EVENTS
Now that Halloween is over, almost every house has a jack-o-lantern that has done its job. Instead of throwing it in the trash, neighbors can make that pumpkin do one more useful thing. Composting ensures this season’s pumpkins and decorative gourds don’t end up in a landfill. The institute for Local Self Reliance has a quick video on its website with helpful suggestions.
Election Day is November 5. The ballot includes elections for US President, US Senate, Congress, State Senate in District 20 (Bellevue, Belle Meade, Forrest Hills, Oak Hill, Bells Bend, Scottsboro, Joelton, and parts of Goodlettsville, Old Hickory, Inglewood, and Antioch), all State House districts, and the Transit referendum. On election day, voters must go to their assigned precinct and present a state or federal photo ID. Information for voting can be found on the Davidson County Election Commission site and the Tennessee Secretary of State website. Officials at all levels are working to ensure that all votes are accurately recorded and counted. The election commission also offers these tips:
Review your personal sample ballot at GoVoteTN.gov.
You can print and bring this with you, but no campaign literature or apparel is allowed in the voting area.
Use the stir stick provided for ballot marking accuracy
Tap on the candidate’s name NOT the tiny box in the corner
If you see an error on your printed ballot, DO NOT SCAN - ask for a do-over.
Your vote matters!
Transit Referendum - I’ve studied the pros and cons of the Transit Improvement Plan, and I believe that it is a good investment in Nashville’s future and in improving our transportation options. Traffic in Nashville will only get worse if we do nothing. The proposed half cent sales tax increase will fund better bus service, build more sidewalks, improve traffic signalization throughout the county and make our most dangerous intersections safer. Over half of the sales tax is paid for by tourists and commuters, so all the people who use our roads will be participating in making them work better. And having a dedicated source of funding for transit will enable Nashville to compete for federal funds that we are currently paying into and not accessing now. To lessen the impact, free or reduced fares will be available to qualified lower income riders. Having bus service that will run more frequently to more parts of town for longer hours will shorten travel time for bus riders and provide bus service home at the end of late night shifts. The proposed improvements are flexible enough to take advantage of new technology as it becomes feasible, and they dovetail with regional transportation plans like the proposed choice lanes on I-24 where buses will be allowed to travel free. The proposed transit centers will include park and ride facilities so employees from out of county can park their cars at the edge of the county and not contribute to congestion inside the county. For those who are driving, the traffic signal improvements will make traffic flow more efficiently and reduce time waiting at intersections. This plan has benefits for everyone, and I encourage everyone to learn about and vote FOR the Transit Improvement Plan. Detailed information is available on the Mayor’s website , and a shorter summary is also available.
After the election, candidates are required to remove their campaign signs within 10 days. Signs that are no longer needed can be recycled at Turnip Green Creative Re-use at 1014 3rd Avenue South. The frames can be re-used or recycled at any of Metro’s four convenience centers at 939A Anderson Ln, 943A Doctor Richard G. Adams Dr, 3254 Ezell Pk, 1019 Omohundro Pl.
Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) LED Street light conversion is well underway. Some neighbors have asked about how brightness levels and light direction are determined. Fixture types are specific to the area where they are installed. They differ between the type of area (residential vs major corridor) and depending on the individual application (corner vs straightaway, presence of turn lane vs not, etc.). All fixture decisions have been carefully analyzed by NDOT, who provides the direction to NES regarding what fixture needs to be installed in which location. In most instances, preference has tended more towards providing increased pedestrian and driver safety (i.e. greater brightness) but there are many occurrences where NDOT has intentionally kept purely residential areas to minimum level of output. Residents with concerns about excessive brightness or light trespass can use the following links: • Regarding fixtures that have already been installed: hubNashville – Street Lighting • To obtain additional information related to the streetlight conversion project itself: NashvilleStreetlights.com
Trash Routes will be on a holiday schedule the week of Thanksgiving. Households that are usually picked up on Thursday will be picked up on Friday, and Friday will be picked up on Saturday.
Fall brings a special set of challenges to Metro’s storm water system. Keeping leaves and debris out of the street can go a long way to keeping the system functioning well. In the older parts of Nashville, the storm sewer and sanitary sewer were built in the early 1900’s as a combined system. Leaves that get into the system make their way to the sewage treatment plant and add a lot of unnecessary load to what has to be treated and disposed of. In other parts of the city everything in the storm drain goes straight to the river including leaves, sticks and trash. Residents and landscape companies should never blow leaves into the street. Metro will pick leaves up if they are bagged in compostable bags, which can be bought at most hardware stores. It is also important to keep storm drains near homes free of sticks, leaves, and trash to keep waterways clean and help prevent street flooding during heavy rains. Neighbors are asked to remove debris or report clogged drains at hub.nashville.gov. Metro Water has a street sweeping program to keep sticks and leaves out of the stormwater system. The Street Sweeping Schedule is published at the first of each month on Metro’s Open Data website. Residents can filter by street to find out when each block will be swept so cars can be moved out of the way. Moving cars off the street on sweeping day will help Metro Water Services get debris and leaves off the street before they end up in the storm sewer system and clog it up.
Brush Pick-Up
- Area 10 – Whites Bend, Charlotte Park, Cockrill Bend, Nations, TSU, College Heights, Germantown, Buena Vista pick-up begins November 1
- Area 11 – Joelton, Whites Creek, Marrowbone, Scottsboro, Bells Bend, Bordeaux, Haynes Heights, Haynes Manor pick-up begins November 6
- Area 12 - Goodlettsville, Dalemere, Bellshire begins November 12
- Area 1 (West Madison, Capital View, Douglas Park, Cleveland Park, McFerrin Park, Highland Heights) begins November 19
- Area 2 (East Madison, Inglewood, Neely’s Bend, Peeler Park, Maplewood Heights, Iverson, Maxwell Heights, Edgefield, Eastwood, Shelby Bottoms, Shelby Hills, and Lockland Springs) begins November 26
Property Tax bills have been mailed out. The packet includes a lot of information, including how to access tax relief and tax freeze programs for qualified elderly, disabled, and veteran property owners. Information about income qualifications and applications for these programs are at www.nashville.gov/trustee . There is also information on how tax dollars are spent, how landlords can pay their annual registration fee, and what the general property standards requirements are. Property tax payments can be made in installments with full payment due February 28, 2025.
Metro Parks is again asking for help in finding the perfect tree to serve as the centerpiece for the city’s holiday celebration. Metro Parks’ Horticulturist Randall Lantz said the Parks Department is looking for a 30 to 40-foot-tall Norway Spruce that looks good from all angles. Metro is looking for a tree that has grown too big for its current location or needs removal. The tree should be a Norway Spruce which has the same shape that we see in children’s books about Christmas. Metro Parks has been providing a tree for the holiday celebrations in downtown Nashville for over thirty years. The tree is anchored at Public Square Park and is decked with thousands of multi-colored LED lights. The Parks’ Department will carefully cut down the tree, grind out the stump, and plant a replacement tree if desired. Anyone with a tree that meets the criteria should call Randall Lantz at 615-862-8400 or email him at Randall.Lantz@nashville.gov. Look for more information in December about the tree lighting and the Menorah lighting ceremonies.
ISSUES
The water service line protection contract Metro Water Services (MWS) had with American Water Resources (AWR) has expired, and MWS has chosen not to renew or seek an alternate provider. Current AWR customers will be able to maintain the service but will no longer be able to pay through their MWS bill. MWS is currently working with AWR to transition customers and encourage them to set up a new payment method by March 2025. AWR is contacting customers via letter (draft attached) and phone calls and MWS is reaching out via bill message and a bill insert (attached). Property owners who have a service contract will be contacted by AWR and asked to provide a new payment method. This is a totally optional program that Metro Water offered as a convenience but did not require or endorse. There are similar programs for natural gas lines.
Drought continues with unseasonably high temperatures. Watering lawns is one of the most intense uses of our city’s drinking water. To ensure there is enough water available for everyone, Metro Water Services is asking customers to stagger irrigation (even addresses on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and odd addresses on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). Staggered irrigation will help our water system tremendously. Find out more on the MWS website.
Metro has over 75 different volunteer boards and commissions that help with the governance of the city taking full advantage of citizen engagement and expertise. Residents of Davidson County are encouraged to participate in everything from the Agricultural Extension Board to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Applications for most boards can be made online at the bottom of the web page for the appropriate Board or Commission. The Mayor or Vice-Mayor appoints and final approval is by Council vote. Descriptions of all the boards and commissions can be found on the Boards and Commission webpage. There are openings coming up on the Metro Development and Housing Authority (MDHA), Solid Waste Region Board, Nashville Education Community and Arts Television (NECAT), Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) and Emergency Communications.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone six months of age and older get the flu vaccine, especially those with underlying health conditions. According to the CDC, 9 out of 10 people who were hospitalized with the flu in recent years had at least one underlying health condition. Those who are 65 and older or have underlying health conditions can receive a high-dose version of the flu vaccine. High-dose vaccines are available inside MPHD clinics. Those who receive flu vaccines are encouraged to wear clothing that gives easy access to the upper shoulder area like shirts with short sleeves or shirt sleeves that can be easily rolled up. Flu shots are available at most drug stores and from Metro Public Health at the following locations:
- East Nashville Public Health Center, 1015 East Trinity Lane, (615) 862-7916
- Lentz Public Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Avenue, (615) 340-5607
- Woodbine Public Health Center, 224 Oriel Avenue, (615) 862-7940
Any citizen can help fix problems affecting a Metro Nashville property, right-of-way, or street by reporting to HUB Nashville. This on-line reporting tool can be used for codes violations, potholes, street light outages, and many other nuisances and system issues. To report a non-emergency issue, visit hub.nashville.gov or call 311.
Members of the public are always welcome to attend council meetings, and there is an opportunity for public comment at the beginning of each committee meeting and the council meeting. Since there are limited time slots available, speakers are encouraged to sign up ahead of time.
November begins the best time of the year for planting trees. Once trees have gone dormant, it is much easier for them to stand the shock of being transplanted. Trees provide shade, habitat, stormwater mitigation, carbon absorption, beauty, and added property value. Metro is working to protect our shrinking tree canopy through the Root Nashville campaign to plant 500,000 trees by 2050. We are very close to 50,000 already. Find out more at rootnashville.org. Other organizations that are planting trees this fall are the Nashville Tree Foundation and the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps . All have good tree programs and volunteer opportunities.
I wish everyone a great Thanksgiving. Please let me know about your suggestions and concerns by contacting me at burkley.allen@nashville.gov or 615-383-6604. Sign up for my newsletter at www.burkley.org
Burkley Allen
Metro Council At-Large