Simpson County moves to draft its own Planning & Zoning ordinance after Franklin advances separation

Simpson County Fiscal Court voted July 1 to direct County Attorney Sam Phillips to draft a new county Planning & Zoning ordinance and any other ordinances necessary to operate Planning & Zoning if the City of Franklin completes its planned separation from the joint interlocal agreement.

The move followed a prolonged discussion in which County Judge/Executive Mason Barnes, Magistrates Marty Chandler, Scott Poston and Jeffrey Burr said the county cannot function without a Planning & Zoning office and should preserve inspection continuity if the city withdraws. Magistrate Myron Thurman said he wants a single body overseeing Planning & Zoning and voted against authorizing the attorney to draft the county ordinance; the recorded vote was four in favor, one opposed.

A citizen, identified in the record as Mr. Forshee, urged the Fiscal Court to press the City at a special-called Franklin City Commission meeting; the court recessed to attend that meeting and reconvened to continue its business. County Attorney Sam Phillips told the court he had attempted to speak at the city session but was not allowed to address the commission’s agenda items and warned that, after the city’s second reading of its ordinance is published, “we will no longer be operating as a joint Planning & Zoning Department.”

The court discussed practical options if the interlocal agreement ends: creating a county-only Planning & Zoning department, revamping boards and administrative duties, or continuing inspections under existing personnel if the city agreed. Several magistrates emphasized the county’s desire to keep shared functions where possible; the transcript records repeated concern about losing county input on zoning decisions if the city assumes control.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: the county attorney was authorized to prepare draft ordinances to allow the county to operate Planning & Zoning independently if needed. The motion carried with one dissent. The court did not adopt a final county ordinance at this meeting; drafting and future readings remain the next procedural steps.