Council committee advances ordinances on parks, garbage truck, regional water and brownfield grant; forwards appointments and police backfill

The Gallatin City Council Committee on Jan. 14 voted to forward multiple ordinances and resolutions to the full council, including funding for parks, an increased cost for a scheduled automated garbage truck body, an award for the North Central Sumner Water Regionalization transmission main and a state brownfield assessment grant. The committee also moved forward an appointment to the Gallatin Department of Electricity Power Board and a resolution to backfill a police officer position during an extended military deployment.

The items matter because the water-transmission ordinance is part of a multi-piece regional project intended to improve water service in northern parts of the county, the brownfield grant would fund environmental assessments that enable redevelopment of underused city properties, and the garbage truck appropriation covers a change order the city says is cheaper to accept than canceling the order. The committee advanced all items by voice vote; the transmission-main ordinance passed the committee with four in favor and one abstention.

Ordinance 02501-2 is an appropriation of $2,808 to the Parks Department from insurance recovery; the committee voted to forward the ordinance to council. The packet described the appropriation as related to an entrance code for a fishing pier (referred to in committee as “lock 4”). Motion to forward was recorded as moved and seconded; the committee approved the item unanimously.

Ordinance 02501-3 seeks appropriation of $14,096.27 toward the purchase of an automated garbage truck body. City staff told the committee the body for a truck ordered in July 2022 was subject to a change order; while the body price rose, staff said canceling the order and reordering would be more expensive. Staff also said the purchase will be paid from the Environmental Services unassigned fund balance rather than the general fund. The committee voted to forward the ordinance unanimously.

Ordinance 02501-5 would award a bid for the North Central Sumner Water Regional Transmission main, described as the first phase of a five-part regionalization project; the Gallatin-owned section is a main from Martin Lane to Mount Vernon Road along Highway 31. City staff reported seven bidders and said the two lowest bids were $11,831,800 and $11,845,600 — separated by less than 1 percent. Staff said the project must be constructed and expended by October 2026 and that alternate bid items are included to scale pipe size depending on Portland/White House utility decisions. The committee voted to forward the ordinance; the committee recorded four votes in favor and one abstention.

Ordinance 02501-6 would accept a $93,000 Brownfield Redevelopment Area grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for environmental assessment work. City staff described the grant as a 100% reimbursement award with no city match required; the funds would pay for Phase I/II environmental assessments on two identified properties, one long-discussed “Eaton” site and another property the Sumner County Museum has identified for potential redevelopment. The committee voted unanimously to forward the ordinance.

The committee also voted to send Resolution R2501-1 to the council proposing that Councilman Paul Jones serve as the council representative on the Gallatin Department of Electricity Power Board; the item will appear on next week’s council agenda for final approval. Resolution R2501-2, to backfill a police officer position during an extended military deployment, was similarly forwarded by unanimous committee vote.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes from Dec. 10, 2024: approved unanimously in committee (motion moved and seconded). - Ordinance 02501-2 (appropriating $2,808 to Parks from insurance recovery; related to entrance code for fishing pier/"lock 4"): forwarded to council, unanimous. - Ordinance 02501-3 (appropriating $14,096.27 for an automated garbage truck body; funded from Environmental Services unassigned fund balance): forwarded to council, unanimous. - Ordinance 02501-5 (award bid for Sumner County Regional Water Transmission main, contract 524; first phase of multi-project regionalization): forwarded to council, 4 yes, 1 abstain. - Ordinance 02501-6 (accept $93,000 TDEC Brownfield Redevelopment Area grant for environmental assessments): forwarded to council, unanimous. - Resolution R2501-1 (appoint council representative to Gallatin Department of Electricity Power Board — Paul Jones): forwarded to council, unanimous. - Resolution R2501-2 (authorize backfill of police officer position during extended military deployment): forwarded to council, unanimous.

City staff and councilors emphasized schedule and budget concerns for the water project, noting a 400-calendar-day contract length for the section before Gallatin and a firm funding/timing deadline of October 2026 tied to grant and project requirements. Staff said alternate bid items will allow the project to resize pipe sections depending on whether neighboring jurisdictions (Portland, White House) alter their utility plans. For the garbage truck, staff said three other trucks have been ordered from different vendors and that accepting the $14,096.27 increase for the original body remains the most economical option.

Committee discussion included technical and timing questions on the regional water project, and expressions of appreciation for the staff and interagency team managing the large regional effort. No final appropriations or contract awards were decided at the committee level; each ordinance and resolution will return to the full Gallatin City Council for definitive votes.

Ending

The committee concluded its business after department updates. Several items — notably the regional water transmission contract and the brownfield grant — were flagged as time-sensitive and will be on the full council agenda for final action in coming weeks.