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❄️ First Winter Storm Response Commission meeting · NDOT director resigns · Where did the ice storm debris go? · Much more!
Good afternoon, everyone. O'Connell's Winter Storm Response Commission convenes for its first meeting, and it sounds like its going to be an advisory board... NDOT Director resigns... Where did all the ice storm debris go?... Former race car driver sues over charter amendment to ban racing at Nashville Fairgrounds... And much more!
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A commission to make suggestions to boards that make suggestions to entities that are taking direction from departments that take direction from Metro.
From Megan Podsiedlik
The mayor’s Winter Storm Response Commission, chaired by former Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen, convened this morning for its first meeting. The commission is set to deliver its final report on the storm response in August.
During the inaugural meeting, former TVA board member and Republican speaker of the House, Beth Harwell, indicated that members are still uncertain about their mission.
“Are the recommendations going to the mayor, the Council, or the [NES] Board?” asked Harwell. “And I'm a little confused as to really our overall objective, and so maybe the staff can answer that at some point.”
Throughout the proceedings, Chair Bredesen emphasized that he wants to avoid a “finger pointing” exercise. Instead, members focused on procedure and constructive goals.
During presentations, OEM Director Chief William Swann said that the department is independently implementing after-action changes. The commission is also set up to make additional recommendations across multiple Metro departments over the coming months. Specific agendas will be available online, and there will be a short public comment period during each meeting.
Three weeks ago, Congressman Andy Ogles urged the Tennessee General Assembly to audit NES and strip “Metro Nashville of NES jurisdiction.” Last week, Tennessee lawmakers said they are planning a state-level intervention in reaction to NES' inadequate response if actions aren’t taken at the local level.
"We are waiting to see what Nashville does," said Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge).
On Friday, Mayor Freddie O’Connell did not signal that his commission will adjust its process but suggested NES is likely to accelerate the timeline for its independent investigation to appease state leaders.
“Our winter storm commission will include NES, but it is also going to include OEM and a lot of the overall recovery process, from an emergency management standpoint, operational standpoint of the city, how partners interacted with Metro,” said O’Connell. “I know the legislature is very focused on NES in particular, and I think NES’ board of management are aware of that, and they're going to probably respond directly.”
Mayor O’Connell often deferred to his commission when pressed about leadership and departmental concerns during the city’s storm response. At the time, setting up the post-storm commission was a way to curb outrage and postpone accountability until the dust settled. The clouds have parted, but it's still unclear what the after-actions will be or if Metro will hold any leaders responsible for Nashville’s poor response to Winter Storm Fern.
✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH
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HEADLINES
- 🛑 NDOT Director resigns. On Friday, Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure Director Diana Alarcon stepped down from the position after four years. Mayor Freddie O’Connell appointed Phillip Jones as Acting Director of NDOT. (Mayor’s Office)
- 🪵 Where did thousands of truckloads of ice storm debris go? Well, It’s hauled off to four temporary transfer sites in Davidson County where it gets ground, documented, and weighed. It’s then transferred to Living Earth, which the city contracts to process it and sell it as mulch.
The city pays $33.23 per ton, and there has been 355,000 cubic yards of fallen trees and limbs collected as of Feb. 18 (roughly 4,200 flatbed trucks). A Federal Emergency Management Agency monitor is stationed at each transfer site to track debris volumes for potential federal reimbursement. (Tennessean) - 🏎 Former race car driver files suit to challenge proposed charter amendment banning auto racing at the Nashville fairgrounds. Neil Chaffin, who used to race at the fairgrounds speedway and currently owns cars that race there, filed the lawsuit on Friday. Chaffin argues that the proposed ballot language inaccurately uses the terms Tennessee State Fair and Tennessee Fairgrounds instead of Nashville Fairgrounds. (Axios)
- 🍼 Tennessee lawmakers propose an amendment to protect life "from fertilization to natural death." The change would classify harm done to an unborn child as equal to assault on a person "born alive,” extending criminal and civil protections and allowing prosecutors to pursue homicide charges in abortion-related cases. (Tennessean)
DEVELOPMENT
- Anthropologie to open in new 12South development (NBJ)
- Berry Hill commercial building listed for $1.97M (Post)
- Downtown apartment building sells for $23M (Post)
- East Nashville motel listed for sale (Post)
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
🎻 Andrea Bocelli @ Bridgestone Arena, 8p, $100+, Info
🪕 Bluegrass Monday with Kyle Tuttle @ Dee's Lounge, 6p, $10, Info
🪕 Val Storey, Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle & New Monday @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info
💀 Grateful Monday @ Acme Feed & Seed, 7p, Free, Info
🕺 Motown Monday @ The 5 Spot, 9p, $5, Info
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
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Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.