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Commission approves fire-contracts package and bans mail solicitations in taxed districts
Summary
Cheatham County commissioners approved several mayor-signature contracts including multiple fire-department agreements and adopted an amendment prohibiting mail solicitation of donations in areas that pay a fire tax or contract for fire service.
The Cheatham County Commission on April 21 approved a package of contracts for the county and separately adopted a modification that prevents volunteer fire departments from mailing solicitation requests for donations to residents in areas that already pay a fire tax or are under a fire contract.
County staff presented a series of mayor-signature items that included a retaining escrow agreement, maintenance agreements, vendor contracts (including M and M Microsystems and American Business Copiers Inc.), and contracts with multiple volunteer fire departments (Town of Ashland City, Town of Kingston Springs, Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department, Parkins Ridge [sic] Volunteer Fire Department and others). The commission moved to approve items 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 and 11 together; that grouped vote passed on roll call 12–0.
Commissioners then discussed concerns about mail solicitations by fire departments in areas that already pay a fire tax. Commissioner Walter Weakley proposed an amendment to the remaining fire-contract items (items 5–9) that would bar mail solicitations for donations in districts that pay a fire tax. The amendment was described on the record as prohibiting "mail solicitations" specifically while allowing other forms of fundraising (for example, car washes or in-person solicitations). The commission moved on the amended language covering items 5–9, which passed on roll call 12–0.
During discussion, staff noted the contracts include a clause requiring 14 days' notice to the county before a mail solicitation is sent so the county can respond; commissioners said the amendment would remove mail solicitations in taxed districts entirely. Commissioners requested that the contracts be updated to reflect the new restriction on mail solicitations.
The approved actions direct the mayor to sign the listed contracts with the specified vendors and fire departments, and require contract language be adjusted to prohibit mail solicitations for donations in areas that pay a fire tax.
