City council approves multiple contracts, budget actions and program agreements; roundup of votes

Murfreesboro City Council on Feb. 27 approved a series of motions and resolutions covering transportation grants, capital projects, fire department equipment and program contracts, a schools budget amendment and sewer policy actions.

The council took unanimous voice roll-call votes to pass each item listed below. Where speakers were recorded saying "Aye" during roll calls, those members are named in the vote records.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: Approved (roll-call: Councilmembers Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright; Vice Mayor Schacklett recorded as "Aye").

- Sewer allocation variance request (Centus Corporation / BC Road): Approved. Motion to grant additional sewer allocation for a conceptual site plan to support a commercial laundry facility and up to 322 single-family-equivalent flows; Water Resources and Planning staff recommended approval. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Resolution authorizing filing of Federal Transit Administration applications: Approved. Transportation staff said the resolution documents the authority for a city representative to apply for FTA funding; the resolution itself was described as having no fiscal impact. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Murfreesboro City Schools fiscal year budget amendment No. 6: Approved. The amendment adds new interest income and recognizes Tennessee Risk Management Trust funds for operational costs; staff noted expenditures related to internet connectivity and a contract referenced as a "dark web" contract. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Receive fiscal year 2024 independent audit report: Received. Auditor Jobe Hastings reported an unmodified (clean) opinion and said there were no audit findings for the year. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Patterson Park chiller replacement contract and CIP reallocation: Approved. Council authorized a contract using an Omnia cooperative purchase (contract amount not fully specified in the record); legal review added performance and payment bonds that increased the contract by $7,423. Funding sources: 2025 CIP and a $200,000 reallocation from land acquisition and contingency budgets. Council recorded unanimous approval. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Construction administration (CEI) contract — Blackman/Manson/Burnt Knob intersection: Approved. An hourly professional services contract with an estimated value of $116,700 funded by FY21 and CIP budgets. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Bridge Avenue (CSX crossing) professional services contract: Approved. Gresham Smith selected; proposed design contract amount $584,600, funded by FY25 CIP. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Professional services supplement No. 1 — Rutherford Boulevard Southeast Bridal intersection: Approved. Amendment estimated $138,890, raising total contract to $292,210; funded by FY21 and FY22 CIP. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Tommy Bridal Drive final change order: Approved. Change order increased the contract by $398,157, within the project's 5% change-order target; funded by 2021 and 2025 CIP. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Cherry Lane Phase 2 wetland and stream mitigation credits funding: Approved (motion included legal review/approval of agreements). Council asked to appropriate up to $3,000,000 to buy approximately 12.18 wetland mitigation credits; staff said actual cost is expected to be a bit lower but requested the contingency. Funding included 2021/2022 and 2025 CIP funds; purchase subject to legal approval of associated agreements. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Purchase of drones (fire department): Approved. Four SkyDuo drones at $112,915 funded from the general fund / FY25 CIP. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Purchase of turnout gear (fire department): Approved. Seventy-eight sets at $2,299,520, funded from CIP. Council discussed NFPA guidance recommending a second set of turnout gear for firefighters. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Contract amendment — Murfreesboro Medical Clinic (firefighter physicals and cancer screening): Approved. Amendment amount requested up to $114,000, funded from fire/rescue FY25 budget; staff noted prior-year spending of $89,000 because some firefighters used personal providers. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Physical therapy and nutrition program contracts (AFG grant): Approved. Volunteer Physical Therapy — $84,760; nutrition vendor (listed in packet/transcript as FuelEd or similar) — $25,000; total $109,760 funded by a $357,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant award. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Proposed amendments to the city's "outside the city" sewer ordinance and development-agreement option: Approved. Staff described the change as allowing properties within a short-term service-infill line to meet development standards and to permit development agreements for certain customers farther out in the urban growth boundary. The change is intended to reflect recent changes in Tennessee annexation law and to manage utility resources. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- MTSU residential properties municipal services fee agreement: Approved. Agreement covers 48 properties at $848 per property per year (roughly $40,700 annually) to offset city service costs; staff cited Tennessee Code Annotated exemption for university-owned/leased property and said MTSU voluntarily agreed to the fee. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Board and commission appointments (airport commission, golf commission, trustees/committees, Rutherford County Library board): Approved. Multiple nominees were approved by roll call. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

- Beer permits for two restaurant locations: Approved pending final building and codes inspections. (Roll-call: Aberwater, Gales Harris, Wade, Wright, Vice Mayor Schacklett.)

Notes on vote reporting

Where the transcript recorded roll-call answers, the published roll-call names are listed above; there were no recorded dissenting votes in the council audio for the items listed. If a motion listed above lacked a recorded named mover or seconder in the transcript, the record shows only that a motion and second were made and that the roll call passed with all members recorded as "Aye."