Cheatham County Commission approves multiple budget amendments, school debt note and bids; denies single rezoning and opts into landfill approval law

Cheatham County commissioners on Oct. 20 approved a package of budget amendments and capital financing measures, awarded a construction contract for Sycamore Square renovations, denied a rezone request and voted to opt into state law that gives counties local approval authority over new or expanded landfills.

The actions, taken during a regularly scheduled meeting in the General Sessions Courtroom in Ashland City, included authorization of an interfund capital outlay note of up to $3,779,982 from education debt service to fund school HVAC replacement and a separate design-phase note not to exceed $350,000 for a new school maintenance and information-technology building. Commissioners also approved multiple line-item budget amendments funded from a variety of sources, including an American Rescue Plan Act allocation for public utility projects.

Why it matters: the approved finance actions commit county funds to school capital work and to staffing/facility changes that county and school officials said are intended to improve maintenance capacity and replace aging HVAC systems. The landfill resolution changes who must sign off on future landfill proposals in the county by adding a local approval step in addition to state review. The MDI Construction contract moves planned Sycamore Square renovations toward implementation.

Most important votes and outcomes

Votes at a glance (selected motions and official outcomes recorded on the Oct. 20, 2025 agenda):

- Rezone request by Adam Prophet (agriculture to R-O-1 for parcel cited as “match 67”): Motion to deny the rezone passed (motion by Miss Lowell; second by Mr. Evans). Tally: 12 yes, 0 no. Outcome: denied.

- County general budget amendments (multiple line items including jail $40,188.43; other general government projects $17,313.62 and $6,733.08; building $15,000; shared department $14,350): Motion to approve passed. Tally reported: 12 yes, 0 no. Funding sources: various (as listed on agenda).

- American Rescue Plan Act expenditures: $481,841.33 for public utility projects. Motion to approve passed. Tally reported: 12 yes, 0 no. Funding source: American Rescue Plan Act grant revenue.

- Highway capital outlay: $110,000 (funding: highway fund balance). Motion to approve passed. Tally reported: 12 yes, 0 no.

- Other capital projects (jail) – contribution to other agencies: $8,600 funded by opioid settlement proceeds. Motion to approve passed. Tally reported: 12 yes, 0 no.

- School budget items (board-reported votes followed by county budget votes): - General purpose school regular instruction program: $921,000. County budget vote reported as 10 yes, 0 no, 2 abstain. Outcome: approved. - Regular instruction program: $349,000. County budget vote reported as 11 yes, 1 no. Outcome: approved. - Extended school program (day care/operation of non-instructional services): $37,000 funded from extended school program fund balance. County budget vote reported as 11 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain. Outcome: approved.

- Interfund capital outlay note from education debt service, not to exceed $3,779,982, to fund school HVAC replacement: Motion to approve passed. Tally reported in roll call: 12 yes, 0 no. Funding source listed: education debt service/notes.

- Capital outlay note from education debt service not to exceed $350,000 for a school maintenance/technology building (design/architectural work): Motion to approve passed. Commissioners discussed scope (design only), projected full construction estimate discussed verbally (figures cited during discussion included a design-phase request of up to $350,000 and a potential later construction cost estimate discussed as approximately $7 million). Roll-call tally for this item was recorded as 10 yes, 2 no. Outcome: approved (design-phase funding only; further construction expenditures will require future action).

- Award of construction bid for Sycamore Square renovations (eight bids received; recommendation to award to MDI Construction): Motion to accept the recommendation and approve the award passed. Tally reported: 12 yes, 0 no. Outcome: MDI Construction awarded the contract pending standard contracting steps (mayor asked for county-attorney review to expedite contract processing).

- Request to ask the state legislature for a private act to increase Cheatham County school board districts from six to seven following redistricting after the 2030 census: Motion to approve the request (to pursue a private act) passed. Tally reported: 12 yes, 0 no.

- Resolution to opt in to the state law commonly referenced in the meeting packet (described in the packet as the “Jackson Law”) that requires county approval for new landfills or expansions within the county or within one mile of a city’s jurisdiction: Motion to approve the resolution passed. Tally reported: 12 yes, 0 no. Effect described by staff: in addition to Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation review, local approval would be required for landfill proposals in Cheatham County if the county’s resolution is in effect.

- Ethics committee confirmations (mayor-appointed members): Motion to confirm the mayor’s appointees to the county ethics committee passed. Tally reported: 12 yes, 0 no. Appointees named during the meeting: Tim Williamson, Chris Gilmore, Brenda Montgomery, Eugene Evans and Abby Short.

- Road speed-limit reductions (recommendation via road/bridge committee): Motion to reduce the posted speed limit on four listed local roads to 35 mph passed (committee motion; roll-call recorded as “all in favor” during the meeting and the motion carried).

What commissioners and staff said (selected, attributable remarks)

- A county presenter summarized the budget amendments line by line and identified funding sources in each motion (recorded in agenda packet and in roll-call discussion).

- On the $350,000 design note for the maintenance/IT building, county officials clarified the request covered design and architect fees only and that a future vote would be required to approve construction funding; a construction estimate discussed verbally during the meeting was described as roughly $7 million (presented as an estimate by meeting speakers, not adopted as an expenditure in the Oct. 20 vote).

- On landfill approval, staff explained that if the county adopts the resolution, prospective new landfills or expansions would require county approval in addition to Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation review; staff noted other jurisdictions have previously opted in.

Procedural and next steps

- Several items approved on Oct. 20 will require follow-up: formal contracts (to be reviewed by the county attorney) for the awarded construction contract; further county votes to authorize construction-phase financing if the school maintenance/IT building proceeds beyond design; and staff follow-up on scheduling for a jail committee meeting (a separate jail-committee meeting was discussed for Oct. 30 to review the old jail renovation work).

- Veterans Day and community events were announced at the end of the meeting; those items were informational and not part of the formal votes summarized above.

Ending: Commissioners closed the meeting after the consent calendar passed and a series of announcements; several approved items will return for contract or construction approvals in future meetings.