7.
Commissioner Reports & Comments
Commissioner Giles thanked staff for taking action on issues related to the Elliott’s Reserve
development. He expressed concern about developers removing trees and bushes and
emphasized that they are responsible for replacing them. He also complimented the city’s two
fireworks shows, noting that the Needham’s display was spectacular. He watched it from his
office due to its close proximity. He also welcomed City Manager Martin back.
Vice Mayor Trivett thanked everyone for attending the meeting and watching online. He spoke
about ongoing issues with rain and flooding in the Hickory Hills area, emphasizing the need
for developer accountability. He noted that the city team, the commission, and City Manager
Martin are actively working on the issue. He expressed appreciation to those who have
worked on and spoken about this concern. He highlighted the recent Hometown Hero and
Fourth of July events, thanking all the volunteers, Parks staff, committees, and first
responders who helped bring the community together. He reminded residents that school is
starting soon and urged everyone to watch for school buses. He thanked citizens for their
awareness and consideration regarding traffic and expressed appreciation to the city for
stepping up. He also welcomed City Manager Martin back and encouraged residents to reach
out to him with any concerns.
Commissioner Milele welcomed City Manager Martin back and thanked the residents of
Nichols Vale for attending and speaking during the meeting. She emphasized the importance
of shopping local to support the city. Commissioner Milele also displayed a chart to explain
her reasons for voting against the budget and provided an explanation of the pie chart she
presented.
Mayor Maness expressed pride in serving as Mayor and in the efforts made to keep the
community safe. He thanked staff for their hard work and acknowledged the difficulty of
completing all projects with the resources available. He clarified that the property tax increase
was not passed solely to fund the Fire Department, but rather to support enhanced services
citywide. He explained that he brought forth the ordinance to establish the Fire Department
only after discussions with the county about increasing ambulance coverage resulted in no
progress. He emphasized that public safety should not be tied exclusively to the property tax.
He commended the Parks Department for their outstanding work on recent events and
thanked Public Works and the Police Department for their dedication-especially while working
in extreme heat. He also acknowledged the presence of local Scouts at the meeting.
8.
City Manager's Report
City Manager Martin thanked everyone for attending the meeting, as well as for the prayers
and messages he received. He expressed gratitude to the Board of Commissioners for
approving the railroad repair project and noted that residents have been phenomenal
throughout recent challenges. He also thanked local businesses and emphasized the
importance of shopping local. He stated that Mt. Juliet is a community that takes care of both
its young and elderly residents. While acknowledging that staff cannot be everywhere at once,
he affirmed that the residents of Mt. Juliet deserve the very best.
9.
Unfinished Business Consent Agenda Items:
