Trezevant’s town meeting heated up on several occasions Tuesday, January 14, when a resident questioned why the town won’t sell him an empty lot on Broad St.
The town’s Industrial Development Board has not met in several years, its dormancy was a source of frustration for resident Philip Colwell.
Colwell wants to purchase a vacant property on Broad Street (U.S. Highway 79) next to Pat’s Restaurant, where he has plans to construct a 120-by-60-foot family-owned discount store featuring meat, produce, and everyday household items. He says he would use local contractors for the construction and keep 80% of the work local, but has been met with bureaucratic obstacles and confusion.
“Don’t let me rain on anybody’s parade, but the property is not zoned for that,” said town attorney Charlie Trotter. “This is exactly why you all formed a planning commission. This is why you all formed a board of zoning appeals. This is why you even have an Industrial Development corporation.”
He explained that those boards are where Colwell should take the issue.
“Transfer of property or handling this is not something you do on a Tuesday night at a board meeting,” he said. “There’s a process that you worked awfully hard, and spent a lot of money putting in place, and I really suggest you follow it.”
“I understand that,” Colwell responded, “but it’s got to start somewhere.”
“You’re starting in the wrong place,” Trotter replied.
Colwell tried to explain that he was told to start by addressing the board of Aldermen by a town official.
“Well, you got bad advice,” Trotter responded.
The exchange grew heated at times, with Colwell expressing frustration at the lack of clarity about who owns the property and whether it’s even for sale.
Resident Rita Galloway raised concerns about the town’s financial health during the discussion.
“The city only has $18,400 in their general fund. How is that acceptable?” she said. “And then you’re blocking this man from opening a business which would bring in revenue.”
“The question is, do you guys want to sell it or not?” Colwell asked. “Can you tell me now? My time is just as valuable. Can you tell me if it’s for sale? Can it be purchased? Why waste my time if you’re not going to sell?”
Alderman Don Barger eventually clarified the situation.
“The property that you’re talking about officially belongs to the Industrial Development Board,” he said, explaining that the town had voted to transfer the property to the board, though the transfer was never formally completed.
The property is currently zoned R1 (residential), which does not allow for commercial business use. To accommodate Colwell’s proposed store, the property would need to be rezoned to B1 (business/commercial).
That process has to start with the Planning Commission and eventually come before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for two public readings.
But there’s another problem: the Industrial Development Board itself is essentially dormant.
In Limbo
According to Barger, who served as president of the Industrial Development Board, the board has not held a formal meeting since 2017.
All terms of the current members have expired, and the board lacks the seven members required by state statute.
“The board is basically idle at this time because all they have is the clinic building,” Barger explained, referring to the medical clinic the board owns and leases. “We have diligently tried to recruit a pharmacy to come in. We even offered one pharmacy that we would build them a building, and they would set revenue on it so we could regroup our money. We haven’t found anyone wanting to put anything in town.”
Barger said he has identified seven people willing to serve on the board, including some current members who wish to remain.
However, the town attorney raised concerns about the vetting process and proper procedures.
“On the right set of circumstances, they can pledge the full faith and credit of every taxpayer in this room and obligate those taxpayers to pay the bill,” Trotter said, citing the example of Bruceton, where water bills “went straight through the roof” after the town’s Industrial Development Board pledged the town’s credit for a project with H.I.S.
Alderman Dan Dieringer emphasized the need for a thorough vetting process for Industrial Development Board members given the board’s significant financial powers.
“When you’re dealing with real estate and building and money, you don’t want the wrong group making those decisions,” he said.
Path Forward Unclear
The meeting ended with more questions than answers for Colwell, though the board did vote to have the property professionally surveyed, which is a necessary first step regardless of who ultimately acquires it or what it’s used for.
Trotter recommended that the board reconstitute the Industrial Development Board by approving seven new members at February’s meeting, and ensuring the board operates with proper public notice and transparency going forward.
For Colwell, who says he wants to invest into his community, the bureaucratic maze has been frustrating.
“I’m here looking to invest in my town, my money,” he said. “I’d just like to get the ball rolling. If it takes me a year, if it takes me six months, if it takes me two years—hopefully I’ll still be alive—I’d like to invest in the people that got me where I am today.”
Permit Process Also Under Development
In a separate but related matter, the town is also working to establish a formal building permit and inspection process.
Alderman Dieringer presented a 25-page report outlining the need for what he called “kinetic efficiency”, which is a streamlined process connecting the town’s ordinances, personnel, and administrative procedures.
The town recently hired Jim Seaton as a part-time permit officer, but currently lacks the formal application processes, fee structures, and appeals procedures that would allow him to effectively perform his duties.
“We have elaborate ordinances, we have qualified personnel, but the actual processes that connect the dots between all of this is lacking,” Dieringer said.
The council plans to work with the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) to develop proper permit applications, fee schedules, and enforcement procedures over the coming months.
Trezevant’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, at 6:30 p.m.
