Mayor Weiss Outlines “Generational Change” Projects for Dickson — The $60M Plan: City Center, Indoor Pool, New Fire Station

Dickson, TN — Speaking to a Chamber of Commerce crowd at the Methodist Church, Dickson Mayor Don L. Weiss Jr. used his annual address what he says is a moment of “generational change” — the kind of civic turning points he says he has watched reshape Dickson since he was a student.

Weiss, now in his 33rd year as mayor, began by thanking Chamber leadership, city department heads, church hosts, and his wife, Lori, before shifting into what was clearly the centerpiece of his remarks: a major three-part capital improvement plan that could bring a new downtown city center, a year-round aquatic recreation facility at Henslee Park, and a new Fire Station 2 and training center on the south side of the city. (Each of these items will get its own deeper follow-up story in the coming days.)

A “Generational Change” Pitch — and a Price Tag

Weiss told the audience the city is preparing for what he called the largest capital improvement effort in the city’s 127-year history, with the City Council authorizing the city to pursue up to $80 million in bond financing.

But Weiss emphasized that figure is not the expected final cost — it’s a ceiling designed to account for volatility in construction pricing. His estimate for the combined projects was $60–$65 million, with the $80 million authorization providing “cushion” for unknowns.

The mayor also made a pledge that will matter most to taxpayers: he said city leadership believes these projects can be completed without raising the city property tax rate, though he acknowledged there are no guarantees in large-scale construction.

Project 1: A New Downtown City Center

Weiss argued the city has outgrown its current facilities, describing the municipal building that houses the police department and municipal court as 72 years old, with major plumbing and electrical issues. Administrative offices are currently scattered across multiple locations — a situation he said is no longer sustainable.

The plan: build a multi-story City Center downtown that consolidates city operations in one location, including police, courts, council chambers, and administrative departments. Weiss said the city expects to temporarily relocate the police department and court during demolition and construction, and he noted the city plans to use the former senior center building once Nashville State moves out.

Weiss estimated the City Center cost at around $30 million.

Project 2: The Henslee Park Aquatic Recreation Center

Weiss spent significant time on the aquatic recreation center proposal, which he presented as a clear shift away from the old outdoor pool model that once operated at Buckner Park.

He cited two challenges that pushed the city toward an indoor facility: a short operating window (Memorial Day to Labor Day) and the staffing reality of lifeguard requirements. Weiss said the Buckner pool struggled with declining attendance for years and was becoming “almost impossible” to staff — needing about 30 lifeguards a week.

The new approach would be a larger indoor, year-round facility at Henslee Park, expected to include an auditorium, gymnasium, fitness center, classrooms, meeting space, and potentially an early childhood development component — with indoor swimming designed for year-round lessons, recreation, exercise programming, and competitive teams.

Weiss said the city and YMCA have entered into an operating agreement: the city would build and own the facility, while the YMCA would staff and operate it and keep the revenue to offset an estimated $1.5–$2 million in annual operating costs. The center would be open to YMCA members and non-members, with non-members paying an admission fee.

Weiss estimated the aquatic recreation center at approximately $30 million, and said the YMCA plans to sell its current facility and contribute up to $10 million over the term of the bonds.

Project 3: A New Fire Station and Training Center

The third leg of the plan centers on replacing the city’s aging Station 2 facility in Pomona — a metal building on Pringle Drive that Weiss said has maintenance issues and cannot realistically be remodeled to meet modern standards, including requirements related to storing turnout gear away from diesel exhaust exposure.

Weiss announced that the city closed on a donation of over seven acres on Marshall Stuart Drive on Dec. 23, 2025, land provided by the Jackson Foundation and appraised at $630,000. He said the location is less than two miles from the current station and provides safer access to Highway 46, the industrial park, and the south side of the city.

Alongside the new station, the city plans to build a training center that could allow Dickson not only to certify its own firefighters, but to host training for other departments as well. Weiss estimated the combined cost of the fire station and training center at about $5 million.

How the City Says We Can Afford it

Weiss leaned heavily on Dickson’s fiscal position as the argument for why the city can take on major construction without “adding to the financial burden” of residents.

He pointed to a $24 million reserve/rainy day fund, and described the city’s current debt as about $8.8 million — a relatively low figure, he argued, for a city positioned as a regional retail and employment hub.

He also repeated a key theme: Dickson’s budget is not primarily property-tax driven anymore. The city, he said, has become a sales-tax driven municipality over the last half-century.

A 50-year look back: taxes, budgets, and “parking meters on trial”

To illustrate the city’s growth, Weiss compared the municipal budget and revenue mix in 1976 to today.

He said in 1976 the city’s total budget was just under $1.2 million, and the property tax rate was $2.77, producing about $425,000 in property tax revenue. Sales tax revenue was around $238,000, and alcohol and beer taxes brought in $138,000.

He also offered a bit of local trivia that got a knowing reaction from the room: parking meters installed downtown in 1947 “on a six-month trial basis” stayed in place for 32 years until being removed in 1979 — and in 1976, he said, parking meters produced more revenue than building permits.

Fast forward to the present, Weiss said Dickson’s budget is roughly $34 million, with a property tax rate of $0.71 expected to generate $5.7 million, while sales taxes generate more than $13 million annually. Beer and alcohol revenues now exceed $1.3 million a year, and building permits are projected to bring in $318,000.

Buckner Park Upgrades, More Development Ahead

Weiss also highlighted continued investment in parks, pointing to the recent upgrades at Buckner Park — including a $2.7 million Phase 1 project supported by a $625,000 state grant, and a Phase 2 effort backed by a $4 million state grant that he said will include ballfield reconfiguration, a new concession stand, covered batting cage, and a new playground.

He signaled that city officials are also in conversations with development companies with the goal of strengthening the city’s retail market — a brief mention that suggests more announcements may be coming.

Safety Initiatives: Weather Radios, Code Red, Rural Fire Subscribers, and AEDs

On the public safety side, Weiss highlighted expansion of the city’s “Seconds Matter” campaign — a program that began with address markers and expanded into smoke detectors, trigger locks, child safety seat inspections, Code Red emergency alerts, and more recently, free weather radios distributed from Fire Station 1.

Weiss said the city explored tornado warning sirens but concluded they were ineffective unless residents were close to a siren and outdoors, and too costly to cover the entire city.

He also announced the program is being expanded to include rural fire service subscribers — residents outside city limits but within five miles of one of the city’s three stations who pay for fire coverage — meaning those households will now be eligible for the same safety items.

Finally, Weiss said the city has installed 16 AEDs across city buildings and facilities through a partnership with TriStar Horizon Medical Center, inspired by a medical emergency experienced by longtime city attorney Jerry Smith.

Recovery Residences — and What the City Says it Can’t Do

Near the end of the speech, Weiss addressed the issue that has fueled months of public debate: recovery residences.

The mayor repeated the city’s long-standing legal argument — that local government is sharply limited by the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Tennessee law classifying certain disability-related group homes as single-family residences.

Weiss also described recent state legislation connected to Rep. Mary Littleton. He said the law created voluntary standards tied to programs seeking court referrals or state funding, but that programs operating outside those channels are not required to comply. He also referenced a Hamilton County/Chattanooga law involving a 1,000-foot restriction near schools and daycares, but said legal counsel warned it is likely unenforceable and could invite federal litigation.

He concluded by saying the city has asked legislators to consider other proposals in the current session.

Proclamations: Rep. Mary Littleton and County Mayor Bob Rial

Weiss also used the forum to recognize two public officials nearing the end of their current political chapters.

He praised outgoing Rep. Mary Littleton, who has announced she will not seek reelection, and said the city will deliver a proclamation thanking her for years of service.

He then honored Dickson County Mayor Bob Rial, noting Rial’s prior service on the Dickson City Council before becoming county mayor in 2010. Weiss credited Rial with helping guide county government to fiscal stability and presented a proclamation recognizing more than two decades of public service. Rial offered a brief thank-you and joked that the crowd could “hear a lot” more from him in a couple of months.

What’s Next?

Weiss closed by inviting questions, though the meeting appeared to end without extended Q&A.

In the coming days, Dickson County Times will publish separate follow-up stories on each major topic discussed. Check back for more.