enjoy our Mother's Day buffet on Sunday, May 10th. You know, make reservations. The seating time is 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 12:45 to 2:15 p.m. Reservations are required 61545944. And um so anyone wanting to take their um mother, their child's mother or significant other, it's a great buffet. And um also um have a um another maybe Steve Steve's going to announce that. Yeah,

that's all. That's all. Perfect. G.

Okay. Um first off, I want to say thanks to Sierra the other day. I had a meeting with with Dave and and Sierra and we're sitting there and I watched her and I was telling Chief today about it. She just glowed. I mean, you know, she was so enthused about her product there and I, you know, and I find that in a whole lot of our employees across the town. Look at Chief right there. I see how enthused he is about his project right there. But, um, uh, you know, tonight she's giving the presentation and I'm thinking about Rex. And you know, yes, I'll have to admit I miss Rex, but uh and Rex was always very enthused about his product, but his delivery just wasn't as enthusiastic as yours. So, I I you know, I want to say Rex, we miss you, but you know,

you trained her well. Well, wait till next week. We're going to get Jeff, too. That's right. [laughter]

I do have a couple of slides. I have Earth Day. And speaking of birthday, uh the other day I was uh pulling out of Enan Springs up here and I saw Sierra and her crew out there uh picking up the uh the trash on Enrow. Town of Smyrna employees rolled up their sleeves and gave back to the community in celebration of Earth Day. Our teams came together across multiple projects. Oh, sorry about that. Our teams came together across multiple projects to make a real impact. Trans uh tree planting at Sharp Springs Park, greenway cleanup to keep our trails beautiful, adopt a highway efforts at Harts Branch Bridge. Thanks to everyone who participated and you know our employees are very very valuable to us. you know, going back to the budget, it's the employees who put it together and uh it's really admirable and appreciated. I have another love where you live, keep Smyrna litter free 2026. Um, recycle. See up in the right hand corner. I get this every month, y'all, but it's an ongoing thing. And uh you know, we always have to uh stay on top of keeping our town beautiful. Love where you live. Um going back to the budget one more time, you know, we've got to shop local. Keep the uh uh tax rate low, the property tax rate low.

Be kind, Barry Esther. We'll do. Are you done? Done. I'm done. Okay, Jared.

Okay. Uh, I do have a slide also. So, if any of the Smyrna residents would like to opt out of the doortodoor commercial solicitation, you're able to do that uh by uh going to the town of Smmyrna.org/nossolicitation. Uh, and uh it's a fairly easy process. So, uh, that way you can, uh, if you don't want people knocking on your door, uh, they can [clears throat] you can do that. Um, Sierra, thank you and everybody else that worked on the budgets. I know that's a a big process. Basically, it's a year a year round process. I think HG talked about that as well, but uh, thank you for sharpening your pencil and, uh, keeping our taxes as low as you do. We do appreciate it. uh would like to send my condolences to Dave uh for the loss of his father and I just want to know we're thinking about you Dave and u um just we know that um spend the time there with your family so we're thinking about you and um uh Jeff just want to say thank you uh I really enjoyed working with you uh your professionalism and uh anytime I was able had to call you. You always had an answer or or gave us direction and uh we will miss you. I will miss you as a as a friend and uh uh just best of luck to you. Appreciate it.

Okay, Steve.

All right. I also have a slide for Vision Smyrna 2045. Uh this is our comprehensive plan survey. The town of Smyrna is beginning uh an important update to a comprehensive plan and this is your chance to let us be let us hear from you. Um this plan will guide how our community grows and evolves involves decisions about land use, infrastructure and public services for years to come. Uh take a few minutes to share your thoughts and priorities by completing the survey at townism.org. The survey is open through June 5th, 2026. And uh as as one of the folks that set up here, I I can't really emphasize enough how important this is. Uh one of the things that we um struggle with is understanding what's what the public really wants. A lot of times we only hear from the fringe minority or majority, right? We only hear the people that are really against it or really opposed. We don't hear the people in the middle and what their opinion is. And um this is your way of letting us know what what you like about SRA, what you don't like, what you'd like to [clears throat] see coming forward, and uh maybe other things that we can do to make it or continue to make it the best place to live in Tennessee. Um we also have uh Jerome mentioned another slide or piece of paper got dropped on our desk tonight. It's a car show for the Salvation Army in Murphy'sboro on this June 6th. I I wasn't even sure I was going to mention it because it's the same time as our boat day. Uh but it's 9:00 am to 2 pm in Murphy'sboro at I assume the Salvation Army main office which is 11:37 West Maine. There is no address on here so I'm not sure.

They can do both. They can you can bring your car to the boat day and then go to the go to Salvation Army. Um if you get your car out of the shop, right? Yeah. Well, right. H

I won't talk about it. Yeah. [laughter] Um Jeff, uh me and you've been together for a long time. About uh I don't know, maybe 20 years, 18 years, something like that. Um you were always uh critical for me when I was on BCA and you've continued that through my other 4As now. And uh you're going to be missed. I think uh I think we've got a good candidate to replace you, but it'll be hard to to to fill your shoes and uh we're going to we're going to miss the the long dissertations and the uh word of the day that you try to work in the conversations. Maybe Kyle could take that over. Yeah, he's sort of algebraic that way.

That's right. Yeah. Was algebraic one of the words this week? Okay. [laughter] So, a lot of folks probably don't know that we that we have that entertainment, but uh there's usually a really crazy word that has virtually no good use in the sentence that somebody tries to work in somehow into a council meeting. So, it's kind of like where's Wall-E with a word, right? So, appreciate you, Jeff, and uh good luck in Murphy'sboro. I'm glad you're not leaving Smyrna. Um, but I don't think you'll have the same protections for uh your travels through town. So, you better be careful driving down Winkly Lane. I' I've had I've told some friends to look out for him. [laughter] He's going to That's

He's gonna He's going to be late because he's got to drive all the way to Murphersboro and he's got to feed Jack. So, he's going to be You know what? Yeah. Banana peel out. Hey, just just throw some just those donuts out. Yeah. [laughter] The chief will beat him to it. We're slinging it now, aren't we? [laughter]

I have a couple slides, too. I want to say thanks to uh Donna over at Bojangles on Lee Victory Parkway. Every year they are so kind and they invite all of our first responders and staff and people to come over and enjoy free chicken, free lunch. Uh they recognize uh the good that these people do. And she's just a sweetheart. She always smiles and says, "Boy, we're glad to see you guys." and they really do it upright. So, thank you to Bojangles over there on Le Victory Parkway. The second slide I have, we many of us attended the um the launch of the allnew 2027 Infiniti QX65. You've probably heard a lot about that in marketing already. Uh they'll be starting the official start of production now. The milestone continues Smyrna's strong manufacturing legacy with 13 vehicles launched here since 1983. Speakers included Brian Crockett and David Johnson who highlighted the teamwork and the innovation behind this launch. I can tell you they're pretty proud of that vehicle and it's awfully pretty. Nissan and Smyrna remains a key part of our local economy with the majority of its JD Power awards tied to the production right out of this facility. Couple other things real quick I wanted to say. Uh I heard uh Chief Goss talking about the recruits that he just landed a valid validictorian and a speaker. And in our budget, we're we're filling more police positions that were needed. If I'm not mistaken, we're either fully staffed or real close to being fully staffed in both those departments. That says a lot about our employees and the spirit in which they work. And they've chosen this place as a great place to be employed. uh recruits are recognizing that there's fair pay being offered and two uh in those departments two good leaders and uh all the people that serve beside them that really makes those departments look attractive to recruits like that. So congratulations to both of you and to the people who put the budget together

to make sure we keep them staffed. Um talking about the taxes earlier, we're doing all this with no tax increase. We're making sure we staff our police department so forth. One of the uh one of the ways that we can do this is through the growth. Believe it or not, it's impact fees. HG talked about it and uh a minute a little while ago and these impact fees keep the burden. He called it a tax abatement [cough] and it kind of is. It keeps the burden away from having to put it on the taxpayers's backs. Does anybody know when the last time we in Smyrna had a property tax increase? Do you know that, Sierra? Right off hand, I can tell you. 2013. 2013. 2013.

So, it's been 13 years. That's a pretty good track record. And so, I hope our citizens out there Yeah, we all have to sit in the traffic. We all do. And we all deal with the same things. But, uh, all in all, to not have a tax increase for 13 years when all the other municipalities around us have, the county has, obviously, that's not us, that's your county government. Uh we're going to try to continue to operate that way and keep our budget smart and go forward with spending money that we have or that we know we'll be getting in. So a lot of infrastructure is covered with that fee, too. Roads, sidewalks, police and fire predominantly parks. Uh you got beautiful parks out here. Some of the best thanks to Mike and his team, Jimmy, all you guys. They maintain those parks and it's a quality of life thing for this council and for the city. So, I hope people recognize the good that's in this town and the things that uh we as a council try to work hard to maintain.

The only thing you forgot to mention there is we did all of that while still securing a trip AAA bond rating, which means we kept our debt down. Yeah. And we balanced our budget and we stayed within our spending. That's right. Um so all of those things you just mentioned. Absolutely. But the only places we can get income is either tax, some sort of tax or from debt. and we didn't take on much debt and we've only we very sparingly used our debt only where we've had to and we haven't went for a tax increase. So,

there's a lot of things people can choose or pull aside and pick on that maybe they don't like or whatever, but that's anywhere you live. But we, this council is going to continue to try to keep your taxes low and give you quality product. So these people out here, they're the ones we just vote on making decisions, but they're the ones out there doing the work on behalf of us. So we appreciate all that. Um Jeff, to you, um without saying a long lengthy goodbye, I know where you live and I know you're close and you are a friend of mine. You always have been. You've been very supportive of this council. We're going to miss you. I can tell you that. Uh we know we've got good people coming right up right in behind you here, but uh we we just want to tell you how much I value you as a friend and your family as well. They are part of who you are. They're part of your fiber and so uh I know them and wish them uh I know they probably don't want to see you leave us, but I talked to your dad about a week ago, had a good conversation with him, and we all know that what you're doing is based on what you think is best for you and your family. And we strongly support that. always will.

Yep. Uh to Dave, safe travels. Uh regret the loss of his father just recently, day before yesterday, I think it was or yesterday. Yeah. And so he's traveling to take care of those arrangements and things, but Dave uh our prayers are with you if you watch this. And uh one other uh local citizen that I've known pretty much my whole life living here, Ken Kbble. I don't know if any of y'all knew the Cobbell family, Kelvin and his Pam who since passed, but uh Ken Cobbell was just a mainstay kind of fun guy that lived right down the street from me as I grew up and he just recently uh passed away. So to the Cabbell family, I send my condolences. Last but not least, happy Mother's Day to all you great mamas out there.

Great. Couple of before you go off on your tangent, can I throw two little things in there real quick? Uh, one of them being uh, it's been grand Jeffrey. Um, long time. Yeah, long time. Jeffrey patrolman when I came around here and he Okay. All right. Um, but you know, Jeff, he was in the same U. He was in same just graduated from high school 1996. Come on, Cheron. I'm hungry.

Okay. [laughter] Uh Jeffrey was in the same mall graduating class with my daughter-in-law. So I happened to be there and watch him um move from one uh area of his life into another. And uh watching him grow into the attorney that he is today and to see him be robbed by of of Murphersburg robbing him from us has been kind of traumatic. Yeah. But um best of luck to you and I think you know that if you need anything from us uh please please feel free to call on us. Also um speaking of Mother's Day, my mother had a surgery today and uh

yesterday uh huh yesterday she came home from the hospital today. She had the surgery yesterday, but she seems to be doing very very good and I'm quite um um encouraged. I don't know about y'all, but I love my mama. It's all of God. Okay. Hey, when you talk to Shane, tell him that we're going to be looking for candidates to steal back. Just got it. Keep an eye open when somebody

else. Got it. Um couple of slides. First of all, eight years ago, I was invited to the inaugural military enlistment ceremony at Stewart's Creek High School. Like you see many athletes that get to have a signing day, this is an event that is done at Stewart's Creek for any um individual that is attending Stewart's Creek that is chosen to go into the military. And it is a really moving event um to see these young people that have made a decision to go out and protect and serve each one of us. And so I'm always honored to be a part of that event. And um it's it's a really special event. I wish more schools would do this type of event. So thank you to Stewart's Creek High School for always including me and to these individuals and their families. Um, Jimmy, you stole my thunder a little bit, but that's okay. Kids safety day is Saturday. It is from 9 to 1 at the event center. It is a partnership between Tristar Stone Crest Medical Center and the town of Smyrna. There will be bike giveaways, free bicycle helmets while supplies la last, car seat safety checks, fire, water, and bicycle safety education, and tons of booths that will be set up to talk about kids. So, a really fun day. So, bring your family out and enjoy at the event center. Our second Smyrna town hall road show progress and partnership will take place Thursday May 14th um at the Hyatt Spivey Center building at Mllo campus from 6:00 to 8. I will tell you these departments have put a lot of work into this and you can get one- on-one time with individual departments to hear what's going on and

we're going to have a brief um presentation as well. So come out and get questions answered. Jeff, you've heard kind of from each person. I know we're going to do an event for you tomorrow, but um I kind of figured up 23 years you and I have been here at the town together working and um it's going to be really different not to have you in that seat. um excited for your next step um and are glad to see that um are glad and I'm glad to see that um you were chosen for that. I am jealous because you're leaving and I I wish that you weren't, but anytime an employee feels that they can better themselves and their family, always wish them the best. I also have an award to present you. Jeff is actually um going to be completing his 30th year of service here at the town of Smyrna. So, I'm gonna have you come down front and we're going to present this and council, I'm going to let you stand behind and we're going to get a quick picture from Miss Heather before we adjourn.

See you not. Are we balanced? Heather, he's in the middle. So, two and two. Oh, okay. Good. Thank you so much. Absolutely. Speech.

Your ears. Okay. Anything else from anybody else? If not, then we're adjourned.

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