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Votes at a glance: Cheatham County adopts zoning-code changes, school capital notes and other budget moves
Summary
At its Nov. 17 meeting Cheatham County commissioners approved multiple budget amendments, two interfund capital outlay notes for school projects (cameras and roofs), adopted miscellaneous zoning-code amendments, approved several rezones and authorized disposition of seized firearms. The meeting included a public hearing and several appointments.
Cheatham County’s legislative body adopted a series of votes on Nov. 17 that together update zoning rules, authorize school capital borrowing, and move money between county funds.
Major votes and outcomes
- Rezoning and zoning code changes: Commissioners approved a rezoning by Blake Cobb from C5 to C1 for Map 39, Parcel 154.01 (2018 Milliken Rd.) by roll-call vote 11–0 (Resolution 6). The board deferred a rezoning petition by John Cannon (Map 86, Parcel 93 on Old Sams Creek Rd.) until December to allow neighbors time to see required signage (10–1, Resolution 7). The commission also adopted a package of miscellaneous amendments to the Cheatham County Zoning Resolution (changes to conditional-use requirements, a narrowly scoped map-waiver for the Building Commissioner, and replacement provisions for violations/penalties and remedies) by roll-call vote 9 Yes, 2 No (Resolution 10).
- School capital notes: The commission authorized an interfund capital outlay note request not to exceed $316,000 to fund security cameras and servers for all elementary schools, and a separate interfund capital outlay note not to exceed $3,600,000 for roof replacement projects at HMS, SMS, ACES and a portion of CCCHS. Both items were approved as part of budget action recorded Nov. 17 (Resolutions 12(C) and 12(D)). The board also authorized a temporary $1,000,000 transfer to General Debt Service to cover a bond payment due Dec. 1, to be refunded in January when taxes are collected (Resolution 12(A)).
- County budgets and jail project: The commission approved a set of county general fund amendments (small line-item moves), and transferred $1,633,018 from County General Fund to Other Capital Projects – Jail Fund to complete the new jail and related work (locks, HVAC engineering and owner contingency) (Resolution 14).
- Development tax allocation: The board changed distribution of the $7,500 Cheatham County Development Tax so that $3,500 is deposited into the Education Debt Service Fund, an additional $3,500 is reserved in Education Debt Service for school-building debt, and $500 is deposited to the Highway/Public Works Fund (Resolution 15).
- Seized property disposition: The commission authorized surplus and disposition (sale, trade, or transfer to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for training) of a list of 48 seized firearms consistent with a court order (Resolution 13).
- Other business: The commission approved the Employee Insurance Electives changes (Resolution 4), approved capital improvements (courthouse spotlights for $8,135 and watershed/cleanup at the new maintenance building for $4,780, Resolution 16), made appointments/reappointments to boards (Industrial Development Board, Zoning Appeals Board, Ag Board), accepted departmental reports and approved the consent calendar of notary appointments. The meeting adjourned at 7:46 P.M.
What this means and next steps
Approved interfund notes require Comptroller or designee approval before sale; the board’s authorization permits the county to pursue the borrowing and appropriate note paperwork. Deferred items (for example the Cannon rezoning and the minimum-lot-size change that was deferred into December) will return to a future agenda for additional notice and consideration. Several budget transfers were temporary or contingent on subsequent actions (the $1,000,000 transfer to General Debt Service is to be reversed in January).
