Nashville City Council

Much of Monday’s Nashville City Council meeting was occupied with discussion surrounding the planned solar panel project.  Following several unsuccessful attempts at locating a suitable piece of property within the city limits, it was announced in September that the energy efficiency company, McKinstry Industries, had agreed to purchase 15 acres of land to house the solar array.  The property is located near the electric substation on the Old Center Point Road.  Mike Chambers, who lives close by, said it will basically be in his front yard.   At one time, Chambers was owner of the 15 acres in question.  He sold it to another individual for the purpose of building a home.  However, those plans changed.  The current property owner was identified yesterday as Adam West, and he is the one who is selling the property to McKinstry.  Mayor Billy Ray Jones said the property will be deeded back to the city.

The mayor said three land options within the city all failed to meet requirements.  The solar array requires approximately ten acres.  The Old Center Point Road property is 15 acres.

The mayor told the council and audience that the city is so far into the process now that it has no legal grounds to stop the project and would be out about a million dollars if it called off the process.

Six council members were present for yesterday’s meeting & five of them voted to proceed with the project.  However, yesterday’s vote was still not valid, because it wasn’t a majority of the entire number of council positions.

A special council meeting has been called for Monday, November 1st to revote on the ordinance.