Residents pressed city leaders Tuesday night to scrap Crossville’s Flock license-plate reader cameras, citing privacy rights, lack of transparency and recent moves by other Tennessee counties, during a packed work session that also advanced several infrastructure and operational items toward formal votes.

Three speakers used the public-comment period to criticize the camera system. AJ Capito, vice chair of the Cumberland County Young Republicans, said he supports law enforcement tools but demanded specific local data on recoveries, arrests and cleared cases tied to the cameras, along with written policies, access rules and audit practices. He referenced Knox County’s unanimous vote the day before to remove its fixed readers within 30 days and urged a public discussion of Crossville-specific results before any contract renewal.

A second speaker said the cameras were installed without meaningful public input and that open-records requests had not produced a signed contract. He pointed to cancellations or pauses by other jurisdictions, bipartisan legislative interest and more than 100 agencies nationwide that have dropped similar systems, calling for Crossville to cancel its contract and ban the technology.

Howard Burnett argued the cameras constitute warrantless searches under the Fourth Amendment and Tennessee Constitution, recounted a mistaken out-of-state toll ticket involving his vehicle, and raised physical safety concerns about how some units are mounted.

After public comment, council and staff turned to the agenda.

On mitigation credits for the Meadow Park Lake dam project, officials reported that the University of Tennessee offered to lock in current pricing at roughly $1,400 per credit for a $300,000 payment covering first-phase expenses. Without an agreement, prices could rise substantially once a mitigation bank is established, potentially increasing the city’s eventual cost for the estimated $11.6 million in credits needed for the dam. Staff noted the October 15 request for a decision and said UT representatives were willing to appear by Zoom. Council members discussed the timing relative to the upcoming water-authority referendum and the seating of new council members in December, with several favoring a request to delay a final commitment.

City staff announced a $21 million statewide partnership grant for Northwest Connector Phase 2 between Highway 70 North and Highway 127. The city already holds right-of-way; remaining work includes updating NEPA documents, plans last revised in 2022, surveys and utility coordination. Estimated total cost is about $22 million, leaving the city responsible for overruns. Construction is targeted for fall 2027. Council indicated support for moving forward with TDOT and design-engineer contracts; discussion also noted potential reallocation of previously budgeted local funds toward athletic-field turf.

Council advanced the award of an asset-management-plan RFP to Ardura, funded in part by a prior $400,000 grant tied to ARPA projects. Updated airport minimum standards (last revised in 2008) and a flight-training-school application from local firm Bias Aviation both received committee or staff recommendations and were headed to the next formal agenda.

For a water-line extension request on Peachtree Drive in a failed subdivision, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended a special-tap-fee approach. City engineers estimated a roughly 1,600-foot, six-inch main plus hydrants and a short two-inch extension at about $249,500, equating to roughly $11,340 per lot if the cost is spread among 22 lots. The project would require bidding and possibly a budget amendment depending on timing. Annexation resolutions and plans of service for properties on Canary Drive and Lantana Road were also advanced.

City Attorney Randy York discussed a proposed resolution authorizing petition to the court for disposition of long-held forfeited property, primarily guns seized over two decades, so proceeds can be properly directed under the applicable statutes and records maintained for auditors and ATF.

Police Chief Jesse Brooks requested approval to purchase five or six fully equipped patrol vehicles at approximately $59,000 each to replace aging units, noting the request comes in under budget after no purchases the prior year.

Finally, the mayor indicated an appointment of Andy Lyon to the Tree Board.

All discussion items were expected to appear on the next regular meeting agenda for formal action on Tuesday next week. The work session adjourned after the Tree Board item.