The Old Monsanto Property Comes to a Vote: What the Commission Decided and What Comes Next

Crosswaters Reserve LLC sought to rezone 1,339 acres along the Duck River for a massive mixed-use development, and Maury County had to answer.

COLUMBIA, On the evening of Monday, June 15, the Maury County Commission convened at the Tom Primm Meeting Room at 6 Courthouse Square and took up a rezoning request that has stirred this community for months. The item before commissioners was a proposal by Crosswaters Reserve LLC, represented by engineering firm Barge Design Solutions, to rezone approximately 1,339 acres at 2200 New Highway 7 in Santa Fe, on the grounds of the former Monsanto Chemical Company campus. The land sits five miles northwest of downtown Columbia, tucked between the Duck River and Williamsport Highway, and it carries a history that most longtime Maury County families know by heart.

The proposed development was ambitious by any measure. Crosswaters Reserve called for 1,313 residential units, including 975 single-family homes, 188 townhomes, and 150 multi-family units, along with 150,000 square feet of commercial space, a 36-hole golf course with a 25,000-square-foot clubhouse, and a 400-room hotel. The centerpiece of the entire concept was Tailings Pond 15, a 325-acre body of water known locally for decades as Monsanto Lake, which the developer proposed to rebrand as a recreational reservoir. The developer projected a 20-year economic impact of $5.1 billion, 1,500 jobs, and tens of millions in development fees and tax revenue for the county.

To understand what was being proposed, you have to understand what stood here before. The Monsanto Chemical Company operated on this site for decades, mining phosphorus, manufacturing fertilizer, and at one point producing chemical warfare agents for the federal government. The plant closed in 1989 and left behind a federally designated Superfund site. Generations of Maury County families grew up hearing stories of the plant's legacy in the river: dead fish floating downstream, livestock refusing to drink from the Duck, a waterway so damaged it took decades to recover. The properties remain subject to land use restrictions to this day. Barge Design Solutions, the same engineering firm now behind Crosswaters Reserve, previously sought to site a landfill on this same property. The county rejected that proposal too. This was the third major attempt to develop the old Monsanto site in recent years.

The state had already weighed in. In April 2026, the Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation extending scenic river protections to most of the Duck and Buffalo Rivers, with every state legislator whose district touches the Duck River signing on as a co-sponsor. Rep. Scott Cepicky of Culleoka, who represents part of Maury County, was a driving force behind the effort, having led the original 2023 scenic river classification specifically aimed at protecting the Duck from development on this very property. The Duck River is not a regional curiosity. It is considered the most biodiverse river in North America, providing drinking water to more than 250,000 people across Middle Tennessee. The legislature recognized that in April. The commission faced the same question in June.

The central unresolved issue heading into Monday's vote was safety: whether Tailings Pond 15, the former industrial impoundment that forms the heart of the Crosswaters concept, has been sufficiently remediated for residential and recreational use. Critics argued that the environmental history of the site, combined with the continuing land use restrictions on the Superfund-designated portions, made any large-scale residential development premature at best and reckless at worst. Supporters of the project pointed to the economic projections and argued that responsible development with proper oversight was preferable to leaving the land idle and unproductive indefinitely.

The Muletown Journal will publish a full follow-up report on the commission's vote and any conditions attached to its decision. What is not in dispute is the weight of what was decided. The Duck River runs through the identity of this county the way the courthouse square anchors its downtown. Whatever the commission chose Monday night, Maury County residents deserve a clear accounting of what comes next, who is responsible for ensuring safety, and what recourse exists if that responsibility is not met. We will keep watching.

Columbia Passes $84.4 Million Budget With No Tax Increase, Eyes Major Infrastructure Push

The city council approved the FY 2026-2027 spending plan on June 11, delivering a 4% raise to city employees and nearly $49 million in capital improvements.

COLUMBIA, The Columbia City Council gave final approval on June 11 to the city's fiscal year 2026-2027 budget, a spending plan totaling $84,446,601 across all funds. The council passed the budget without a property tax increase, continuing a pattern of fiscal discipline that residents and business owners have come to expect from city leadership in recent years.

The General Fund, which covers Columbia's core day-to-day operations including public works, parks, fire, police, and administration, accounts for 61 percent of the total budget at $51,444,978. That fund is projected to see a $1.5 million, or 3.3 percent, revenue increase driven by continued economic growth in the city. All city personnel will receive a 4 percent salary increase under the adopted plan, a move city leaders said is essential to recruiting and keeping qualified workers as competition for public sector talent tightens across Middle Tennessee.

Mayor Chaz Molder called the budget a reflection of Columbia's growth and the administration's commitment to responsible planning. City Manager Tony Massey echoed that framing, emphasizing operational excellence and the quality of services residents expect. Assistant City Manager and CFO Thad Jablonski noted that the budget maintains the city's strong financial position while advancing infrastructure improvements without touching tax rates or fees.

The five-year Capital Improvement Program for FY 2027 through 2031 carries nearly $92.7 million in planned investments. For FY 2027 alone, approximately $49.2 million in CIP funding has been allocated, with 53.6 percent of that going into the Wastewater Fund for treatment plant construction and pump station upgrades. Other major projects include a TDOT partnership to widen Bear Creek, improvements at the Nashville Highway and Bear Creek Pike intersection, the Iron Bridge replacement, and ongoing street resurfacing. For a city growing as steadily as Columbia is, the decision to push that level of capital investment without raising taxes is a meaningful one.

Columbia Adds Armored Tactical Van and New Fire Engine to First Responder Fleet

A $259,200 police tactical vehicle funded by a state grant and a $925,000 fire pumper are now in service, strengthening the city's emergency response capacity.

COLUMBIA, The men and women who answer the call every day in Columbia are going to work with better tools. The City of Columbia has placed into service two major public safety additions: a new tactical response vehicle for the Columbia Police Department and a new fire engine for Columbia Fire and Rescue. WSMV visited Columbia on June 17 to cover the additions, giving the investments regional attention they deserve.

The police department's new vehicle is a Ford Transit 350 HD 4x4 tactical van capable of seating up to 12 personnel, built with A9-level ballistic protection. The van was purchased for $259,200 using funds from the State of Tennessee's Violent Crime Intervention Fund grant, meaning Columbia taxpayers did not bear that cost directly. It will support SWAT deployments, narcotics operations, violent felony arrest warrants, and other specialized law enforcement missions. Police Chief Jeremy Haywood said providing advanced protection for officers is not optional in today's law enforcement environment and expressed gratitude to city leadership for recognizing that need.

Columbia Fire and Rescue has added a KME Panther pumper that carries a price tag of $925,000. The apparatus is equipped with a 1,000-gallon water tank, a 1,500-gallon-per-minute fire pump, and a Class A foam system. Fire Chief Chris Cummins said the new engine positions the department to respond more effectively as Columbia continues to grow in population and geography. A city that has been adding residents, businesses, and square footage at Columbia's pace needs fire apparatus that can keep up.

Mayor Chaz Molder said equipping first responders with modern resources is among the most important investments a city can make, and it is hard to argue with that. These are not symbolic purchases. They are the kind of investments that protect lives, reduce response time, and give the men and women of Columbia PD and Columbia Fire and Rescue the confidence to do their jobs well. The community owes them nothing less.

43 Nurses Pinned at Columbia State, Ready to Serve Maury County and Beyond

Columbia State's spring 2026 nursing graduates posted a 94.8% NCLEX first-attempt pass rate, well above the national average, and nearly all find work in the field within a year.

COLUMBIA, Columbia State Community College honored 43 nursing graduates in a pinning ceremony held in the Webster Athletic Center, closing out four semesters of classroom instruction and 540 clinical hours for every student who crossed the floor. The pinning ceremony is one of the oldest and most meaningful traditions in nursing education, a moment when faculty formally welcome new graduates not just as credentialed practitioners but as caregivers entering a calling that demands far more than technical skill.

Dr. Loretta Bond, Columbia State nursing program director, said the evening was memorable for everyone in attendance. Dr. Kae Fleming, dean of the Health Sciences Division, added that what these graduates carry into the field goes beyond clinical knowledge. Fleming noted that nursing school is about far more than mastering facts and completing checkoffs, and that the ability to learn continuously is a priceless skill for registered nurses, their patients, and the families they serve.

The program's numbers are worth a close look. Columbia State nursing graduates posted a 94.8 percent first-attempt pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination in 2025, compared to a national average of 87.5 percent for associate degree nursing graduates the same year. The program's in-field placement rate within six to 12 months of completion stood at 99 percent as of 2023. Those are not soft statistics. They reflect a program producing nurses who are genuinely ready to practice and who find work when they graduate. Maury County graduates in the spring 2026 class included Aletha Parton, Jayleah Burchell, Katherine McCraw, Alisha Jones, Kyla Polk, Kayle Hie, Jebediah Roberts, Arielle Mayes, Sarah Anye, McKinley Woodard, Timory Shaner, and Sariah Sanchez.

These 43 graduates will now sit for the NCLEX exam to earn licensure as registered nurses. They will go to work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, schools, and home health settings across Maury County and Middle Tennessee. Maury Regional Medical Center, which anchors healthcare for this entire region, depends on a steady pipeline of trained nurses. So do the smaller clinics, home health agencies, and rural practices that keep care accessible throughout the county. Columbia State, sitting right there on Hampshire Pike, is doing the unglamorous and essential work of building that pipeline one cohort at a time. These 43 graduates are proof it is working.

Columbia State Sends 65 New EMTs Into the Field After Strong Spring Semester

Forty-two EMTs and 23 advanced EMTs completed their certificates this spring, including a Williamson Campus cohort that achieved a perfect 100% national registry pass rate.

COLUMBIA, Columbia State Community College recognized 65 emergency medical services graduates in a pinning ceremony held in the Cherry Theater this spring, honoring 42 emergency medical technicians and 23 advanced emergency medical technicians who completed their certificates during the Spring 2026 semester. The ceremony marked the end of an intensive training program that converts civilians into qualified first responders in as little as 15 weeks.

Greg Johnson, Columbia State EMS program director and assistant professor, called it another incredible semester of success and said he was encouraged to see these new graduates enter the workforce and become a positive addition to their communities. The numbers back up his optimism. Traditional spring EMT completers at the Columbia campus achieved an 86 percent first-attempt national registry pass rate. Students on the Williamson Campus achieved a perfect 100 percent. Students in the integrated certificate program earned a 100 percent first-attempt pass rate on the EMT national registry and a 91 percent rate on the AEMT portion for those who have tested to date.

Among the Maury County advanced EMT graduates recognized were Jeremy Farmer, Avery Fitzgerald, Joshua Byers, Miguel Ponce, and Talaia Goodman. The program also served students from Williamson, Lawrence, Bedford, Lewis, Davidson, Montgomery, and Dickson counties, reflecting Columbia State's reach across a broad swath of Middle Tennessee. Notably, 21 high school and homeschool seniors completed EMT certification in May 2026 through a dedicated section at the Williamson Campus, continuing a dual-enrollment partnership Columbia State has built with area high schools including Creek Wood, East Hickman, and Fairview.

Dr. Kae Fleming, dean of the Health Sciences Division, said the EMS Academy gives students a well-structured, rigorous path to becoming highly qualified first responders. In a region where rural roads and spread-out geography put serious demands on emergency services, having a local institution turning out trained EMTs at this volume and pass rate is not a small thing. It is a lifeline. For more information about the EMS program, visit ColumbiaState.edu/EMS.

MCFD Firefighters Train on the Ocoee River for Swiftwater Rescue

Three Maury County Fire Department members spent three days on one of Tennessee's most demanding waterways learning techniques that could save lives right here at home.

COLUMBIA, Three members of the Maury County Fire Department recently traveled to the Ocoee River for a three-day swiftwater rescue training course, sharpening skills that are directly relevant to any community that lives and works alongside a major waterway. The Duck River runs through the heart of Maury County, and water rescue calls rank among the most dangerous and technically demanding situations first responders face.

According to the department's social media post, the training covered swimming techniques in moving current, throw bag operations, and the physical demands of walking in fast-moving water. These are foundational swiftwater rescue competencies, and working through them on the Ocoee, one of the Southeast's most challenging whitewater rivers, provides a level of real-world preparation that cannot be replicated in a training room. The Ocoee is no gentle float. Its Class III and IV rapids demand focus, strength, and sound decision-making under pressure.

Water rescues have always been a reality in Maury County. The Duck River draws swimmers, kayakers, and anglers every summer, and heavy rain events can turn familiar crossings into dangerous situations quickly. The county's topography and the river's character mean that MCFD crews may be called to the water at any time. The investment in specialized training reflects a department that takes its responsibility seriously and prepares accordingly.

Maury County residents should take comfort in knowing that their fire department is not waiting for the next emergency to start preparing. The men and women of MCFD train hard so that when a call comes in from the riverbank, they are ready. That is what professional public service looks like, and this community is fortunate to have it.

Summer Baseball Is Back at Dave Hall Field, and the Jumpin' Jacks Are Worth Your Evening

Columbia's new collegiate wood bat team opened its first season with a win and is playing home games through July for less than the cost of a pizza.

COLUMBIA, There is a baseball team playing at Dave Hall Field this summer, and if you have not made it out yet, you are missing something worth seeing. The Columbia Jumpin' Jacks are in their first season as members of the Volunteer State League, a collegiate summer wood bat league that places college players in communities across Tennessee while they develop between seasons. The name is new. The field is not. Dave Hall Field on the Columbia State campus has seen plenty of baseball over the years, and this summer it has a team to call its own again.

The Jacks opened their season on June 4 with a 7-6 win, a fitting debut for a club playing in a town that has always taken pride in showing up for its own. The Volunteer State League places college athletes with host communities, and the league's CEO Alec Allred has said they look for communities that value baseball, support local events, and take pride in their hometown identity. Columbia fit that description. It usually does.

Home games run through the end of July, with tickets priced from five to twelve dollars. Bring a blanket, bring your family, and plan on not spending much more than that for an evening under the lights. This is collegiate summer baseball the way it is supposed to work: young men far from home playing for the love of the game, in a town that has agreed to root for them. The Sandlot had a monster behind the fence. Field of Dreams had a cornfield. Columbia has Hampshire Pike, the Duck River, and a fresh set of bleachers waiting to fill up.

The schedule and ticket information are available at columbiajumpinjacks.com. Get out there before July is gone.

Columbia State Honors 784 Students on Spring 2026 Academic Honor Lists

One hundred twenty-three students earned president's list recognition and 661 earned dean's list honors for the spring semester, according to the college.

COLUMBIA, Columbia State Community College has announced its Spring 2026 president's and dean's lists, recognizing 123 students with president's list honors and 658 students with dean's list honors for their academic performance during the spring semester. The announcements reflect a student body that is showing up not just to earn certificates and degrees, but to do the work at a high level.

Columbia State President Dr. Janet F. Smith said students who achieve academic excellence at this level deserve recognition, noting that they maintain high performance while managing multiple obligations that for many include jobs, families, and extracurricular activities. To qualify for the president's list, students must complete 15 credit hours in a semester with a grade point average between 3.90 and 4.00. The dean's list requires 12 or more credit hours and a GPA of 3.50 or higher.

Columbia State serves students from across a wide swath of Middle Tennessee, including Maury, Williamson, Lawrence, Hickman, and Lewis counties, among others. The college's Hampshire Pike campus is a cornerstone institution for this region, one that offers a genuine pathway to career, credential, and transfer for students who might not otherwise have access to higher education. These honor lists are a reminder that the students walking through those doors are serious about the opportunity in front of them.

The full Spring 2026 president's and dean's lists are available at ColumbiaState.edu. Congratulations to every student named.