Cheatham County commissioners approve zoning changes, new hen standards and $1.50 jail pay increase

Cheatham County's Legislative Body met July 18 in Ashland City and approved a series of land-use, budget and personnel actions that commissioners said aim to balance local development, public health and county operations.

The body rejected one proposed zone change for a property at 2005 Petway Road but approved two other requests: a change for a 1.01-acre portion of Map 17 Parcel 39 at 2645 Mosley Ferry Road and a change for Map 3 Parcel 18 at 7730 Highway 41‑A. The Jackson and Depriest zone changes passed on roll-call votes of 10–0 (two commissioners absent). The Hooper petition for Map 56 Parcel 31.01 failed on a roll-call vote (6 Yes, 4 No, 2 Absent).

Zoning rules amended and sent to the Planning Commission included changes to sections 6.043, 6.044 and 6.045 of the county Zoning Resolution that add a subsubsection G with standards for keeping domesticated hens. The language approved for review spells out housing, setback and sanitation requirements — for example, two square feet per hen in an enclosed hen house and a minimum of six square feet per hen in a fenced enclosure — and requires coops to be kept in rear yards with a 25‑foot setback from other residences and property lines. The minutes record the approved text as including the line: “The maximum number of domesticated hens shall not exceed six (6)--Twenty-five (25),” language entered into the record as shown; the item was approved 9–1 with two absent and forwarded to the Planning Commission for final drafting and implementation.

County Mayor Kerry McCarver asked commissioners to approve several mayoral signature authorizations tied to county operations. The body authorized the mayor to sign a lease with the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department that will provide Cheatham County EMS approximately 1,831 square feet of space for EMS operations, accepted a ThreeStar fiscal confirmation package and debt‑policy acknowledgments, approved a secure‑detention contract for juvenile court, authorized a historic courthouse grant application, and approved an ambulance‑billing services contract. All of those items were approved by roll call, 10–0 (two absent).

McCarver also reported a recommendation from the Jail Committee that construction of a new jail be delayed "for 6 months to a year" to wait for more favorable market and interest‑rate conditions.

On personnel and budget matters, the commission approved a package of budget amendments across county funds and voted down an initial proposal to raise all jail positions by $2.00. A subsequent motion to raise all jail positions by $1.50 — a measure the budget presentation said would cost about $118,378 annually and could be covered from an existing Jailer Salary Reserve — passed on a roll call, 10–0 (two absent).

Other actions: commissioners amended the Veteran's Park lease so the county will assume responsibility for utilities and landscaping; lowered the Oakmont Road speed limit from 40 mph to 25 mph; approved the consent calendar of routine reports and administrative items; and adjourned at 7:09 p.m.

The record of votes, the full zoning text forwarded to the Planning Commission, and the contracts approved for mayoral signature are included in the meeting minutes and resolutions filed with the county clerk. The Planning Commission will take the hen‑keeping standards language and return any further changes to the commission for adoption.

Speakers quoted or summarized in this report are identified in the meeting minutes. The commission's next regular session date was not specified in the minutes.