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Commission approves MOA with Gallatin for FastTrack water grant after annexation amendment fails
Summary
The Sumner County Commission on Feb. 2 approved an MOA with the City of Gallatin for the FastTrack Water Infrastructure Grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Commissioners rejected amendments that would have conditioned county disbursements on local annexation moratoria; the resolution passed with one abstention.
The Sumner County Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution 2601-13 on Feb. 2 to enter a memorandum of agreement with the City of Gallatin related to the FastTrack Water Infrastructure Grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Commissioner Mark Harrison introduced the MOA and moved for its approval; Commissioner Burgdorf seconded. During debate, Commissioner Jeremy Mansfield proposed an amendment to condition future county disbursements on Portland, Westmoreland and Gallatin adopting a minimum five‑year moratorium on annexation of unincorporated county areas for residential development. That amendment failed on an electronic vote (YES 9, NO 11). A subsequent amendment to impose a three‑year moratorium also failed (YES 10, NO 11).
Law Director Eric Sitler advised the body that conditioning acceptance or disbursement of state infrastructure funds on municipal annexation restrictions could exceed the county’s authority and expose the county to litigation. Sitler said the project is funded through a state grant created for this specific project and that annexation authority is a municipal power governed by state statute.
After further discussion the Commission approved Resolution 2601-13 by electronic vote (YES 20, NO 0, ABS 1). The abstention was recorded for Commissioner Miller. The motion to adopt the MOA was introduced by Commissioner Harrison and carried after the body rejected the annexation-related amendments.
Why it matters: The FastTrack grant funds are intended to support water infrastructure in the Gallatin area, and the MOA is the local agreement allowing the city to use space and coordinate on the project. Commissioners raising annexation concerns sought to use county leverage to gain commitments from municipalities, but the legal opinion and votes left the grant terms unchanged.
Next steps: The MOA is adopted and the county and city will proceed with the FastTrack project per the grant terms; prior attempts to impose annexation moratoria on participating cities were defeated and will not be part of the MOA.
