Council work session Tuesday expands

The Lebanon City Council will meet Tuesday for a work session at 5:30 p.m and a regular called meeting at 6 p.m.

At the work session, the council is expected to discuss Wilson County's application for designation as a vote center county, the possible creation of "railroad quiet zones" and the Rock Tenn expansion.

"The procedures and process changes we implemented over the past two years have resulted in saving tax money," Wilson County Administrator of Elections Phillip Warren said. "We realize the need to find ways to further reduce the expense of elections in ways that can be sustained for future elections while ensuring the integrity of the election and enhancing the quality of the voting experience."

The Wilson County Election Commission would like to implement vote centers for the 2014 election cycle. But the change would have to be approved by the state legislature. Warren has already addressed the Wilson County Commission about the idea, and it approved the measure.

"We would continue using the four early voting sites and add six Election Day vote centers," he said. "Lebanon and Mt. Juliet would be open for the entire early voting period while Watertown and Gladeville would be open for the last week of early voting. The four early voting sites in addition to the six vote centers would be open on Election Day."

Warren said all 10 vote centers would allow the same convenience for voters as the early voting sites offer — anyone could vote at any vote center regardless of where they live. Under the existing system, the election commission has four early voting sites along with 33 Election Day voting precincts. The idea is to make voting easier for voters and for election workers by cutting down on the Election Day rush.

The council had heard from citizens complaining about the noise the Music City Star trains make as they pass through Lebanon.

Councilman Rob Cesternino said he wasn't the one who put the railroad noise problem on the agenda, but he lives near the Music City Star line and has a vested interest in the problem.

"I understand the technology to replace the whistle is really expensive," he said. "I live near Cumberland, and I hear the first whistle for the 5:30-5:40 a.m. pick up. If it's a choice between spending money to alleviate flooding or quieting the whistle, I'll live with the whistle."

The council is also expected to consider:

• a second reading to authorize a line item transfer for the Public Safety Department concerning donations to buy radios.

• a second reading to authorize line item transfers for the police, fire and public safety departments to set up revenue-expense budgets due to receipt of funds from the 2012 Wilson County Fair to cover overtime expenses for security.

• a second reading to authorize a line item transfer for the Stormwater Department to allow the city's stormwater coordinator to attend a stormwater inspector class.

• a second reading to approve the addendum to an existing hold harmless agreement with Horn Springs Group, LLC concerning the Hamilton Springs development.

• a second reading, to authorize buying a disinfection by-products rapid response kit for the water plant.

In new business the council will consider:

• the appointment of Sam Patel as a member of the Lebanon Planning Commission.

• a first reading to authorize line item transfers for the Lebanon Sanitation Department to cover sanitation truck maintenance.

• a first reading to waive payment in-lieu-of construction for a sidewalk required as part of a site plan for Speedway at Highway 231 and Maddox-Simpson Parkway.

• a first reading to waive payment in-lieu-of construction for a sidewalk required as part of a site plan for Farm 840 at a site off Central Pike where the new Starbucks distribution center will be built.

• to use the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s “Small Purchase Procurement Procedure” to secure services necessary to complete the design phase of the Walter J. Baird Middle School’s Safe Routes to School Project.

• a first reading to authorize buying a refuse truck for the Sanitation Department.

• a first reading to authorize buying a skid steer loader for the water plant.

• a first reading to approve bids for a three-year maintenance agreement for heating and air conditioning units at the Jimmy Floyd Family Center.

• a first reading to authorize buying two pull-behind chippers for the Street Department.

• a first reading to authorize a line-item transfer for the engineering department .

• a first reading to approve the updated Esri Term License Software Agreement for the GIS Department.

• to hire a dispatcher for the Lebanon Police Department to replace a dispatcher who resigned in January to take a job with Wilson County Sheriff’s Department.

• in support of an application for Fasttrack Infrastructure Development Program improvements to the Starbucks Site.