Kingsport council approves rezoning, multiple appointments, budgets and contracts in single meeting

The Kingsport City Council handled a broad slate of business in one meeting, voting on zoning, appointments, budget adjustments, capital projects and contracts. Major council actions included approval of a Tyson Lane rezoning (R-1B to P-1) and votes to award construction contracts for water and sanitary-sewer extensions serving the Fieldcrest development. The council also approved appointments to boards and passed a range of resolutions and purchase authorizations.

Key outcomes and notable items:

- Appointments: The council approved four appointments to the regional planning commission: BJ Walsh (motion by Alderman Phillips; second Alderman Cooper; vote recorded as 6-0-1 with one abstention), Sharon Duncan reappointment (motion by Alderman George; second by Elizabeth Phillips; recorded 6-0-1 with one abstention), Tim Lorimer reappointment (motion by Alderman Baker; second by Alderman George; vote 7-0) and Curtis Montgomery appointment (motion and second noted; recorded as 6-0 with one abstention by the mayor). The council approved minutes for previous meetings (7-0).

- Zoning and land use: The council conducted a public hearing and approved an ordinance to rezone property on Tyson Lane from R-1B to P-1 (medical spa proposed). Staff said a traffic review will follow site-plan submission and that a medical spa in P-1 requires Board of Zoning Appeals approval. The ordinance passed 7-0.

- Budgets and taxes: A fiscal‑2025 budget adjustment ordinance (first and later final reading) was approved (votes recorded 7-0). The council also adopted the property tax rate ordinance on second reading for fiscal 2026 (row vote passed 6-1). The meeting included a resolution authorizing reconciliation and adjustment of remaining uncollectible property tax receivables for tax year 2014 (resolution passed 7-0).

- Capital projects and contracts: The council awarded several construction contracts and change orders: Summers Taylor, Inc. was awarded the Airport Parkway resurfacing work and later approved change orders for the Kingsport resurfacing project (change orders split 80/20 with federal funds covering 80% of a $313,601.98 change order); GRC Civil Services was awarded the Lynn Road waterline extension contract (approx. $1.5 million); East Tennessee Turf and Landscape was awarded the Fieldcrest sanitary-sewer extension contract (approx. $1.8 million). The council also approved an amendment with CDM Smith for phase 2 of the stormwater master plan and cost-of-service analysis funded by ARP funds ($126,000) and approved a change request with Doxham LLC to expand utility-billing services (about $5,200). All of the listed contracts and change orders passed with unanimous votes where recorded.

- Equipment, software and services: The council authorized purchase of a Vogele Super paving machine through Sourcewell; renewed Naviline/Central Square financial software for another year (~$247,000); authorized submission of a merchant agreement with JPMorgan Chase for payment processing; and approved other partner and service agreements included in the fiscal‑2026 budget. The council accepted a $6,927.88 donation to buy four bicycles for the Kingsport Fire Department bike-medic team.

- Consent agenda and miscellaneous: The council approved a 12-item consent agenda (items included SRO grant application and memoranda of understanding with Kingsport City Schools, CDBG extension with Habitat for Humanity, workers’ compensation administration renewal, liability insurance renewal, and scheduling a meeting date change). The consent agenda passed by roll call 7-0.

Council members asked staff about timelines and oversight: for example, staff said they typically return comments on submitted site plans within about 10–15 days, and that construction contracts typically have turnaround to execution in a few days to a couple weeks depending on paperwork. Several items were described as funded by specific sources in the meeting: the CDM Smith amendment is funded by American Rescue Plan (ARP) grant funds; the resurfacing change order is 80% federally funded with a 20% local match.

Votes at a glance (selected items) — each line lists the motion text (as spoken), mover/second when recorded, vote tally and short note:

- Appoint BJ Walsh to Regional Planning Commission — motion: Alderman Phillips; second: Alderman Cooper; outcome: approved 6-0-1 (one abstention). - Reappoint Sharon Duncan to Regional Planning Commission — motion: Alderman George; second: Alderman Elizabeth Phillips; outcome: approved 6-0-1 (one abstention). - Reappoint Tim Lorimer to Regional Planning Commission — motion: Alderman Baker; second: Alderman George; outcome: approved 7-0. - Appoint Curtis Montgomery to Regional Planning Commission — motion: Alderman Phillips; second: Alderman George; outcome: approved 6-0-1 (Mayor abstained). - Approve minutes of 06/16/2025 work session and 06/17/2025 business meeting — outcome: approved 7-0. - Ordinance: Rezoning along Tyson Lane (R-1B to P-1) — motion: Alderman Phillips; second: Alderman George; outcome: approved 7-0. - Ordinance amending zoning text re: BZA composition and term length — motion: Vice Mayor Duncan; second: Alderman Phillips; outcome: approved 7-0. - Budget adjustment ordinance (Fiscal 2025) — first reading and later final adoption: outcome: approved (first reading recorded; final adoption vote 7-0). - Property tax rate ordinance (second reading) — outcome: approved, roll call 6-1 (Mayor recorded as aye; one no vote recorded in roll call as noted in transcript). - Resolution approving change order 1 to Daugherty High School band room HVAC replacement — outcome: approved 7-0. - Resolution to accept donation ($6,927.88) for four bicycles — outcome: approved 7-0. - Award resurfacing bid (Airport Parkway) to Summers Taylor Inc. — outcome: approved 7-0. - Approve CDM Smith amendment (Phase 2 stormwater master plan; $126,000; ARP funds) — outcome: approved 7-0. - Award Lynn Road waterline extension (GRC Civil Services; ~$1.5M) — outcome: approved 7-0. - Award Fieldcrest sanitary sewer extension (East Tennessee Turf & Landscape; ~$1.8M) — outcome: approved 7-0. - Resurfacing project change orders to Summers Taylor (change orders 3 & 4; $313,601.98 total change order split 80/20 federal/local) — outcome: approved 7-0. - Approve Doxham LLC change request for expanded billing services (~$5,200) — outcome: approved 7-0. - Renew Naviline/Central Square financial software (~$247,000) — outcome: approved 7-0. - Authorize JPMorgan Chase merchant agreement for payment processing — outcome: approved 7-0. - Authorize reconciliation/adjustment of uncollectible property tax receivables for tax year 2014 (~$68,000 adjustment) — outcome: approved 7-0. - Consent agenda (12 items, including school resource officer grant application, MOU with Kingsport City Schools, CDBG extension with Habitat, insurance renewals, and meeting date change) — outcome: approved by roll call 7-0.

What to watch next: site-plan submissions and any Board of Zoning Appeals hearings related to the Tyson Lane rezoning; progress and timelines on the Lynn Road waterline and Fieldcrest sanitary-sewer projects; and any follow-up staff reports on resurfacing change-order funding splits with federal partners.