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Message from the Commish...
This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending the Williamson County Republican Party's Reagan Day Gala. It has been an exciting year for local, state, and federal elections, and it was a wonderful evening to celebrate those successes. I am especially grateful for the dedication and hard work of our local GOP. As the two-year term of the current board is coming to an end, there will be a convention on March 4th to elect the next Williamson County Republican Board.
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While I always encourage everyone to conduct their own research, I deeply appreciate the current board's efforts to address local issues and uphold the Republican platform through their active civic engagement and fundraising events. One of the highlights of the past year was volunteering at the convention for the District 10 County Commissioner seat vacancy. It was truly inspiring to see so many members of local GOP come together and have their voices heard at such a pivotal event. I will ALWAYS stand in support of the democratic process and the right for the people to choose their representatives. If it wasn't for this current board, the great people in District 10 would have lost this opportunity. It is this example of commitment to the party members that has me excited to see most of the current board running for re-election. You can learn more about this full slate of candidates by visiting the Elevate 2025 website.
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I also want to thank the community for its feedback on local development projects in Triune and College Grove. Although these plans are still in early stages, it’s never too soon to get involved. Reach out if you have questions about future development in the area.
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Finally, the state legislature’s General Session is well underway. There are several bills I’m closely following but one in particular has the potential to address some of the concerns unincorporated residents have raised regarding municipal development. Please consider supporting HB0365 (Fritts)/SB1404 (Hensley). For more bills I'm tracking, see below.
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As always, thank you for your support, encouragement and opportunity to serve as your District 5 County Commissioner.
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Presidents Day began in 1885 as "Washington's Birthday" to honor George Washington. In 1971, it was moved to the third Monday in February. While the federal government still officially calls it "Washington's Birthday," popular usage and retail marketing transformed it into "Presidents Day," typically honoring all presidents, particularly Washington and Lincoln.
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County Financial Snapshot
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County Business for February 2025
The recent County Commission meeting was notably shorter, with only 15 resolutions on the agenda. One of the key resolutions (2-25-2) involved approving a study on the county's ability to collect the Adequate Facility Tax for commercial development in both unincorporated and municipal areas. The goal of this study is to determine whether this one-time fee could help boost revenue for capital projects and assist in reducing our debt service. I proposed an amendment to the resolution to ensure the study's scope includes the same time frame as the start of the Educational Impact Fee (May 2017). Additionally, I recommended a completion deadline of September 2025 to allow us to assess this revenue alongside other capital funding evaluations. The amendment PASSED 20 to 3, with the three dissenting votes coming from Commissioners Herbert, Hester and Webb. The final resolution passed by a vote of 19 to 4 with Commissioners Herbert, Hester, Webb and Graves voting no.
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Planning Commission Updates
While there was a public hearing on the Triune Development, the Planning Commission deferred any decisions on moving forward with the development until their next meeting scheduled for March 20th, 2025 at 5:30pm
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The yearlong process to develop the Arrington Special Area Plan reached a milestone on February 3rd as residents gathered to review the final draft. The plan, which began with community meetings in early 2024, represents months of collaboration between Williamson County planning staff and local citizens to guide future development in the area. Arrington Special Area Plan comes full circle | Local News | williamsonherald.com
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March 4, 2025 @ Liberty Hall, The Factory at Franklin
If you are a Bonafide Republican (having voted in 3 of the last 4 state primaries), you are invited to participate.
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Join me at the Annual Art from the Heart Silent Auction this coming Saturday. There are many charitable organizations to choose from but this is one that absolutely makes a difference.
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The next County Commission meeting:
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If you like what you see, please be sure to share with your friends. The more we educate ourselves, the more we can become active participates in our amazing community. You can subscribe here. Also, if you are interested in supporting my efforts to preserve and protect Conservative values in Williamson County, please consider making a donation.
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General Session - Bills to Follow
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While there are over 1400 bills that get filed each year, there are always some that stand out more than others. This year is no exception. While this is not all of the bills I will be watching, these are some of the most notable. If there are other bills you feel are important to support, please let me know and I will add to my list.
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Municipal Government - As introduced, expands the criteria for real property that is eligible for the property owner to petition a municipality to deannex. - Amends TCA Section 6-51-201.
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Taxes, Real Property - As introduced, requires half the revenue collected from recordation taxes be returned to the county in which the real property is located on a recurring basis; applies to transfers of real property on or after July 1, 2025. - Amends TCA Section 67-4-409.
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This could mean more revenue for capital projects
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Open Meetings - As introduced, requires a governing body subject to the open meetings laws to reserve a period of public comment to provide the public with the opportunity to comment on any matter germane to the jurisdiction of the governing body, regardless of whether the matter is listed on the agenda for the meeting. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 44.
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