Greater Nashville Regional Council 501 Union Street, 6 th Floor Nashville, Tennessee 37219-1705 Executive Committee Meeting Wednesday, March 18, 2015 11:00 a.m. Music City Central 400 Charlotte Avenue Nashville, Tennessee THOSE IN ATTENDANCE: Rogers Anderson DeWayne Baskette Howard Bradley Paige Brown Dennis Buchanan Ernest Burgess Fred Burton Carroll Carman Patti Carroll Sam Childs Ron Coles Philip Craighead Jim Durrett Scott Foster Brandi Ghergia Gerald Herman Anthony Holt Randall Hutto Rick Johnson Jerry Kirkman Frank McKee Kim McMillan Craig Moreland Ken Moore Bill Terry Ken Wilber MINUTES Williamson County Oak Hill Robertson County Gallatin Mt. Juliet Rutherford County Wilson County Hartsville/Trousdale County Fairview Coopertown Oak Hill Lebanon Montgomery County Hendersonville Cheatham County White House Sumner County Wilson County Ashland City Westmoreland CTAS Clarksville Hartsville/Trousdale County Franklin TACIR Portland Tauna Blaisdell Patty Cavanah Sam Edwards Amanda Evilcizer Ron Fults Grant Green Melanie Howell Jovia King Norma Powell Tim Roach Matt Von Lunen Gayle Wilson
Page 2 of 5 CALL TO ORDER President Kim McMillan called the Executive Committee Meeting to order at approximately 11:35 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at the Music City Central Station, 400 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee. President McMillan welcomed any new members and guests. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (TVA): IN LIEU OF TAXES Ron Fults, Legal Counsel, discussed the handout of the TACIR memorandum on TVA PILOTS: Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperatives and Related Issues Final Report. (A copy is made a part of these minutes.) This particular program was set in place through Public Chapter 1035, Acts of 2010. The TACIR report responses to Public Chapter 475, Acts of 2009, which directed TACIR to monitor changes in the wholesale distribution of electric power by the TVA and its distributors for possible effects on the Authority s payments in lieu of taxes to the states in the Valley region. Five percent (5%) of the gross sales (except for sales to the Federal government) are distributed to the states within the TVA region. There are some direct payments to counties but that is only $3.4 million for the entire State of Tennessee. The TVA distribution: Tennessee keeps 48.5% Cities/Counties get 48.5% TVA Reserve 3.0% Mr. Fults directed members to Table 1 of the report which shows the TVA Revenue Sharing from 2009-2010 through to 2014-2015. In Appendix B, a Distribution of Counties Share of TVA Payments in Lieu of Taxes to Tennessee can be found. Mr. Fults urges members to contact him (via email rfults@gnrc.org or via telephone 615-880-3519) for any questions. Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson asked if there was any mechanism with TVA to find out where the funds go. Discussion determined that there was no master list. Discussion also determined that the Tennessee Revenue Sharing Act would have to be amended to have any TVA funds allocated for specific projects. Mayor McMillan asked Mr. Edwards to review and look at options that may be available. AREA AGENCY ON AGING AND DISABILITY Norma Powell, Deputy Executive Director of Area Agency on Aging and Disability, stated that Melanie Howell would give her presentation at the next Committee meeting. Ms. Powell reported that staff is presently in the process of amending senior center contracts for a one-time only increase in funds.
Page 3 of 5 Staff is presently working on the Area Plan which is required in order to continue funding. We will bring the Area Plan back to the Executive Committee for their approval in March 2015. RESEARCH, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT Tim Roach, Deputy Executive Director of Research, Planning and Development, presented a list of grants available to local governments for Economic and Community Development (a copy is attached as part of these minutes). Planning: Mr. Roach reported that a new planning contract is being developed for a flat fee with any travel requirements being billed on a quarterly basis. A handout was distributed for the FY 2016 meeting charges for travel (a copy is attached as part of these minutes). ECD: Mr. Roach reported that we have been operating with few staff but all ECD program is moving forward and applications are being completed and submitted. These is hopes to bring one to two people on board next year. BROADBAND: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has struck down the Tennessee law forbidding cities from creating their own broadband. This opens the door for providers outside the typical ones. There is a bill before the General Assembly to allow broadband to extend beyond city limits. ACTION ITEMS APPROVAL OF MINUTES President Kim McMillan called for corrections or additions to the minutes of the January 21, 2015 and February 18, 2015 Executive Committee meetings. Portland Mayor Ken Wilber made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Franklin Mayor Ken Moore seconded the motion. There being no discussion, a vote was taken and the minutes were unanimously approved. FINANCIAL REPORT Tauna Blaisdell, Deputy Executive Director of Administration/Operations and Chief Fiscal Officer, presented the financial report for the month ending February 28, 2015. The total expenditures for the month of February were $362,512.99 with $4,735.60 in pass through for the Emergency Repair Program. The year-to-date expenditures were $4,696,702.33 with $1,558,960.99 in pass through. The total revenues were $5,174,835.62. Ms. Blaisdell advised members that the January 2015 financial report can be found on s website. www.gnrc.org Hendersonville Mayor Scott Foster made a motion to approve the financial report as presented. Portland Mayor Ken Wilber seconded the motion. There being no discussion, a vote was taken and the financial report were unanimously accepted. Ms. Blaisdell reported that the FY 2014 audit had no findings. PROJECT REVIEW Tim Roach, Deputy Executive Director of Research, Planning and Development, presented 11 new projects that were reviewed this reporting period. Staff found no conflict with existing or planned activities and recommended approval. There were five (5) USDA Rural Development projects for apartment rehabilitations; two (2) Rural Development Energy Efficiency projects; two (2) EPA projects including one for a water improvement system and two (2) FONSI projects.
Page 4 of 5 Gerald Herman of White House asked that Project 2015-30 be verified because of a duplicate name. (NOTE: Staff verified with USDA Rural Development and the correct project name is Clearview Apartments in White House, TN not Oakwood Village Apartments. USDA Rural Development will be sending a corrected request.) Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson made a motion to approve the projects as submitted. Portland Mayor Ken Wilber seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously passed. RESOLUTION 2015-10: PERSONAL POLICY MANUAL AMENDMENTS Ron Fults, Legal Counsel, stated that the Personnel Policy Manual (PPM) amendments were set in motion when the changes were made to comply with the Federal Fair Labors Act and bring into compliance with exempt and nonexempt employees. Some additional minor changes were made to make situations more clear. Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson made a motion to approve Resolution 2015-10 as presented. White House Mayor Gerald Herman seconded the motion. AUDIT COMMITTEE President Kim McMillan reported that she had contacted some really good people for the Private Citizens Audit Committee but had not yet had confirmation for their acceptance. Mayor McMillan asked permission from the Executive Committee to proceed and upon acceptance of those individuals to notify the Executive Committee of their names in order to confirm their appointment. Robertson County Mayor Howard Bradley made a motion to authorize President Kim McMillan to confirm acceptance and name the Private Citizens Audit Committee and report back to the Executive Committee for confirmation. Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously passed. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Sam Edwards, Executive Director/Chief Legal Counsel, reported there are 1,400 bills before the General Assembly. They are still planning on ending the session the end of April 2015. The bill pertaining to no rezoning unless the property owner signs off on it died in Committee the day before due to a lack of a second. There are still several Agenda 21 bills outstanding but there is hope these can be defeated. The annexation bills are all grouped together and hopefully this will not become a problem. s bill on the Planning Commissions is in the Local Government Sub-Committee. It was noted that if all members sign on, a bill can bypass committee and go to the floor for a vote. The caption bills are the most dangerous and staff is watching them carefully. There is a bill to do away with TACIR s collection of information on the public infrastructure needs inventory. We are not sure if this is a real bill or not. The last week of session is very dangerous. Sumner County Executive Anthony Holt is very concerned about the firearms bills especially the ones that will allow firearms in parks. School children are very active in parks and if this bill passes, it will be a financial burden on city and county governments to provide parks at schools in order to keep the children protected. Sam Edwards stated that these bills are being watched closely and he will obtain extra information when it is available.
Page 5 of 5 OTHER BUSINESS Sam Edwards, Executive Director/Chief Legal Counsel, informed members that a letter from TDOT Commissioner John C. Schroer to Chairman of the House Transportation Committee Jimmy Matlock contained a list of backlog projects. (A copy is attached and made a part of these minutes.) There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Patty Cavanah Recording Secretary Assistant to the Executive Director SHE/pyc Adminwrk\ \Board Meetings\ Minutes\2015-0318 Minutes.doc