Traffic Projects Study Session

February 15, 2024

Full disclosure, this meeting was a discussion and often hard to keep up with all that was being asked. It seems I got the spirit of the discussion and if I missed anything, please reach out to your aldermen or mayor for clarification.

The city had a special study session to look at various traffic concerns and projects in White House. There are six projects listed. They are not necessarily in order of needing to be completed. The only project that is first is Pleasant Grove Road and 76 since most of the engineering on that project is complete.

This is the Pleasant Grove 76 project.

This has been warranted for years. After The Parks was built, this is now a necessity. It has already been approved at the planning board level. White House would like to see 76 widened from I65 to New Hall road, but that did not show up in the TDOT 10 year plan.

The two places where Robertson County showed up in the plan

City Administrator Herman said that they went to Forward Sumner to ask questions about 76. They told him that they need to keep lobbying their representative. At this point the city will at least be able to put the light at Pleasant Grove. The cost there is $1.8 million. The city has $1.2 million in the budget.

This is the final phase of the widening project of Sage Road. All of the right of way has been purchased. One of the last properties is set to close, and one has been condemned and they are sorting that out. The right of ways are for the sewer line that is going in. It would make sense to widen the road at the same time the lines are put in. That way the residents aren’t having their yards torn up now and then a year or two from now. The price on this is $1.8 million.

There are three very large subdivisions going in on this road. This project would need to be done in two phases. The first from Indian Ridge to Bill Moss, the second from Bill Moss to the city limits. It is in the design phase right now. Calista Farms is giving the city $500k towards the project. There will be 1000 homes there in the next eight years. The city would like to extend the sidewalk from Indian Ridge to Wilkinson and Jackson Farms will extend the sidewalk down Volunteer Drive. That is in the contract.

This was started a few years ago. There was a bid for construction that came in at $500k. It is now $800K. This road will be more heavily traveled once the Byrum property becomes a city park. Currently it is hard for two trucks to pass one another on the road.

This is the number one intersection for crashes based on rate. Hester is still number one in number of crashes. The car in this photo is from just last week. When Burris Ridge begins building, this will be more of an issue. Lennar will be responsible for the light, but this road drops off on both sides. When it rains, the road floods. It needs turn lantes. It is a $1.7 million project, Lennar is responsible for $250k.

This is currently being used as a cut through from Tyree Springs to 31W. Temple Baptist has grown and this intersection needs a traffic signal. With the new school opening up down the road, there will be even more traffic. This is a $2 million project.

Here are the funding options

All of these projects have a 12 year approach. Currently, the budget does not have enough for a capital project like the stoplight. The city needs $900k for a fire engine, wages are being raised, the debt service on the rec center and the city hall are all in the budget. The city has grants for a couple of the road projects. Hester Drive and Advanex have a TDOT project going on. There are improvements on 31W that are included in a state grant. Other road projects are funded by developers. Publix is responsible for road improvements on 76 and Raymond Hirsch and Dorris Farms is responsible for the stoplight on S. Palmers.

Robertson County re-assessed properties and increased property taxes last year. Sumner County will assess property next year. The board could simply raise taxes, or it could be put to a referendum for the citizens to vote on. The city could do one of the projects without a tax increase, but that will impact other projects in the city.

Projects with a check are done, circles are started- List is from the comprehensive plan

Mayor Corbitt asked if the after the 12 year note the property taxes could be backed off. Herman said that the current board at that time could decide on that. Corbitt asked if the wording of the resolution could include a sunset. The longer that the city waits to do these things, the higher the prices go. Herman added that the first two projects could be done in two years, and all six could be done in 2.5 years. Alderman Wall added that the city is in a difficult situation. The big picture was not looked at. Projects five and six are results of the new developments. It’s going to be hard to sell a tax increase that is needed for this growth. Alderman Spicer responded with we can complain or do something about it. We can give the people a choice, but Union Road is a big issue. Lives are lost at that intersection. Wall asked if there were other funds. Herman stated that there are impact fees, some of which are being used for Sage Road. Those fees only grow as the houses are built. During a recession those decline. Wall asked about an abatement schedule. Herman said that right now (the city or Sumner) is lower than Robertson. Core5 didn’t ask for an abatement and the largest taxes are collected from apartments. Two of those will be coming online this year. Wall asked what the budget looks like with those applied to it. Herman answered that the money goes to the general fund for operational costs, employees, and debt services. Last is capital projects. Waste and storm water have separate budgets. Wall said he is just looking to see where they could get the money. Herman went through the current debt. $250k falls off in 2028, and the water line is done in 2030, the library has a 30 year note, and the city hall has a 20 year. It’s hard to add roads even with the money coming in. Capital has been spent on other things, like fire, police, and public works. If the board wants a referendum on taxes, the resolution process needs to be started. It is free to put it on the November ballot, but will cost about $90k for a special election. Alderman Spicer asked if they could refinance the note if the rates went down. A representative(cannot remember where from and I didn’t catch the name) was at the meeting. She added that the note could be refinanced after 3 years if the rates went down, but it was not required. Herman said he thought that the taxes would be down from the grocery tax holiday, but getting sales tax from Amazon has really helped. The property taxes will increase as new homes are added. A question was asked about Calista. The total on Calista is $2.6, but it will only be $2.1 for the city with the $500k from Calista Farms. The impact fees were tripled, but there are limitations on what impact fees can be spent on. For example, the city needs another police car. Impact fees cannot be used on replacements only new additions. Herman then added that the city doesn’t accumulate that much from impact fees. Alderman Matthews asked even with the 1000 homes. (the money comes in one home at a time instead of in large chunks) Silver asked how the tax increase would affect these projects. The representative answered that as long as they passed the resolution between October and November, the escrow would be paid out by December 31st. Herman added that everything is delayed until something is decided. If the board passed a tax increase today, all projects could be started by early summer and under construction by September. The only delay on Pleasant Grove would be some right of ways. Wall added that N. Palmers Chapel is falling apart and Pleasant Grove has been an issue for a long time. Sage is a mess and he feels for the people that live there, especially if the road has to be torn up a second time. Spicer asked what happens when Pleasant Grove and Union both have lights. Will they widen 76? Herman said that in 2018 they looked at connecting Pleasant Grove and Union, but the dairy did not want to lose their land. The Pleasant Grove project will have minimal affect on the dairy. Union Road will be used more and more. Another plant was just approved on Union, and the industrial park is just across the bridge. Mayor Corbitt said, “We are looking at $10/month for all of the projects.” Wall added that there will be more issues as the new houses are built. Spicer said this list captures the problems that are coming our way. Herman also said that the Hope Center is for sale and the property across the street is as well. The city will need a plan B if they decide not to raise taxes. The city cannot rewind and make the old board do something about this. Wall added that something has to be done. Spicer agreed that something needs to be done for the citizens. The city cannot continue to let these accidents happen. Herman said that a decision needs to be made by the budget meeting in June. Alderman Matthews added that all of these projects are safety related. The city has added more elderly and teen drivers and more children. The safety issues need to be addressed. He also asked about the costs. Herman answered that they should be locked in for 3 years.

The board decided to take the issues to their constituents and make a decision before June.