Lebanon WWTP Site Selection — Public Record Archive | Return to main page
Video recording (YouTube) — Transcript — Meeting began 6:00 p.m., City of Lebanon Administration Building
Citizen, 529 Scarlet Oak Drive (9:32–11:02) — Expressed appreciation for Mayor Bell’s remarks at the June 16 council meeting regarding county facilities served by city sewer, calling the Wilson County Commission’s resolution opposing potential sewer plant sites “tone deaf” given that Lebanon residents also vote in Wilson County elections.
Adria Higgins, 105 Mall Court (13:51–17:03) — Asked the council and mayor to re-watch the June 16, 2026 city council meeting for self-reflection. Acknowledged that the county commission passed its resolution in response to constituent concerns. Presented results of Freedom of Information Act requests from Wilson County, citing county contributions to Lebanon not mentioned at the June 16 meeting:
Higgins also directed the council’s attention to Ordinance 267445 (termination of Expo Center funding) and asked whether that action reflects constituents’ preferences.
Derek Dodson, 106 Chapman Drive (17:16–19:33) — Dodson opened by complimenting the June 16 council meeting minutes and Mayor Bell’s presentation of city services provided to county facilities. On the site selection process, he stated:
“Obviously, no public officials in the history of the United States have ever dealt with the hairball as y’all are in the site selection of a public utility project, which is a sewer plant site.”
Dodson also distributed a two-page document to council members. The content of that document was not read into the record.
Mayor Bell announced the appointment of Jalissa Tubbs to the Lebanon Housing Authority board, thanked city employees who responded to water main breaks on the Fourth of July holiday, and announced upcoming TDOT work on the Highway 109/I-40 interchange. He also acknowledged the death of former City Councilor Fred Burton, who served on the council for over 30 years, and read into the record the Legends of Lebanon Award previously presented to Burton. (Fred Burton’s celebration of life was scheduled for Saturday, July 11, at 4:00 p.m. at the Wilson County Expo Center, with a lying-in-state at City Hall from 10:00 a.m. to noon.)
Ordinance 267434 (second reading) — Authorization of a budget amendment for the wastewater treatment plant, by Jeremiah Exom, wastewater treatment plant manager. Originally presented at the June 16 meeting; approved unanimously on consent agenda.
Ordinance 267442 (first reading) — Authorization of a new budget amendment for the wastewater treatment plant, by Regina Santana, utilities director. Approved unanimously.
Ordinance 267445 (first reading) — Termination of the city’s annual financial contribution to the Wilson County Expo Center ($100,000/year). Deferred to the next regular meeting at Councilor Brian’s request, to allow all council members to be present. Discussion confirmed that the original ordinance was written as a discretionary donation (“up to $100,000 per year, up to 20 years”) and does not represent a binding legal obligation. Councilors Brian and Morehead both framed the potential termination as a taxpayer-interest decision rather than retaliation against the county. The Expo Center has grown substantially since the donation began and now hosts the Tennessee State Fair.
Note: While this ordinance is not directly part of the WWTP site selection process, it arises in the same context of city-county tensions that intensified after the Wilson County Commission passed a resolution opposing potential sewer plant locations in the county. It is included here as relevant background.