Columbia City Council Meeting – October 8, 2026

The Columbia City Council held its regular meeting on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers, 700 North Garden Street, Columbia, TN. Vice Mayor Randy McBroom presided initially because Mayor Chaz Molder arrived late. The meeting included two public hearings, a consent agenda, the Spring Hill wastewater interlocal agreement, a Miracle League playground contribution, presentations, resolutions, ordinances, and no public comments. All votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted.

Public Hearings

• Ordinance No. 4594 (as amended) – Public hearing on the FY 2026-2027 budget amendment, which increases the City’s total budget by $77,072,346 from $84,466,601 to $161,538,947. No members of the public spoke. The hearing was closed, and the ordinance was later approved on second consideration.
• Ordinance No. 4596 – Public hearing on a temporary moratorium on data center and high-density computing facility applications. No members of the public spoke. The hearing was closed, and the ordinance was later approved on second consideration.

Consent Calendar

The following items were approved by consent (with Item 7.6 removed at staff request before the vote):

• 7.1 Disbursements for August 2026 totaling $9,875,071.10.
• 7.2 Disposal of surplus equipment.
• 7.3 Three-year renewable bid award to Best Cleaners of Columbia for uniform cleaning, alteration, and repair, with annual price adjustments not to exceed 6%.
• 7.4 Certification of 2026 real and personal property tax assessments. Real estate assessed at $2,308,804,475 ($14,009,960 revenue); agricultural land at $6,802,125 ($41,275); personal property at $130,494,827 ($791,843). Total revenue billed: $14,843,078 across 24,692 tax notices; city tax rate $0.6068 per $100 of assessed value.
• 7.5 Contract with American Marketing & Publishing for text marketing services in the amount of $1,795.
• 7.6 Removed – SnapSea visual marketing platform agreement ($10,000) was pulled from the consent agenda at staff request and not acted upon.
• 7.7 Agreement with BC Design Haus for digital marketing services in the amount of $20,000.
• 7.8 Non-exclusive use and occupancy permit for Mule Town Disc Golf Club at Woodland Park Disc Golf Course for 2026-2027.
• 7.9 Contract with Roof Systems, Inc. (RSI) to repair/replace storm-damaged roofs at Columbia Aquatics and Recreation Center – approximately 18,000 square feet, cost $224,769.58, funded through insurance.
• 7.10 Trane service agreement for the indoor pool HVAC system: $5,323 in year one, with 3% annual increases through year five.
• 7.11 Addendum No. 5 to Barge Design Solutions agreement for Iron Bridge Road over Lytle Creek Bridge Replacement – $5,788, new total $562,896.
• 7.12 Professional engineering services agreement with HMB Professional Engineers, LLC – $248,782.50 for stormwater improvements at East 9th Street and South Main Street.
• 7.13 TDOT Contract No. 260106 for widening Bear Creek Pike (SR-99) from Nashville Highway to I-65 – estimated total project cost $190,000,000, with a $10,000,000 city contribution; approximately 7.2 miles; construction anticipated in 2037.
• 7.14 Bid award to On-Duty Depot for upfitting eight police patrol vehicles – $169,368.

Presentations & Organizational Business

• The minutes of the September 10, 2026 City Council meeting were approved.
• The 2026-2027 Columbia Mayor’s Youth Council members were introduced; several members were absent due to fall break.
• The Army Recruiting Office of Columbia was recognized for supporting future soldiers.

Discussion Items

• 8.1 Spring Hill Wastewater Interlocal Agreement – The Council approved an agreement with the City of Spring Hill for conveyance of 500,000 to 1.5 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater to Columbia’s treatment plant. The agreement includes a $12 million commitment by Spring Hill, with $3 million earmarked for upgrading Columbia’s Carter’s Creek Pike pump station and $9 million for the infrastructure project from Spring Hill’s plant to Columbia’s Rutherford Creek gravity sewer main. Capacity is reserved for a 30-year term (three 10-year periods). Spring Hill Mayor Matt Fitter attended and stated the agreement provides flexibility for both cities; Vice Mayor McBroom and council members praised the regional cooperation. Council Member McCullen moved approval, seconded by Council Member Marshall. The motion passed unanimously.
• 8.2 Miracle League Contribution – The Council approved a $230,000 contribution to Miracle League of Columbia for special needs playground equipment, matching Maury County’s contribution. Vice Mayor McBroom recused himself because a family member serves on the Miracle League board. Mayor Molder made the motion, which was seconded and passed. Council Member Cheryl Secrest shared personal support and encouraged additional community donations. Mayor Molder noted the playground represents the final chapter of the Miracle League project.

Resolutions

• Resolution No. 26-62 – Approving tax corrections through September 17, 2026, as submitted by the Maury County Tax Assessor. Approved unanimously.
• Resolution No. 26-63 – Formally designating and establishing the Columbia Fire & Rescue Training Facility as the official fire department training ground. Approved unanimously.

Ordinances (Second Consideration)

• Ordinance No. 4594 (as amended) – FY 2026-2027 budget amendment. Approved unanimously.
• Ordinance No. 4595 – Conveying a forty-foot-wide electric line easement to Duck River Electric Membership Corporation for property on Hampshire Pike (Tax Map 104, Parcel 16.00). Council discussion clarified that this easement is unrelated to a separate pipeline easement. Approved unanimously.
• Ordinance No. 4596 – Temporary moratorium on acceptance, processing, and approval of applications for data centers and high-density computing facilities. Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak.

Key Outcomes

• The Council approved all consent agenda items except the removed Item 7.6 (SnapSea), which was not voted on.
• The Council unanimously approved the Spring Hill wastewater interlocal agreement, the $230,000 Miracle League contribution, both resolutions, and all three ordinances on second consideration.
• No executive session was needed; the meeting adjourned.