TREZEVANT, Tenn. — Resident John Quinn formally expressed a grievance with the town of Trevezant at their meeting on Tuesday, April 14.
Quinn operates a mobile business out of his home inside city limits. He said he has spent the past year doing everything the town asked of him, including going through the Board of Zoning Appeals, obtaining the proper permits, and securing a sales tax license.
He looked around and noticed nobody else had done the same.
“I’m following the rules,” Quinn told the board. “You made the rules. I’m following them. You’ve got multiple businesses in this town that have yet to go to the board of appeals and get a permit or an exception.”
He said he had raised the issue informally before and was told nothing could be done unless someone filed a formal complaint.
“So I’m going to make a formal complaint tonight,” he said. “I want you guys to please do something about the other home occupations — make them go through the same thing I had to do.”
Quinn also said he is the only home occupation in Trezevant with a sales tax license, and walked the board through what that means in practical terms.
He expects to generate between $30,000 and $40,000 in sales this year. The state collects seven percent. The city gets three.
“That’s roughly $1,200 for you guys,” he said. “And everybody else that has a business doesn’t have their sales tax license. You guys are letting money just float out the window.”
He said the town could be collecting three percent from every licensed home occupation. That’s enough, he argued, to make a difference for a small budget.
Permit Protocol
Quinn’s complaint landed in the middle of a topic that Alderman Dan Dieringer had already been pushing: a proposal to formalize the town’s building permit process and put a codes inspector to work enforcing it.
Dieringer explained that the town has a codes inspector, Jim Seaton, who can conduct site visits and verify that new construction, renovations, and business startups are in compliance with existing ordinances.
He proposed a permit fee of $50, that is intended to help cover Seaton’s time.
“It’s really designed for the people that live in Trezevant for what they want to build or start,” Dieringer said. “It allows Mr. Seaton to do his checks, make sure people are following the ordinances we already have.”
The $50 figure drew pushback from multiple directions. Some in the room felt it was too high. Others, including Mayor Bobby Blaylock, pointed out it likely wasn’t enough.
“He does more work than $50 even allows him,” Dieringer acknowledged. “We’re not recouping what we have to pay.”
The discussion surfaced questions such as what qualifies as a home business; whether mobile businesses operating outside city limits but based inside them require a permit; and how many exceptions a single property can be granted.
Quinn raised that last point directly.
“You do not have in your ordinance a set number of exceptions that can be had,” he said. “What’s to stop me from coming up with another one and another one? I’ve got a 4,000 square foot home. I can use 1,000 square feet for business. That’s your law, not mine.”
Mayor Blaylock acknowledged the town was playing catch-up on rules that didn’t exist when most of these businesses started.
Dieringer said he would bring the permit document back next month with amendments, including a clearer definition of what constitutes a business and a fee structure that better reflects the inspector’s actual workload.
Planning Commission
With the permit discussion tabled until May, the board turned to matters that have been building since the beginning of the year.
City attorney Charles Trotter told the board the Planning Commission is set to meet May 7 to take up the rezoning of the Hillsman property, and he needed the commission properly seated before that could happen.
Under Tennessee law, the mayor serves on the Planning Commission by statute. The board also must elect one of its own to serve alongside him. Trotter asked for a motion.
“I need one board member, and the two of you will be on the planning commission with everybody else,” Trotter said.
Alderman Dan Dieringer moved that Mayor Bobby Blaylock and Alderman Mark Argo be seated on the Planning Commission. The motion passed.
Alderman Don Barger asked who had formally requested the rezoning of the Hillsman property.
Trotter said it was Philip Colwell.
Industrial Development Board.
Trotter also updated the board on the IDB, which has been without active membership for some time.
He said interviews with prospective members have been completed, conducted carefully to avoid any sunshine law issues, and the next step is an orientation session led by a University of Tennessee consultant.
“I want everybody who is interested to hear it, ask all the questions they want to ask, and be sure before they jump off into this that this is what they really want to do,” Trotter said.
He described the session as an “Industrial Development Board 101”. It will be a one to two hour meeting covering the board’s purpose, responsibilities, and what serving on it actually looks like day to day.
The UT consultant, Trotter noted, has hands-on experience representing counties and towns in West Tennessee.
Trotter asked prospective members to sign in and provide dates they are unavailable, so the session can be scheduled around everyone’s calendar.
The attorney said the board expects to formally constitute the IDB at the May meeting.
Fireworks Ordinance.
The fireworks ordinance the board debated at length in March passed its second and final reading, clearing the way for fireworks sales and use in Trezevant for the first time in years.
Under the ordinance, retail permits are valid from June 20 through July 9 for the summer season and December 21 through January 5 for the winter season. The permitted window for use is narrower — July 1 through July 4, and December 31 through January 1.
Retailers must obtain both a state Fire Marshal permit and a city permit, carry $2 million in liability insurance, and pay a $1,000 permit fee for the summer season or $500 for the winter. A $100 cleanup deposit is also required. Mobile vendors are not permitted. Sales structures must be at least 600 feet from any church, assisted living facility, hospital, or school, and at least 150 feet from any residence.
Violations carry a flat $50 fine.
Trezevant’s next regular meeting is Tuesday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. The Planning Commission meeting on the Hillsman property rezoning is set for May 7.