Nolensville commissioners approve several ordinances and resolutions, set application window to fill vacant seat

The Nolensville Board of Commissioners handled a slate of ordinances and resolutions at its July 3, 2025 regular meeting, approving several items by unanimous voice vote and taking one postponement for further review.

Key outcomes

- Ordinance 25-27 (first reading): The board approved first reading of an ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025 budget; the amendment related to Buttercup Festival expenditures that had been discussed at a prior workshop. Vote: unanimous on first reading.

- Ordinance 25-25 (first reading, zoning): The board adopted first reading of Ordinance 25-25, an amendment to Section 7.10.8.g of the Town of Nolensville zoning ordinance. Staff recommended changing the ordinance's effective-date language to take effect "immediately upon its passage and adoption, the public welfare demanding it," and the board approved that amendment and held first reading; the board also directed that the public hearing and second reading be scheduled together to comply with updated 21-day state notice requirements. Vote: unanimous on first reading.

- Ordinance 25-23 (second reading): See separate coverage. Vote: unanimous on second (final) reading as amended.

- Ordinance 25-27 (budget amendment): Approved on first reading; related to Buttercup Festival funds discussed earlier. Vote: unanimous.

- Resolution 25-052 (accept resignation; appoint process): The board accepted the resignation of Commissioner Kate Kortner and initiated the application process to fill the vacant seat. Commissioners debated appointment versus special election, noting a July 28 application deadline was on the draft resolution. After discussion the board amended the resolution to accept applications until noon on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, and passed the resolution as amended. The board discussed statutory options: state law allows appointment by the board for a vacancy or, if they cannot agree, a special election. A board member said a special election previously cost another municipality about $14,000; the transcript records that figure as a county election administrator's estimate. Vote: unanimous on resolution as amended.

- Resolution 25-053 (Sam Donald Court sidewalks): The board postponed action on a resolution to authorize procurement of design and construction services for new sidewalks on Sam Donald Court, deferring the item for additional discussion with local stakeholders and to align with the CIP. Motion to postpone passed unanimously.

- Resolution 25-054 (planning services amendment): The board approved an amendment to an agreement with Town Planning and Urban Design Collaborative LLC. Vote: unanimous.

- Resolution 25-055 (local occupancy tax): The board approved a resolution clarifying the local occupancy tax rate and establishing an annual review requirement. Staff told the board the town collects a small amount from short-term rentals and is charging the maximum 4% allowed under Tennessee statute. For fiscal year 2025 the town collected $337 in occupancy taxes; staff noted the funds are restricted for tourism and tourism development under state rules. Vote: unanimous.

Procedural votes

- The agenda and the June 5 meeting minutes were approved unanimously after a brief correction to the minutes clarifying who voted on an earlier ordinance (Ordinance 25-21) and adjusting recorded names.

What the board said about filling the vacant seat

Commissioners discussed timelines and trade-offs for appointments versus special elections. One commissioner favored appointment to avoid the expense and limited turnout of special elections; another favored holding a broader application window and a ballot option if the commission could not agree. Staff told the board it would vet residency as applications arrived and could forward applications to commissioners as received; the board agreed to accept applications through noon Aug. 4 and to consider applicants at upcoming meetings with the goal of seating a successor as quickly as charter and oath-of-office requirements allow.

Why this matters: The resolutions and ordinance readings include a budget amendment related to a community festival, a clarification of occupancy-tax administration, selection-process decisions that will affect local representation, and a deferred sidewalk procurement item that ties to capital improvements planning. Several items were adopted with no recorded dissent; the vacancy process generated the lengthiest discussion.

Votes and motions at a glance (from the meeting record)

1) Motion to approve agenda — outcome: approved, unanimous. 2) Motion to approve minutes for June 5, 2025 — outcome: approved, unanimous (minutes corrected to fix vote attributions for Ordinance 25-21). 3) Consent agenda — approved unanimously after removing item 8b to new business. 4) Ordinance 25-23 — second reading as amended to add Queen Anne's and Brittendown Drive and set afternoon restricted hours to 2–5 p.m. — outcome: approved, unanimous. 5) Ordinance 25-25 — first reading as amended (effective immediately language) and scheduling public hearing/second reading — outcome: approved, unanimous (first reading). 6) Ordinance 25-27 — first reading (FY25 budget amendment tied to Buttercup Festival) — outcome: approved, unanimous (first reading). 7) Resolution 25-052 — accept resignation of Commissioner Kortner and initiate application process; amended to set application deadline of noon Aug. 4, 2025 — outcome: approved as amended, unanimous. 8) Resolution 25-053 — authorize procurement for sidewalks on Sam Donald Court — outcome: postponed, unanimous. 9) Resolution 25-054 — approve amendment to agreement with Town Planning and Urban Design Collaborative LLC — outcome: approved, unanimous. 10) Resolution 25-055 — clarify local occupancy tax rate and establish annual review requirement — outcome: approved, unanimous.

What was not decided or left for staff: The meeting record does not include details on enforcement or signage timing for the parking ordinance, the specific dollar amounts for the sidewalk procurement, or a final seated replacement for the vacant commission seat; those steps will follow staff vetting, legal review on oath-of-office procedures, and future meetings.

The meeting lasted roughly one hour; all votes recorded in the transcript were unanimous for the actions taken.