Trezevant IDB Takes Shape

TREZEVANT (March 12) — Thursday night, the Town of Trezevant hosted a public meeting for those interested in joining the town’s Industrial Development Board (IDB). By the end of the night, nine individuals signed up to be considered for the board. Interested individuals may still sign up to join the board for a limited time.

Approximately 15 people attended Thursday’s meeting to hear about IDB members’ responsibilities.

Town Attorney Charlie Trotter explained that Trezevant’s IDB, incorporated in 2014, was started to bring a dollar store to the town. Over the years, it has become dormant, with all member terms expired.

The IDB requires at least seven members and a maximum of ten members appointed by the Trezevant Mayor and Board of Aldermen. Once appointed, the members will serve for staggered terms — two, four and six years — with the option to be reappointed.

Members do not have to live in Trezevant, pay Trezevant taxes or be qualified voters in Trezevant.

The Trezevant IDB’s job is to promote industry, trade, commerce, tourism and recreation, agriculture, housing and construction in the town of Trezevant.

Trotter stressed that IDB members will have to follow the Open Meetings Act and properly advertise their meetings to the public before making any IDB-related decisions.

Trotter said the ideal IDB candidates will have backgrounds in management, finance, land acquisition or business ownership. They will also have thick skin, as meetings are open to the public.

Trotter urged interested parties to write their names on a sign-up sheet before leaving Thursday’s meeting. Nine individuals expressed interest, giving the Mayor and Board of Aldermen their phone numbers and email addresses.

Next, Mayor Bobby Blaylock and the board will individually interview the interested parties before announcing a decision at April’s town meeting. Once chosen, the IDB board members will undergo an orientation process led by the University of Tennessee’s Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) before having their first official meeting.

In January, Trotter stressed the need for a fully-functional IDB to decide what happens to the former Hillsman property, which is located adjacent to Pat’s Restaurant on Highway 79. The disbanded IDB owns the property.

Several parties have shown interest in the Hillsman property, which is zoned as an R1 (residential) property. Phil Colwell wants to purchase the property and build a family-owned discount store, but he wishes to transfer the property to B1 (commercial) zoning before making a purchase.

Any rezoning must go through the Planning Commission first and then the Board of Zoning Appeals. From there, the IDB may decide what to do with the property.