2026 7 21 Regular Session Packet council

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ATHENS CITY COUNCIL  
MINUTES OF REGULAR SESSION  
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 
 
 
 
 
Page 3 of 7 
 
B. Public Hearing and Second Reading for Ordinance 1157, an Ordinance to Amend ‘The 
Zoning Ordinance of The City of Athens, Tennessee, so as to Amend The Official Zoning 
Map to Rezone a 3 -Acre Parcel Created from the 50 -Acre Developed Parent Tract Shown 
as Tax Map 046 Parcel 049.00 Located on Denso Drive and George R. Price Boulevard from 
I-2 (Heavy Industrial District) to B-3 (Intensive Business District), Said Area Being Located 
within The Corporate Limits of Athens, Tennessee. 
 
A public hearing was opened at 6:37 p.m. No one spoke, and the hearing was closed at 6:37 p.m. 
 
Motion to approve Ordinance 1157 as presented was made by  Vice Mayor Curtis and 
seconded by Councilmember McCowan. 
 
APPROVED 
Roll call vote:  
YEAS: McCowan, Duggan, Sherlin, Curtis, Eaton 
NAYS: None 
 
 
C. Public Hearing and Second Reading for Ordinance 1158, an Ordinance to Adopt a Budget 
and Set the Tax Rate on Taxable Property Located Within the Corporate Limits of the City 
of Athens, Tennessee, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2026 Through June 30, 2027. 
 
A public hearing was opened at 6:38 p.m. Five citizens spoke, and the hearing was closed at 6:55 p.m. 
 
Motion to approve Ordinance 1158 was made by Vice Mayor Curtis and seconded by 
Councilmember Sherlin.  
 
Motion to amend Ordinance 115 8 was made by Vice Mayor Curtis  and seconded by 
Councilmember Sherlin to: 
 
 Add Humane Society Utility Reimbursement Revenue - $11,000 
 Reduce Demolition Costs for Condemned Houses by - $50,000 
 Increase Transfer to Debt Service by - $100,000 
 Restore the 10% Reduction to the Library - $17,800 
 Include Funding for  
o Lite House - $13,500 
o Mid-East TN Community Chorus - $3,000 
o Tri-County Center - $9,000 
 Restore Soap Box Derby Expenses - $16,000 
 Restore the Employee Auto Allowances - $16,800 
 Increase to Council Salaries - $4,200 (later amendment to decrease to $0) 
 City Manager Contingency - $1,200 (later amendment to increase to $5,400) 
 
Discussion followed regarding employee auto allowances.   
 
Councilmember Sherlin moved the previous question, seconded by Vice Mayor Curtis. 
FAILED 
Roll call vote:  
YEAS: McCowan, Sherlin, Curtis 
NAYS: Duggan, Eaton 
 
Discussion continued regarding the proposed increase to City Council salaries. 
 
Following discussion, Vice Mayor Curtis moved to amend the pending amendment by 
removing the proposed increase to City Council salaries in the amount of $4,200 and 
transferring those funds to the City Manager Contingency line item for budget balancing 
purposes, increasing the City Manager Contingency line item from $1,200 to $5,400. As the 
seconder of the original amendment, Councilmember Sherlin agreed to the modification. 
 
 
 
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