Board of Mayor & Aldermen - Regular Meeting

I'll stand for the pledge and remain standing after the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Our father, we thank you tonight for this season of the year that we celebrate. We thank you for this city, for those that work for the city, that live in the city, and we just pray that you bless us tonight as we do the business of the city. We thank you for your love and your grace that you bestow on us each and every day. And ask for your continued blessing. In your name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Amen. At this time we are going to recognize our parade club winner. How many people got parade?

All right. The people's choice award was won by artic fox heating and air and it was voted by most likes on Facebook. We have a trophy somewhere. Thank you.

Okay. Anybody else want One, two. Perfect. Thank you.

And then we have an award for the mayor's choice. This goes to cuts lawn care. Um, a Ford F-150. A 99 Ford F-150. I was trying to think of something else to tell you, but can Can anybody else get the picture or

Is that your son? Perfect. Thank you.

Must be Christmas. As we get into our agenda, item 1.3, approval of minutes of the regular meeting of board of mayor and alderman held November 18th, 2025. Do we have a motion? Mine is not somewhere it's supposed to be. I don't know what I've done wrong.

You're still present. blank probably maybe because I haven't hit vote yet. Let's do a pen. That's what I was thinking. I brought in Jan. This is my favorite though. I'm not sure mine's right. Did yours do right? That's a trick question.

Yours is ready. It looks like they went to sleep somewhere. Thank you very much. Busy day. No, sir. I would take credit for it if I did. Don't worry, tell you. All right, we have a motion by Alderman. Good. Just a second. I think we got a couple more that need to be reset here.

Bear with us just a moment. Everybody good? We have a motion by Alman Troder, second by Alderman Bradley. Questions or comments? We're ready to vote. Let's vote. Does anyone care to change their vote? Thank you, M. Getting us going.

Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero. Item 1.4, public comment period. We have no one that register for public comment. Moving to item 1.5, public hearing. Ordinance 25-35, an ordinance reszoning property at 2814 Memorial Boulevard from commercial general to commercial services to allow medical and professional services. We have a motion. Do we have a motion? Public hearing. Public hearing. Public need. Oh,

I'm sorry. Anyone here to speak to that? Seeing no one, we will move on to our legislative item 2.1, discussing property take action on ordinance 25-35 on second and final reading, an ordinance reszoning property at 2814 Memorial Boulevard from commercial general to commercial services to allow for medical and professional services. We have a motion by Alman Greg, a second by Vice Mayor Harris. Any questions or comments? Hearing none. Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their votes?

Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero. Item 2.2, two, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-36 on first reading, an ordinance amending title 4, chapter 3, section 4-307 of the Springfield Municipal Code relative to the occupational safety and health program. We have a motion by Alderman Hubard, a second by Vice Mayor Harris. I believe city manager Ryan Martin has something to speak of this.

Thank you, Mayor. So this is uh an item amended the municipal code. Previously in the municipal code it's outlined that the assistant fire chief will serve as the safety director of the city. That was done particularly in 2003 I believe uh under for the current circumstances. Uh that's since changed over the last 20 or so years. In fact we went about 5 years I think without an assistant fire chief. So what we're asking for you all to do tonight is to approve this to allow the um to free that up where it's not pigeon holed to a particular position. We still have that located in the fire department. It's currently done by the fire marshall or fire fire inspector right now. Thank you, sir. Any questions or comments?

Hearing none, we're ready to vote. Let's vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero. Item 2.3, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-37 on first reading an ordinance reszoning property at 2209 Roost Street from medium density residential R10 to high density residential R seven to permit a second developable lot. Motion by Alderman Hubard, a second by Alderman Greg. Mr. Ryan Martin, I believe you have something to add to that.

Yes, thank you, Mayor. So, this comes to you with a negative recommendation from the planning commission. The planning commission evaluated this request and uh and v voted to uh recommend that you all deny this resoning request. It did come with a positive or affirmative recommendation from the staff solely because of its compliance with all existing regulations. Um I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have. Read reading in the packet currently the way it is. R10. Is that right? That's correct. Yes. He's wanting to go to R seven. Correct. Cuz he has the lot that the house is on and then another part of a lot or another lot with it.

But even if it is reszoned, he still nothing could be done with it with the house standing as it is now. Is that correct? That's correct. Our understanding is that the owner intends uh is requesting the resoning because the resoning would allow him to move sub resubdivide those two lots and create two R seven lots and two houses. But currently that is impossible uh because of the current house that's that's the current conditions don't allow that because that house would stretch across where that new line needed to be. So you want us to vote it down? The planning commission recommended denial.

Yeah, I I'd go along with that too. Are we ready to cast our votes? Any other questions or comments? Hearing none, let's cast. I would like clarification. So, if we vote yes, we are voting to confirm the recommendation of the board or voting yes to approve the resoning.

Great question. What's what's before you in in the uh as far as the ordinance is to is an ordinance reszoning the property. So, if you vote if you vote yes, that is voting yes to reszone the property, voting no. Thank you. Um the planning commission did recommend denial. They did not give us a reason for that denial. U at that meeting, but a majority vote um was a was a recommendation of a denial. So, a no would kill it. That's that's I guess you're asking a no would deny it completely, right? No would go along with the planning commission's recommendation. That's correct. Yeah. Okay. which I mean I guess I would think is he here tonight?

That's what I was about to ask. Did the applicant have notified to come speak? The applicant was was aware that the planning commission moved on a recommendation and then you all have the ultimate say. The planning commission evaluates it as just a recommendation. They dig into the details of the of the request. But I do not believe Mr. Durham, the applicant, the owner is here tonight. Right. So, you know, I had something similar last month in my in my area where they were going to tear down a home and put two places up. This is something similar, I think, is what they're trying to eventually we think we assume that what they're trying to do is move the house and put two places up as an assumption.

That would be the only rationale behind requesting reszoning, but it's my understanding the owner informed the planning commission that he has no intention to tear the house down currently. So, why are we don't know why we resoneed. I got you. Okay, fair enough. I would think it would be probable to wait until if he tore it down and then come back and ask for reasonzoning, would it not? Or we don't know. Okay, just move to vote no. Any other questions or comments? All right,

comment. A vote no is voting against what city staff recommends and all things are in place or the staff would not be recommending this. And the house that is standing there is a good nice house. It won't it's not something that a person's going to go in there and tear down a $300,000 plus house in order to build two small houses. But why would he ask for it to be resolved? That's my question. You'd have to know him in order to okay get that answer. Understand.

Any other questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? I think so. Can we are we clear? Yes. I mean, well, when the when the since it's your award, you said vote no, right, sir? I'm voting with the city recommendation, which would be a yes vote, a no. Oh, is that is that correct? A no vote.

So that's that's why I pointed that out on the beginning. I wanted to point out the distinction between the staff's recommendation and the planning commission's recommendation. So the staff's recommendation is is based purely on an objective evaluation of whether the conditions of the application meet all of the current regulations, the zoning ordinance, the subdivision regulations, the comprehensive growth plan. There's not a subjective determination. We don't give our opinion unless you ask for our opinion. Um, so when the staff recommends approval, that's based on that's telling the planning commission, yes, this is compliant with everything. Now, it's also in compliant in its current condition, its current scenario, it is, but Mr. Greg is right. Uh, Miss Durham made the recommendation to the planning commission of approval based on its compliance with all the requisite regulations. The planning commission is the one that applies the subjective determination in their recommendation to you all. Is the city aware? I I think the answer is no, but is the city aware of any particular reason as to why there's a request for reszoning if there's no intent to change how those properties are being used? Because it just seems very strange. I'm just Is there anything else that I am not aware of? Am I missing something here? I

I have the I have the same question. Honestly, if if the owner is not going to tear down the house, I don't know. Other than just reserving the future, right? I mean, I think that would be the only reason is that the owner is reserving that future right um to be grandfathered under a set of zoning regulations that allow at some future time to subdivide that property if in any event in the future that house decided or became where it needed to come down. But even even though I mean staff is basically basing it on because it meets all the requirements. It's no one's opinion, but I guess I my standpoint is until he tears the house down, I see no point of reszoning from what it currently is, but

I guess I would support the planning commission. Okay. All right. I think it would have been better if he had he had came and gave explanation himself. It does sound like there there are quite a few questions. I'm not sure. And Mr. Uh uh chairman mayor, you might recognize Miss Durham to see what the applicant shared at the planning commission. U as far as if those questions were asked. I'm not sure if those questions were asked at the planning commission level or if he attended that meeting also. Mr. Durham, would you

Good evening board. The applicant actually did not speak at the planning commission either. Um and from speaking with him in my offices and then through um the surveyor who submitted the original request, the understanding was it was to hold out in case something were to ever change in the future. He gave no real indication of why he wanted this resoning. All right. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other questions or comments? the roof. Are we clear in our understanding?

We're not clear, but that's my understanding. Am I correct in assuming that this is asking for permission, which would require a yes. If we deny this, that requires a vote of no. Correct. So, so what? Yes, sir. What you're voting on is an ordinance to reszone the property. So, a a yes vote approves that ordinance to reszone the property. A no vote denies that uh ordinance. And the planning commission denied it. The planning commission recommended they they just merely make a recommendation and they recommended you uh to deny it. Are we ready to vote? Yes, sir. Let's cast our votes.

Anyone care to change their votes? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion fails one to six.

Item 2.4, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-38 on first reading. an ordinance reszoning approximately 2.78 acres located at Blackpash Drive from RS20 to R10 Pub and to amend the previously approved preliminary master development plan for the Summit View planned unit development to incorporate said acreage and plat 13 additional residential lots. We have a motion by Alderman Hubard. We have a second. Excuse me. Have a motion by Alman Hollowman, a second by Alderman Hubard. Any questions or comments?

Hearing none. Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes six to one. Are we having an abstain? Very good. If they would state the reason owner owner

item 2.5, discuss and possibly take action on resolution 25-28, resolution authorizing the city of Springfield to participate in the James L. Richardson Driver Training Matching Grant Program. We have a motion by Alderman Hubard, a second by Alderman Troder. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, are we ready to vote? Let's vote. Anyone care to change their votes? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero.

Item 2.6, discuss and possibly take action on resolution 25-29, a resolution accepting a performance bond renewal from Rudale LLC to guarantee the completion of the infrastructure improvement of Autowood Estate section 3. I have a motion by Alman Greg, a second by Alman Bradley. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, we ready to vote. Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote. Would you tally the votes, please?

Motion passes seven to zero. Item 2.7, discuss and promptly take action on resolution 25-30, a resolution amending the city's personnel policy. We have a motion by Vice Mayor Harris. Have a second by Alderman Hubard. I believe city manager Ryan Martin has something to say to this. Thank you, mayor. I'll just explain. We bring you a change every year to our personnel policy. Often times that's clarifying some language or addressing a new federal law that that maybe comes out. This has some a few cleanup items in it. Uh this year we codify in the policy the new longevity structure that you all approved in the budget this year and so we put that in the policy. We did make some changes to the gifts and gratuitities or solicit solicitation and gratuitities of policy with those some of that language being outdated and not covering all uh scenarios. We still it's very still very strong and very um uh ethically geared towards ethical compliance, but some of the the things did get updated in there and that language is redlined for you in the policy. We also updated uh some of the evaluation and disciplinary process language to make it consistent with other aspects of the policy and then a couple of minor cleanup items, but I I'll be glad to answer any questions if you have any.

Any questions? Any comments? Hearing none. Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please?

Motion passes seven to zero. Moving into our administrative portion of our agenda, item 3.1, discuss and possibly take action on the adjustment of the retail electric rates of Springfield Electric Department due to wholesale fuel cost adjustment by the Tennessee Valley Authority. We have a motion by Ottoman Hubard, a second by Ottoman Troder, electrical director, Mr. Terry Reisha. How are you? Thank you. 2.04% high. 2.04% 04% high.

Got to make a comment. I think it was Sunday night. Rose Hill was sort of offline about what two hours. Was that Sunday night? Saturday. Saturday night. How many You had some Transformers that blew or what? Squirrel. Seriously? Squirrel. Squirrel. Did he live? Okay. He's he's he's extra crispy now. Well, I'm just going to tell you, you have some pretty hot customers. I got some hot phone calls. That'll be all right. Are we ready to vote?

Yes, sir. Let's cast our votes. Anyone here to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero. Item 3.2 discuss and possibly take action on the adjustment of the monthly gas rates of Springfield gas department. Have a motion by Alman Hubard. A second by Alman Bradley. Gas director Mr. Benji Javis.

Purchase gas adjustments saw an increase of 5.6 cents resulting in across the board average of 8.4%. See any questions, comments? You ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please?

Motion passes 7 to zero. Item 3.3, discuss and possibly take action on a request for authorization to submit a notice of intent to apply for the state of Tennessee local parks and recreation fund grant for the year 2026. We have a motion by Vice Mayor Harris. Have a second by Ottoman Troder. City manager Ryan Martin has something to add to this, I believe.

Thank you, mayor. So, this is uh requesting authorization from this body to file a notice of intent to apply for the LPRF, which is the local parks and recreation fund grant in 2026 through the uh Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. That would be a $1.5 million grant. As you all know, we've uh recently acquired the the property there at um next to the tank via the u the transaction that took place that you all approved a while back. And so the the intent for that land is to do a soccer complex. The soccer complex frees up land at J Travis Price Park which enables that to become a baseball and softball expansion project later which accommodates our growing need for for field space in in all of these areas. Uh parks director Mr. Martin has put and his staff put together the proposed layout for you all to look at what this project initially looks like at that property. And then you can see the list in page one of your packet of what phase one would look like and be funded by this grant. Um this is uh coming before you all because these funds aren't allocated, right? This would these would be future funds that would have to be allocated. And so your vote, if you do approve this tonight, uh it also would allocate those funds in a future budget to uh to to fund the project. So there would be a certain amount of funds allocated in the FY27 budget and then as the project finished in FY28 presumably the remaining funds would be allocated. So we'll be happy to uh this is consistent with our our parks master plan and uh we've got a we've got a lot of needs uh in the city in general but but a facility wise but but needs in the parks department. Uh, one of those is baseball, softball, uh, field space and soccer space and indoor gym space, indoor wreck space and community center space. And so we try to tackle those uh, in the order that we can we can tackle them. But we'll be glad to answer any questions that you have.

I think this would be a great venture to enhance what we have. And Mr. Bordon, I have to compliment you and your crew for doing a great job. Thank you. cuz I'm a frequent user. Yes, of all of the parks. Is Terry Martin still in charge of parks? We hadn't heard from him in months. He's getting his glory tonight, though. Don't worry. Christmas light.

The part that's carved out, I see the red line about the flood zone. That's because I know about this from looking in the back of my neighborhood. And the part that's carved out for the field is definitely not It's above It's above that flood zone obviously. I mean, I hope it is. So, because the turf fields and and the and the paving, so it'd have to be out of the flood way. It doesn't mean that the the floods the part in the flood plane can't be used. Those would be used for grass fields. We could still put grass fields in that because, hey, flood zones make great soccer field land, right? They're perfect. Um, but these the the complex on the upper side would be turf fields and those are outside of the flood plane. Okay. Any other questions or comments? Are you ready to vote? Why are we in

Mr. H? I want to I've heard a lot of feedback for Winter Wonderland. So, keep doing a good job. Are we ready to cast their votes? Let's vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero.

Item 3.4. discuss and possibly take action on appointments to various boards and commissions. We have a motion by Alderman Hover, a second by Alderman Troder. Any questions or comments? Hearing none. Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero.

Item 3.5, discuss and possibly take action on the city's current ordinance regarding water service outside the urban growth boundary. We have a motion by blank. Melissa, are you able to put it in verbally if they your system? Okay, mayor, if someone makes a verbal motion, we can do that while we technology. So, move second. We have a motion by Vice Mayor Harris. Second, there we go.

Can you elaborate on this for me? Can you can you tell me more about this?

I can and let me correct something first. Let me go back to the other item. I said flood plane. Flood way is what I meant to say. We can put grass fields in the flood way. We cannot put turf fields in the flood way. the flood plane the 100 year and 500 year still encompasses a portion of that property where the soccer fields will go. So I just wanted to make sure I had factually accurate with my terminology the difference between flood way and flood plane. But yes, I will I will address uh this. So what what's before you tonight what we're asking you to do tonight. So this body passed an ordinance in October of 2024 that curtailed the expansion of our water system outside the urban growth boundary. That was based on a recommendation from our consultant and the comprehensive growth plan study that we did that was looking out 20 years into the future to look at what uh needs might may arise for the city of Springfield. It was not and I was I want to make sure that and I know you all know but for anyone else that that may not know it there's not a water capacity issue today. We're not short on water. We have plenty of water. The issue was looking out 20 years into the future uh based on certain unknowns uh and what we do know what's been the growth that has been approved and then not knowing some things that are outside of this body's control what that capacity might look like in 20 years from now. Right? The greatest unknown in that was Coopertown not knowing whether Coopertown was going to grow on a large scale or whether they weren't going to grow on a large scale. Um after that ordinance was passed shortly after that discussions began um Mayor Pool and I have had discussions with the mayor of Coopertown. he on behalf of his city have has requested or had shown a desire to to work out an arrangement so that they can find an alternative solution to this. Right. And so what they have brought in a group that is interested in acquiring that territory from the city and we are far enough along in those discussions at this point. They've submitted a

preliminary boundary of what that might look like which encompasses the limits of Coopertown plus some ancillary areas outside of that boundary based on the hydraulic and engineering needs to service the rest of the area. Our engineers, Mr. Beers before he retired had looked at that. Mr. Brewers looked at that map. I've looked at that map and we all uh agree that that is um an acceptable territory. So, we are waiting on them to maybe formalize an offer. But because of that and because of the needs of of other things that are ongoing in Coopertown with uh folks that are requesting and and trying to get clear on what their future plans might be, we're comfortable enough at this point to come to the board and discuss with Miss Barti to ask you all to put a stay uh if you will hit the brakes on the enforcement of the deadline of that original October 2024 ordinance of May May 2026 is or yeah is when that's supposed to come into play. So, uh, if you all affirmatively vote for that tonight, uh, what we would do that would authorize us to bring you back a legislative document that was done by ordinance. So, we would need to, uh, either stay it by resolution or or do something with by ordinance legally, to make that effective, but we would ask for some affirmative vote from you all tonight. If you're willing to pursue that, uh, we would bring something back to you in January that would be the official legislative action for that.

What would be the time limit? uh as long as negotiations were ongoing. I

I think I think so because I think possibly by the time we come back in January, we may have something firm uh to consider from from the group that is considering the Coopertown territory that's working with the mayor of Copertown working with us on that. So I would say as long as those negotiations are continuing u in in good faith, there's no reason for us to continue with the enforcement go ordinance. Let me add on to that. Why would why would we look to that? because the unknown was Coopertown, right? The the rural areas of the county who are kind of caught kind of caught in the middle here. Um there was never going to be enough or we don't in intend or see that there's going to be enough growth largescale growth in the county in the rural areas of the county that would impact that water capacity 20 years from now. Right? It was always Coopertown who we didn't with larger subdivisions and and and higher density developments that created that question of what does capacity look like in 20 years. Any questions?

Yeah. So, we're voting to extend the timeline for for them to come to the table and say we're going to buy purchase this from the city. Is that what we're doing? Is that is that what we're voting on right now? Well, the what we'd ask you to vote on is to vote on a authorizing us to bring you back a legislative action document next month that just hits the brakes, just applies the brakes on the enforcement of the May 2026 deadline while we're in negotiations with uh with the company. So Coopertown was the main objective for this piece of legislation, but would the other areas in the county that would affect seems I've had a couple of calls that it seems very scary that we're going to stop all growth out. I've had a couple calls about that. Yeah.

Does that So that's what that if we vote If we vote no, then that is what we're voting to stop that growth. I mean, I want to make sure I'm voting on what I think I'm voting on. Yes. A yes vote would say we're going to give you we're going to extend the time to get this together. That's right. Okay. That's right. Are we actually voting on that tonight or we just instructing to bring something forward? I I think it it would be helpful if we if if we had a vote uh Mr. Harris to um to to know because this is a this is a major issue. We have slightly different board composition today than when this ordinance was originally passed. And so I would request a vote from this body one way or the other uh to authorize us to bring something back next month. So if we vote yes, we're authorizing you to do so. That's correct.

Okay. Mr. What what type of line do we have running to Cooper? What size water? Presently along 257 we have an 8 in, but we have recently obtained grant money from uh through the the state and through the county to upgrade that line to a 12 in. We have a 6 in that provides water from 40 through 41 and a pump station there that's just in front of Glover Hills. And so those are presently the only two ways that we feed that system. Okay.

That's what I want to be sure of though. Any other questions or comments? Mayor, if you don't mind, before before the the board votes, I would just like to get an sort of a affirmative nod from Miss Barti that that we are and we everything's squared away with with what we're proposing to do tonight. Okay. The only thing the board is doing tonight is authorizing us to bring back legislation. Yeah. Thank you. Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero. Moving on to our consent agenda.

Mayor, without objection, move to take his one. Second. We need a second for Mr. Troder. We'll have a motion by Alman Cro and a second by Alman Hub. Well, any questions, comments? All right. It doesn't matter. I made it. We got We got two seconds then. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Could you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero. Thank you. At this time, city manager Ryan Martin has his report.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh, first I want to recognize in the back of the room, Miss Katherine Stewart. If you will, if you would would mind standing up and showing everybody. She is our new public affairs coordinator. She started with us within the last couple of weeks and she's off to a great start and u and I think she will will do well. She's many of you might know her formerly with United Way and uh here locally and so we're pleased to have her on staff here at the city of Springfield. I also want to apologize that it's cold in here. We have yet another heat issue in the building as most of you know that have been around. It's this building is uh it's it's it's tough and so we have a heat exchanger that has gone out. So, I apologize for that. Uh, when you walked in tonight, you had your you had training forms before you that Miss Bickls had provided. We're required by state law to have those u each each elected official is required to fill one of those out and she's assisted with part of that. So, if you have any questions about those required forms or the hours that go into that, let me the training hours that go into that, let me know. Um, coming next month, I want to kind of give you a heads up. We're going to uh Miss Bradley brought up a point and part of this water issue. There were unintended consequences that that kind of came out of this water ordinance. You had we had situations in the rural parts of the county where folks said, "Hey, we've we've subdivided, you know, grandfather so and so subdivided land and wanted the kids to have each have five acres in build, right? And now they're not going to be able to do that because after May of 2026, you're not going to give them a water tab." And that's true, right? and and that's an unintended consequence of what u of the ordinance and so that's one of the reasons why uh if we can work something out on this Coopertown situation then then we can maybe free that up for those folks and I think that's probably the calls that you've been getting. Another issue that has arisen is folks that bought taps 30 years ago. We have 20 folks that are um showing up with taps that they purchased

20 or 30 years ago before um any of us were involved in in um in providing city services and uh they want their water service. And the issue in some of those areas is that those lines cannot the the other customers on the line would lose pressure and and we wouldn't be able to adequately provide service along the line because it's pretty much tapped out. So their position is well I bought the tap I want the service and our position is that the service is subject to availability right and so we'll refund your money for the tap. Um I think in those areas where that applies we do have some isolated solutions that we're going to work out it looks like that we can maybe get worked out for those customers next spring and resolve that issue. However the overarching issue of people buying taps and sitting on them for 20 to 30 years is something we've got to tackle. Okay. Um, so we intend to bring back a recommendation to you all next month that formalizes a policy that provides a deadline for which those taps need to be installed or scheduled to be installed or else we refund their money because that's a I understand where these folks were. They believe that buying that tap guaranteed them service at some undetermined indefinite date in the future, right? I understand their position. We also understand that the water service is first come first serve, right? And so on those lines and so we we need to do something that that better resolves that and allows that to um puts the city and the customer both in a better a better position. U some unfortunate news to pass along. Our sales tax this month uh did fall quite a bit below budget due to a statemandated refund. Uh there was a large uh sales taxpayer in the city limits that had requested a had recognized an overpayment and requested a refund. So our numbers for uh December don't look that great, but all in all for year to date, we're still looking we're still one one to two% ahead of budget. So we took a pretty good hit this month with that um with that

particular refund that the state had to issue when they investigated it and found that the overpayment was valid. Mr. Hover mentioned Winter Wonderland. It's open through December 28th. U this is pretty incredible. We've already had over 17,000 visitors to Winter Wonderland,

right? We've usually had around 20,000 for the u for the period of of opening and we've already hit 17,000 based on our our counts and uh that's uh there's a lot of people from a lot of areas. I was there Saturday night. Um u you'll be pleased to know that I did discover that Mr. Martin does in fact actually work and so he was directing traffic into a parking lot and uh he was out there working hard and uh but his his folks and the other departments involved but particularly the parks and recreation department have done a phenomenal job with Winter Wonderland. I know most of you have been out there. Uh but that's a great thing for not only our community but the surrounding communities that are that are converging on on Springfield and um visiting that. Our Christmas parade was uh was Saturday and we had around 5,000 or so visitors to the Christmas parade. So that was another big a big hit for for the city. Want to remind you all about Thursday morning. Our um annual employee breakfast appreciation breakfast and the service award ceremony is this Thursday morning at the center. As a result of that, our city offices will open at 9:00 a.m. uh that day. and we appreciate you all allowing uh and and um and sort of blessing us opening the city offices a little late so we can celebrate our employees. It's the only time of the year we get to do that. So, thank you all very much.

I would just like to uh acknowledge the Springfield High School football team. Uh this particular team is loaded with with a lot of D1 players, very good players. And so we just want to give a shout out to them and especially the coaching staff because they've established that Springfield is recognized as a very solid solid football program in the state of Tennessee. So we want to give him their kudos. Okay. He's tough. He's well disciplined and the guys fall in line. That's what I like about him. Anyone else?

So, in in our in my award to acknowledge South Haven and their football team and their I believe the volleyball team also that have won some awards and this this body is going to be honoring them in the months to come. We're trying to get the schedules worked out where they can be here for us to to properly acknowledge them, but to give them congratulations for what they've done. Anyone else? shop local. That's right. We are ajourned and merry Christmas everyone. Merry Christmas, man. Good morning.