Trezevant Passes Budget, Hears Resident Concerns

After the Board of Aldermen passed the second reading of the town’s annual budget, speeding, access to the public dumpster, and accountability became the main focus of Trezevant’s meeting June 10.

The Budget

Trezevant adopted a $922,322 operating budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

Expenditures in the town’s General Fund budget account for $482,624 of the total.

Water and sewer operations make up another $329,976, and the remainder will go to sanitation and street maintenance.

The budget projects $375,900 in general fund revenue, requiring the town to draw from reserves to cover a shortfall of over $100,000.

Click here to see Trezevant's entire budget.

Tax Rate

Trezevant adopted its 2025–26 budget using last year’s property tax rate of $0.6638 per $100 of assessed value.

However, this is a reappraisal year, and the certified tax rate has not yet been finalized by the county and state.

According to state law, municipalities are required to adopt the certified rate once issued unless they follow specific procedures to exceed it.

The town may need to amend the tax rate later this summer to remain in compliance with state requirements.

Speeding on Hurt Street

Several residents brought concerns directly to the board.

Resident Jenni Lynn Crouch expresses concerns about speeding along Hurt St. Photo by Jesse Joseph

Hurt Street resident Jenni Lynn Crouch raised issues about speeding in her neighborhood.

“We have six kids, and cars fly down that road day and night,” she said. “We’ve had to move our basketball goal just so the kids have somewhere safe to play.”

She requested a speed bump be placed on Hurt St., but town officials noted that speed bumps are discouraged by legal counsel and emergency responders due to potential liability and delays to response times.

Police Chief Michael Mulligan acknowledged the problem and said he had recently monitored traffic in the area. “I haven’t clocked anyone over 30, but with the curves and narrow roads, it looks like they’re going faster than they actually are,” he said.

The speed limit was recently changed from 30 down to 15, but the sign isn't readily visible.

Options to help help alleviate the issue included increasing visibility of the sign, as well as adding a "children at play" sign.

Town Dumpster

Alderman Dan Dieringer outlined a proposed policy to limit dumping to residents only and to require pre-approval through City Hall.

“It’s become a free-for-all,” he said. “Contractors and people from outside town are filling it up, and we need better oversight.”

Lynn said she supported the changes but asked for clearer expectations on how residents would get timely access.

“The gate’s always open, but it’s never empty,” she said.

Code Enforcement

Resident John Quinn pressed for clarity on town operations, ordinance enforcement, and long-term planning.

Resident John Quinn holds up the zoning map for the Town of Trezevant during his address to the board. Photo by Jesse Joseph

He asked who residents should contact to report municipal code violations.

“I’ve asked three people and gotten three different answers,” Quinn said. “I was told to call the mayor, then I was told to call Mary Jo, then the police chief. Which is it?”

Mayor Bobby Blaylock responded that residents should contact him directly.

Quinn said he had concerns about whether issues would be properly addressed.

“No offense, but you and I don’t get along,” he told Blaylock. “If I contact you, I feel like it would be swept under the rug. I want to know that if I report something, is there a process to ensure it gets handled and that I’m told how it was resolved?”

“What I want is accountability,” Quinn continued. “Not just, ‘we’ll get to it.’”

Quinn also brought up concerns with the town’s zoning map.

He noted that property zoned as industrial is currently being used for agriculture.

“You’ve got a whole section zoned industrial, but it’s just fields. That’s not how industrial zoning is supposed to work,” he said.

Quinn said he hopes to grow his business in Trezevant, and he’s looking for land that could support future expansion, but under the current zoning practices, there are no viable industrial sites.

“You’ve got zoning, but no one can use it,” he said. “So what happens when someone like me wants to build something?”

He also pointed out that the town’s ordinances still reflect the old 15-day public notice requirement for zoning changes, even though state law now requires 21 days. “If you follow the wrong notice requirement and someone challenges you in court, that ordinance is dead in the water,” he warned. “Somebody needs to stay on top of these legal changes.”

Other Business

In other business, the board approved a $1 per hour raise for Town Recorder Virginia Knott.

Alderman Pam Joyner said Virginia had been with the town for six months and was doing “an exceptional job.”

The board also granted a leak adjustment to resident Kandi King, whose water bill spiked to $481 after a kitchen pipe and toilet malfunctioned in the same month.

“My bills are usually around $120. I’ve lived here over 20 years and it’s never been that high,” She said.

The adjustment was approved under the town’s existing leak policy.

Trezevant’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday July 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Trezevant_Budget Download

Trezevant Passes Budget, Hears Resident Concerns

Pedestrian Killed in Train Collision

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password

Trezevant Passes Budget, Hears Resident Concerns

Please subscribe to continue reading.

Pedestrian Killed in Train Collision

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password