At its regular session Dec. 2, 2024, the Dickson City Council:
• Unanimously approved the minutes of the Nov. 4, 2024, City Council meeting 7-0 with Councilperson Michael Outlaw (4th Ward) absent;
• Conducted a public hearing and unanimously approved on first reading Ordinance #1561 to expand the Downtown Parking Zone in which off-street parking is not required. Planning and Zoning Director Jason Pilkinton said with the addition of public parking in the downtown area the Planning Commission recommended expanding the area. Nobody else spoke at the public hearing. The ordinance faces a second vote Jan. 6, 2025;
• Conducted a public hearing and unanimously approved on first reading Ordinance #1562 to rezone property at 704 Highway 70 East from R-1 (low-density residential) to B-3 (highway commercial). Known as the Orgain residence and long-time location of Orgain Insurance, the property at the corner of North Hummingbird Lane has been purchased by Dickson County to become the site of a new Dickson County Health Department, replacing the building on West End Avenue. During the public hearing, Cynthia Hernandez, 300 Kevin Drive, a member of the city’s Beautification and Tree Management Board, said there are better locations for the health department such as the former library site next door to Dairy Queen, the east side of Hummingbird Lane from where it is proposed or near the Dickson County Fairgrounds and Dickson Housing Authority. She spoke on the value of maintaining the population of mature trees on the property. “I just think it would change the whole feel and integrity of the location,” Hernandez said. Nobody else spoke during the public hearing. The ordinance faces a second vote Jan. 6, 2025;
• Conducted a public hearing and unanimously approved on first reading Ordinance #1563 to rezone property at 635 Barbeque Road from R-3 PUD (high-density residential planned unit development) to R-3 (high-density residential). Acting City Administrator David Travis said the property is under new ownership who asks that it be reverted to its previous zoning classification. Nobody else spoke during the public hearing. The ordinance faces a second vote Jan. 6, 2025;
• During the public comment period, Trace Edmondson, 324 Cowan Road, spoke in favor of repairing Barbeque Road, saying its current condition could damage vehicles;
• Unanimously approved on second reading Ordinance #1559 to rezone property at 110 Livestock Road and a portion of an adjacent unaddressed property from B-4 (heavy commercial/warehousing) to B-3 (highway commercial). Last month Planning Director Pilkinton said there are plans to build a hotel on the property;
• Approved on second reading Ordinance #1560 to amend the Dickson Municipal Code section regulating alcoholic beverages. Acting City Administrator Travis said last month the primary changes are to change the hours for selling beer to match the state’s hours for wine and liquor sales, which allow sales to begin at 10:00 am on Sundays, to remove distance requirements for businesses with beer permits and require them to conform with all zoning and building codes, and standardize the penalties for violations of the code. The ordinance passed 6-0-1 with Councilperson Dwight Haynes (4th Ward) abstaining. The changes take effect immediately;
• Unanimously approved Resolution #2024-22 to ratify and confirm Health and Educational Facilities Board Resolution #2024-4 to amend the bond issue for the 228-unit project at 841 Cowan Road from $43 million to $48 million and extend the closing deadline to Dec. 31, 2025;
• Unanimously approved Resolution #2024-23 to approve and authorize the Mayor to sign an amendment to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant contract to add s $2 million grant for Phase II of improvements to J. Dan Buckner Park to the $625,000 grant for Phase I. Phase I is currently under construction to add basketball courts, tennis/pickleball courts, a playground and pavilion with restrooms. Phase II proposes to reconfigure the baseball/softball fields to add additional fields, add a covered batting cage and a new playground;
• Unanimously approved Resolution #2024-24 to approve and authorize the Mayor to sign a license agreement with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and the Dickson County Emergency Communications District to allow an antenna for the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network to be placed on the communications tower in J. Dan Buckner Park. The DCECD owns the tower and the City owns the property;
• Unanimously approved Resolution #2024-25 to renew a contract with Anthony Daniels and Ross V. Smith to provide lobbying services at the Tennessee General Assembly in 2025 for $15,000;
• Unanimously approved Resolution #2024-26 to abandon all rights and interest to an unopened portion of an alley between 105 West End Avenue and 100 Park Avenue requested by the adjacent property owners;
• Unanimously approved Change Order #3 to add $4,798.76 to the contract with FTM Contracting to form and pour a concrete drainage swale at the Lester D. Speyer Recreational Complex. Administrator Travis said the contractor is behind schedule on the project and facing more than $25,000 in potential liquidated damages. He reminded the council that the Tennsco Corp. is reimbursing the city for the project that includes three new tennis courts, resurfacing the three existing tennis courts, three new pickleball courts, a new playground and resurfacing two basketball courts. He said the collection of liquidated damages will be at Tennsco’s discretion;
• Unanimously approved Individual Project Order 13.1 under the professional services contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates to assist in the preparation of architectural design drawings for a proposed aquatic/recreation center in Henslee Park for $285,000. Kimley-Horn has selected Southern Architect Workshop of Franklin to design the facility based on conceptual renderings prepared by Gro, which has worked with YMCAs across the country. The city has approved a memorandum of understanding with the Dickson County Family YMCA to operate the facility that has an estimated construction cost of $25-30 million;
• Unanimously approved Individual Project Order 7.1 under the professional services contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates to assist with the maser planning, schematic design and coordination of contract development with an architect for a new Municipal Services Campus for $49,750. Mayor Don L. Weiss Jr. has proposed constructing a new city hall that will include all city administrative offices, the Dickson Police Department and Dickson Municipal Court on the corner of South Main and Walnut streets, replacing the 70-year-old Municipal Building and current City Hall; and
• Councilperson Dwight Haynes (4th Ward) made a motion to repair a utility cut made by a developer on Barbeque Road for an estimated $3,000. The motion was withdrawn after Administrator Travis said the Tennessee Department of Transportation has awarded a contract for repair of the collapsed storm drain on the former Faulkner property on Highway 46 that will include a large cut on Barbeque Road to install a new pipe and the road will be milled and paved after that project is complete.
Acting as the Beer Board, the council approved an on-premise beer permit for Mile Post 42 at 134 North Main Street in the former Pumphrey and Beard location where Maggie Johnson plans to open a new restaurant. The council approved the permit 6-0-1 with Councilperson Dwight Haynes (4th Ward) abstaining and Councilperson Michael Outlaw (4th Ward) absent.
Mayor Weiss informed the council that the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has approved the refinancing of a 2019 bond balance of $1.5 million approved by the City Council Nov. 4.
Mayor Weiss scheduled the next Finance and Management Committee meeting for Monday, Dec. 16, but that meeting was subsequently cancelled.
Mayor Weiss announced the next regular City Council meeting will be 7:00 pm Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, and scheduled a public hearing that night for Ordinance #1564 to rezone property at 1415 Highway 70 East, the former King’s Court/Moose Lodge/Shangri-La/Empowered Ministries site, from B-3 (highway commercial) to R-3 (high-density residential).
Dickson City Council regular sessions are broadcast at 8:00 pm Thursdays and Saturdays on the Community Access Channel (Comcast 19).
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