Dickson County May Hire Full Time Planner as Growth Increases

Charlotte, TN — Dickson County Mayor Danny Williams wants the county to consider hiring a full time planner to help manage continued growth and prepare for future development.

Williams included the proposed position in the 100-day plan he presented during the Dickson County Commission’s Sept. 8, 2026, work session.

The position is not included in the county’s current budget. Williams said he would have to identify a source of funding and bring a budget amendment before the commission.

No job description, salary proposal or budget amendment was presented at the meeting, and commissioners took no action on the position.

“As we continue to grow, I feel like we don’t have the proper number of people in the planning and zoning office,” Williams told commissioners.

Williams said a full time planner could help the county prepare for future development while working to protect its rural areas.

“I think we need a full time planner that’s really working towards helping us plan for the future,” Williams said. “I think it’s going to be very critical.”

The proposal comes as county officials consider a range of growth related matters, including zoning regulations, traffic impact requirements, residential development and rules governing data centers.

A planner could potentially review development proposals, prepare long range land use recommendations, research zoning changes and advise the Planning Commission and County Commission. However, Williams did not present a formal list of duties for the proposed Dickson County position.

Officials also did not provide what responsibilities should be assigned to the job. The cost also remains unknown.

Williams said he plans to determine where the county could obtain the money before returning to commissioners with a budget amendment.

Because the position was not funded when the current county budget was adopted, hiring a planner would require the commission to approve both the job and the money needed to support it. Commissioners would also need to decide whether the funding would come from existing departmental savings, fund balance or another county revenue source.

The proposal could also lead to a broader discussion about the county’s approach to growth. Planning decisions can affect road capacity, utility demands, residential density, commercial development and the preservation of agricultural and rural property.

Williams did not provide a timeline for filling the position but said hiring a full-time planner is among the issues he intends to pursue during his first 100 days.