Columbia City Council Meeting - March 12, 2026

The Columbia City Council held a regular meeting on March 12, 2026, at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers, 700 North Garden Street, Columbia, TN. Mayor Chaz Molder presided, with all council members present: Vice Mayor Randy McBroom, Council Members Carl McCullen (Ward 1), Charlie Huffman (Ward 2), Cheryl E. Secrest (Ward 3), Kenny Marshall (Ward 4), and Brian McKelvy (Ward 5). Two public hearings were held prior to the regular meeting, with no public comment received on either. The meeting covered consent items, resolutions, and ordinances, including budget amendments, land use approvals, and policy adoptions.

Consent Calendar

The following 13 items were approved en bloc without debate:

• 7.1: Disbursements for January 2026 totaling $10,967,212.19.
• 7.2: Disposal of surplus equipment via public auction.
• 7.3: Revised fee structure with Mutual of Omaha for comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services at an estimated $4,644.60 per year, saving $4,440 annually.
• 7.4: Agreement with Ameriflex for Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.
• 7.5: Contract with Lamar Advertising for digital billboard advertising ($4,000) for Mule Day promotion.
• 7.6: Contract with Caitlin Lucia for spring social media collaboration ($4,000).
• 7.7: Contract with Journal Communications for a full-page ad in the 2026-27 Maury County Livability Magazine ($6,595).
• 7.8: Contract with StyleBlueprint for a summer travel digital marketing campaign ($1,995).
• 7.9: Amendment to the Healthy Built Environment (HBE) Grant, moving $50,000 from FY2025 to FY2026.
• 7.10: Agreement with Alfred Benesch & Company for pavement management engineering (up to $145,680) and software agreement with Citylogix ($18,900 initial, $11,400 annually thereafter).
• 7.11: Purchase of three license plate readers from Motorola Solutions with 5-year subscriptions ($8,541.65 year one, $4,310.93 annually years 2-5).
• 7.12: Amendment to Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) Grant reducing award from $28,442.32 to $22,753.86.
• 7.13: Purchase of crowd protection barriers using Violent Crimes Intervention Funds (VCIF) Grant ($261,520) via GSA contract.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke during the public hearings or regular meeting.

Discussion Items

• Budget Amendment (Ordinance 4581, 2nd Consideration): The council approved the third amendment to the FY 2026 budget, increasing the total budget by $1,843,450 to $184,971,390. The amendment includes transfers from reserves for Police ($39,560), reallocation of $38,000 from Development Services to Capital Projects for conference room renovations, budgeting a $5,000 Fire Department donation, and adding $1,300,000 from the VCIF Grant. Also added on second consideration: $500,000 for State Street Aid paving and $450 for US Bank annual fee.
• Historic District Overlay (Ordinance 4578, 2nd Consideration): Approved to include property at 810 Woodland Street (Ward 3) in the Downtown Commercial Historic District. Mayor Molder recused himself from the vote.
• Morning Pointe PUD (Ordinance 4582, 2nd Consideration): Approved a Preliminary Planned Unit Development Master Plan for two group facility structures off Rutherford Lane and Westfield Drive (Ward 1).
• Beechcroft Plaza PUD – AutoZone (Ordinance 4583, 1st Consideration): Approved a Preliminary PUD Master Plan for an approximately 7,000 sq. ft. AutoZone retailer at Nashville Highway and Cayer Lane (Lot 8A). Planning Commission recommended 5-0.
• Electric Easement Termination (Ordinance 4584, 1st Consideration): Approved termination of an electric power easement at Honey Farm Way and U.S. 31, requested by CPWS.
• Election Resolution (9.1): Approved Resolution 26-12 requesting the Maury County Election Commission to conduct the city election for Mayor and Vice Mayor on November 3, 2026.
• Tax Corrections (9.2): Approved Resolution 26-13 for tax corrections as submitted by the County Tax Assessor.
• Sewer Improvements Acceptance (9.3): Approved Resolution 26-14 accepting ownership and maintenance of sewer improvements serving Woodward Estates (1,152 linear feet of sanitary sewer main).
• Midstate Classic Sponsorships (9.4): Approved Resolution 26-15 ratifying acceptance of $19,000 in donations for the 2026 Midstate Classic Softball games held March 10 at Ridley Sports Complex.
• GM on Main Street Grant (9.5): Approved Resolution 26-16 accepting a $60,000 grant for downtown beautification, including wayfinding signage, art mural, artistic crosswalks, info kiosk, bench, trash receptacle, and doggie waste station.
• Cash Management Policy (9.6): Approved Resolution 26-17 establishing a Cash Management Policy.
• Capital Asset Management Policy (9.7): Approved Resolution 26-18 establishing a Capital Asset Management Policy.
• Budget Monitoring Policy (9.8): Approved Resolution 26-19 establishing a Budget Monitoring Policy.
• Strategic Plan (9.9): Approved Resolution 26-22 adopting "Columbia 2026" as the annual strategic plan. The plan was developed during a February 24, 2026 workshop facilitated by Judy King.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items (7.1-7.13) were approved unanimously.
• Resolutions 9.1 through 9.9 were all approved unanimously.
• Ordinance 4578 (historic district overlay) was approved with Mayor Molder recused.
• Ordinance 4581 (budget amendment) was approved on second consideration.
• Ordinance 4582 (Morning Pointe PUD) was approved on second consideration.
• Ordinance 4583 (Beechcroft Plaza PUD) was approved on first consideration.
• Ordinance 4584 (electric easement termination) was approved on first consideration.
• The meeting adjourned after approximately 30 minutes, with no executive session or other business.