The Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen has rejected a new car wash in its historic district, saying the business wasn’t in keeping with the area’s character.

That decision, along with items related to a citywide LED street light conversion and an appointee to the city’s Industrial Development Board, were among the decisions reached at the Tuesday, Sept. 12 board meeting.

Aldermen voted 5-1 against a special use permit for a new Glide Xpress Car Wash at 5905 Stage Road in the Bartlett Station historic district. The location is next to the existing Bartlett Self-Service Car Wash at 5861 Stage Road. Glide tried to make the case that its drive-thru business model was substantially different from the self-wash facility next door.

Some Bartlett officials revisit idea of utility collective for suburbs

Alderman Jack Young cast the sole vote in favor of the project, noting that only four people spoke against the project during two public hearings. He also said the project was recommended by the city’s Municipal Planning Commission.

Alderman Robert Griffin and the rest of the board thought differently.

“The developers made it a difficult vote because they had some good points about bringing businesses there that would make you stop in that area, as opposed to some of the businesses there now you drive past: a funeral home, a daycare center, a doctor’s office,” Griffin said. “However, I still voted no because I don’t think this fits the ideal of what we want there.”

He would like to see new dining and retail options in that area. He stressed that no one on the board has a problem with Glide itself. They just don’t want it in that location.

There was some indication that Glide may already be looking at other alternate Bartlett sites.

The board voted unanimously to approve a contract with PATH Company LLC for the conversion of 8,428 streetlights across the city to LED. PATH won a bidding war with Memphis Light, Gas and Water to gain the project.

The work should start by early October, according to William Franklin, PATH vice president of finance and development.

“It’s a 10-, 11-, 12-week max...installation time, which puts us right at the end of December for full project completion,” he said.

‘Chef Mo’ ready for new role as Bartlett alderwoman

Bartlett Chief Administration Officer Steve Sones has led the project since taking over as CAO in January.

“I’m ecstatic to get this project started. It has been arduous working through it, to say the least,” he said. “I think the relationships that were established along the way between MLGW President (Doug) McGowen and some of this team will help us in the future. Ultimately, I’m comfortable with our decision.”

Sones estimates the conversion will save the city more than $400,000 annually.

Bartlett hired PATH in 2021 to assess its streetlights.

The city also set aside the final round of funding for the debt-free project on Tuesday, allocating $452,000 to go along with approximately $3.8 million previously earmarked.

On Tuesday, the board also unanimously approved Mayor David Parson’s appointment of Joshua McNeil to the Industrial Development Board.

McNeil was one of 12 applicants who interviewed last month for the city’s vacant alderman seat. He works as a senior account executive for Noresco LLC and as an account exec for Energy Systems Group in Bartlett. One of his specialty areas is working with municipalities on large projects.

“He’s familiar with TIFs (Tax Increment Financing) and PILOTs (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) and so forth because a lot of his business is based on a city getting those,” Parson said. “So I feel like he brings some experience to the table on how those work.”

Tuesday’s meeting was also noteworthy as the first full session of Alderwoman Monique Williams in the Position 4 seat, vacated with Bobby Simmons’ retirement in June. She was sworn in Aug. 22.