Fern Fallout Cont.
🔌 Nashville confronts lingering Winter Storm Fern fallout · O’Connell proposes Metro retirement buyouts · Metro approves $35M for jail design · Much more!
Like what we do? Forward us to a friend
NES storm debt comes due as Metro greenlights $430K post-Fern review.
From Megan Podsiedlik
Nashville Electric Service’s ice-storm grace period ends in December, and about 2o,000 Davidson County customers are still behind on their bills. Back in n February, NES extended its pause on disconnections through June 30 and offered flexible payment arrangements through December 2026. With time running out, households that have fallen behind on their storm payment plans could lose power. NES says it has already sent default notices to customers who missed plan payments.
The drama is just the latest in Nashville’s botched response to Winter Storm Fern. At the end of October, the mayor’s Winter Storm Response Commission approved the scope and timeline for a review of Nashville’s Winter Storm Fern response and an assessment of Metro’s Office of Emergency Management.
Metro plans to hire Innovative Emergency Management (IEM), a North Carolina emergency management consulting firm, for the assessment at an estimated cost of about $430,000. Metro did not seek bids for the work. Instead, it plans to sign onto IEM’s existing contract with Washington County in East Tennessee, a cooperative purchasing option that officials said was faster than a new procurement. It’s worth noting that IEM also did Metro’s after-action review for COVID.
The commission agreed on a two-step plan: an April 1 list of the most urgent items with costs, timed for the budget cycle, and a full report later, with a request to the mayor to extend the final-report deadline. But they didn't forget NES.
“If we put out a report that doesn’t include an independent assessment... separate from NES’s own internal review... I think we open ourselves up to criticism,” said Commissioner Ethan Link.
The commission is inviting NES back on December 17 to report on changes it has made since the storm. Ultimately, members suggested that the final report should include recommendations for NES.
HEADLINES
🏛️ Mayor O’Connell files $1,000-per-year-of-service retirement buyout for eligible Metro employees
Employees eligible for a normal pension would get $1,000 per year of service, and those eligible for an early, reduced pension would get $500 per year. Employees must apply by January 21 and, in most cases, leave by February 26. The plan comes as O’Connell predicts flat revenues and what could be the tightest budget of his term. The first of three Council votes is November 17. (Banner)
🏗️ Metro Council approves $35M to start design on proposed $417M Davidson County jail
The money pays for design and early site work on a complex that would replace the 32-year-old men’s correctional center off Harding Place and combine the county’s other jail facilities. The acting sheriff called the current facility “deplorable.” A coalition of two dozen groups opposes the jail, saying Nashville has an over-incarceration problem rather than an overcrowding problem. The vote does not commit the city to the full $417M. (Fox 17)
🇫🇷 Macrons’ defamation case against Candace Owens lands in Nashville federal court
A Delaware judge dismissed the claims against Owens personally for lack of jurisdiction, so Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron filed a 409-page complaint in the Middle District of Tennessee, where Owens lives. They are seeking a jury trial and damages over Owens’ unproven claims that Brigitte was born a man, that the couple are blood relatives, and that Macron’s rise was tied to mind control. Judge Waverly Crenshaw Jr. has the case. (Post)
🚨 Police arrest Lafreda Batey and Shanna Thomas after gun displayed in Opry Mills fight
Metro police arrested two women after a Saturday fight near Five Below at Opry Mills with another woman and her mother. According to the arrest affidavit, one of them pulled a handgun from a purse while the other yelled “shoot her.” (WSMV)
🩺 Judge extends block on immigration checks in Tennessee HIV/AIDS program; ruling on injunction expected this week
Chancellor I’Ashea Myles extended her order barring the state Health Department from requiring proof of citizenship or immigration status in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program and its companion housing program. Nashville CARES argues the checks conflict with federal law and would increase disease transmission. The state calls it a contract dispute and says it will verify status even if provider agencies refuse. (Lookout)
DEVELOPMENT
- TDK Companies and Imagine1Co. paid $14.9 million for a 5.8-acre site at 492 Craighead St. next to Geodis Park and plan a four-story mixed-use building, Vintage Fair Park, with apartments and retail, aiming to start construction by year-end. (Post)
- Starbucks selected Hastings Architecture to design its massive downtown Nashville office. (NBJ)
- Oracle is holding public open houses Nov. 12-13 (3:30-7:30 p.m.) and a Community Day Nov. 14 (11 a.m.-4 p.m.) at 2300 Bowline Ave. for its River North campus, which Metro Council approved this month. (NC5)
✹ PAMPHLETEER TOOLS
Pamphleteer Tools Council Watch tells you who funds your councilmember and how they vote. The Property Tax Calculator tells you what that cost you.
THINGS TO DO
View our calendar for the week here.
📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.
🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.
👨🏻🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.
TONIGHT
🎷 Nashville Trio w/ Eddie Barbash, Jeff Picker & Mark Raudabaugh @ Rudy's Jazz Room, 5p, $13, Info
🪕 JigJam @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info
🎸 Caitlyn Smith @ The Basement, 7p, $39.31, Info
🪕 Bluegrass Mondays with Kyle Tuttle @ Dee's Lounge, 6p, $10, Info
🪕 The Time Jumpers @ 3rd and Lindsley, 8p, $25.61, Info
💀 Grateful Monday @ Acme Feed & Seed, 7p, Free, Info
🕺 Motown Monday @ The 5 Spot, 9p, $5, Info
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
The Pamphleteer
The Pamphleteer
The Pamphleteer
The Pamphleteer
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.