7.
Commissioner Reports & Comments
Commissioner Giles spoke about the success of Ride Mt. Juliet Day and thanked the Police
Department and Mt. Juliet Fire Department for their support. He also praised the spectacular
drone show by Needhams and announced a ribbon-cutting event for a new sidewalk and
bridge in Woodridge on June 22 at 2 PM.
Vice Mayor Trivett thanked everyone for attending and sharing their concerns. He addressed
the budget, noting the challenges during COVID-19 and the decision not to increase taxes
then due to widespread job losses and illness. He emphasized that the commission is striving
to be good stewards of public funds and is committed to maintaining public safety, including
keeping roads safe during snow events. He praised the Police Department, Mt. Juliet Fire
Department, EMS, and staff for their excellent response times. He assured that the
commission has been careful with every dollar and penny, and noted that City Manager
Martin is reviewing costs thoroughly. He encouraged the public to continue reaching out to
City Manager Martin with concerns.
Commissioner Hefner thanked everyone for attending and watching the meeting online. He
noted that the commission has done a good job at slowing growth, emphasizing that growth is
needed but must be managed responsibly. He stressed the importance of investing in
infrastructure, EMS, and road improvements, reminding everyone that the Mt. Juliet Police
Department does not come free and that its services come at a cost. He acknowledged that
tax increases should have been considered earlier. Commissioner Hefner praised City
Manager Martin and staff for their efforts in trimming the budget and emphasized the need to
present a responsible budget.
Commissioner Milele addressed some comments made during citizens’ comments, clarifying
that Channel 5 reported inaccurately. She stated that the phrase “we cannot afford this”
referred to competition pools, not the full recreation center. She noted that pickleball and
basketball courts are included, but the rec center has not yet broken ground. She clarified that
the recreation center is funded through the hotel-motel tax, not the general fund.
Commissioner Milele expressed appreciation for the positions discussed and indicated she
will motion to reinstate them. Regarding the budget, she highlighted that the Mt. Juliet Fire
Department’s budget has increased every year and that EMS has also been added, together
accounting for nearly half of the budget. She stated that sales tax revenue is no longer
sufficient to sustain the city and expressed her belief that cutting COLA and positions to fund
the fire department and EMS is not the right approach.
The Mayor offered condolences to Commissioner Hefner and thanked Commissioner Milele
for correcting news statements. He acknowledged differing views on the budget but
emphasized the importance of cutting expenses before considering a tax increase. He noted
that the tight budget forces careful scrutiny of expenditures. The Mayor highlighted that the
city has the lowest crime rate in the state and is ranked fourth best overall. He expressed
strong support for emergency services and stated that even if the property tax increase is
approved, the city will still have the lowest tax rate in the county.
