Tammy Smith of the Wilson County Election Commission will speak at the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce on Friday, Oct. 9.

The Chamber's monthly Community Development Meeting falls weeks before the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election, which includes a question on whether to repeal Mt. Juliet's Home Rule charter. The Chamber listing identifies Smith as being "with the Wilson County Election Commission" but does not detail the topic.

If voters approve the repeal, the city would gain authority to ask the Tennessee Legislature for permission to create a development impact fee program. Under the current Home Rule system, developer contributions toward long-term infrastructure beyond a project's direct frontage are voluntary, NewsChannel 5 first reported in August. That would cover roads, sewers, stormwater systems and parks.

City Commissioner Jennifer Milele, who represents District Four, told NewsChannel 5 in an Aug. 14 report that the change is needed to shift infrastructure costs away from taxpayers.

"It's very important because right now we rely mainly on sales tax and property tax. So if we don't set up something now, and have the developers fairly share into the future, then the burdens will always be on the taxpayer," Milele said.

Mt. Juliet voters approved Home Rule in 2006, when the city had about 19,000 residents. The population has since grown to roughly 45,000, according to city planning documents cited by the What's Up Mt. Juliet newsletter.

The Chamber's Community Development Meetings feature a guest speaker along with updates on local business and development activity, followed by Q&A and networking, according to the Chamber's program page.

Doors open at 8:15 a.m. The meeting runs from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Seating is limited, and the Chamber asks attendees to RSVP in advance at business.mjchamber.org. The Chamber notes it does not endorse political candidates and that its events are not grounds for campaigning or distribution of campaign material.

Several election deadlines are approaching. The voter registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 5, according to a WSMV voter guide. Early voting runs from Wednesday, Oct. 14 through Thursday, Oct. 29. A sample ballot is available on the Wilson County Election Commission's website.