LOCAL NEWS — Old business will be the business tonight during the Metro Council’s regular January meeting happening at 6:30 p.m. at the Lynchburg Legion Building located just off the Booneville Highway (Highway 129) near the Moore County Pool.

In January, the Council voted to delay voting on two items that would both open the door to more overnight visitors in Lynchburg. Those votes were delayed due to the fact that only 10 of 15 Metro Council members were present at the regular December meeting. Gerald Burnett, Amy Cashion, Tommy Brown, Bradley Dye, and Houston Lindsey were all absent at roll call. No reasons were given at the meeting for any absence.

During open discussion of the addition of R3A to the Metro Zoning Ordinances, Metro Council member Gordon Millsaps made a motion to delay a vote on the item until the full council could be in attendance. John Taylor seconded his motion. At the voice vote, all members voted yes with the exception of Keith Moses.

Moments later, during open discussion of the rezoning of a little over 290 acres belong to Jack Daniel’s parent company Brown-Forman, the Council also decided to delay action after Jack Daniel Assistant General Manager Melvin Keebler announced that they are in discussions with Hilton to use “roughly one third” of that property to build a new hotel. Sunny Rae Moorehead made the motion to delay and Wayne Hawkins seconded that motion. At the voice vote, all members present voted yes with the exception of Gordon Millsaps and Keith Moses. {To read our full coverage of that meeting, click here.}

Public hearings on both those agenda items were held prior to the December meeting and will not be repeated prior to Monday’s meeting.

Fifth district council member Tommy Brown died on January ninth. {To read his full obituary, click here.} Mayor Bonnie Lewis will go over the procedure to fill his vacant seat at tonight’s meeting.

All Metro Council meetings are open to the general public. •

{The Lynchburg Times is the only locally-owned newspaper in Lynchburg and also the only woman-owned newspaper in Tennessee. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}