Elizabethtown City Council Special Meeting and Work Session – October 9, 2025

Note: The raw transcript for this meeting indicates the date as September 22, 2025, but the provided metadata specifies the meeting took place on October 9, 2025. This summary uses the metadata date per instructions, but the discrepancy is noted.

The meeting began with a prayer led by Councilman Lamar Jones, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the minutes from September 15, 2025. The council then conducted a special business meeting to approve three ordinances (second readings) and two municipal orders, all passed unanimously. The meeting transitioned into a work session featuring updates on the outdoor music venue and a gas rate study.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes from September 15, 2025 – motion carried.

Ordinances (Second Readings – All Adopted 6-0)

• Ordinance 23-2025: Setting the tax rate for all motor vehicles and watercraft at 11.6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for the 2025 tax year, effective January 1, 2026.
• Ordinance 24-2025: Setting the franchise tax rate on eligible bank deposits at 0.025% for the 2025 tax year, with a 2% discount for payments made in October or November 2025, and a 6% annual interest rate on delinquent bills.
• Ordinance 25-2025: Setting the real and personal property tax rate at 10.7 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for 2025. A councilmember noted that since 1983, the city council has never raised this rate, only maintained or decreased it. The ordinance includes a 2% discount if paid by November 30, 2025, and escalating penalties for late payment.

Municipal Orders (Adopted Unanimously)

• Municipal Order 56-2025: Accepting a proposal from McNolia Bank for the naming rights to the gallery space within the Historic State Theater complex. The agreement is for a five-year period at an annual amount of $20,100.
• Municipal Order 55-2025: Accepting the bid from Dewey and Kelly Cruz, doing business as Cruise Properties LLC, for the purchase of 0.76 acres at 710 and 712 East Dixie Avenue for $190,000. The city will convey the property free of liens and will provide a boundary survey and Phase I environmental assessment. The Cruz family, owners of Deucers Homemade Ice Cream and Bakery, spoke about their plans to expand their business to this location, emphasizing community involvement and family legacy. Councilmembers praised the family's contributions to the community.

Announcements & Upcoming Events

• The October 6, 2025 city council meeting is canceled due to fall break. The next regular meeting is October 13, 2025.
• The Heartland Harvest Festival will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, with events throughout the day including a breakfast, 5K, fishing derbies, corvette cruise-in, over 100 craft vendors, a free kid zone, and a free concert featuring The Cleverlys, The Mixers, and Montgomery Gentry (featuring Eddie Montgomery). The festival is free and open to the public, with no coolers allowed.
• A councilmember congratulated the Central Hardin and Elizabethtown girls golf teams for both advancing to the state tournament after the Fifth Region tournament.

Work Session – Outdoor Music Venue Progress Report

• Tim Mattingley (Congleton Hacker) and Paul 50 presented an update on the outdoor music venue construction. To date, 60,000 cubic yards of dirt have been moved (of 250,000 total planned). Two of three sinkholes have been remediated via grout injection. Foundations for the stage structure are being poured, and steel contractors are mobilizing. The project includes a stage, lower bowl seating, upper lawn, parking, administrative building, concessions, and a restaurant. Over 500 native trees will be planted. The team is using BIM (building information modeling) for clash detection and weekly drone surveys for progress tracking.

Work Session – Gas Rate Study

• Scott Heath (Magnolia River Services) presented a cost of service study for the city's gas system. The last base rate adjustment was in 2012, while non-gas costs have risen from $2.5 million in 2009 to $4.2 million in fiscal 2024, leading to cash flow deficits of $927,000 to over $3 million annually. The study recommends raising base rates and facilities charges to recover costs. Three scenarios were presented:
  • Scenario 1: Break-even, with a 28% increase for general rate customers and 34% for heat rate customers (average $17.80/month increase for heat rate customers).
  • Scenario 2: Plus $250,000 annual surplus, with 30% and 37% increases respectively ($19.30/month average).
  • Scenario 3: Higher surplus, with 33% and 40% increases ($20.87/month average).
• Heath recommended Scenario 2 to replenish fund balance. Even with the increases, Elizabethtown's rates would remain below most neighboring systems. Councilmembers discussed the stagnant customer base and the need to expand gas service to new developments. No vote was taken; the presentation was for discussion.

Key Outcomes

• All three ordinances (23-2025, 24-2025, 25-2025) were adopted by a 6-0 vote.
• Municipal Order 56-2025 (theater naming rights) and Municipal Order 55-2025 (property sale) were adopted unanimously.
• The gas rate study was presented for council consideration; no action was taken. The council will deliberate on a rate adjustment at a future meeting.
• The outdoor music venue update was received; construction continues on schedule.
• The meeting adjourned after the work session.