Citizens Erupt at Trezevant Council Meeting

TREZEVANT (April 8) — A long-standing trend of little to no engagement by the citizenry of Trezevant in its municipal affairs seems to be over following a regular board meeting that can only be described as highly irregular.

The chaotic, nearly three-hour affair in a packed community center consisted mostly of citizens expressing outrage at the enforcement of codes regarding several separate properties.

Town attorney Charles Trotter absorbed the brunt of the fury, but there was more than enough to go around as Mayor Bobby Blaylock, the board of alderman and several town employees faced a nonstop barrage of sharp criticism.

Beth Ann and Clay Farrell of Haynes Street, along with Brent Prescott of Clayton Homes, addressed the board about their intent to replace their 12x66-foot trailer with one that is 16x76-foot. The new trailer exceeds setback requirements by a matter of feet.

They sought approval, which Trotter said needed to go through the proper process, which would begin with the planning commission, which has been dormant for many years. “You have a zoning ordinance on the books. All this stuff is set out in the zoning ordinance. You all badly need a planning commission, and you need a board of zoning appeals that deals with this stuff. That’s what the law is in Tennessee, and we have an ordinance on the books. This doesn’t need to come to the board of mayor and alderman at a regular monthly meeting. This needs to go to the planning commission and then to the board of zoning appeals.”

The mayor requested that the planning commission meet. David Bryant, chairman of the planning commission and former mayor (at the time the ordinance was approved) expressed his intent to contact the other members.

Mrs. Farrell inquired about other properties where trailers had been put that exceeded setbacks. “I know they’re not all done by those particular setbacks, and they didn’t come ask anybody I’m assuming because I didn’t see it on the minutes. So if those are already done, then I don’t see why… I mean, I don’t know the proper procedures or anything like that, but they’ve already been changed for one person here and there. So, I’m asking that this be continued for me basically. I don’t know how that’s supposed to work, I’ve never been to one of these. I’m just trying to get a new home put in there, make it look better, and do it the right way by asking.”

Alderman Dan Dieringer said, “The planning commission needs to get activated. There has to be some sort of structure and organization just for us to even follow what I’m assuming is the state laws that are already on the books. This just can’t go by the wayside, we’ve got to get it active. We’ve got to get the band back together, so to speak.”

After a lengthy back-and-forth between town officials and citizens, the board officially requested that the planning committee be convened to address the issue.

Citizens John Quinn and Stephanie Rexinger of Main Street addressed the board concerning their ball python hatchery. Quinn said there had been “a lot of misinformation around this town.” He said that after living in Trezevant for just six weeks, the town was “trying to shut down” his wife’s business.

Quinn referred to comments by Dieringer from the previous meeting about alligators and noted that alligators were not legal in the state. He said that they have always been in compliance, both here and in Florida. “A simple ask would have been enough to quash all this.” He expressed his displeasure that the mayor and most aldermen had not spoken to him directly. (He noted that Alderman Don Barger had done so.)

Rexinger referred to rumors on Facebook that children were going to be eaten by her snakes and noted that ball pythons were too small for that, couldn’t survive outdoors in this area and that they are “docile.”

Quinn said that the pair travel to shows each weekend and do not sell anything from their home.

There was another heated exchange between Quinn and Mayor Blaylock about a telephone conversation in which each criticized the other’s attitude.

Citizen Jenny Lynn Crouch interjected at length to comment on her own reptile ownership, the town dump, the planning commission, and the lack of police presence in town. She and many other unidentified attendees made multiple comments during the meeting about “crackheads” in town.

Kenneth and Barbi Martin of Skyline Drive spoke in dispute of actions taken by the town to force them to mow an area of their property which they wish to grow into a “natural habitat.” The area in question is adjacent to an existing natural clutch of trees. The couple says they had the area registered with the state as a natural habitat for pollinators.

Trotter addressed the multiple property issues. He explained the process through which disputes are resolved.

He said a meeting had been requested with the Martins with no response.

He requested the board authorize him to issue a letter instructing the Martins to mow the area within ten days. The next step would be a court order from Chancery Court to have a city employee come with a sheriff’s deputy to mow the area. The charges for the work would be placed as a lien similar to property taxes.

Mr. Martin interjected to ask, “Is this America?” Mrs. Martin accused the town of harassment and dishonesty.

There was then a lengthy period of crosstalk and argument.

Trotter requested a similar authorization to enforce zoning at the Main Street property, saying that the zoning ordinance does not allow for the hatchery.

A citizen interjected to challenge Trotter’s authority and accused him of “padding his pockets.” This was followed by a period of talking by attendees in which numerous citizens cited their residence and tax payment, seemingly as a demand to be heard.

As Trotter attempted to conclude his comments on the two properties, Vice Mayor Pam Joyner banged the gavel and asked for order. “We’re going to be respectful to each other.” She noted that citizens are supposed to request to be on the agenda ahead of time, which would reserve five minutes for them to speak. She was interrupted by Crouch, who stated that she didn’t know you had to make such a request prior to the meeting. Crouch continued speaking as order was called for again, accusing Barger of being rude and not knowing the procedures himself. At one point, Officer Nick Roberts spoke to Crouch, after which she continued to interject.

As the noise subsided, another, unidentified citizen spoke up to ask about speed enforcement.

Alderman Dieringer then attempted to settle the issue of speaking at meetings by explaining the protocol.

Trotter then spoke about tiny houses. He explained that the planning commission and then the board would need to decide on rules for tiny homes, and that he would bring in a planner from the Northwest Tennessee Development District to consult with the board.

Blaylock and Joyner offered an opportunity for citizens to speak on any of the issues at hand, which proceeded in an orderly fashion for a brief period before devolving again into disarray and crosstalk.

Trotter again expressed his legal opinion of the zoning ordinance regarding the Main Street snake hatchery, which prompted one citizen to again challenge Trotter’s authority. The unidentified man stated that the people of the community don’t like him and asked how a new lawyer could be put in place. Others echoed his sentiment, expressing that their opinions should be more important than someone who lives outside the city limits.

When the crowd subsided, Barger expressed his uncertainty of the reading of the ordinance. Trotter reiterated that his reading of the ordinance requires that a use of the property must be listed as an acceptable exemption, and “I can’t find anything in the ordinance at all, under any circumstances, that complies with what I heard this gentleman describe tonight as the use being made of the property.”

Dieringer moved to authorize Trotter to proceed on the zoning issues. Barger seconded, and the board concurred unanimously.

Mr. Martin answered some follow-up questions from aldermen and will provide documentation of the natural habitat status as approved by the state. Board members and the mayor also expressed that they would visit the property to get a better idea of what the issues are. The subject will be revisited next month.

In other business, the board approved the first reading of an ordinance to raise monthly sanitation rates from $14 to $16 per can. Republic charges the town $15.50, which increases by five percent each year under the current contract.

Also approved was a budget amendment for solid waste and the second reading of the corrected drug policy ordinance.

The meeting adjourned after just under three hours.