[0:02] We'll call to order the August 4th meeting of the Morristown City Council and

[0:07] welcome those of you who are here with us today.

[0:10] We will begin as we traditionally do with our invocation followed by the Pledge of

[0:16] Allegiance to our flag,

[0:18] and our invocation today will be led by Morristown Police Department Master

[0:23] Morristown Police Department Master Chaplain

[0:23] Mark Campbell. Good afternoon.

[0:25] Let's pray together. Father, I thank you for this day.

[0:28] I thank you for the opportunity we have to live in this country.

[0:32] And Lord, we, we're grateful for the freedoms that we have here.

[0:35] And we pray that the business conducted here tonight would benefit our city.

[0:39] We thank you so much for those that lead and for those that serve and those that

[0:44] protect. And we pray that you would watch over those on duty tonight.

[0:47] We pray for the mayor and the council and ask, Lord,

[0:50] that all of the things that happen here would benefit the citizens protect,

[0:54] protect our country.

[0:55] We pray for those men and women that are protecting us tonight in war,

[0:59] and we pray that you would watch over them and bring them back to us safely.

[1:03] We pray in your name. Amen.

[1:04] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[1:12] United States of America and to the

[1:19] Republic for which it stands,

[1:25] one nation under God, indivisible,

[1:31] with liberty and justice for all.

[1:38] Thank you, Mark. Now, uh,

[1:43] council members, let's check in.

[1:49] And as you can see, all are here

[1:55] officially, and we have an agenda before

[2:03] us. Is there a motion that the agenda be

[2:11] adopted?

[2:13] So moved.

[2:14] Motion, A.

[2:14] A'Hearn.

[2:14] Do we have a second?

[2:15] Second.

[2:15] We have a second. Any comments, corrections? Let's vote.

[2:21] And we have an adopted agenda.

[2:24] I'm going to ask Deputy Chief Michelle Jones, would you join me at the front,

[2:31] please? No, we didn't pass out recognition.

[2:36] Those members proud, and those that know, uh, Michelle Jones,

[2:42] who has been our deputy chief here for 20 years.

[2:46] Some folks don't want to tell, have they?

[2:50] Uh, of course, our police department has been very active with the Tennessee

[2:58] Association of Chiefs of Police.

[3:01] And Chief Barbara Holt and Deputy Chief Johnson have both been active in that

[3:08] group. And for her work this past year, the, uh,

[3:13] the TACP is a longstanding organization, and this is their 56th year,

[3:20] and they always recognize excellence.

[3:24] And Michelle this year received some new recognition for her service as chair of

[3:31] the TACP Professional Standards Committee.

[3:35] She's helped guide different agencies across the state through that organization

[3:43] with the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.

[3:49] She's helped police departments strengthen accountability, professionalism,

[3:56] and public confidence.

[3:58] And for that leadership and that mentorship and that work that she's done,

[4:06] this year she was presented with the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police

[4:13] The President's Award, and we, uh,

[4:17] congratulate you for that and thank you for your service, all 14 years.

[4:23] George, would you join me?

[4:26] I doubt there's anyone in the room who doesn't know George.

[4:32] There's some new faces in here. Well, I've heard it asked for years.

[4:38] We've done some work on this. And this is a special moment.

[4:44] George has served for many years on the Utility Commission.

[4:50] In fact, for, uh, if I do my math right, about 49 years, right?

[4:56] That's right.

[4:57] On our utility board.

[4:59] This is kind of a legacy moment from the '50s and '60s on through.

[5:04] This is a generational change here of many things that have happened in Morristown

[5:11] through the years that it had some MacGuffin fingerprints on.

[5:16] Your mom and dad, both prominent members of the Lawrence County community.

[5:22] You're sort of the middle generation because now your sons are coming through,

[5:28] and Frank and Patrick and Michael are all part of it.

[5:32] But your role in leading our utility commission, that's an important operation,

[5:38] and George's leadership has been well felt. He's He's mentored others.

[5:44] He's helped me when we had issues and challenges.

[5:48] George is good at taking on challenges,

[5:51] and I've appreciated his leadership helping me.

[5:55] So George, I want to present this to you.

[5:58] I have probably not thrown enough deserved praise,

[6:02] but thank you for your work and your service.

[6:06] Thank you.

[6:17] Let me just say something, Danny.

[6:20] Your mentor, John Johnson, was mayor,

[6:24] and he's the one who first appointed me to the commission in 1977,

[6:31] 49 years ago.

[6:32] That's right.

[6:35] It's been a real pleasure for me.

[6:38] When we go to meetings and conventions and people come up and say,

[6:44] you're from Morristown, Tennessee,

[6:47] we'd like to know how you all got in the cable business or the internet

[6:54] business.

[6:56] We'd like to be able to do that.

[6:57] Well, I think So Morristown's always been one of the premier, if not the premier,

[7:03] association for communities our size.

[7:06] And it's been my distinct pleasure to have been a part of that for half a century.

[7:12] Yeah.

[7:32] Okay, Council, we'll— as we move into, uh, citizen comments, uh, about agenda items,

[7:38] if you would like to address an item that's on our agenda today,

[7:42] if you come to the podium, introduce yourself by name and address,

[7:47] please identify the item about which you're speaking.

[7:51] You'll have 3 minutes to address the council.

[7:54] Seeing no one come forward, we will close this portion of the citizen comments.

[7:59] There will be another opportunity at the end of the council meeting.

[8:04] Council, we have a minutes to approve from the July 21st meeting.

[8:08] Is there a motion they be approved as written?

[8:12] So moved.

[8:12] Motion, A'Hearn. Do we have a second?

[8:14] Second.

[8:15] We do have a second. Any corrections? Hearing none, let's vote.

[8:21] And the minutes are approved. We move into our old business.

[8:27] We had a, uh, public, uh,

[8:30] hearing scheduled today on the ordinance of a text amendment,

[8:36] Title 14, the zoning and land use control.

[8:40] Steve?

[8:41] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Would you like to introduce that?

[8:44] Yes, as we mentioned at the workshop, this is an amendment to the RD-2 district.

[8:50] The intent is to make it a single-family district.

[8:54] We amended the lot size to 7,500 square feet,

[8:58] and we amended the uses to those that are similar in other single-family districts.

[9:05] So the, the whole purpose of this was to try to alleviate some concerns with the

[9:11] try to alleviate some concerns with the R-2

[9:11] district that was given,

[9:13] in that if we had a request for rezoning to R-2 or an annexation for R-2,

[9:19] there was no guarantee that it would remain as a single-family use.

[9:24] And so this was an attempt to address those concerns,

[9:29] and we expect we'll see a lot of use of it in the future.

[9:33] As this is a public hearing,

[9:35] we've We'll open the floor if anyone wishes to address this matter,

[9:40] has comments about it. The floor is open.

[9:43] Seeing no one come forward,

[9:45] we'll close the public hearing portion and entertain a motion that this item be

[9:51] adopted.

[9:51] So moved.

[9:52] Motion, Pedigo. Do we have a second?

[9:54] Second.

[9:55] We have a second. Any comments from the council?

[10:00] Hearing none, let's vote. And that motion is approved.

[10:06] Next, we go to a second and final reading on an ordinance on a budget

[10:14] amendment concerning the e-citations.

[10:18] As mayor and council, you'll recall that despite being in the budget books,

[10:22] the e-citation fund was not identified in the final budget ordinance.

[10:26] So this amendment simply Recognizes it again.

[10:29] Um, going forward, we are exploring some methods of accounting for the e-citations

[10:33] differently, especially now that the—

[10:35] each year the funds use will get less and less,

[10:37] but we'd recommend approval of this amendment.

[10:40] Is there a motion to accept that recommendation?

[10:41] Move for approval.

[10:43] Motion, Kay Senter. Do we have a second?

[10:45] Second.

[10:46] We do have a second.

[10:48] Questions or comments from the council?

[10:52] Hearing none, let's vote. And that motion carries.

[10:58] And we have an ordinance, uh, before us,

[11:02] this to repeal an ordinance, uh, previously, uh, passed,

[11:08] ordinance number 4838.

[11:11] Uh, yes, you'll recall from the last meeting, uh,

[11:13] this was the May 2026 item related to Central Church Road that staff recommends

[11:17] repealing as an ordinance. We recommend repealing it as an ordinance.

[11:20] So this is the second and final reading. We recommend approval.

[11:23] Is there a motion to accept that recommendation?

[11:26] So moved.

[11:26] Motion, Pedigo. Do we have a second?

[11:29] Second.

[11:30] We do have a second. Questions or comments from the council?

[11:35] Hearing none, let's vote. And that motion carries.

[11:39] We roll into new business. We have an introduction.

[11:44] On the first reading of the ordinance, which is a budget amendment.

[11:50] This is carrying forward some purchase orders.

[11:54] Uh, yes.

[11:56] Following the change of our budget— budgeting method, uh, ahead of last fiscal

[11:59] budgeting method, uh, ahead of last fiscal year,

[12:00] it will now be necessary to amend the budget early each fiscal year to recognize

[12:03] budget early each fiscal year to recognize and

[12:04] carry forward all the purchase orders that were still open at the end of the prior

[12:07] year. These are for purchases and projects that were still underway as of, uh,

[12:11] June 30th. We'd recommend approval.

[12:14] Is there a motion to accept this recommendation?

[12:15] So moved.

[12:19] Motion, A'Hearn. Do we have a second?

[12:20] Second.

[12:22] We do have a second. Any questions or comments from the council?

[12:29] Hearing none, let's vote. And that motion carries.

[12:35] The awarding of bids and contracts first is with the police department,

[12:43] a multi-factor authentication.

[12:46] The police department relies on the TBI for access to the NCIC database.

[12:51] TBI is requiring multi-factor authentication on the police department

[12:55] authentication on the police department user side for

[12:55] heightened cybersecurity protection of sensitive information.

[12:59] This vendor provides a solution that will comply with TBI's requirements and ensure

[13:04] that the police department maintain secure, uninterrupted access,

[13:08] that we'd recommend approval.

[13:10] Is there a motion to accept this recommendation?

[13:12] So moved.

[13:14] Motion, Bivens?

[13:15] Second.

[13:16] We do have a second.

[13:19] Any questions or comments?

[13:24] Hearing none, let's vote.

[13:28] And that motion carries.

[13:32] Next, uh, tasers.

[13:35] Yes, tasers and the battery packs for those tasers are regularly budgeted items.

[13:39] This was a sole source purchase for which we are requesting council

[13:43] acknowledgment.

[13:44] Is there a motion to accept this proposal?

[13:47] So moved.

[13:49] Motion, Kay Senter. Do we have a second?

[13:51] Second.

[13:52] We do have a second. Any questions or comments from the council?

[13:58] Hearing none, let's vote. And this motion carries.

[14:03] And we, uh, another purchase item, side loader garbage trucks.

[14:08] We know what those are. Yes.

[14:11] Uh, this is for one 31-yard truck and one 20-yard truck,

[14:14] which were included in the budget plans for this year.

[14:17] However, even under the SourceWell contract, quotes exceed, uh,

[14:21] our budgeted amount by $46,900.

[14:22] Funds have been identified to cover the overage through a line item transfer,

[14:26] and I would recommend that we proceed with the purchase.

[14:29] And then as the fiscal year progresses,

[14:32] we'll determine whether or not a budget amendment is warranted or not.

[14:35] We recommend approval.

[14:37] Is there a motion to accept this recommendation?

[14:39] So moved.

[14:40] Motion, A'Hearn. Do we have a second?

[14:43] Second.

[14:43] We do have a second. Any questions or comments from the council?

[14:46] Andrew, would you, uh, mind telling, uh,

[14:49] the public The difference in those sizes and why?

[14:52] Uh, the 31-yard is, is what you see out on the street currently that we've used for

[14:57] several years. The 20-yard truck is a smaller truck that will allow for better

[15:01] access into some alleyways and smaller areas that the 31-yard truck can't get to.

[15:06] Thank you.

[15:07] Any others? We ready to vote?

[15:12] Let's vote. The motion carries.

[15:18] The 2026 CDBG Annual Action Plan is

[15:25] before us.

[15:27] Uh, this action plan is a component of the 5-year consolidated plan, uh,

[15:32] and the funding is similar to, uh, prior year allocations.

[15:36] We were awarded $336,465 this year, uh, and this This is 100% federal funding.

[15:42] We'd recommend approval.

[15:43] Is there a motion to accept the recommendation?

[15:45] So moved.

[15:47] Motion, Bivens. Do we have a second?

[15:49] Second.

[15:51] We do have a second. Any questions or comments from the council?

[15:57] Hearing none, let's vote. And that motion carries. We have one appointment.

[16:03] This is a council appointment to the Airport Commission.

[16:08] The term that is expiring is Paul LaBelle's.

[16:12] Paul came on to— he's completing serving an unexpired term,

[16:17] and he has indicated he would,

[16:19] he would be willing to serve the full term if the council so chooses.

[16:25] So is there a nomination?

[16:27] Mayor, I would like to nominate Paul LaBelle.

[16:31] We have a motion for Paul LaBelle. Is there a second?

[16:34] Second.

[16:34] We do have a second. Are there any other nominations?

[16:39] Hearing none, let's vote.

[16:42] And Paul Laville is approved,

[16:45] and he'll serve on the Regional Airport Commission until—

[16:50] it's a 6-year term. And we thank Paul for his willingness to serve

[16:57] that. Andrew, we come to your report.

[17:01] Just a handful of items here.

[17:03] August 7th, uh, this Friday,

[17:05] will be the Chamber's First Friday concert series and night market at the farmers

[17:09] market in downtown Greene.

[17:11] Then August 10th, Monday,

[17:12] is our open house for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

[17:16] That's at 6 PM at Talley Ward. Um, definitely need to come out to that.

[17:20] The, uh, I guess the details from that the consultants have gathered from public

[17:25] input up to this point.

[17:26] We've got some draft recommendations,

[17:28] but this is still an opportunity for the public to comment further.

[17:32] When is that again?

[17:33] 6 PM Monday the 10th. Uh, next week we will also start in our FY27 paving

[17:38] will also start in our FY27 paving schedule.

[17:38] There's about 9.5 miles scheduled for paving this year.

[17:41] We'll get those notices out to, uh,

[17:44] to the neighborhoods as the contractor is working.

[17:47] Eastmore Boulevard is 100% complete now.

[17:49] Of course, I've mentioned to the council there's still one change order, uh,

[17:54] to come. We're still waiting for the paperwork on that,

[17:57] but that project itself is wrapped up.

[18:00] We also opened bids today on the Martin Luther King-Jarnigan-Lincoln project.

[18:04] Those bids are under review,

[18:06] and I expect that we'll have a recommendation at the next council meeting

[18:10] recommendation at the next council meeting to be able

[18:11] to move forward with that.

[18:13] And then following today's Finance Committee meeting,

[18:16] we'll plan to bring a series of those,

[18:18] those financial policies to the council on August 20th as well.

[18:22] And then last year we had some garden planters placed at the upper parking lot

[18:27] planters placed at the upper parking lot of

[18:27] Fulton— not Fulton Hill Park, sorry, Frank Marino Park, after we repaved that.

[18:32] It just looked like a big wide-open sea of asphalt,

[18:35] and we just decided it would be nice to break it up with some planters at the ends

[18:40] of the parking aisles.

[18:41] That's true.

[18:42] And I had no idea they would end up looking this good.

[18:45] Um, but kudos to Mike Cupp and his, uh, the horticulture crew.

[18:48] Uh, they look fantastic.

[18:49] I mean, they look like a repeat of the hanging baskets downtown almost.

[18:52] But, um, if you haven't been down there and driven through, they look really,

[18:56] really nice. So, uh, great job to Mike and his crew. That's my report.

[19:00] Thank you, Andrew. We come to comments from citizens and council members.

[19:05] We'll let citizens go first if there's anyone who wishes to address the council

[19:10] about any particular topic. The floor is now open. You have 3 minutes.

[19:15] Introduce yourself to us.

[19:17] Linda Noe, 2343 Joe Stevens Road.

[19:20] I would like to thank you for the vote tonight on second and final reading

[19:27] to repeal Ordinance 4838,

[19:30] which was the ordinance that originally Annexed 1/3 of an acre on Central

[19:37] Church Road, which we found out would be for a road,

[19:42] an expansion of a mobile home park, would,

[19:46] would create more traffic and safety concerns as well.

[19:52] I know it was a hard decision.

[19:55] You know, we had the ordinance that passed Well, not, not unanimously.

[20:02] There were some of you who stuck by the citizens and refused on the initial

[20:09] annexation, and then we are thankful that everyone else came forward with

[20:16] this repeal. I just want to let you know we appreciate it,

[20:22] and the people on Central Church as well as near Central Church appreciate

[20:29] it too.

[20:30] Thank you.

[20:31] Thank you.

[20:31] Who's next?

[20:38] East First North Street, Morristown, Tennessee. Lu Chen.

[20:44] Basically, I just want to repeat what I have already said at the

[20:52] pre-workshop, but the core of the item— I mean,

[20:58] the theme that I was talking about is that how can—

[21:04] maybe we should, maybe that's already there, I do not know—

[21:11] how do the highest level, well, sort of in our administration,

[21:19] which is the council, if something—

[21:23] if some citizen or within The board sends something that needs to

[21:31] correct or take it and let everyone else focus. How do we do that?

[21:39] We need to do that. That is too many of the situations that law,

[21:46] regulation, and custom does not cover.

[21:51] And we should find a way that it encouraged the conversation going

[21:59] on. I had mentioned a long time ago,

[22:03] between the pre-workshop and the regular meeting,

[22:09] so often That is half an hour or so of the gap.

[22:15] Maybe we should use it much more effectively.

[22:20] The room to carry on the 2 meetings already allocated.

[22:27] The personnel has already been paid.

[22:31] Maybe we should use it as a chance to encourage the citizens to

[22:39] exercise to the involvement in a way that's not too formal.

[22:46] 3 minutes. Maybe we should have a kind of like a borrowed Chatham

[22:54] House Rules style of the conversation that encouraged openness,

[23:01] but at the same time,

[23:04] no one will review whatever talk within the meeting.

[23:10] All the citizens can join and talk to the council member,

[23:17] but whoever joined has to promise the self-restriction—

[23:25] restraint—

[23:26] that would not reveal the details,

[23:29] point out the personnel's opinion during the conversation.

[23:34] I think that is the gateway method to get more citizens feel

[23:40] comfortable and get involved for a long time.

[23:44] Thank you, sir.

[23:44] Thank you, Mr. Chesney.

[23:45] Your time has expired. Uh, is there anyone else who wishes to address the council?

[23:51] Seeing no one come forward,

[23:53] we'll close the citizen comment portion of the meeting and go to comments from mayor

[24:00] and council members, minor comments.

[24:03] A council reminder, we have a beer board following this,

[24:07] and And then a brief workshop following the Beer Board Committee.

[24:12] I had the opportunity to visit the Marine Corps Museum this summer in Triangle,

[24:18] Virginia, just outside of Quantico,

[24:21] and I highly recommend that if you get up that way that you go and visit that

[24:27] museum. It's quite impressive.

[24:30] and educational, especially for young adults and anyone else.

[24:35] Thank you.

[24:36] Mayor, I just want to remind individuals that Saturday's a busy day in Morristown,

[24:41] starting off with the Boys Club Super Auction starting at 10 o'clock,

[24:46] and then you can move to Fulton Hill for the Juneteenth, 2 to 7,

[24:50] and the Tams are playing,

[24:52] and Joe said they're not ready him yet is what I believe you said last meeting.

[24:57] No, they're not ready for me and my base to come up there.

[25:03] You don't want to show them up?

[25:05] No.

[25:05] And then the Senior Center bingo that evening at The Landing.

[25:09] I'd also like to point out that the CVS on the west side of town on West AJ—

[25:14] I mentioned this at the 4 o'clock—

[25:16] they have taken the winner of the state The student art, and that has been

[25:21] The student art, and that has been wrapped.

[25:22] That picture of their art has been taken, it's been wrapped.

[25:26] I think it's just a phenomenal way to display our student art,

[25:30] and that is called the Sunset Serenade by Bailey Bartley.

[25:34] So I think, Rachel, I don't know, I think you and Cindy worked on that,

[25:39] and maybe some other people too. It was a team effort.

[25:42] I would like to see you do that with more things around town.

[25:47] Okay.

[25:47] Very, very, very good. And have we— do we— I feel like I'm under the sunshine.

[25:52] Have we put in new lights up here? This one, somebody cleaned it.

[25:56] I don't know what it is. It's really bright right here.

[25:59] Cataract surgery.

[26:00] That was the cataracts, right? That's what it is, the cataract surgery.

[26:03] Well, it's really bright up here. Thank you.

[26:04] I would like to take an opportunity to remind everybody that we

[26:10] probably get as many phone calls as council So on Parks and Rec,

[26:15] as we do anything, and they're having that meeting Monday night at

[26:21] Talley Ward at—

[26:22] 6.

[26:23] 6 o'clock. That should be one of the most—

[26:25] the largest attendance that we have in anything,

[26:29] because people are always saying this is what we need.

[26:32] You're going to have an opportunity to listen to what the people have to say.

[26:37] about that, and I would encourage everybody to show up at that.

[26:41] We, we've got flyers. Where— how— where are we distributing those flyers?

[26:48] There are some at parks.

[26:50] There's, there's on our social media.

[26:54] Um, yeah, newspapers. It's been on the radio.

[26:58] It was a good article in the newspaper. Yes, I agree.

[27:02] All right, anything else? There's no, no other items to to come before the council.

[27:07] I will entertain a motion we stand adjourned.

[27:10] So moved.

[27:11] We're adjourned.

Regular Meeting

Transcript