Cheatham County approves Anderson Lane zone change, repurposes Tucker Empson Building and authorizes note for nine school buses

Cheatham County’s Legislative Body on Dec. 16 approved a series of routine and capital actions, including a zone change for a property on Anderson Lane, the planned reuse of the Tucker Empson Building for sheriff and probation offices and financing to purchase nine school buses.

The body unanimously approved a zone change request from Agriculture to R1 for Map 38, Parcel 15 on Anderson Lane after the public hearing, during which property owner Dale Tamborella spoke in favor of the change. Building Commissioner Franklin Wilkinson presented the planning commission recommendation; the planning commission vote was recorded as 6–0–3 and the county roll-call vote was 12–0 in favor (Resolution 4).

County Mayor Kerry McCarver presented a motion to remove the Tucker Empson Building from the real estate market and repurpose it to relocate certain Sheriff’s Department and probation offices. The Legislature approved the proposal 12–0 (Resolution 5).

Budget and capital actions included authorizing a set of County General Fund amendments recommended by Director of Accounts Sandrine Batts (small allocations to the South Cheatham Library, EMS, county buildings, the sheriff’s office and the Election Commission) and a $35,000 amendment for convenience centers in the Solid Waste/Sanitation Fund. The body also approved a three-year capital outlay note not to exceed $918,700 to purchase nine school buses; the School Board vote was recorded 5–0–1 and the county voted 12–0 to approve the note (Resolution 6, 7, 8).

The Legislature approved declaring several Elections Department computer items as surplus for disposal; the items and serial numbers were recorded in the meeting packet and the motion passed 12–0 (Resolution 9).

A motion was approved to ask the County Attorney to draft a resolution requesting the state legislature to make violations of building codes a criminal offense. That motion, moved by Gary Binkley and seconded by David Anderson, passed by voice vote with one recorded nay (Resolution 10).

Committee actions included the reappointment of Larry Nash to the Board of Zoning Appeals and appointments of Diana Lovell, Wade Reed and Kenneth Smith to the Ag Committee; the Road & Bridge committee received permission to bid the shop and office as separate projects on George Boyd Road (Resolution 11, 12, 13). A slate of notaries was approved on the consent calendar (Resolution 14).

Director of Schools Dr. Cathey Beck reported no audit findings, announced a $30,000 STEAM grant and invited the public to a State of the District breakfast on Jan. 28, 2020; UT Extension reported program activity including a harvested tobacco research plot, graduation of 14 Master Gardeners and selection for a soybean research plot.

The meeting concluded with holiday remarks and an adjournment at 7:28 p.m. (Resolution 15).