Residents press Smyrna council on parking and dumping; new Silver Comet Indivisible urges council not to cooperate with ICE

Three residents used the citizen participation portion of the meeting to raise neighborhood quality and public‑policy concerns.

Lisa Lewis, a longtime Smyrna resident, described recurring on‑street parking enforcement actions near Church Street and Reed Street, said the neighborhood lacks sufficient spaces for multi‑unit housing, and suggested the city consider "age‑in‑place" housing options downtown for older residents. Lewis said she had been awakened by police knocking at her door and that neighbors have repeatedly parked in restricted areas; she asked the city to follow up. Mayor Derek Norton and city staff said they would coordinate with city engineer Mark Wolf and code enforcement and asked Lewis to provide photos so staff could investigate.

John Terry, speaking for a new local chapter, Silver Comet Indivisible, recounted a March 28 gathering of about 1,500 demonstrators in Smyrna and thanked city leadership and the police for facilitating free speech and assembly. He asked the council "under no circumstances to cooperate with ICE to terrorize our community members," framing the request as a measure to protect residents and community trust.

Linda Langston asked the council to address persistent dumping and vehicles parked on grass in her Napa Valley Court neighborhood and requested new signage (no‑dumping, no‑parking) at a key intersection. Staff acknowledged prior contacts with code enforcement and said they would follow up with field visits and sign placement where allowed by code.

Council and staff responses were procedural and logistical: staff committed to on‑site follow up, field visits by councilmembers or staff, and to work with code enforcement and the police to determine whether signage or enforcement actions are permitted under current ordinances.