Mayors Blog – Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce

Kindness takes a Seat: Whataburger and Wilson County Kind Dedicate Buddy Benches for Wilson County Schools

Written by Lebanon Wilson Chamber Marketing on November 6, 2025. Posted in Chamber Blog, Mayors Blog.

Local leaders, Chamber members, and School Resource Officers join forces with Whataburger to spotlight kindness and connection in Wilson County Schools.

(Lebanon, TN 11/6/2025)- On World Kindness Day, Whataburger and Wilson County are partnering to dedicate buddy benches at six Wilson County Schools—creating safe spaces where students can find friendship, support and a sense of belonging. The dedication ceremony will take place on Thursday, November 13, 2025, beginning at 1:00PM at the Wilson County Schools Administration Training Complex, 415 Harding Drive, Lebanon TN 37087.

The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce, Sheriff’s Office and School Resource Officers are proud to stand alongside educators and students, offering encouragement and connection to those who need it most. Community leaders and residents are invited to attend the event, enjoy Whataburger burger boxes, and help amplify the message that kindness is always in style. Come view the beautiful benches before they are transported to the schools.

Event Highlights:

Dedication of Buddy Benches to Wilson County Schools
Remarks by Mayor Randall Hutto, local leaders, and community advocates
Complimentary Whataburger refreshments for all guests
Free Wilson County Kind giveaways designed by Visionary Design Group.

“At Whataburger, we believe kindness is just as essential as a good meal,” said Courtney Vick, Field Marketing Manager at Whataburger. We’re passionate about supporting education, literacy and food insecurity.”

“Wilson County is built on the strength of its community, and kindness is at the heart of that,” said County Mayor Randall Hutto. “These buddy benches are more than just seats — they provide the kind of support every student needs.

Join us in making a difference, one bench, one smile, one friend at a time. Wilson Bank & Trust proudly sponsors Wilson County Kind initiatives.

New Microchip Scanning Stations in Wilson County

Written by Lebanon Wilson Chamber Marketing on October 3, 2025. Posted in Chamber Blog, Mayors Blog.

Lebanon, TN (10/03/2025) – Wilson County Animal Control (WCAC), in partnership with the Wilson County Emergency Management Agency (WEMA), has installed free-to-use, 24/7 pet microchip scanning stations in four locations across the county.

The self-service scanners will be available in the next few days. They will be located in the parking lots of the following WEMA fire stations:

Station 2 – Watertown – 160 South Statesville Ave, Watertown
Station 4 – Lakeview – 6171 Saundersville RD, Mt. Juliet
Station 5 – Gladeville – 8814 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Mt. Juliet
Station 9 – Lebanon – 40 Rutledge Lane, Lebanon

Each station includes signage with clear instructions for scanning a found pet’s microchip. These tools will help community members reunite lost pets with their families while preventing dogs from going into animal shelters, which are often full.

“These scanners will help improve the reunification process of lost pets and their families. We know that pets belong with their people and not in kennels, so these scanners will provide a useful tool to help make that happen. We truly appreciate Wilson County Animal Control and WEMA for making this possible,” said Randall Hutto, Wilson County Mayor.

WCAC asks that you please not pick up a stray dog and place it in your vehicle/home. This can become dangerous, as stray dogs can be unpredictable. Wilson County’s Animal Shelter is currently full. Families looking to adopt a pet are welcome to stop by and meet the dogs that are up for adoption. Wilson County Animal Control is located at 378 Dump Road, Lebanon, TN 37087 and is open Mondays-Fridays from 7:00am-3:00pm. Wilson County Animal Control can be reached at 615-444-9775 for more information.

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Looking Into the Future: Part 3 – EMS

Written by Lebanon Wilson Chamber Marketing on September 18, 2025. Posted in Chamber Blog, Mayors Blog.

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Randall Hutto, Wilson County Mayor hosted Part 3 of this year’s “Looking Into the Future” series at Providence Church.

Mayor Hutto moderated a panel discussion featuring leaders from local and regional public safety organizations, including:

The event highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing Wilson County’s emergency response systems and explored ways to strengthen public safety for the future. This was an important conversation about the future of public safety in Wilson County. Bringing these leaders together allows us to better understand current needs, identify areas for collaboration, and prepare for the growth ahead.

The “Looking Into the Future” series is designed to engage the community in discussions about key issues that will shape Wilson County in the years to come.

The series is sponsored by:

Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce
Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce
Watertown & East Wilson Chamber of Commerce

Wilson County Launches Age-Friendly Community SurveyWilson County is conducting a survey to guide the creation of its age-friendly strategy

Written by Lebanon Wilson Chamber Marketing on July 4, 2025. Posted in Chamber Blog, Mayors Blog.

Lebanon, TN — As Wilson County works to become more age-friendly, residents are asked to weigh in. The Age-Friendly Community Survey will be used to determine the most pressing priorities in Wilson County, and to gauge residents’ awareness of existing age-friendly programs.

This is all part of Wilson County’s work since enrolling in the AARP Network of Age Friendly States and Communities. Enrollment in the Network requires communities to conduct an assessment of their age-friendliness, identify strategies for improvement, and implement those strategies over time.

“As we plan for the future, we are calling on our residents to let us know what they would like to see, and to help us create a successful Age-Friendly Action Plan that is built around their needs,” said Wilson County Mayor, Randall Hutto. “The survey will assist in the ability to make more informed decisions on resources, programs, and general community-wide needs.”

The main goal of the survey is to identify the current needs of residents in the
community and also help decision-makers understand how existing and potential policies may impact the community.

Adults are encouraged to participate in the survey, which can be completed online HERE. Printed versions are available in the Wilson Co. Mayor’s Office at 228 E. Main St. Rm 104, Lebanon.

The survey may take about 20-25 minutes to complete. All feedback will remain
anonymous.

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About the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities
The AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities supports the work of local, regional and state governments as they prepare for the nation’s changing demographics. Established in 2012, the Network includes towns, cities, counties and states that have made a commitment to being more livable for people of all ages, and especially older adults. To learn more, visit www.AARP.org/AgeFriendly or follow @AARPLivable on social media.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 3, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sara Davenport
davenports@wilsoncountytn.gov
615/444-1383

Applications Open August 1st for Wilson County Opioid Remediation Funding

Written by Lebanon Wilson Chamber Marketing on July 1, 2025. Posted in Chamber Blog, Mayors Blog.

Lebanon, TN (July 1, 2025) – Each county in Tennessee has been affected by the opioid crisis. In 2023, Wilson County experienced 68 deaths from overdose, the majority of which were from opioids*. In response to the extensive damage and loss of life caused by the opioid crisis, the state of Tennessee will receive settlement funds from several large corporations. Wilson County receives a portion of settlement funds to be spent on abatement and remediation of opioid use and misuse. This funding continues over several years into the future.

Applications for funding will be made available and accepted from August 1st-September 30th, 2025. Starting August 1st, application packets are available by request from Labraunya Horton at the email WCOpFund@wilsoncountytn.gov or may be picked up in person at the Wilson County Finance Office, located at 228 E. Main St., Suite 205, Lebanon TN 37087. Completed applications must be submitted to the same location by the end of the last business day of September. Notices of awards can be expected in January 2026.

Acceptable projects must meet the criteria of the approved uses of Remediation Funds which includes Primary Prevention, Harm Reduction, Treatment, Recovery Support, Education and Training, and Research & Evaluation as listed at Wilson County Opioid Remediation Funding | Wilson County, TN. Awards are granted for terms of 1 year, and funds must be spent by the end of the term.

In the previous year of county funding, awards were made for eight projects such as:

The PIC Center (Preventing Incarceration in the Community)
The District Attorney General’s media campaign for WilCo Addiction Help
Drug Court’s “Breaking the Cycle”
Prevention coalition Education initiatives
“Road to Recovery” program
“Recovery & Restoration” program

The Wilson County Opioid Remediation Funding Committee has been established by the county to oversee the spending of these funds. For more information, please visit Wilson County, TN | Official Website (wilsoncountytn.gov) or email Labraunya Horton at WCOpFund@wilsoncountytn.gov .

For immediate prevention and recovery resources, call or text the TN REDLINE1-800-889-9789. *Data from Tennessee Department of Health, Data Dashboard

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Property Tax Freeze Eligibility Reaches More Wilson County Seniors

Written by Lebanon Wilson Chamber Marketing on June 20, 2025. Posted in Chamber Blog, Mayors Blog.

Lebanon, TN (06/20/2025) – The monthly Wilson County Commission meeting was held on June 16, 2025. During the meeting, several resolutions were passed regarding Wilson County’s budget and the upcoming tax year. One such resolution was passed that will increase the income limit for property tax freeze eligibility. The property tax freeze is a program for senior adults ages 65+ who are on a fixed income. The income limit for the tax year 2026 will be raised from $51,790 to $63,470. This is good news, as it will allow more senior adults to qualify for the tax freeze! The resolution applies for the tax year 2026. Currently, tax year 2025 is still taking place and residents will be paying 2025 taxes when they receive their bill in October. Next year, when commissioners set the tax rate in June 2026, qualifying residents will be frozen at that rate.

The process to qualify for the program can be found on the back of the property tax bill. Those interested in applying will need to meet with Dawn Bennett or Lisa Crockett in the Trustee’s Office. For the 2026 tax season, applicants will need their 2025 (since taxes are a year behind) tax return, Driver’s License, and Social Security and Medicare cards. This information applies to everyone listed on the property deed which is verified by the Trustee’s Office. The adjusted gross income and social security benefits are calculated after medical is deducted. If that amount is under the income limit ($63,470) the applicant is approved, and their property taxes would be frozen until the next tax year at which time they would need to reapply.

“As always, Wilson County strives to assist our senior adults in any way that we can. Last October, Wilson County received a Certificate of Commitment for becoming an Age-Friendly Community in the AARP network. At the time, Wilson County was 1 of only 2 counties in the state to achieve that certification. Our community supports senior adults in many ways, and the property tax freeze is one small way that we can help enhance the quality of life for our seniors,” said Mayor Randall Hutto.

“This resolution would not have been possible without the efforts of the Wilson County Commission, spearheaded by Commissioner Haskell Evans. We sincerely thank our commissioners for all they do for the citizens of Wilson County!”

The Wilson County Trustee’s office is located in the Wilson County Courthouse, 228 E. Main St., Room 103, Lebanon, TN 37087. Regular office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm, excluding federal holidays. For more information, call their office at 615-444-0894 or visit their website at Trustee | Wilson County, TN.

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