Pulaski aldermen approve engineering contracts, set public hearing on building-permit fee changes; Kenneth Bass sworn in as police chief

The Pulaski Board of Mayor and Aldermen on July 8 approved engineering contracts and bid authorizations for several public-works projects, set a public hearing on proposed changes to commercial and residential building-permit fees, and swore in Kenneth Bass as the city’s new police chief.

The board voted unanimously to adopt an order on first reading that would replace the current fee schedule for commercial and residential building permits with a square-foot based structure. "This came out of the planning commission, and they studied this for quite some time," said Mr. Harrison, a city staff member presenting the item. The board set a public hearing on the proposal for July 22 at 12:05 p.m.

The board also approved a resolution to enter into an engineering contract with TLM Associates to prepare specifications and bid documents to repair a deteriorating wall at Sam Davis Park's baseball field. "Part of the problem is the capstone does not have expansion joints...the brick has buckled up," Harrison said, explaining the engineer’s findings and the need for formal specifications before bidding.

Separately, aldermen approved entering into an engineering contract and authorized advertising for bids to extend a natural-gas service line to a private asphalt plant on property formerly owned by Tommy Wright (now Volunteer Paving). Harrison said the plant requires about 300 feet of new 4-inch line tied to an existing 6-inch main and that the company requested service as soon as possible, perhaps in August.

The board authorized advertisement for bids to replace the backstop at the Sam Davis baseball field after a defective section of expanded metal allowed a foul ball to pass through and strike a spectator. Lane, a city staff member, recommended removing the old expanded-metal backstop in favor of full netting.

Other routine approvals included permits for UT Southern parades on Aug. 16 and Aug. 19 and a motion to authorize sale of wastewater-treatment sludge (details of purchaser and price not specified in the meeting record). The board formally swore in Kenneth Bass as chief of police; Bass took the oath to "support the Constitution of the United States, the state of Tennessee and the charter of the city of Pulaski," per the ceremony.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance (first reading) to adopt new commercial and residential building-permit fees: motion to adopt order made by Alderman Massey, seconded by Alderman Miles; roll-call vote — Massey: yes; Miles: yes; Worsham: yes; Bryant: yes; Gentry: yes; Lambert: yes; Friendly: yes; Bridal: yes; Biles: yes. Public hearing set for July 22 at 12:05 p.m. - Resolution to contract with TLM Associates for Sam Davis Park wall repair (prepare bid/specs): moved by Massey, seconded by Gentry; roll-call vote — unanimous yes. - Resolution to contract with engineering firm for gas line extension (prepare bid/specs): motion moved (mover recorded as Bright in transcript), seconded by Miles; roll-call vote — unanimous yes. Advertisement for bids also authorized (motion by Massey; second by Bridal) — unanimous yes. - Authorization to advertise for bids to replace Sam Davis baseball-field backstop: moved by Miles, seconded by Worsham; roll-call vote — unanimous yes. - Parade permits for UT Southern (Aug. 16 and Aug. 19, 2025): moved by Massey, seconded by Miles; roll-call vote — unanimous yes. - Authorization to sell wastewater-treatment sludge: motion and second made and approved; the meeting record did not specify buyer, price or contract details.

The board’s approvals for engineering contracts authorize staff to proceed with specifications and bidding; formal contract awards and any budgetary approvals will return to the board for further action. The building-permit fee change is at first reading and will be subject to public comment at the July 22 hearing. Several items—particularly the gas-line work—will depend on the engineer’s specifications and the subsequent bid process before work begins.

Attendance and procedure notes: multiple aldermen participated in roll-call votes throughout the meeting; votes were recorded orally as "Aye" with no "No" votes or recorded abstentions. Several items were presented by city staff; where a presenter’s precise title was not stated on the record it is identified in this report as "city staff member."