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PLEASE CONSIDER ATTENDING
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- The following meetings will be held at the Williamson County Admin Building, located at
1320 West Main, Franklin, TN
- June 17, 2024 @ 5:30pm – JJJ Project – Jail, Judicial and Juvenile – Executive Conference Room
- This project is currently estimated at $325 million
- There are several concerns regarding the current plan that need to be addressed including:
- Building on top of a rock quarry
- Not vetting additional cost saving options including using commercial
- Ensuring we are building what we need, not what we want
- June 20, 2024 @ 7:00pm – Adoption of 24-25 Budget – Main Auditorium
- Good news!! The $10 million dollar gap between the proposed and recommended school budget has been addressed by school admin through several cost saving metrics.
- Currently, no property tax increase is needed to make our budget for this next fiscal year.
If you are unable to attend in person, you can always view virtually by going to the WC-TV website.
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REMINDER: The public is now invited to give input at any County Committee Meeting. Click here to see the full list of Committees and when the meet. You can find the most up to date public notices including County Commission, Planning Committee and Election Committee meetings here.
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MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISH
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This past Monday night's commission meeting was certainly memorable. It began with the unexpected resignation of District 10 Commissioner David Landrum, who recently relocated from the district. Additionally, there were several proclamations, including recognition for the Page High Boys and Girls Lacrosse Teams for their state championship victories.
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Regarding the agenda items, the meeting focused heavily on two major issues: the renewal of Williamson Inc's contract and the acceptance of the County Growth Plan. Both topics sparked debates lasting over an hour each.
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The contract renewal for Williamson Inc was particularly contentious. Initially, a motion to defer by Commissioner Hayes failed 8 to 14. Subsequently, an amendment introduced by Commissioner Lawrence, which proposed additional accountability and transparency measures, initially failed with a vote of 12 to 10. However, due to Commissioner Landrum's departure, the majority shifted, causing the amendment to be called as a failure by the county attorney and the chair. Further discussions on handling this situation are forthcoming.
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Despite these challenges, it was evident that our relationship with Williamson Inc would continue. While I am frustrated by the lack of accountability and repeated contract breaches over the past 6 years, the Commission's focus remains on future improvements. Addressing accountability remains a separate ongoing effort that requires attention.
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With imminent approval pending, I emphasized the importance of Williamson Inc collaborating with the county on metrics aligned with our conservative values: maintaining low debt, low property taxes, and promoting stable growth to secure revenue for essential services. It is crucial that any partnership with Williamson Inc benefits all stakeholders, not just corporate interests. My vote to support another year of the contract came only after receiving assurances from Williamson Inc that they will strive to be better partners for the county and its residents. Ultimately, the contract renewal passed with a 19 to 3 majority, with Commissioners Sturgeon, Richards, and Hayes opposing.
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Moving forward, the next steps include organizing a work session between Williamson Inc and the Board of Commissioners to establish clear objectives, funding mechanisms, and accountability metrics.
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Here are a few of the articles containing additional information:
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The vote on the County Growth Plan sparked intense debate. The Coordinating Committee has diligently worked on this plan for nearly 3 years. The primary contention centered around the Urban Growth Boundaries (UGB) for Thompsons Station and Spring Hill. While most property owners requesting removal from the UGB were successful, some were not. Although I'm disappointed not all requests were granted, securing an interlocal agreement to halt annexation outside the UGB was a significant achievement. I remain committed to advocating for property owners' rights and preserving their way of life. This issue is ongoing, and I will continue to provide updates. The final vote on the plan was 14 to 8 in favor, with Commissioners Sturgeon, Hayes, Herbert, Hester, Aiello, S. Smith, Richards, and Jones voting against.
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If you have any further questions regarding my stance on either of these major issues, please do not hesitate to contact me. I strongly suggest you watch the meeting to hear the full debate.
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As Always...Yours in Service,
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