City Council

TOWN OF JONESBOROUGH Town Hall Board Room 123 Boone Street Jonesborough, TN 37659 MEETING NOTICES MONDAY, September 8, 2025 7:00 PM PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS Members of the public wishing to speak concerning any item on the agenda during the Public Comment period must sign up by calling the Town Administrative Office at 423-753-1030 with their name, address, and subject about which they wish to speak no later than 2 hours before the meeting if the meeting occurs during normal business hours or by 4:45 p.m. the day of the meeting if the meeting occurs after hours. Otherwise, such member of the public must sign in at the location of the meeting, prior to the beginning of the meeting, by seeing the Town Recorder at meetings of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, or the secretary or staff of any board, commission or committee constituting any other governing body under this resolution. Each individual shall be given three (3) minutes to address the Board regarding Agenda items. Comments shall be limited to items on the meeting’s Agenda BEER BOARD 1. Approval of Minutes 2. Application for an Off-Premise Beer License for Mean Mug Market, 105½ Fox Street, Jonesborough, TN REGULAR MEETING 1. Call to Order 2. Opening Prayer 3. Pledge to the Flag 4. Roll Call  CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approval of Minutes 2. Approval of Bills 3. Town Administrator Report 4. Operations Manager Report 5. Committee Reports 6. Supervisor Reports 7. Appointment of a Water Treatment Plant Director 8. Declaration of Town Equipment as Surplus 9. Disposal of Non-Serviceable Garbage Totes AGENDA 1. Financial Report 2. Communications from the Mayor a. Employee of the Month 3. Citizen Comments 4. Aldermen Communications 5. Town Attorney Comments 6. OLD BUSINESS 7. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion and possible action concerning approval to change speed limit on New Boones Creek Road; B. Discussion and possible action concerning approval for purchase of the 12-acre tract Mauk property; C. Discussion and possible action concerning approval of a lease agreement with Jonesborough United Methodist Church; D. Discussion and possible action concerning approval of the 2025 Concession Agreement with the Persimmon Ridge Soccer Association; E. Discussion and possible action concerning approval of Administrative Office’s structuring plan; F. Discussion and possible action concerning approval of bids for the West Main Street Retaining Wall and Senior Center Steps; G. Discussion and possible action concerning approval of the West Main Street bank re-stabilization plan and the public/private partnership agreement; H. Discussion and possible action concerning approval to purchase capital equipment for the Street Department; I. Discussion and possible action concerning first reading of an Ordinance to rezone property located on West College Street and West Jackson Blvd from R- 1 (High Density Residential) to PRD (Planned Residential District), as described on Washington County Tax Map 5-D, Group A, Parcel 1.00; J. Discussion and possible action concerning approval of bid for Gravity Sewer Improvements – Pump Station “A”; K. Discussion and possible action concerning a Resolution and approval of bid for the new Water Treatment Plant Project; L. Adjournment.  TOWN ADMINISTRATOR MONTHLY REPORT SEPTEMBER 2025 I hope this monthly update finds you well! If you have any specific monthly updates, please do not hesitate to let me know. This has been a narrower gap between monthly meetings since we last met on August 18th. 1. As I mentioned in last month’s TA Monthly Report, the town’s website is nearly 5 years old, and the immediate plan is to explore the costs associated with a new website to enhance our web presence and user experience. I am working with a company that has helped provide feedback on potential initiatives on web improvements. One example was exploring City of Franklin, TN website that has a nice appearance and uses for example a megamenu which is an expansive drop- down menu that displays multiple levels of navigation options simultaneously. It allows users to see a wide range of content and categories in a single, scrollable panel, enhancing navigation and organization. Non-tech language is, you reduce the number of single clicks to navigate to where you want to go. As we work towards improving how we effectively communicate with the public, our website is another community-based platform where information is available, and we want the user’s experience to be exceptional. We also want to provide a dynamic visual experience which will include video detailing various “visual” information to the public, whether that is construction project(s), special event, etc. Based on our purchasing policy, I am working on different options on this type of project from Request for Proposals to Request for Quotes. More information on this subject will be provided to the board prior to next BMA meeting. 2. Communications: I am working more on plans to enhance how we communicate with the public. I have started to post about different “hot topics” through social media and website, and I will continue to advance this initiative with community input meetings. I am scheduling a date in October to meet with the Meadows community regarding traffic issues in and around the area as I had promised them when the New Hope Connector Road topic escalated. I am working with a resident familiar with the best forms of communicating a meeting to best communicate about the upcoming meeting. Another example of “listening” is the topic of downtown road closures. I explored ways in which we can better communicate these happenings and worked with Cameo and Mitchell that have added a “Street Closures in Town” on our website with the Special Event Permit Application, the Town Calendar, and a spreadsheet/chart of when street closures are planned based on BMA approvals. Below is a snapshot of the website: 3. Traffic 11-E Corridor: As you are aware as the Board, a contract was approved with Mattern & Craig Engineering (M&C) to conduct a traffic signalization study of our Highway 11-E Corridor from Headtown Road to Persimmon Ridge Road. The Mayor and I met with M&C following the Board meeting with some parameters. One of those was that timing was of the essence to complete the study before the proposed 180 days, and M&C concurred. The other information we found out was that BrightRidge has existing fiber optics available as the study will explore how we use technology to help make our signalization “smarter”. One significant advantage of an interconnected system, through fiber optics, is the development and optimization of peak-hour traffic timing plans. This is essential to the town mitigating our corridor congestion issues. 4. Tennessee City Management Association (TCMA) Fall Conference: This state-wide conference is taking place in Kingsport this year, and I am part of a 3-person panel to discuss the impacts that Hurricane Helene had in our respective cities, which include Jonesborough, Greeneville and Elizabethton. I will highlight our utilities  herculean efforts to restore water to thousands of customers, and how other departments like police and fire collected and delivered essentials to displaced people in the community. We spend so much time working under the radar to help folks that I regret that we did not capture more photos or video of town efforts as a historical reminder of when tragedy strikes us, jurisdictional lines do not stand in the way of helping other human beings (in some cases animals as well). 5. First Frontier Trail: As part of the grant awards process for the RTP and LPRF regarding continuing efforts on the First Frontier Trail, Community Development Partner Rachel Conger will be presenting the projects at the September 16th Planning Commission meeting. This presentation will be shared with the BMA following the PC meeting. 6. Improving the rear room in the Board Room. We are planning on improving this office space to be used as an actual conference room with office chairs, table, display screen for presentations and video conferencing, conference phone, wireless presentation system, and other incidentals. This is the only room to offer some form of privacy when conducting meetings with smaller groups. We have multiple meetings each week and the room improvement will provide for a more efficient and effective way of conducting meetings with the right tools in place. UPDATE: This project should be completed by end of September. This improved space will be great value to staff that need more private space to conduct meetings without having to sit in the middle of the hallway, and to have a space for webinars and other training-related sessions. 7. Special Census: I am working with Frank Collins, who retired from Census Bureau, on exploring the town conducting a town wide special census. Our 2020 US Census certified population was 5,860. Our next census is not until 2030. With our unprecedented growth, we believe the 2020 population number is significantly low. As such, we find that holding a special census is an effective way to ensure that our State- Shared revenues properly reflect our growing population. The state’s estimated per capita amount (per resident) for 2025-2026 is $179.29. If for example our special census yields an additional 500 residents, this equals $89,645, or a higher number like 1000 residents yields an additional $179,290. I will continue to update the BMA as Staff and Mr. Collins get closer to an implementation strategy in the next 60-90 days. Looking at other sources of revenues, like the potential special census, for the town is a major administrative goal during this fiscal year, and beyond. UPDATE: Frank and I met recently to work through details of conducting a special census. When we conduct our own census, we are required to use an agency to certify our new population numbers (sampling only) and so I contacted the First Tennessee Development District Bill Forrester (the Development Districts are named as agencies authorized under State of Tennessee to certify results) to start the conversations about details of how the certification works. I expect to have more details of our process in the Week of September 8th. 8. I am working on partnering with an organization like Community Chest to establish a program whereby “people” can contribute funds to help eligible utility customers that need financial assistance with their bills. Also, through our contact at United Way, Jonesborough is already part of the Heisse Johnson Hand Up Fund, allowing customers to designate specific amounts on their utility bills for the Hand Up Fund. The “implementation” would be a decision for the Hand Up board. Update: I contacted two representatives of the Hand Up fund/board asking about the process for the Town of Jonesborough water customers to be added to the Hand Up program/fund, and how to formally request approval from the Hand Up board. I am still exploring the idea of partnering with the Community Chest but since money will be transacted often between different parties, an organization would need to be a 501(c)3. If we can gain success with Hand Up then another way to use the Chest would be through their knowledge of the program and their strong communications with the public about the program. 9. I am re-reviewing our Jonesborough Local Façade Program to suggest adding a new component to eligible properties in the form of building lighting. The intent, through meeting historic guidelines of course, is to enhance the exterior of some of our buildings to provide additional lighting that is specific to contributing to a safer pedestrian experience at night from our parking lots and walkways. There are some dark areas within the downtown area that with some exterior lighting, perhaps landscaped lighting, or limited pathway lighting, would help light the way for more people that are not comfortable parking longer distances in the evening. This is only in an exploration phase as there is no intent to distract from the quality architectural character of our historic downtown and its great assets, our historic buildings. UPDATE: A draft proposal for changes will be presented for review next month. 10. Thanks to the Board’s approval of the interlocal agreement with Washington County for Planning Services, town and county staff met for a kickoff session to strategize on our various roles but this will be a great opportunity for me to start working on smart growth strategies with Angie Charles, an accomplished and certified planner. More monthly, quarterly, and yearly overall development numbers will be presented to the BMA very soon. I am working with staff to go back to January 2020 to present to illustrate Jonesborough’s comprehensive planning activities. See below for just a snapshot of some information that will be gathered starting October 2025. Other reporting will include Land Use Controls like rezonings, variances, zoning text amendments, subdivision text amendments, zoning map amendments, annexations, and finally PC required 4 hours a year continuing education topics and tracking.