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City council approves consent agenda, easements and rezoning first-reading; fills Ward 1 vacancy
Summary
At its Aug. 14 meeting the City of Columbia Council accepted a resignation, appointed a successor to Ward 1, approved consent items and multiple resolutions, deferred several land-use ordinances to September, and approved two utility easements and new beer-permit proximity rules in the Arts District.
The City of Columbia Council on Aug. 14 took a series of routine and land-use actions, accepted a resignation, and filled a Ward 1 vacancy.
Key outcomes
- Acceptance of resignation: The council accepted the letter of resignation from Ward 1 Council Member Davida Hardison (item 6.2). Mayor Mulder moved to accept the resignation; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call (members voting in the affirmative included Mister Huffman, Mister Marshall, Mister McKelvey, Miss Seacrest, Vice Mayor McBroom and Mayor Mulder).
- Appointment to fill Ward 1 vacancy (item 11.1): The council nominated and approved Carl McCullough to fill the Ward 1 seat for the remainder of the term; he will be sworn in at the September meeting and will face a special election in November 2026. The nomination was moved by Charlie Huffman and seconded by Mister McKelvey; the motion passed on voice/roll call.
- Consent agenda (items 7.1–7.16): The council approved the consent agenda, which included June disbursements; renewals of property and workers’ compensation insurance with TML Public Entity Partners; contracts with Bidnet Direct, Loews Design, Compass Media, True Omni; purchase approvals (including a flushing trailer and seven Dodge police pursuit vehicles); a no-cost 16-month contract with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance for fire and building inspections; and other routine matters. Motion moved by Mister Huffman, seconded by Mister Marshall; approved on roll call.
- Resolutions (section 9): The council approved Resolution 25-56 and Resolution 25-60 accepting ownership and maintenance of sewer improvements for Bear Springs Phase 1B and Bear Creek Overlook Phase 3, respectively, and Resolution 25-62 joining state and local governments on the Tennessee opioid abatement settlement (moved/seconded; approved by roll call).
- Ordinances and land-use actions (section 10): - Second consideration and approval: Ordinance 45-51 (amending the city classification and compensation plan for fiscal 2025–26) was approved on second consideration. - First consideration and approval: Ordinance 45-52 (rezoning tax map 99 parcel 59.03 at 1221 East End Street from CD-3L to CD-3, Ward 2) passed first consideration. - Deferred to September: Ordinance 45-53 (reclassifying future land use off Trotwood Avenue and Foster Lane), Ordinance 45-54 (companion annexation zoning), and Ordinance 45-55 (amendment to the Christ Our Savior planned unit development at 2494 Nashville Highway) were each requested by applicants and deferred to the September agenda. - Easements approved: Ordinance 45-56 and Ordinance 45-57 approved conveyance of permanent utility easements and temporary construction easements to Columbia Power and Water Systems for waterline purposes; both ordinances passed on first consideration. - Code amendment approved: Ordinance 45-58 amended Columbia Municipal Code to add subsection 3 restricting beer permits in the Columbia Arts District overlay based on proximity to parks, schools and churches; approved on first consideration.
- Appointments and personnel actions: The council approved acceptance of minutes and retirement benefits for Steve Mason (item 6.3); reappointed Tory Zimmer DeGrulla to the Columbia Arts Council (item 6.4); approved mayoral appointments Debbie Wiles and Kristen Newton to the Board of Zoning Appeals (items 6.5 and 6.6). Votes on these items were recorded by roll call and approved.
Votes at a glance (selected items) - 6.2 Accept resignation of Davida Hardison — Approved (roll call recorded Aye: Huffman, Marshall, McKelvey, Seacrest, McBroom, Mayor Mulder). - 11.1 Appoint Carl McCullough to Ward 1 — Approved (motion by Huffman; second by McKelvey). - 7.1–7.16 Consent agenda — Approved (motion by Huffman; second by Marshall). - 9.1 Resolution 25-56 (Bear Springs Phase 1B sewer ownership) — Approved. - 9.2 Resolution 25-60 (Bear Creek Overlook Phase 3 sewer ownership) — Approved. - 9.3 Resolution 25-62 (Tennessee opioid abatement settlement participation) — Approved. - 10.1 Ordinance 45-51 (classification and compensation plan) — Approved on second consideration. - 10.2 Ordinance 45-52 (rezoning 1221 East End Street CD-3L to CD-3) — Approved on first consideration. - 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 (land-use items tied to Trotwood/Foster Lane and Christ Our Savior PUD) — Deferred to September agenda at applicant request. - 10.6, 10.7 (utility easements to Columbia Power and Water Systems) — Approved on first consideration. - 10.8 Ordinance 45-58 (beer-permit proximity restrictions in Arts District) — Approved on first consideration.
What this means
Several pending land-use items were delayed at applicants' requests and will reappear on the September agenda, while the council moved forward on routine financial, utility and public-safety related contracts and on first-reading zoning and code changes. The Ward 1 seat vacated by Davida Hardison is filled by appointment; that appointment creates a separate vacancy at the county level, which council members mentioned during closing remarks.
No formal votes were taken on public hearings beyond closing the hearings; public comment occurred for the Christ Our Savior PUD hearing before the applicant requested deferral.
