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Record of Proceedings

Clarksville City Council Regular Session - April 2, 2026

City Council — Thursday, April 2, 2026
BodyClarksville, Tennessee
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, April 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:00

Have the money to pay for things not in the budget.

0:03

They don't believe me.

0:05

Frankly, I don't think you understand the consequences of refusing to raise property taxes year after

Unassigned speaker

0:13

year.

Speaker 1

0:15

Therefore, I have researched more than 60 city financial reports to prove to you that you have the lowest property taxes in the country.

0:25

And then delineate that data in the table I presented to

Unassigned speaker

0:29

you.

Speaker 1

0:30

I've told you where and how I found this information.

0:34

And you can look it up for yourself.

Unassigned speaker

0:37

The

Speaker 1

0:38

2024 Clarksville General Government Funds revenue was 162 million.

0:43

All the other cities with revenue below 210 million were in financial trouble.

0:48

30 of the 50 cities I researched had revenues more than 100 million more than Clarksville.

0:54

Our first responders are complaining that they are making 60% of what other cities are playing.

1:00

Our police have virtually no applications to replace the people who've left this year.

1:05

Our taxpayers are paying for training police and firefighters only to have them leave the city for more money.

1:11

When Chief Berdine told you he had raised the salary to 57,000, the next start lowest starting wage in the state.

1:19

The news reported that you told him you wouldn't be able to pay that increase for next year.

1:25

I don't know if that's what you said or not, but that's what was reported.

Unassigned speaker

1:30

The

Speaker 1

1:30

city of Salem, Oregon is in serious financial trouble.

1:34

They have a property tax cap and cannot maintain services.

1:37

So they've closed the library, the parks, laid off police officers.

1:44

The only tax cap the city of Clarksville has is the refusal of some council members to allow property tax increases, even if it means we have to cut essential services like police and firefighters.

1:58

Clarksville's average salaries are below the state average.

2:02

I believe that is because when the city government doesn't pay your employees a living wage, then other employees in Clarksville follow your lead, and they don't pay their employees a living wage either.

Unassigned speaker

2:24

It's

Speaker 2

2:24

right up here, Ms.

2:25

Erickson.

2:25

I've got it until the clerk gets

Unassigned speaker

2:27

back.

Speaker 2

2:29

You've got you've got two minutes.

Speaker 1

2:31

Okay.

2:31

Good.

2:33

Um in 2023 the tax rate was 1.23, and my house was appraised at 195,000, and my taxes were $602.

2:42

In 2024, the tax rate was 88, and my tax was appraised at 250,000, and my property taxes were $550, $50 less than in 2023.

2:54

In 2025, the tax rate was 92, and my house was appraised at 313,000, and my taxes increased by 170 dollars.

3:02

But that was only 120 more than in 2023, which is $10 a month.

3:08

And that's a subscription or Walmart delivery or anything.

3:15

Our memories are short.

3:17

We're all complaining about gas being $360 a gallon, but a little over a year ago before President Trump took office, we are paying $360.

3:26

Many of you are running for re-election this

Unassigned speaker

3:28

year,

Speaker 1

3:29

and all of you will have to face constituents when you have public hearings in June.

3:34

I beg you to defend yourselves.

3:36

You are the most frugal public servants in the United States.

3:40

Tell them how careful you are with their money.

3:44

Please consider the consequences of not giving police and firefighters a living wage, even if you have to raise property taxes to do it.

3:51

The majority of people in this city want adequate police and fire protection and are willing to pay for

Unassigned speaker

3:57

it.

Speaker 1

3:58

Many people in Clarksville don't understand that essential government services are paid for by property taxes.

4:04

There is no other way to provide

Unassigned speaker

4:06

them.

Unassigned speaker

4:07

And

Speaker 1

4:08

since I have another minute, I will say that when we lived in Illinois, our city property taxes were $2,200 each

Unassigned speaker

4:14

year.

Speaker 1

4:16

Thank you.

Speaker 2

4:17

Thank you.

4:17

Next person on our list is Gilbert Pulley.

4:20

Mr.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation███████████████████████23%
Zoning And Land Use██████████████████18%
Procedural█████████9%
Public Engagement████████8%
Community Engagement██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Miscellaneous█████5%
Military Affairs█████5%
Veteran Affairs████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Clarksville City Council Regular Session - April 2, 2026

The Clarksville City Council held a regular session on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included public comments, a planning commission public hearing, consent agenda approvals, committee reports, new business, and mayor/council member comments. The meeting adjourned at 6:57 PM.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Lenore Erekson (5:30 pm) addressed the FY '27 Budget and 2026 election. She argued that the city has the lowest property taxes in the country based on her research of over 60 city financial reports. She stated that Clarksville's 2024 General Government Funds revenue was $162 million, while other cities with revenue below $210 million were in financial trouble. She claimed first responders make 60% of what other cities pay, police have virtually no applicants, and the starting salary raised to $57,000 may not be sustainable. She urged the council to consider raising property taxes to fund essential services like police and fire protection.
  • Gilbert Pulley (5:35 pm) spoke about the Ajax Turner Senior Center, recounting its history from 1963 and emphasizing its role as a family and support system for seniors. He noted the center is a 501(c)(3) organization funded by city, state, federal, United Way, grants, and donations.
  • Lois Greider (5:40 pm), a former board member and volunteer at the Ajax Turner Senior Center, alleged that the last lease with the city was from 2003 under Don Trotter, and that GNRC was approached to shift funds to the city rather than the center. She claimed a conflict of interest due to Mayor Pitts serving on the GNRC board. She stated that the center's adult daycare director was let go and immediately hired by the city, and that the same day the mayor gave a 90-day lease cancellation notice, which she equated to an eviction. She argued a government takeover would destroy the center's independence and ability to serve seniors effectively.
  • Robin Welch (5:45 pm), a former board member, shared personal experiences of how the Ajax Turner Center enriched her life and stressed the importance of senior-specific programming, consistency, and a volunteer-run facility. She expressed concern that a management change would lose the singular focus on seniors.
  • Maureen Potter (5:50 pm) highlighted the center's mission to enhance seniors' quality of life and its role as a place where strangers become family. She spoke from personal experience as an elderly person and caregiver, urging that the center not be transformed into anything other than a senior center.
  • Brett Beamer listed for traffic concerns did not appear.

Consent Calendar

  • The Consent Agenda was adopted unanimously (13-0) with the following items, though individual council members registered "No" votes on some items:
    • Ordinance 39-2025-26 (Z-48-2025): Zone change on College St from M-1 to C-5.
    • Ordinance 47-2025-26 (Z-53-2025): Zone change at 1911 Old Russelville Pike from R-1 to R-2A. Pulled for separate vote. Passed 7-5-1 (Brown, Haywood, Holleman, Pitts, Shakeenab opposed; Smith abstained).
    • Ordinance 54-2025-26 (Z-1-2026): Zone change on Wilcox St from R-4 to CBD.
    • Ordinance 55-2025-26: Accept donation of property for Greenway development near Ringgold Road.
    • Ordinance 56-2025-26 (Z-8-2026): Zone change at 1018 Swift Dr from O-1 to R-2A.
    • Ordinance 57-2025-26 (Z-3-2026): Zone change at 2610 Ashland City Rd from R-1 to R-5. (Councilmembers Shakeenab and Holleman voted "No")
    • Ordinance 59-2025-26 (Z-4-2026): Zone change at 2075 N Ford St from M-2 to R-2A. (Councilman Holleman voted "No")
    • Ordinance 60-2025-26 (Z-5-2026): Zone change at 1640 Evans Rd from R-2D to R-1.
    • Ordinance 62-2025-26 (Z-7-2026): Zone change at 3341 and 3351 Pembroke Rd from R-1 to R-5. (Councilman Shakeenab voted "No")
    • Ordinance 63-2025-26 (Z-9-2026): Zone change on Dover Rd from C-2 to C-5.
    • Resolution 51-2025-26: Approving appointments to various boards.
    • Adoption of minutes from February 11 and March 5, 2026.

Planning Commission Public Hearing & Zoning

  • Ordinance 65-2025-26 (First Reading) (Z-10-2025): Zone change on Edgewood Pl from AG Agricultural to C-5 Highway & Arterial Commercial for a new VA clinic. Rustam Corey (president of Carnegie Management and Development Corp) spoke in favor, describing a four-story, 250,000+ sq ft facility with over 1,300 parking spaces. He stated a fully executed, non-cancelable lease with the VA, targeting groundbreaking by late summer and completion in about three years. The project will have three private access drives. The council approved the first reading unanimously (13-0).

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 47-2025-26 (Pulled from Consent): Councilman Pitts noted debris in the railroad right-of-way had been addressed by the railroad after a constituent complaint. The ordinance passed 7-5-1.
  • New Business - Resolutions:
    • Resolution 52-2025-26: Designating Spring Creek Parkway as "Pastor Willie J. Freeman Memorial Parkway." Unanimously adopted (13-0).
    • Resolution 53-2025-26: Designating Peachers Mill Rd from Tiny Town Rd to 101st Parkway as "Reverend Alvin O. Oldham Sr. Memorial Rd." Councilman Holleman expressed reservations about naming roads after people due to potential future name changes, but voted in favor. Councilman Chandler strongly supported honoring community pillars. Unanimously adopted (13-0).
  • Finance Committee:
    • Resolution 48-2025-26: Authorizing retirement of police K-9 "Riggs" and donation to Officer Lyssed Pacheco. Passed unanimously.
    • Resolution 49-2025-26: Authorizing funds for an actuarial study of hazardous duty supplemental benefits for public safety officers. Passed unanimously.
    • Resolution 50-2025-26: Authorizing interlocal agreement with Montgomery County for 2025 Byrne Justice Grant allocations. Councilman Brown disclosed employment with the sheriff's office but voted in favor. Passed unanimously.
  • Committee Reports:
    • Neighborhood & Community Services: Annual Action Plan published April 3 for HUD, with two public hearings (April 21 at 4:30 pm, April 22 at 10:30 am) and a 30-day comment period until May 4. Also announced a faith-based housing education cohort meeting on July 8.
    • Parks & Recreation: Upcoming events: Homeschool Heritage Day (April 10), Defying Convention discussion (April 18), Greenway 8K (May 2). Hiring for various positions.
    • Public Safety: Building codes: 2,149 inspections, 284 new code enforcement cases, 27 abatement work orders, $391,000 revenue. Police: Sgt. Partel retired after 24 years; several promotions. Coffee with a Cop April 15. Fire: 29 new recruits in academy; NFPA summit held; promotions in maintenance division.
    • Transportation-Streets-Garage: CTS transported 40,640 fixed-route riders (including 8,413 seniors free) and 4,984 paratransit riders in March. Street department completed 265 work orders, debris/brush at 175 locations. Ross Street/Dunbar Realignment final work underway; E and B St sidewalks 80% complete. Garage: 292 work orders; fuel costs: unleaded $93,123 (32,055 gallons at $3.28/gal, up 50%), diesel $32,848 (8,000 gallons at $4.36/gal, up 63%). Next TSG meeting April 14.

Mayor & Council Member Comments

  • Mayor Joe Pitts addressed public concerns about the Ajax Turner Senior Center. He stated the city owns the building and provides nearly 90% of funding plus capital improvements. He declared an intention to move operations under the Parks and Recreation Department to stabilize the center and ensure long-term success, claiming it is an operational/management decision. He alleged deliberate misinformation and said he would meet with employees and members over the next two to three weeks.
  • Councilman Claunch thanked police captains and city staff for prompt after-hours responses.
  • Councilwoman Wanda Smith officially announced her candidacy for Mayor of Clarksville, stating her campaign kickoff was March 21 at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous passage of first reading of Ordinance 65-2025-26 (VA clinic zone change).
  • Majority passage (7-5-1) of Ordinance 47-2025-26 (zone change on Old Russelville Pike).
  • Unanimous adoption of all other consent agenda items, with individual no votes recorded on three items.
  • Unanimous adoption of two road naming resolutions (52 and 53).
  • Unanimous adoption of all three finance resolutions (48, 49, 50).
  • Mayor announced administrative decision to move Ajax Turner Senior Center operations under Parks & Recreation.
  • Councilwoman Smith announced mayoral candidacy.

Meeting Transcript

Have the money to pay for things not in the budget. They don't believe me. Frankly, I don't think you understand the consequences of refusing to raise property taxes year after year. Therefore, I have researched more than 60 city financial reports to prove to you that you have the lowest property taxes in the country. And then delineate that data in the table I presented to you. I've told you where and how I found this information. And you can look it up for yourself. The 2024 Clarksville General Government Funds revenue was 162 million. All the other cities with revenue below 210 million were in financial trouble. 30 of the 50 cities I researched had revenues more than 100 million more than Clarksville. Our first responders are complaining that they are making 60% of what other cities are playing. Our police have virtually no applications to replace the people who've left this year. Our taxpayers are paying for training police and firefighters only to have them leave the city for more money. When Chief Berdine told you he had raised the salary to 57,000, the next start lowest starting wage in the state. The news reported that you told him you wouldn't be able to pay that increase for next year. I don't know if that's what you said or not, but that's what was reported. The city of Salem, Oregon is in serious financial trouble. They have a property tax cap and cannot maintain services. So they've closed the library, the parks, laid off police officers. The only tax cap the city of Clarksville has is the refusal of some council members to allow property tax increases, even if it means we have to cut essential services like police and firefighters. Clarksville's average salaries are below the state average. I believe that is because when the city government doesn't pay your employees a living wage, then other employees in Clarksville follow your lead, and they don't pay their employees a living wage either. It's right up here, Ms. Erickson. I've got it until the clerk gets back. You've got you've got two minutes. Okay. Good. Um in 2023 the tax rate was 1.23, and my house was appraised at 195,000, and my taxes were $602. In 2024, the tax rate was 88, and my tax was appraised at 250,000, and my property taxes were $550, $50 less than in 2023. In 2025, the tax rate was 92, and my house was appraised at 313,000, and my taxes increased by 170 dollars. But that was only 120 more than in 2023, which is $10 a month. And that's a subscription or Walmart delivery or anything. Our memories are short. We're all complaining about gas being $360 a gallon, but a little over a year ago before President Trump took office, we are paying $360. Many of you are running for re-election this year, and all of you will have to face constituents when you have public hearings in June. I beg you to defend yourselves. You are the most frugal public servants in the United States. Tell them how careful you are with their money. Please consider the consequences of not giving police and firefighters a living wage, even if you have to raise property taxes to do it. The majority of people in this city want adequate police and fire protection and are willing to pay for it.

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