Williamson County commission stalls HG Hill courthouse bond after heated debate
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Summary
Commissioners debated buying the 5.69-acre HG Hill property on Columbia Avenue for a new courthouse and whether to publish bond notices. Publication resolution failed and the bond authorization was deferred to March after judges and residents warned the current courthouse is inadequate and downtown advocates raised concerns about historic preservation and highest-and-best-use.
A proposal to move Williamson County’s courts to the 5.69-acre HG Hill site on Columbia Avenue stalled during the Feb. 9 county commission meeting after months of discussion and a night of public testimony.
Residents, downtown advocates and some commissioners said the parcel is better used for mixed-use redevelopment, while judges and other speakers said the county’s existing courthouse is functionally inadequate and needs a long-term solution. A procedural resolution to publish public notice about proposed county general-obligation bonds (Resolution 2-26-7) failed on a tied board vote; the follow-on bond authorization (Resolution 2-26-8) was deferred to the March meeting to allow more vetting.
Why it matters: Commissioners must publish notice and meet statutory timelines to issue bonds; missing those windows could delay financing and closing. Supporters said the HG Hill site would allow modern security and expansion; opponents warned the property is one of the last commercially valuable downtown parcels and urged preservation of the historic courthouse and close community review.
What happened: The commission held extensive public comment. Judge Tom Taylor, appearing for the judiciary, said the existing courthouse is inadequate: “It has been inadequate from the day that it was built…we need a new modern courthouse that provides for future expansion” (Judge Tom Taylor). By contrast, Franklin resident and former mayor John Schroer argued the HG Hill parcel is among the most valuable parcels outside Cool Springs and “should not” be used for a courthouse (John Schroer). Downtown preservation advocates including Ed Silva urged the commission to preserve the historic square and not market the old courthouse for private redevelopment.
Commissioner Chaz Morton explained the pair of resolutions’ timing: the initial item (2-26-7) was a publication step required to preserve the option of proceeding quickly if market/bond conditions are favorable. Finance staff told commissioners that publication must run for 20 days to meet statutory notice requirements. Commissioners debated whether deferring both items would block the ability to issue bonds in March.
Votes and next steps: The publication resolution (2-26-7) failed (recorded 11 yes, 11 no, 1 recorded opposition). Commissioners later voted to defer the bond-issuance resolution (2-26-8) to the March meeting to allow more information and stakeholder input; the deferral passed by roll call (21 yes, 2 no). County staff said appraisals and site due diligence (a phase-1 environmental and boundary/topo surveys) were under way and the county expects additional cost analysis within weeks.
What remains unsettled: The contract on the property includes a 120-day due-diligence window; staff said the county could seek an extension but if the commission does not act within contractual deadlines the contract could lapse. The commission scheduled further review in March. If commissioners ultimately approve funding, the county will still need to meet statutory publication and bond-sale timelines before issuing general-obligation debt.
The commission recessed after the vote; proponents and opponents said they will continue public outreach before the March meeting.