Williamson County commissioners on Tuesday adopted a resolution accepting a year‑long Comprehensive Safety Action Plan intended to guide local street‑safety work and increase the county’s eligibility for federal transportation grants, and they voted to declare a local disaster after a severe storm that left downed trees, damaged power lines and debris across the county.

The safety plan, described at the meeting as the culmination of roughly a year of public comment and interagency meetings, includes nonbinding recommendations developed with school officials, health and law‑enforcement agencies and city street departments. County staff said the plan is intended to strengthen applications for Federal Highway Administration and other grant programs by documenting local needs and planned actions.

The board also adopted a local disaster declaration for storm recovery. Under the state emergency management law cited at the meeting, the county board chair may request a declaration for up to seven days; the board’s action covers Jan. 14 through Jan. 21, 2025. County staff said that, based on conversations with the county highway engineer, about two months of cleanup work is likely without outside assistance, and that the declaration is a first step that does not guarantee state or federal aid but is necessary to seek it. If recovery continues beyond seven days, the board must reconvene to extend the declaration.

Other routine items moved and passed by roll call during the meeting. Commissioners approved a contract to add a backup network/provider to reduce service outages for county phone and internet systems, granted raffle licenses to local groups, authorized placement of an ATM in the county administration lobby under a no‑rent proposal from a local bank, approved contracts for three contract public defenders with an update to the mileage reimbursement language, and appointed Jason Cook to fill a remainder term on a regional housing board after the resignation of David Ulby. Staff presented a planned ARPA transfer of $640,000 to the City of Marion for the sports complex fund and the handover of a six‑month bed‑tax collection balance of $413,356.99; the board approved the accounting transfers to document and process those payments.

At several points commissioners asked staff for follow‑up materials. One commissioner requested that a copy of the adopted safety plan be retained with the resolution in the county record. Staff said they would provide the plan copy and that documentation for the bed‑tax and ARPA transfers would be delivered to City of Marion officials when processed.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan resolution (resolution cited at the meeting as 25‑0.4.4‑2.9), approved the local disaster declaration effective Jan. 14–21, 2025, approved the backup network/provider contract (36‑month term noted in contract language), approved raffle licenses for local nonprofits, approved placement of an ATM provided and maintained by a local bank (no rent to the county), approved public defender contracts with an amendment to update the mileage reimbursement language, appointed Jason Cook to fill a vacancy on a regional housing board (resolution cited as 25‑01‑14‑30), and authorized ARPA and bed‑tax transfers to the City of Marion (transfer amounts: $640,000 annual ARPA transfer; bed‑tax balance $413,356.99). All of these items were approved by roll call during the meeting.

The board did not take final action on certain technology monitoring software proposed by an outside vendor; commissioners asked staff to arrange a vendor presentation and to pause immediate purchase decisions. Several administrative items—including an equipment replacement request for county office computers—were discussed but deferred for future agenda consideration.

County staff and commissioners emphasized that adoption of the safety plan provides local documentation useful for future grant applications and program coordination but does not itself obligate the county to specific capital projects. The disaster declaration authorizes staff to seek state resources and to document damages; any extension beyond seven days would require an additional board meeting.

Copies of the adopted safety plan and the signed disaster declaration will be placed in the county record; staff said they will pursue state filing and follow up with legislators and the governor’s office as appropriate.