by: TRACY HARRIS – Staff Writer
Lewisburg City Council held their regular meeting on July 9, 2024. Mayor Jim Bingham opened the meeting at 6 p.m. with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilmembers voted in the following order: Vickie Michael, Patty Parsons, Joe Bradford, Tommy Burns, David Perka.
Mayor Bingham presents Michael Bermudez with 2023 No-Kill Shelter plaque
Mayor Bingham presented a proclamation and plaque to Animal Control Officer Michael Bermudez. The Best Friends Network, a national organization, recognized Lewisburg Animal Shelter with a 2023 No-kill Shelter plaque. In addition to the plaque, Bermudez received a letter from Best Friends Animal Society CEO Julie Castile praising the shelter for exceeding a 90% save rate of animals and acknowledging all the hard work that goes into achieving such an accomplishment.
Kavares Tears and his parents. Mayor Bingham marked July 9, 2024 as “Kavares Tears Day”
Kavares Tears received a proclamation marking Tuesday, July 9, 2024, as “Kavares Tears Day” in the City of Lewisburg. The room was full of friends, family, and fans dressed appropriately in orange to support the Lewisburg native and University of Tennessee baseball player.
Next on the agenda was stormwater issues on W. Ewing St. The owner of 225 W. Ewing St., Kurt Herman, came to the podium with Mary Beth Neece, owner of Mane Attractions Salon, located at 227 W. Ewing St. They spoke about rainwater that pools in between their buildings. Neece explained that in the 20 years of operating her business, she has just “dealt with it.” She said she does her best after heavy rainfalls to make sure that debris or trash that washes down the hill gets picked up and cleaned out to try and help keep the stormwater runoffs clean.
Herman carried two clear plastic containers to the podium. The following quote contains some of comment, “We have a stormwater issue and I’m sure many of you have seen it when it rains. I think we have a two prong problem. Normally, without contamination, we barely make it; but I think we have a second problem with the Enviro Medics site up there. I brought two samples. One is dry and one is with water in it. It becomes like clay and we really don’t know what’s in it. They claim they decontaminate but we don’t know that.” There will be follow up article on this subject.
Next was Citizen’s Input. Jeremy George pleaded with the Council to consider residents’ past concerns, statements, and issues when voting on items g and h. George said, “You guys know how a lot of us feel and how a lot of people showed up a couple of months ago. It feels a little bit like a bait and switch how they asked for approval for lower density and now they’re coming back for higher density. So, just please take that into consideration.” Two property owners, Veeda Kielbasa and William H. Coble, Jr., have brought properties on Webb Rd. and/or Globe Rd. in front of the Council for annexation and rezoning within the last year.
June minutes were approved unanimously, as were the bills and financial statement. There was no Old Business this month.
There was no Old Business this month. The following items were under New Business:
consider installing a speed bump on Midway Street (passed 5-0)
consider providing portable restrooms at New Lake (passed 5-0)
consider Resolution 24-23 to make application for FY 2024 Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program, requires 50% match of funds from City (passed 5-0)
consider approving additional ARPA expenditures for Street Signage on White Dr. and Hull Ave. – Resolution 24-24 Councilmembers voted as follows: Vickie Michael- Aye, Patty Parsons-Aye, Joe Bradford-No, Tommy Burns- N0, David Perka- Aye (passed 3-2)
consider amending the contract for Signalization and Stripping Project construction and authorizing the Mayor to request additional funding from TDOT Small Cities Program – Resolution 24-25 (passed 5-0)
consider approving the first reading of Ordinance 24-13 by owner Antonio Lazo Buruca and business owner Alvaro Rivera Jimenez, a request for rezoning of 511 Cedar Street, from R-2 Medium-Density Residential to C-3 Neighborhood Service Business (passed 5-0)
On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at the City Council Work Session there was brief discussion about the property owners on Globe Road wanting to defer their items until August. At that time, it was not clear if they would go on the agenda for the regular council meeting or not. Hutto said he would follow up and answer the Council between July 2 and July 9. Both items did appear on the agenda on July 9 under items g and h. Mayor Bingham referred to City Attorney Thomas Hutto once these items were up for discussion on July 9.
item g. consider owner (Veeda Kielbasa) request to rezone 56.68 acres located at 1213 Globe Rd. from R-1 Low Density Residential to R-3 High Density Residential after it received an unfavorable recommendation from Planning Commission on June 18, 2024.
item h. consider owner (William H. Coble, Jr.) request to rezone 51.15 acres located on unaddressed Globe Rd. from R-1 Low Density Residential to R-3 High Density Residential after it received an unfavorable recommendation from Planning Commission on June 18, 2024.
Hutto told the Council, “In reviewing the application for this item [g], as well as the next one [h], Zoning Ordinance 7.090 requires applicants to submit maps, plans, drawings, not full-on construction scale drawings, to the Planning Commission and City Council; but, something to give members an idea of what they’re planning to do and how many homes they’re planning to put out there.”
It appeared those things had not been submitted as of July 9, 2024, based on the discussion that took place.
Hutto presented the Council with three options but he recommended the third option. He said it would help establish the best practices for the Planning Commission and applicants in general moving forward.
The three options were:
1-a motion to deny it
2-a motion to defer it, which I think is what the applicants requested
3-a motion to send it back to the planning commission for reconsideration with specific direction that applicants submit all documents required by the Zoning Ordinance so that it can be considered fully and fairly by the city council
Councilmember Bradford made a motion to “send it back to the Planning Commission as recommended by the City Attorney.”
Bradford’s motion did not receive a second. There was discussion for 10-15 minutes.
Councilmember Michael made a motion to deny the owner (Veeda Kielbasa) request on item g, 1213 Globe Rd. Councilmember Parsons seconded, and the motion passed 5 – 0.
Councilmember Michael made a motion to deny the owner (William H. Coble, Jr.) request on item h, unaddressed property on Globe Rd. Perka seconded, and the motion passed 5 – 0.
Other Business was next on the agenda. City Manager Bam Haislip was first to give his report. He spoke about the overall economic and industrial updates. Haislip attended the free fishing day. The free fishing day was featured in a two-page spread in the July 2024 edition of the Middle TN / Northern Al Edition of The Angler Magazine. He attended some events in June and so far in July as well.
Director’s Reports were next on the agenda. Director of Parks & Recreation Cary Whitesell reported that the website issue is being worked on so that they’ll be updated and corrected. The full report from the audit from Shultz Engineering will be available on July 19.
Lewisburg Fire Department Drew Hawkins reported 147 calls for service with 107 of those being medical calls. As of right now, there are no burn bans since there is not an official drought. He thanked the citizens for there being “no major incidents, no fires and no injures reported as a result of fireworks this year.”
Scott Braden, Chief of Police, reported 1,396 calls for service for the month of June resulting in 23 new investigations. Braden reiterated what Chief Hawkins said and reported that right before and right after the day of July 4th, police officers usually encounter all sorts of issues with fireworks. Braden also wanted to thank the public and said, “This year was not nearly as bad as previous years.”
The meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.
