Audits

The private acts listed below concern governmental audits prior to the establishment of the Metropolitan Government and are no longer in effect.

1. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 171, permitted the Quarterly County Court of Davidson County, in a regular or special session, to make an appropriation out of the ordinary funds of the County to pay Fisher and Graham for making an audit and survey of the books of the County according to the terms of the contract existing between them and Davidson County.
2. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 375, provided the Davidson County Quarterly Court would elect three Commissioners, each to be a competent businessman of the community, to audit all the records, books, and papers of every County department.  The Commission had the authority to conduct hearings whenever necessary and to establish a more efficient system of accounting and bookkeeping.  The Commission would meet at least once each month for a report from its Clerk.  The Clerk's salary could not exceed $2,000 per year and the Clerk was required to be a Certified Public Accountant.
3. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 105, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 375, above, by removing the requirement that the Clerk to the Auditing Commission be a Certified Public Accountant and by removing the $2,000 a year salary limit.  The Clerk would be appointed by the Commission and the appointment would be ratified by the Quarterly County Court.  A provision was added granting the Commission the authority to employ clerical help as needed but the aggregate amount of salaries to be paid to them could not exceed $4,000 a year.
4. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 98, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 375, above, broadening the scope of the authority of the Auditing Commission by allowing it to inspect and audit the books of all State and County  officers charged with collection and disbursement of County Funds.
5. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 227, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 375, above, by extending the terms of the members of the Auditing Commission from one year to two years.
6. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 78, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 375, Section 4, above, by adding a new provision granting the Auditing Commission the right to employ an Auditing Clerk and an assistant, upon ratification of the Quarterly County Court.  Their duties would be to examine the books and records of the various county institutions under the direction of the Commission.  Additional personnel could be employed when needed.  The annual salary of the Clerk was fixed at $3,600, and the assistant's at $2,400.  An estimate of salaries needed for each year had to be submitted to and approved by the County Court.  The Clerk was allowed to purchase supplies and office equipment requiring expenditures of up to $6,500 a year, but could not spend any unappropriated balance in the Audit Account.
7. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 99, amended Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 78, above, by giving the Auditing Commission the authority to fix the salaries of the Auditing Clerk and the assistant and by increasing the limit on the aggregate clerical salaries from $6,500 to $7,500 annually.
8. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 241, amended Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 99, above, by raising the limitation placed on the aggregate salaries of clerical assistants employed by the Auditing Commission from $7,500 to $7,900 per year.
9. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 467, amended Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 241, above, by reducing the aggregate amount allotted to salaries for the Clerk and assistant for the Auditing Commission from $7,900 to $7,600, annually.  All purchases of equipment and supplies for the Auditing Commission were to be made from the ordinary funds of the County through a request filed with the Ways and Means Committee of the Quarterly County Court.
10. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 328, declared that the Davidson County Auditing Commission, established by Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 375, above, was authorized to employ such auditors as may be essential to the proper and efficient audit of all departments, offices, and institutions of the County.  The Commission was given the right to spend no less than $7,600 and no more than $10,000 a year for that purpose.  The Commission could fix the salaries of the Auditors but the aggregate amount for salaries could not exceed the maximum stated above, unless a larger amount had been approved by the Quarterly County Court.
11. Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 269, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 375, above, by changing the lengths of the terms of the members of the Auditing Commission.  Terms of office would be staggered initially at one, two, and three years, then all terms would be for three years.
12. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 478, amended Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 328, above, by increasing the aggregate yearly amount to be spent for employees of the Auditing Commission from $10,000 to $12,000.
13. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 335, amended Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 328, Section 2, above, by giving the Auditing Commission the authority to expend for Commission purposes any necessary sum, upon prior approval of the County Court.  Section 3 was amended to fix the salary of the Auditor and the assistants in accordance with the General Pay Plan of the County, as approved by the Quarterly County Court.  Section 7 was amended to provide members of the Auditing Commission compensation at the rate of $25 a month.
14. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 323, stated that the annual salary of the Auditors for Davidson County would be $7,200, and that they would no longer be subject to the provisions of the General Pay Plan of the County.

 

Beer Committee

The following acts once affecting Davidson County are no longer in effect but are listed here for historical purposes.

1. Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 353, stated that the members of the Beer Committee of Davidson County, appointed by the Quarterly County Court under the authority of Public Acts of 1933, Chapter 69, would receive $300 per year as compensation for their services, to be paid quarterly out of the regular and ordinary funds of the County.
2. Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 339, amended Public Acts of 1933, Chapter 69, as it applied to Davidson County, to allow the Quarterly County Court to authorize the position of Beer Inspector for the County and to fix the salary for the job.  The Inspector would serve only in the areas of the County located outside of incorporated cities.  The Committee of the Court appointed to enforce beer regulations was granted subpoena power in the conduct of its hearings.
3. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 638, amended Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 353, above, by raising the annual compensation of the members of the Beer Committee from $300 to $600.

 

Board of Fair Commissioners

The following acts once affecting Davidson County are no longer in effect but are listed here for historical purposes.

1. Acts of 1909, Chapter 490, created a State Board of Fair Trustees consisting of 13 members, three from each grand division of the State, three from the State at large, and the State Commissioner of Agriculture, who would serve as Chairman.  The Board would be sworn when its membership was complete and it would take charge of any land leased or turned over to the State by Davidson County to be used as a Fair Grounds.  The Board would cause to be held thereon for at least six days each year a fair which would be composed and conducted according to the provisions contained in the act.  The whole Board would choose four of its members to serve as an executive committee for the Fair, and, if the State failed to hold the Fair for two consecutive years, the property would revert to its previous owner.  The net profits of the Fair would go first towards the payment of any debts which might have been incurred.
2. Public Acts of 1921, Chapter 168, amended Acts of 1909, Chapter 490, Section 1, by creating an eighteen member Board of Fair Trustees whose membership would consist of state and local officials.  Section 2 granted the Board the authority to cancel the then current ninety-nine year lease of the State on the Fair Grounds in Davidson County and to execute new leases from time to time as deemed necessary.  The Board was required to appoint an Executive Committee to make recommendations on expenditures to the other members.  Fifty percent of the revenues of the Fair were to be set aside as a reserve fund to improve and develop the Fair Grounds.
3. Public Acts of 1923, Chapter 112, authorized the State Commissioner of Agriculture, with the approval of the Governor, to enter into negotiations with the Board of Fair Commissioners of Davidson County to surrender, cancel, and relinquish the lease held by the State on the Fair Grounds, property owned by Davidson County, on the best terms obtainable commensurate with the dignity of the State.  The Commissioners could use any funds in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, with the Governor's approval to pay lawful obligations of the State in relation to the operation of the Fair Grounds.
4. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 75, removed all the employees of the Board of Fair Commissioners from the Civil Service System of the County.     

    

Board of Parks and Recreation

The private act summarized below has been superseded by the Metropolitan Charter.

1. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 357, authorized the Quarterly Court of Davidson County to include within its annual operating budget at the beginning of each fiscal year an appropriation of $150,000 for the use and benefit of the Board of Park Commissioners of the City of Nashville.  The Trustee would pay over this amount to the Park Board of the City at the proper time.

 

Budget System

The Private act listed below established a Budget Department for Davidson County.  It has been superseded.

1. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 356, established a budget system for Davidson County.  It created a five-member Budget Committee composed of the County Judge, who would be Committee Chairman, and four other persons elected by the Quarterly Court.  The fiscal year was set from July 1 through the following June 30.  The County Highway Commission, the Board of Education, and the Clerk of the County Judge who was concerned with accounts and budgets, would each file budget requests with the Budget Committee at the proper times.  The Budget Committee would prepare the annual Budget at least 45 days before the beginning of the fiscal year in accordance with the requirements of the act.  A synopsis of the budget would be published in local newspapers.  The budget would be presented to the Quarterly Court at its July session with an appropriations resolution and a tax levy resolution.  The Clerk of the Judge in charge of the accounts and budgets would be the Director of Accounts and Budgets.  The Quarterly Court could borrow money in anticipation of tax revenues, but any such debt had to be repaid within the fiscal year.  See White v. Davidson County 210 Tenn. 456, 360 SW2 15 (1961).  The Supreme Court held that this act did not apply to the Davidson County Sheriff or affect disbursements which he had an exclusive right to make under general law.

 

Civil Service - Personnel

The acts below relate to the personnel system in Davidson County prior to the establishment of the Metropolitan Government.

1. Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 273, created and established a Civil Service System for certain employees of Davidson County and a system of personnel administration based on merit principles which governed the appointment, promotion, transfer, lay-off, removal, and discipline of covered officers and employees.  The act defined the various terms as used within the act.  It provided for a Civil Service Commission and a Director of Personnel. It prescribed qualifications for both positions.  Some classes of employees were exempted from the classified service.
2. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 28, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 273, above, by exempting the County Health Department, its Director, and all its employees from the provisions of the act.
3. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 181, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 273, Section 9, by adding to the list of those positions exempt from the provisions of that act.  The Agricultural Agent, the Home Demonstration Agent, and the other employees of the Agricultural Department of Davidson County, plus the employees of the Davidson County Planning Commission were excluded from coverage under the act.
4. Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 716, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 273, Section 4, by increasing the annual salary of the Director of Personnel from $3,000 to $3,600, and in Section 9 by adding to the list of those positions exempted from the act as follows:  the Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Secretary, and Assistant Secretary of the County Highway Department Asylum and Home, provided those individuals who had attained civil service status could choose to remain under it.  Section 15 was amended to give veterans of World War II credit for their service time, the benefit of any pay increases while away, and a bonus of five points on any examination taken for promotion or other personnel action.
5. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 704, directed the County Court of Davidson County to hold a referendum for the purpose of ascertaining the will of the electorate on whether or not County employees should be placed on a five day work week.  If approved, the County Court was obligated to put the five day week into effect.
6. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 805, gave all the employees of Davidson County and any County Board, Commission, Department, agency, or office, a monthly salary increase according to amounts specified in the act which ranged from $20 a month for those employees whose salary did not exceed $235 a month, to $12.50 a month for those employees who earned up to $335 a month.  Hourly employees were given a blanket fifteen percent increase. 
7. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 253, authorized the Quarterly Court of Davidson County to pay all the claims for money damages, accumulated or to be accumulated, which were caused by the wrongful or negligent act of an employee, agent, or servant within the scope of their employment.  No such award could be made until a thorough investigation had been made into the facts and circumstances of the claim.  No award could be paid under this act after a period of two years following the accrual of the claim. The Quarterly Court would appoint a committee of five to investigate and hear evidence under such rules as were necessary to effectuate the intents and purposes of the act.  If the County obtained liability insurance to cover such negligent acts, the provisions of the act were to be inoperative.  The act was repealed by Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 272, below.  In Griffin v. Davidson County, 194 Tenn. 335, 250 SW2d 554 (1952), the Court upheld the constitutionality of the act.
8. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 336, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 273, Section 4, above, by requiring the Civil Service Commission to employ a Director of Personnel for the County who would serve at the pleasure of the Commission.  The Director's salary would also be fixed by the Civil Service Commission, but would not exceed $4,800 a year.
9. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 337, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 273, Section 34, above, by adding a provision that any employee suspended without action of the Commission could appeal the action by notifying the Director of Personnel within 30 days after the suspension.  The Commission could order the employee reinstated without loss of pay or make such other order as to them seemed proper under the circumstances, but only after a public hearing on the matter.
10. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 540, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 273, Section 31, above, by inserting a provision that all classified employees of the County would be entitled to twenty days sick leave with pay.  Sick leave would not be charged against their annual leave but would constitute additional time off.
11. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 542, provided that all classified employees of Davidson County or any Board, Commission, Department, agency, or office, except those officials elected by the people, effective July 1, 1951, would be paid monthly salary increases.  All classified employees and those employees at the County Hospital and Home would receive a $25 per month increase by the raising of the minimum and maximum pay levels by that amount.  The increase did not apply to those employees getting $275 a month or more nor to hourly workers.  A raise of twelve cents per hour was granted those employees making $275 a month or less.
12. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 75, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 273, Section 9, above, by adding the employees of the Board of Fair Commissioners to those classes of persons exempted from the provisions of the Davidson County Civil Service Act. 
13. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 272, repealed Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 253, above.
14. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 291, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 273, by placing in the unclassified service category all teachers and employees of the Board of Education rather than only teachers and positions requiring a teaching certificate.

 

County Attorney

The acts listed below refer to the position of County Attorney for Davidson County prior to the establishment of the Metropolitan Government.

1. Public Acts of 1899, Chapter 96, created the office of County Attorney in Davidson County to be filled by election of the County Court  for terms of two years.  The County Attorney would transact all the legal business of the County and advise County officials on legal matters affecting their offices.  No officer of the County was permitted to employ County legal counsel on his own.
2. Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 275, amended Acts of 1899, Chapter 96, above, by increasing the term for which the County Attorney was appointed from two years to four years.
3. Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 184, authorized the County Attorney of Davidson County to employ an assistant, who was required to be a person licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee.  The assistant would serve at the pleasure and direction of the County Attorney and would devote his entire time to the performance of his duties, not engaging in the private practice of law at anytime.  The salary of the assistant would be set by the Court and paid out of County general funds.
4. Private Acts of 1959, Chapter 132, allowed the County Attorney of Davidson County, with the prior approval of the County Judge, to employ special counsel to assist him in the performance of his duties.  The special counsel would serve at the pleasure and direction of the County Attorney and devote whatever part of his time necessary to complete his duties. Compensation was to be agreed upon by the special counsel, the County Attorney, and the County Judge, and would be paid out of the County's ordinary funds.

 

County Executive

The references below are of acts which once applied to the office of county judge, or county executive in Davidson County.  They are included herein for historical purposes only.  Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Public Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 38, created the office of County Judge for Davidson, Shelby, Knox, Montgomery, and Williamson Counties.  The Judges were required to be learned in the law and would be commissioned as were other judges.  The Judges would serve eight-year terms.  Quorum Courts were abolished and their duties transferred to the County Judges.  The County Court would meet on the first Monday of every month.  In those months of the Quarterly Sessions, its business would be conducted prior to the business of the County Judge.  The duties and powers of the Judge and the jurisdiction of the court were prescribed in the Act.  The County Judge would be paid $5.00 per day while the Court was sitting and the Justices of the Peace would receive $2.50 a day for their attendance during the court terms.  The County Judge could practice law in other Courts of the State, but could not act as counsel in cases appealed from his own Court.
2. Private Acts of 1859-60, Chapter 176, repealed Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 38, above, as it applied to some counties.  Davidson County remained under the provisions of the act.
3. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 66, set forth the duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of the County Judge of Davidson County.  The Judge was to be learned in the law and over thirty years of age, he was to have business training and experience, and he was to be a resident and freeholder or householder of the County for more than five years.  The act named the Judge as the general agent and accounting officer of the County, and it prescribed his duties in each position.  See the cases of White v. Davidson County, 210 Tenn. 456, 360 SW2d 15 (1962), and Perry v. Banks, 521 SW2d 549 (1975), for significant discussions of the office of County Judge in Davidson County.
4. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 132, amended Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 66, Section 10, above, by increasing the annual salary of the County Judge from $3,000 to $5,000.  This Act was repealed in 1920.
5. Private Acts of 1920, Chapter 2, amended Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 66, above, by providing that the cost of the bond which the Deputy Clerk was required to make under that act was to be paid by the County, as well as the cost of the bond which the law required the County Judge to make.  It raised the annual salary of the Judge from $3,000 to $6,000, repealing Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 132, above.
6. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 100, made the County Judge of Davidson County the custodian of the Courthouse.  The Judge would have  general supervision over the Courthouse, the janitors, the elevator men and the porters.  As custodian the Judge would appoint the janitors, the elevator men, and the porters, but the County Court would fix the pay scale for each job.  The County Judge would not receive additional compensation for these duties.
7. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 147, amended Private Acts of 1920, Chapter 2, above, by increasing the annual salary of the County Judge from $6,000 to $6,300.
8. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 100, amended Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 66, Section 6, above, by giving the Judge authority to authorize all clerks in the office to sign his name instead of one particular Clerk.  The County was required to pay the premiums on all their bonds.  Section 9 was changed to allow the County Judge to issue warrants for the payment of salary to each clerical employee monthly, but the aggregate amount of all such salaries could not exceed $6,900 per year.  Section 10 was amended by fixing the annual salary of the County Judge for his services as accounting officer and general agent of the County at $4,500.
9. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 242, amended Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 100, above, by increasing the maximum amount allowed the County Judge to pay his deputies from $6,900 to $7,800 a year.
10. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 111, recited that the Quarterly Court of Davidson County had unanimously adopted a Resolution to memorialize the General Assembly to pass legislation which would increase the compensation of the County Judge as accounting officer and the general agent of the County from $4,500 to $6,000 per annum.  This Act amended Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 66, by increasing the compensation of the County Judge, as desired by the Quarterly Court, to $6,000 a year.
11. Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 287, amended Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 66, Section 9, above, by increasing the aggregate amount allowed the County Judge to pay his deputies from $7,800 to $10,000 per year, and in Section 10 by raising the annual salary of the Judge as the accounting officer and general agent of the County from $6,000 to $8,500, payable monthly.
12. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 524, amended Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 66, and provided for the establishment of a system of fiscal procedure, control, and centralized accounting, which would be operated under the administrative direction and control of the County Judge as Davidson County's Fiscal Agent.  The Judge would appoint a clerk in his office to be the Director of Accounts and Budgets whose duties were to be defined by the Judge.  The act further set up procedures for the disbursement of funds by the County Trustee.  The act allowed the Judge $25,000 a year for clerical assistance, and set the Judge's compensation for these services at $10,000 a year.  The fiscal year was set to begin on July 1 of each year and end on June 30 the following year.
13. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 302, amended Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 66, by allowing the County Judge as much technical assistance as he required to perform his duties.  The annual budget would include adequate provisions for salaries of Assistants.  These assistants would be appointed by the County Judge.  The Director of Budgets and Accounts and such other clerical employees as might be necessary for the operation of the central accounting system would be compensated as determined by the County Judge and as fixed in the budget. 

 

County Legislative Body - Justices of the Peace

The acts summarized below have been superseded.

1. Private Acts of 1819, Chapter 6, authorized and required the Justices of the Peace of Davidson County to select two Justices to replace Robert Weakley and William Williams on the Quorum Court.
2. Public Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 1, Section 3, stated there would be two Justices of the Peace and one Constable elected in each county district except in those districts which contained the county seat.  Three Justices of the Peace and two Constables would be elected in that district.  This act was enacted immediately after the effective date of the 1835 Constitution.
3. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 246, Section 11, gave the City of Nashville two additional Justices of the Peace who would be elected by the qualified voters within the time specified in the law.
4. Public Acts of 1859-60, Chapter 125, amended Section 337 of the Code of Tennessee to allow the district which contained the City of Nashville to elect two Justices of the Peace from each ward in the City, and, further, the act allowed Nashville to annex certain areas under the conditions set forth in the act.
5. Private Acts of 1869-70, Chapter 118, Section 6, allowed an additional Justice of the Peace for the Town of Edgefield in the 17th Civil District of Davidson County.
6. Public Acts of 1883, Chapter 178, permitted the 20th Civil District of Davidson County to have an additional Justice of the Peace for the town of Goodlettsville.  The Justice would have the same powers and jurisdiction as other Justices, but was to reside in and have his office in the said town.  He would be elected by the qualified voters of the town in the election of May 6, 1883.
7. Acts of 1909, Chapter 389, declared that the Justices of the Peace in Davidson County would be paid $2.00 for each morning session and $2.00 for each afternoon session of all regular and special meetings of the Quarterly Court they attended.  The clerk would call the roll at the start of the meeting and an answer would be sufficient for payment.  The total number of days for which payment was allowed in one year could not exceed fifteen. 
8. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 539, was virtually a repetition of the 1909 Act above.  In Davidson County, the Justices of the Peace would be paid $2.00 for each morning and afternoon session of the Quarterly Court which they attended.  A limitation of fifteen days payment per year was imposed.  The clerk was required to call the roll and enter the names of those present, which would be sufficient for payment.
9. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 12, created the Court of General Sessions Courts for Davidson County.  It divested the Justices of the Peace of their authority and jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases, suits, and actions, and it conferred this jurisdiction upon the new Court.  The authority of the Justices in their capacity as members of the Quarterly Court or in the performance of the rites of matrimony was not to be affected by the act.  The constitutionality of the act was upheld in Hancock v. Davidson County, 171 Tenn. 420, 104 SW2d 824 (1937).
10. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 889, fixed the per diem compensation of Justices of the Peace in Davidson County for their attendance at the regular meetings of the Quarterly Court, or at extra sessions properly convened, at $25.  Justices who resided more than five miles from the courthouse would be paid five cents per mile for each mile traveled from home to courthouse and return.
11. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 752, amended Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 889, above, by raising the per diem payments of the Justices of the Peace for their attendance at regular and called sessions of the Quarterly Court from $25 to $100.
12. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 345, increased the compensation of the Justices from $100 per day to $300 per day and disallowed all other compensation.
13. Public Acts of 1969, Chapter 272, divided Davidson County into nine magisterial districts and authorized the election of fifteen Justices of the Peace.

 

County Legislative Body

The following acts are no longer in effect.  They relate to the legislative bodies of Davidson County prior to the Metropolitan Government. 

1. Acts of 1785, Chapter 2, Laws of North Carolina, set the dates for the beginning of the terms of all the Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the counties of North Carolina, including Davidson County.  The Court in Davidson County would convene on the first Monday in January, April, July, and October.   This act extended the jurisdiction of those courts to include actions of trespass in ejectments, remainder and reverter, dower and partition, and actions of trespass quare clausum fregit.
2. Acts of 1785, Chapter 47, Laws of North Carolina, directed the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County to furnish forty-eight house holders as jurors for the newly established superior court of Law and Equity.
3. Acts of 1787, Chapter 21, Section 4, Laws of North Carolina, declared that prior to the establishment of a Superior Court jurisdiction in Davidson County, sundry appeals had been granted from the County Court of the County to the Superior Courts of the Districts of Morgan and Washington.  For the ease and convenience of the appellants, the Clerks of the Superior Courts involved, upon the application of either  party, were directed to transfer all papers relative to the appeals to the Superior Court in the District of Davidson.
4. Acts of 1789, Chapter 15, Section 3, directed that the County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions be held in Davidson County, after the passage of this act, on the second Monday in January, April, July and October. 
5. Acts of 1799, Chapter 31, declared it to be lawful for nine Justices of the Peace to lay County taxes and to make all appropriations of County money to be made in Davidson County, any law to the contrary notwithstanding.
6. Acts of 1803, Chapter 39, set the dates for the meetings of the Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the Counties of Smith, Sumner, Wilson, Rutherford, Williamson, Robertson, Montgomery, Stewart, Dickson and Davidson, which comprised the Mero District.  Davidson County's Court would meet on the third Monday in January, April, July and October.
7. Acts of 1805, Chapter 53, stated that the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Davidson County could continue to sit for twelve judicial days if the business of the court required it.
8. Acts of 1809, Chapter 93, established the schedule of the opening dates of the terms of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for every county then existing in the State of Tennessee.  In Davidson County, the Court would continue to meet on the third Monday in January, April, July and October.
9. Acts of 1813, Chapter 5, provided that the Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit and the presiding Judge of the County Court of Davidson County could adjourn the Courts from the Courthouse in Nashville to any other house in Davidson County and all process and writs would be made to conform to the change.
10. Acts of 1815, Chapter 55, virtually repeated the authority granted to the Judge of the County Court of Davidson County and to the Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit to adjourn their respective Courts to any other house or place, in Davidson County, on the first day of the October term or the November term.
11. Acts of 1817, Chapter 138, Section 3, set opening dates for the County Court sessions of several counties, continued the dates for Davidson County on the third Monday in January, April, July and October.  It lengthened the term of Court to two weeks in Davidson County.
12. Private Acts of 1819, Chapter 6, authorized and required the Justices of the Peace to select from their body two persons suitable and qualified to replace Robert Weakley and William Williams who had been absent from the Quorum Court of Davidson County, the new members to have the same power and authority as the ones being replaced.
13. Private Acts of 1823, Chapter 226, stated that, whenever persons were confined to jail during the recess periods of the County Court for any offense which was answerable to that Court, it would be lawful for any three Justices of the Peace, on being notified by the Sheriff, to open and hold Court in an extra session to try the confined persons.  The Sheriff would summon jurors for them, if any were needed, and the Justices were to have and exercise all the powers of the regular Court.  The Solicitor of the District was required to attend and prosecute the causes for which he was responsible.
14. Private Acts of 1829, Chapter 113, provided that the County Court of Davidson County would continue the term of Court for three weeks unless the business of the Court should be disposed of sooner, and that the Court term would be devoted exclusively to county jurisdiction causes.  This act was partially repealed in 1829.
15. Private Acts of 1829, Chapter 244, repealed that part of Acts of 1829, Chapter 113, above, that required the County Court of Davidson County to continue its sessions, and it required that the State docket be taken up in the third week of the sessions, and provided that the docket would be heard as the law prescribed, but no more than one week was to be devoted to the State docket unless all the civil cases were disposed of in less than two weeks.
16. Private Acts of 1833, Chapter 74, authorized the County Court of Davidson County to continue its term then in session for one week, in addition to the time established for it under the current laws of the State.
17. Private Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 6, provided for a county court to meet in every county on the first Monday of the month to hold until the business of the court was completed.  Three of the Justices could constitute a Court to hear the probate of wills and related matters, but such Court could not hold jury trials.  The County Court was required to select twenty-five jurors, one from each civil district of the County (or thirty-seven jurors, whichever number might be better) and was allowed to levy taxes on property in the County to pay the Court's operating expenses, including $1.00 per day to be paid to jurors as compensation.
18. Private Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 160, directed the County Court of Davidson County and the corporate authorities of the City of Nashville to make an estimate of the cost of supporting the poor and indigent in the Court at its April Session.  The Court would then appropriate the cost agreed upon and pay it over to the treasurer of the City of Nashville.
19. Acts of 1909, Chapter 218, authorized the County Court of Davidson County to appropriate from the ordinary funds of the County sums to compensate Justices for extraordinary services rendered by them as members of the various committees.  Such services were to be those services beyond the scope of duties ordinary and incidental to membership on the County Court.  The services were to require more than thirty days work and the project had to involve $50,000 or more in outlay.  No allowance was to be paid for attendance at the ordinary and customary meetings of committees.
20. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 89, allowed the Quarterly Court of Davidson County to make appropriations to compensate the members of the Court for their services on the various committees, not to exceed $3.00 a day for a period of forty days maximum per year, except that the committee chairmen could draw pay for up to sixty days a year.  The County Judge would issue his warrant upon the filing of statements showing the number of days worked.  Any work requiring a longer period than sixty days would be investigated for the Court by a committee of three.
21. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 406, granted to the County Court jurisdiction concurrent with the Chancery Court in all cases instituted for the sale of property, real or personal, of infants, lunatics, or others under disabilities, or instituted for the investment of funds belonging to such individuals or for encroachment upon the corpus of any trust for the use and benefit of those under disabilities.  The procedure in the County Court would be the same as that used in the Chancery Court. 
22. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 528, amended Acts of 1909, Chapter 218, above, so that members of the County Court could receive compensation for attendance at meetings of subordinate boards as well as committees.

 

County Register

The following act once affected the office of county register in Davidson County, but is no longer operative.

1. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 808, was the authority for the County Court of Davidson County to buy book machines for the County Register's office and to make appropriations for payment of the cost of the machines from the ordinary funds of the County.

 

County Trustee

The following acts once affected the office of County Trustee in Davidson County, but are no longer operative.  Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 56, directed the Trustee of Davidson County to pay over to the Treasurer of the City of Nashville any common school funds in his hands, which funds were to be credited to the account of the City schools.
2. Acts of 1903, Chapter 206, granted authority to the Davidson County Quarterly Court to make appropriations for clerical and other assistance in the office of the County Trustee of Davidson County, not to exceed $5,000 in any one year, for the efficient operation of the office in collection of taxes and disbursement of funds.  This act was repealed in 1907.
3. Acts of 1907, Chapter 63, repealed Acts of 1903, Chapter 206, above.
4. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 101, required the Trustee of Davidson County to give one bond to the State of Tennessee for its own use and another bond to the State for the use and benefit of the County.  The bonds would be in amounts equal to one-quarter of the taxes collected for the State and for the County, respectively, during the year prior to execution of the bonds.  The tax figures were to be those appearing on the Trustee's report to the Comptroller in September of each year.  All the bonds in effect at the time of passage were to be readjusted to conform with the act within thirty days.
5. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 408, provided that the Davidson County Trustee would give one bond to the State for its own use and one  bond to the State for the use and benefit of the County.  The amount of the bond would be equal to one-tenth of the amount of State and County taxes collected during the preceding year, but the bond to the State would not be less than $50,000 and bond for the use and benefit of the County would not be less than $200,000.
6. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 618, directed the Trustee of Davidson County to set aside and pay to the Treasurer of any incorporated city, after January 10, 1950, and prior to June 1, 1950, all the district road funds collected from within the incorporated city for the year 1950.

Department of Public Works

The following act is no longer effective.

1. Private Acts of 1959, Chapter 304, created the Department of Public Works in Davidson County to be an administrative department under the direction of the County Judge.  The department would consist of a director and such numbers and types of employees as were authorized by the Quarterly County Court.  The department would provide urban-type facilities and services for the inhabitants of the County and establish regulations and standards for various governmental and private activities.  Primary duties of the department consisted of the operation of a water system and providing standards, regulations, enforcement, and inspection for construction activities.  The act allowed intergovernmental contracts in connection with the department's duties, if approved by the County Court.

 

Department of Public Works - Electrical Regulations

The following acts applied to electrical regulations in force in Davidson County prior to the establishment of the Metropolitan Government.

1. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 524, directed the Governor of Tennessee to appoint a three-member Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors in Davidson County, one member to be nominated by the oldest, local  association of electrical contractors, one by the Chief of the Fire Department, and one by the local association of fire insurance underwriters.  The Board would select one its members as Chairman and another as Secretary and Treasurer, the officers to be compensated at a rate decided by the Board.  Other members would be paid $5.00 a day, all expenses to come from fees collected and not from the State.  The Board would adopt rules and regulations for the examination of Master Electricians and issue a license to each one passing the exam.   The possession of a license was a condition precedent to the conduct of an electrical business.  There would be a $25 fee for the application and a $10 fee for the annual renewal of the license.  The license was not transferable and could be revoked under certain circumstances.  Violations of the act could result in fines ranging from $10 to $100.
2. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 897, created the office of Electrical Inspector in Davidson County.  The official was required to be a practical electrician and would be elected by the Quarterly County Court to four-year terms.  The Inspector would receive the fees of the office. His compensation of $1,500 a year would come from the fees.  If the fees failed to amount to $1,500, then such fees would constitute his salary, while any surplus over $1,500 would be paid to the Trustee.  The Inspector was required to approve or disapprove plans for electrical work, inspect work in progress, and keep adequate records of his activity.  The act included a schedule of fees to be charged and penalties to be assessed for violations of the established standards and failure to follow the lawful orders of the Inspector.   See Null v. Electric Power Board, 30 Tenn. App. 696, 210 SW2d 490 (1948).  The Court of Appeals held in that case that the Electrical Inspector's failure to inspect prior to allowing current to be turned on at the premises where a child was later electrocuted was negligence per se.
3. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 694, amended Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 897, Section 1, above, by raising the annual salary of the Electrical Inspector from $1,500 to $2,100 with all other terms and conditions to remain as they were.
4. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 500, amended Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 897, Section 1, above, by changing the annual salary of the Electrical Inspector from $2,100 to $2,400.
5. Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 388, amended Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 500, above, by inserting a new Section which left the annual salary of the Electrical Inspector at $2,400 but added a $600 annual car expense allowance to be paid out of the fees of the office.  All other terms regarding shortage and surplus of fees remained unchanged.
6. Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 107, amended Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 897, above, by adding a paragraph at the end stating that for the two years following passage of the act, the annual salary of the Electrical Inspector would be $1,800, payable monthly out of the fees of office, but if the fees did not equal that amount, the County would pay the difference out of regular County funds on warrant of the County Judge.
7. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 301, amended Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 897, above, by setting the salary of the Electrical Inspector at $2,400 a year, payable out of the fees of the office, for the two years following the passage of the act.  The County had the responsibility to pay the difference between $2,400 and the fees collected, if the fees failed to amount to $2,400.
8. Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 306, amended Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 897, Section 1, above, by inserting a new Section which fixed the annual salary of the Electrical Inspector at $3,600, gave an allowance of $600 per year for auto expenses, and allowed $1,200 for an office assistant.  The assistant would be appointed by the Inspector, provide a bond as the Inspector would decide, and execute all permits in the name of the Inspector.  All such compensation was to be paid out of the fees collected by the office, and the County would contribute no funds to the operations of the office.
9. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 245, amended Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 897, Section 1, above, by adding a provision which made it clear that the Electrical Inspector's office would be operated only from funds provided by fees.  After paying allowable expenses, the office would pay over any surplus collections to the Trustee.  The annual salary of the Inspector was $3,600, plus a yearly travel allowance of $750.  The salary of the office assistant was set at $1,800 per year, and $600 was allotted to the office for supplies, rent, telephone, and other expenses.  The Inspector was  allowed to appoint an assistant Electrical Inspector at an annual salary of $2,700 plus a $750 annual car expense allowance.  Section 6 was amended to provide that the Electrical Inspector could not have or exercise jurisdiction in municipalities located within the County which maintained an electrical inspection department.
10. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 452, created the Division of Electrical Inspection, composed of an electrical inspector and such assistant inspectors and clerical help as might be determined and authorized by the Quarterly Court.  The Court would set compensation and authorize payment from the ordinary funds of the County, but the salary of the current Inspector could not be less than the then current salary during the remainder of his term.  The Inspector would be elected at the July term of the Quarterly Court for a four-year term.  Rules and regulations pertinent to all phases of the operation of the office were set, and a schedule of fees to be charged was included.  Fees would be paid to the Inspector, who would report them on forms to the County Trustee.  All work was to be inspected within forty-eight hours of the filing of a request to do so.  The National Electrical Code, the State of Tennessee Fire Prevention Law, and the State Fire Safety Code were adopted as the standards to apply to all electrical work.

 

Department of Public Works - Plumbing Regulations

The following acts concerned plumbing regulations in Davidson County prior to the establishment of the Metropolitan Government.

1. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 964, directed the Board of Health of Davidson County to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the construction and installation of all plumbing and sewerage in houses and on premises located outside of corporate cities.  It would be the duty of the sanitary Inspectors to enforce the regulations.
2. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 690, declared that for the purpose of protecting the people of Davidson County from the improper installation of plumbing, the County would provide plumbing inspection services in the suburban districts that were being served by a public water supply.  Plumbing Inspectors would be nominated by the Board of Health and confirmed by the Quarterly Court to serve terms of four years.  The salary would be $2,400 a year, if the fees collected amounted to that much.  If the fees were less, they would constitute the salary.  If the fees exceeded $2,400, the excess would be paid to the County Trustee.  The Inspector would use only the voucher books furnished by the Trustee and would issue permits in triplicate.  The Inspector was given the authority to enter premises to inspect work.  A schedule of fees to be charged was contained in the act, and any violation could be punished by fines from $10 to $25, each day of a continuing violation being a separate offense.  All the expenses of the office were to be paid out of the fees collected.
3. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 473, provided that all the plumbing work performed outside of cities providing plumbing inspection in Davidson County would be subject to the control of the Board of Health and the Plumbing Inspector.  The Board would appoint the Plumbing Inspector whose salary was set at $2,400 a year.  The Inspector had the duty to inspect all plumbing installed, constructed, or repaired.  He had the right to enter and inspect premises on which all plumbing installations, except minor repair, were made.  The procedures to be followed by the installer and the Inspector were set forth in the law.  Septic tanks and filtration beds were declared to be within the purview of this law and standards for them were established.  A schedule of fees was set forth in the bill.  Penalties were provided for violations.
4. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 685, created the Board of Plumbing Examiners and transferred to it from the Board of Health the responsibility for supervising plumbing inspections.  The three members of the Board were to be the County Health Officer, one journeyman plumber, and one master plumber.  The Board would elect a plumbing inspector who would receive as compensation the fees of office up to $2,160, with the excess being paid over to the County.  The two plumber members of the Board would serve without compensation.  Permits from the inspectors were required for plumbing work.  No water closet could be connected to a septic tank of less than 600 gallons capacity.  All bath tubs were to have a lead  4 X 8 drum trap and a brass cleanout screw.
5. Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 289, amended Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 473, Section 3, above, by adding a provision that a plumber performing work to be inspected was required to obtain a certificate of approval from the Plumbing Inspector before covering up the work.  It set forth specifications for acceptable septic tanks and for their installation for buildings up to and including houses with five bathrooms.
6. Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 159, amended Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 473, Section 3, above, by revising the specifications to be met by plumbers when installing septic tanks and their accessories in Davidson County.
7. Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 328, amended Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 473, above, by allowing compensation of $10 per meeting for the two plumber members of the Board of Plumbing Examiners, not to exceed twelve meetings in one year.   The act required all who desired to engage in the plumbing business outside of Nashville, but within Davidson County, to file an application with the Board and be examined as to their qualifications.  If the Board was satisfied with their qualifications, they would receive a license for one year.  All who were then engaged in the plumbing business in the specified area would have ninety days in which to comply with the terms of the act.
8. Private Act of 1945, Chapter 143, established new procedures and regulations for plumbing and plumbing inspections and served as the Plumbing Code for Davidson County.  All plumbing outside the corporate limits of cities would be under the regulation of a three-member Board of Plumbing Examiners, composed of the County Health Officer, one master plumber, and one journeyman plumber.  The Plumbing Inspector, elected by the Board, would receive $2,700 per year salary and a $600 per year travel allowance.  An assistant Plumbing Inspector could be employed upon the approval of the County Court at a salary of $2,160 a year.  The plumber members of the Board would be paid $10 for each meeting, up to twelve per year.  Installation, repairs, or modifications of plumbing work could not be done until a permit was granted after application and approval of plans submitted.  Plumbing work was not to be covered up until inspected. Applicants would pay a fee of fifty cents for each fixture and $2.00 for each septic tank inspected.  Master plumbers would pay $15 and journeymen plumbers $1.50 for annual licenses to do business.  Several regulations concerning fixtures and septic tanks were set forth in the act, such as the size of septic tanks required for various numbers of bathrooms.  Persons violating the act were subject to misdemeanor charges.
9. Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 563, amended Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 143, Section 2, above, by raising the travel allowance for the Plumbing Inspector and assistant from $600 to $750 a year, and by giving the Quarterly Court the right to provide clerical assistance in place of an assistant Plumbing Inspector at a salary not to exceed $1,800 annually.  Alterations were made in the specifications for house sanitary sewers and in the table of sizes for septic tanks and their disposal fields.  Standards for field requirements in percolation tests and another table for the size and minimum spacing requirements for disposal trenches were included in the amendment.
10. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 247, amended Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 143, Section 2, by setting the annual salary of the Plumbing Inspector at $3,600 and by allowing him $750 for travel expenses.  Authority to elect an assistant Plumbing Inspector, with compensation of $2,700 a year plus $750 travel allowance, was granted to the Board of Plumbing Examiners.
11. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 753, amended Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 143, Section 4, by making it unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to repair or install any plumbing or plumbing fixtures contemplated under the act without a license and a permit.  Fees were set at 50 cents for each fixture permit and $2.00 for each septic tank permit.
12. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 338, amended Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 143, Section 2, by providing that the Board of Plumbing Examiners had the duty of electing a Plumbing Inspector and such assistants as were needed or authorized by the Davidson County Quarterly Court, at such salaries and allowances as the Court might determine.  The two plumber members of the Board would be paid $15 for each session actually attended, not to exceed twelve in one year.  The act required the Quarterly Court to take the measures necessary to supply permits, forms, and stationery.
13. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 433, amended Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 143, Section 4, by requiring that plumbers obtain permits before their work was started and that the permits be on forms furnished by the Audit Commission, which were forms to be kept in the office of the Plumbing Board.  The costs for permits were increased from fifty cents to seventy-five cents for fixtures and from $2.00 to $3.00 for a septic tank.  Fees for master plumber licenses were increased from $1.25 to $2.50 a year.
14. Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 183, amended Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 143, Section 8, by rewriting the standards for installation of septic tanks and their sewer connections, their disposal fields, and venting systems.

 

Farmers' Market

The act summarized below did not become effective.

1. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 213, amended Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 400, and Private Acts of 1959, Chapter 305, above, by limiting use of the marketing facility for produce sales to Tennessee farmers, their family members, and employees.  No person could enter the facility for sales purposes unless he was operating a motor vehicle with a Tennessee farmer's motor vehicle license plate or he presented convincing proof he was a Tennessee farmer.  The act was not approved locally and did not become effective.

Purchasing

The following acts once affected the purchasing procedures of Davidson County, but are no longer operative.

1. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 239, authorized the appointment by the Quarterly Court of Davidson County of three competent people to be known as the Purchasing Commission of Davidson County.  They would serve one-year terms and each member would receive $100 annually.  The Commission would procure all supplies needed by the County in accordance with such rules and regulations as it might adopt, except that all purchases in excess of $100 would be by competitive bid procedures.  The Commissioners were to be sworn and were to provide bonds of $5,000.  They were authorized to meet as often as necessary.  The Commission was empowered to appoint a clerk, effective upon ratification by the Quarterly Court, to keep records and perform such other duties as might be prescribed by the Commission.  The clerk's salary could not exceed $1,500 annually.
2. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 205, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 239, above, by increasing the amount of individual purchases not requiring competitive bidding from $100 to $300.  It increased the bond required of the Commissioners to $10,000.  It granted the Commission authority to employ additional clerical help but the number of assistants and their salaries was required to be approved by the Quarterly Court.  The act fixed the maximum salary of the Clerk at $2,000 annually and the maximum salaries of the assistants at $60 a month.
3. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 99, amended Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 205, above, by increasing the maximum amount payable to clerical assistants of the Purchasing Commission from $60 to $75 a month.
4. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 630, amended Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 205, above, by increasing the salary limit of the Clerk to the Purchasing Commission from $2,000 to $2,400 per year.
5. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 372, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 239, above, by adding a provision that the act amended was not be construed as being applicable to the Charities Commission of Davidson County.
6. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 648, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 239, above, by making the Act specifically applicable to the Educational Board, the Board of Health, the State Fair Commissioners, the Board of Highway Commissioners, and "all other departments and boards of the county."  Section 7 was amended to raise the annual salary limit of the secretary (clerk) to the Commission to $2,400 and provide the secretary with a $25 per month allowance for the car used in official business.  The salary of the assistant could not exceed $100 per month.
7. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 402, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 239, by requiring the Purchasing Commissioners at the next regular election to be elected for staggered terms of one, two, and three years, and after that for three year terms, and by directing the Commissioners be paid $375 each year.  Section 2 was amended by taking the Charities Commission and the Board of Fair Commissioners out from under the provisions of the Act.
8. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 147, fixed the salary of the stenographer clerk to the Davidson County Purchasing Commission at $150 per month.
9. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 667, amended Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 205, above, by increasing the annual salary limitation placed on the position of clerk of the Purchasing Commission from $2,400 to $2,750.
10. Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 111, amended Private Acts 1917, Chapter 239, above, by increasing the annual salary limit of the clerk to $3,000 from $2,750, and by granting an allowance of $300 per year for automobile expenses.
11. Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 377, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 239, by adding a provision that if no bids were received after advertisement had been properly made, and the same had been properly recorded, the Purchasing Commission would proceed to make purchases, but not in excess of $300 per purchase.
12. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 182, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 239, by declaring that the annual salary of the clerk would be no less than $3,600 and no more than $4,200 and by granting an annual auto-mobile expense of $300 a year, payable monthly.
13. Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 639, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 239, above, by increasing the compensation of the members of the Board of Purchasing Commissioners from $375 to $500 annually, payable quarterly out of the regular county funds.
14. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 260, amended Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 239, above, by raising the annual salary of the clerk to the Purchasing Commission to a level not less than $4,800 nor more than $5,000, plus an automobile expense allowance of $300, payable monthly.

 

Retirement Benefits

Its original provisions are summarized below along with other acts pertaining to County employee retirement benefits which are no longer in effect.

1. Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 452, set up a retirement system for officials and employees of Davidson County who had reached the age of 65, who had been employed for a period of five consecutive years immediately preceding retirement, and who had an aggregate of twenty-four years service, or more.  An employee's retirement pension was to be fifty percent of his annual way, but could not exceed $60 pre month.  Elected officials and employees of the Education Department were excluded, but employees of the Sheriff, County Trustee, County Court Clerk, County Register, Circuit Court Clerk, Criminal Court Clerk, and the Clerk and Master were made eligible to participate.  Certain standards to be met and regulations to be observed were prescribed in the act.  Any pension payments under the act were to be free from the claims of creditors.  The act was repealed in 1943.
2. Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 274, repealed Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 452, above.  The act created a Pension and Insurance Fund to cover all officers and employees of the County except officials elected by the people, the Clerk and Master, and the employees in the school system.  It provided for contributions by the County and by employees to the fund and authorized a two mill tax levy to provide additional funds, if necessary.  The mechanics of collection and disbursement were set up and pension payments could not exceed $100 a month, but the bookkeeper in the County Judge's office could be paid $50 additional compensation for keeping the records.  The act contained a schedule of percentage pension benefits for employees based on their length of service, and provisions were made for payment of disability pensions.  One had to have twenty-four years service to receive fifty percent of his salary as a pension, except for disabilities.  The County Judge, the County Trustee, and the County Court Clerk constituted the Pension Commission of the County.  Any other retirement payments from the State, Federal Government, or cities, would reduce the $100 maximum by that amount.  Any employee, age fifty-five or more, with at least fifteen years service could elect not to come within the act.  Contributions would be continued only for the twenty-four years service.
3. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 29, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 274, above, by replacing all sections of that act appearing after the caption.  Some changes instituted by the amendatory acts were:  (1) the monthly payment for disability in line of duty was increased from $100 to $150 per month; (2) the condition was removed that the disabled employee was not to have employment by the County, State, Federal or City Governments unless his pension payment was reduced; (3) the minimum retirement age was reduced from 65 to 60.
4. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 594, amended Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 29, above, clarifying the options of persons covered under the act who became disabled.
5. Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 782, amended Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 29, above, by limiting to $6,000 the total salary on which the pension was calculated for workers who had been paid during employment by both the State and the County.  The act made additional changes in coverage and made technical adjustments in the retirement system.
6. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 662, amended Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 29, above, by correcting an inconsequential grammatical error, by making any employee with 28 years of service eligible to retire regardless of age, and by opening up the pension plan again to those who elected not to enter in 1943, provided all payments of back pension contributions were made.  In Smith v. Davidson County, 201 Tenn. 686, 301 SW2d 385 (1957), the Supreme Court held that the section of Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 806, conferring benefits on the widow of a deceased employee was constitutional.  The opinion contained dicta to the effect that provisions providing benefits for survivors other than widows, in a proper case, should be elided because of the caption of the act did not refer to such benefits.
7. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 806, amended Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 29, above, by increasing the percentage of salary payable as pension contributions from three percent to five percent for both employee and employer.  The act amended Section 5 to provide a widow's pension equal to sixty percent of the deceased employee's pension, but not over $80 a month, nor less than $50 per month, provided the widow had been married to the employee for five years prior to death.  If the deceased employee left no surviving widow, but had surviving minor children under sixteen, the children would receive a pension equal to a widow's for a period not to exceed ten years.  Contributions of females were reduced to two and one-half percent of salary unless they stipulated their intention to participate in the survivors benefits, in which case they would contribute five percent.  Section 18 of Chapter 29 relating to death benefits was repealed.  The $6,000 limitation on salary used to calculate a pension payment for employees paid by both the State and the County was removed.  The pension would be calculated using a percentage rate applied to the highest salary earned prior to time of retirement.
8. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 865, amended Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 782, Section 5, above, by reducing the amount of service required from fifteen years to twelve years for an employee who had been involuntarily separated, or who had resigned, to be eligible to receive a percentage of his pension contributions as a refund.
9. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 431, amended Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 29, Section 5, above, by setting a deadline of May 1, 1951, to elect participation in the retirement system.
10. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 541, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 274, Section 7, above, to provide that any employee of the county coming under the provisions of the act who was accidentally injured in the course of his regular duties and was disabled because of such injuries would be retired on a pension, regardless of his length of service, which pension would be fifty percent of the salary he was drawing.
11. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 616, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 274, above, by providing that if the commission determined an employee to be unable to perform his duties because of his physical or mental infirmities, which were not due to accidental injuries, and if the employee had served as long as five years, the employee was to be retired on payments made according to a graduated scale beginning at twenty-five percent for five years service and increasing five percent per year up to fifty percent for ten years service.  Contributions would continue to be made to the pension fund until twenty-four years of service were completed.
12. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 434, amended Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 29, Section 5, above, by postponing the deadline for entry into the retirement system of the county until August 1, 1953.
13. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 203, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 274, Section 11, above, by reducing the number of years of service making a discharged or resigned employee eligible to be refunded a portion of his pension contributions from twelve years to ten years.
14. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 222, amended Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 274, above, by stating that no employee would be eligible to be refunded any pension fund contributions for any reason unless he had served at least five years.  Section 8 was written regarding pensions for employees  who were disabled from causes not related to their employment so that their payments were to be scaled at twenty percent for five years, twenty-five percent for six years, thirty percent for seven years, thirty-five percent for eight years, forty percent for nine years, and fifty percent for ten years.  No person elected to office who was over forty-five years of age could join the retirement system.  No one become a member until he had undergone a physical examination and been given a certificate by the physician that he met the standards required.  Persons retired early would continue to contribute to the pension for twenty-four years.  These new provisions were not to be retroactive.  No former employee who became re-employed would be allowed in the system until all funds have been repaid in full.  He would be required to elect whether to participate within 30 days of his re-employment.
15. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 280, amends Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 274, above, by declaring that an employee subject to the provisions of Chapter 274, who had served more than five years and who had died from causes other than those arising in the course of employment, was allowed a refund to his or her spouse, or to his or her estate, of seventy-five percent of the amount of the contributions to the pension fund, less deduction of all benefits received.  This act was not approved locally and did not become effective.
16. Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 181, amended Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 222, above, by striking the phrase, "five consecutive years", and inserting the phrase, "twenty-three consecutive months", relating to the minimum time to be served before being eligible for a refund of a percentage of contributions to the pension fund when involuntarily separated from employment.
17. Private Acts of 1959, Chapter 131, amended Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 806, Section 3, above, to increase the maximum amount of the pension to be paid to widows or to dependent children from $80 to $125 a month.  The increase did not apply to pensions to which the right of payment had already accrued.

 

Social Services

The private acts listed below concern the status of welfare and charitable programs prior to the creation of the Metropolitan Government.

1. Public Acts of 1885, Chapter 92, provided that all orphanages and houses for destitute children incorporated in Davidson County would be governed by a twelve-member Board, five members to constitute a quorum.  The Board would be composed entirely of women.  The women could have an Advisory Board of men and refer to it matters in which the women needed instruction.  The institutions could receive all children under eighteen and keep them until they were twenty-one years of age, or could cause others to adopt them.  Children over six years old were to be educated properly, including the teaching of a trade.  Counties were authorized to contribute up to $50 per year per child if the institution needed it.  The same regulations would apply to those institutions caring for colored children.
2. Acts of 1903, Chapter 86, amended Acts of 1885, Chapter 92, above, to include all charitable institutions as well as orphan homes, and to require that all charitable institutions render quarterly reports to the County Judge which accurately stated their expenses.  The County Judge was authorized to draw funds to pay any deficit of the institution if the amount did not exceed $50 per capita per year.
3. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 519, created a Charities Commission in Davidson County to administer the public charities in the County.  Members of the Commission were required to be residents for at least five years and be qualified for the task.  Two members would be appointed by the Board of Commissioners of Nashville, two by the Quarterly Court of the County, and the fifth member would be chosen annually by the other four.  The Commission would administer the funds for charities in the County, and it could employ a Secretary at $1,200 a year.  The members would meet monthly and keep accurate and sufficient records which would at all reasonable times be open to inspection by the County Judge, members of the County Court, the Commissioners of the City, and the newspapers.  This act was repealed in 1955.
4. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 602, was the authority for the Quarterly Court of Davidson County, by a vote at any regular or called session, to appropriate and expend such sums of money as might be deemed advisable for the care and maintenance of dependent persons sent out to any fresh air camp outside the city limits of Nashville.  The appropriation could be made on the basis of a given amount per day, week, or month.
5. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 87, amended Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 519, above, by raising the limit on the annual salary of the secretary of the Charities Commission from $1,200 to $3,000.
6. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 5, recited in its preamble that there were unbudgeted funds remaining to the credit of the Charity Fund of Davidson County with which some relief could be provided for the flood sufferers of the December-January, 1926-1927 flood in Nashville and Davidson County.  The Quarterly County Court was allowed to transfer from the ordinary fund to the Charity Fund, the sum of $15,000 for that purpose.
7. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 204, amended Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 519, above, to add a provision that all funds received and disbursed by the Charities Commission of Davidson County would rotate through the County Trustee's office so that more accurate and efficient records might be kept.
8. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 179, amended Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 519, above, in the caption by striking the word, "Charities", and inserting the word "Welfare", and by doing the same throughout the body of the act wherever the words appeared so that the Charities Commission would be known as the "Welfare Commission."
9. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 259, recited that the funds available from the then current tax levy for charitable purposes in Davidson County and budgeted to the Davidson County Charities Commission and Pauper Account, were insufficient to provide proper aid for those in a destitute condition because of unemployment and drouth.  The Quarterly Court of Davidson County was authorized to transfer funds from ordinary funds to the Charitable Fund in an amount up to $35,000 to provide additional funds for the destitute and for paupers.
10. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 284, repealed Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 519, above, and created a Welfare Commission for Davidson County with the duty and power to administer general or emergency assistance to persons in Davidson County.  It would make social investigations and would report to the County Court and other governmental agencies.  It could enter into cooperative agreements with other agencies for welfare purposes.  It would consist of nine members elected by the County Court.
11. Public Acts of 1986, Chapter 877, was a special public act applicable to Davidson County that declared the need for affordable day care services for the economically disadvantaged and directed the Department of Human Services to establish a pilot program providing for grants to fund care for one hundred children.

 

Taxicabs

The acts listed below affected the regulation of taxicabs prior to the creation of the Metropolitan Government.

1. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 729, applied to Knox, Hamilton, Shelby and Davidson Counties.  The act made it unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to operate any motor vehicle, not running on fixed tracks, for the transport of passengers or property for hire, without executing a bond or providing insurance, except such taxicabs or motor vehicles operated principally in cities where a bond was required by ordinance.  Liability insurance was required in the amount of $300 covering freight service, and $5,000 one each vehicle used for passenger service.  The County Court Clerk was responsible for issuing the permits when all requirements were satisfied and any County Court Clerk failing in this responsibility could be fined and removed from office.  Any person violating the terms of the act could be fined.  See State, ex.rel. Lewis v. McLemore, 155 Tenn. 59, 290 SW 386 (1927) and United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company v. Allen, 158 Tenn. 504, SW2d 724 (1929).  These cases interpreted the statute, resolving ambiguities involving the purchase of bonds and insurance.
2. Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 224, made it unlawful in Davidson County for any person, firm, or corporation to operate a taxicab without first complying with the provisions of the act.  A bond or insurance policy, in the amount of $5,000 for each vehicle operated, had to be filed with the County Court Clerk for the benefit of members the public who might be injured or damaged by negligence, but this provision was not to apply to vehicles operated principally within the limits of an incorporated city.  The County Court Clerk issuing a permit without complying with the terms of the act was subject to a fine.  The Clerk could Charge a fee of 50 cents for his services.  Any person operating a taxicab but failing to comply with the act could be fined upon conviction.
3. Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 662, amended Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 224, Section 3, above, by striking out the word "company" as it appeared in the first paragraph, which related to insurance certificates, and substituting for it the word, "carrier".

 

Water and Sewerage

The Acts listed below concerning water and sewerage were in effect prior to April 1, 1963.

1. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 347, was the authority for the Quarterly Court of Davidson County to contract with the City of Nashville for the construction and maintenance of water mains in the territory outside the city boundaries to be used to distribute water to residents of the County.  The contracts were to be approved by the joint action of the Quarterly Court and the Mayor and City Council of Nashville.  The Court was authorized to appropriate the necessary funds to  accomplish these purposes.
2. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 268, authorized Davidson County to contract with the City of Nashville for the construction and maintenance of sewers in the territory outside the corporate limits to furnish sewerage services to the residents and institutions of Davidson County.  These contracts had to be approved by the joint action of the Quarterly Court and the Mayor and City Council of Nashville.
3. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 378, created Improvement Districts in Davidson County for the distribution of water and sewerage systems in the County to be established by the Quarterly Court.  The County Judge or the Director of Public Works would present a proposal for a District to the County Court, setting forth a statement of necessity, the geographical boundaries, a general description of the projects, and a proposed plan of financing, either by general obligation or revenue bonds.  The County Judge would call a hearing and if the Court appeared, a referendum would be held.  Rules to estimate costs and authority to issue bonds were included, provided certain other specified conditions were met.

General Reference

The following private or local acts constitute part of the administrative and political heritage of Davidson County and the Metropolitan Government of Nashville, but are today no longer operative because they have either been superseded, repealed, or failed to receive local approval.

1. Acts of 1783, Chapter 3, Section 9, Laws of North Carolina, provided that Anthony Bledsoe, Absalom Tatom, and Issac Shelby, Commissioners, were to obtain titles to such quantity of land to which they were entitled by the act under which they were appointed, by entering the said lands with the Entry-Taker of Davidson County, who was required to receive their claims without any purchase money and to grant them warrants for their land.
2. Acts of 1785, Chapter 52, Laws of North Carolina, directed the County Court of Davidson County to appoint annually two or more persons who were well acquainted with the nature and quality to tobacco to be tobacco  inspectors.  They would take the same oath and be subject to the same rules and regulations as were other inspectors.  They would be paid eight shillings for each hogshead of tobacco inspected.  The Court was allowed to appoint two other persons to supervise the tobacco warehouse in Nashville.
3. Acts of 1787, Chapter 25, Laws of North Carolina, declared it to be lawful for the commanding officer of militia in Davidson and Sumner Counties to lay out and work a road from the lower end of Clinch Mountain to the settlements of the Cumberland.  They were granted full authority to order out the militia of the two Counties to cut and clear the road when it was marked.  Those who refused to obey would be subject to court martial and penalties.  Both Counties were allowed to lay a tax on polls and property in an amount sufficient to pay the laborers on the road and their supervisors.  The taxes were to be collected as were any other taxes.
4. Acts of 1787, Chapter 26, Laws of North Carolina, declared that the titles to the salt licks or springs, commonly called French Lick, Neely's Lick, Gasper's Lick, and Ramsey Lick together with the tracts of land associated with each were vested In John Kirkpatrick, Lardner Clark, Jonothan Drake, William Simpson, John Boyd, Ephraim McClaine, and Robert Edmonsdson, Commissioners, to lease, or rent, on terms up to ten years, the rentals to be applied to public use in Davidson County.  The Commissioners were required to make bond for the faithful performance of their duty.
5. Acts of 1789, Chapter 29, Laws of North Carolina, directed the Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Davidson, Sumner, and Tennessee Counties at their April terms in 1790 to make out a list, which must be signed by the Chairman of the Court and the Clerk, of all the salt licks or springs in their respective counties which the Court would consider fit for the manufacture of salt, including all those that had been set aside as public property and supervised by Commissioners appointed for that purpose, namely, Heaton's Lick, Denton's Lick, French Lick, Neeley's Lick, Kasper's Lick, Madison's Lick, Drake's Lick, Stoner's Lick, and Bledsoe's Lick.  These licks or springs were to be entered of record and all other licks were declared to be vacant land.
6. Acts of 1789, Chapter 63, Laws of North Carolina, empowered the County Courts of Davidson, Sumner and Tennessee Counties, whenever it appeared to their satisfaction that persons wounded by Indians in the Mero District were not able to defray the expenses of doctors and medical treatment, to pass the accounts of physicians, surgeons, nurses, and drugs, properly attested, to be received in payment of all public taxes by the tax collectors.  All accounts for provisions for Indians would also be received in payment of public taxes.
7. Acts of 1792, Chapter 9, Territorial Acts, set up two Treasury Departments, one for the Washington and Hamilton Districts, and one for the Mero District, which would receive all revenues in their respective areas and distribute them according to the directions of the General Assembly.  Accounts of distribution were to be kept.  The Treasurer was required to be sworn and bonded, and would be paid a commission of twenty-five percent of all the money handled.
8. Acts of 1796 (Nov. Sess.), Chapter 6, was a repetition of the 1792 Territorial Act, above, and set up two Treasury Departments, one for the District of Washington and Hamilton, and one for the District of Mero, giving them the same duties and responsibilities, but reducing the pay of the Treasurer to three percent of the money handled.
9. Acts of 1797, Chapter 28, stated that a town was to be laid off by the name of Waynesborough on the north bluff of the Cumberland River, which was called Lancaster's Bluff, below Heaton's old station on the lands of William Barrow.  The town would consist of 150 lots and a two-acre parcel for a public square.  Howell Tatom, William Donelson, Thomas Talbot, and Edmund Gamble were named Commissioners to further lay off, design, and improve Waynesborough.  The money left from the sale of the lots by the Commissioners, after all expenses had been paid, would be turned over to Willie Barrow.
10. Acts of 1797, Chapter 36, declared that James Hamilton would have and enjoy the exclusive use and benefit of that part of the Cumberland River on the south side between Nashville and Heaton's old station for the express purpose of keeping up a floating mill or mills, any law, custom, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding.  The County Court could condemn any land which might be essential to the completion of this purpose, but Hamilton would pay damages to anyone who might be impaired by the condemnation.
11. Acts of 1797, Chapter 40, authorized and directed the Justices of Davidson County to cause to be built a warehouse and other conveniences necessary to it for the reception, inspection, and safekeeping of tobacco in or near the town of Waynesborough on the north side of the Cumberland River.  When built, it would be declared a public warehouse.  The Justices were to appoint inspectors, set their salaries, and cause them to make regular inspections.  Another warehouse on the south side of the river was recognized and a tax was to be levied to complete both of them.
12. Acts of 1799, Chapter 34, stated that it would conduce to the expedition of the business of the Courts to have a good and complete stone courthouse with suitable stocks erected in Nashville.  The act appointed John McNairy, Joseph Coleman, Robert Searcy, Joseph Pillips, and David McGavock as Commissioners, giving them the power to let the said building to the lowest bidder, after advertising for 60 days at the present courthouse.  The County Court would, subject to the limitations in the act, lay a tax to be continued each year until the building were complete.  The Sheriff would collect the taxes and pay the proceeds over to the Commissioners, all of whom would be held accountable.  The Commissioners could sell the old courthouse whenever they thought proper and they were to be paid a moderate consideration for their efforts.
13. Acts of 1799, Chapter 36, provided for Commissioners to be appointed to lay off the town of Hayesborough on a north bluff of the Cumberland River in Davidson County.  The Commissioners appointed were Robert Hays, Simpson Harris, Thomas Harney, John Graves, and Samuel Harness.  They were to design and lay out the town, making streets and alleys, selling lots, and turning over any excess money to the original owner of the property.
14. Acts of 1799, Chapter 56, recited that the building and keeping of a courthouse, prison, and stocks in Nashville for the District of Mero, would be attended with such expense as to become burdensome for the people of Davidson County; therefore, all monies arising from the fines and forfeitures imposed on public offenders by the Superior Court of the Mero District and the County Court of Davidson County would be appropriated to the building and to keeping of the courthouse, prison, and stocks.  If any money of that nature was then on hand it was to be paid over immediately and used for that purpose.
15. Acts of 1799, Chapter 65, regulated the public inspection of tobacco, establishing the standards which were required to be met, and promulgating the guidelines for the inspectors to follow.  The three warehouses in Davidson County, which were to be the sites for the inspections, were at Nashville, Haysborough, and Waynesborough.
16. Acts of 1801, Chapter 68, stated that the Counties of Davidson and Williamson failed to comply with the true intent and meaning of the prior act which had detached the territory that became Williamson County from Davidson County.  Therefore, all debts which Davidson County justly owed at that time would be apportioned between the two Counties in relation to the amount of taxable property in each.  The Courts of the Counties each were to appoint a Commissioner to settle the problem and pay him $2.00 per day for each day devoted to the issue.  If one county failed to appoint a Commissioner, the other could proceed unilaterally.
17. Acts of 1803, Chapter 61, recited that it had been represented to the General Assembly that keeping open the French Lick and Denton's Lick had proved injurious to the stock of persons living near them.  Therefore, John McNairy was authorized to enclose French Lick and William P. Anderson to enclose Denton's Lick.
18. Acts of 1804, Chapter 8, stated that the time appointed in the Act creating Williamson County for persons to come forward with claims had expired and that there were apparently some persons who had not complied; therefore, the act extended the time for filing claims another year.
19. Acts of 1809, Chapter 99, declared that it appeared to the General Assembly that the Big Harpeth River was by no means a navigable stream and pretending to keep it open as such had a tendency to discourage the erection of mills and other utilities in Davidson and Williamson Counties.  Therefore, the act declared that the Big Harpeth River in Davidson and Williamson Counties would in no wise be a public or navigable stream.
20. Acts of 1809, Chapter 127, commented in its preamble that debts were due and unpaid by Davidson County at the time of the formation of Williamson County.  Both Counties were mutually responsible for the debts.  Each County would name a Commissioner to settle the debts, to ascertain the true and correct amount of each debt, and to determine the individuals to whom the debts were owned.  The Quarterly Courts were empowered to levy a tax to pay the debts.
21. Acts of 1815, Chapter 69, was the authority for Pleasant Talley, a citizen of Davidson County, to retail spirituous liquors in the County without a license or the payment of any tax for the two years next following the passage of the act.
22. Acts of 1815, Chapter 148, allowed David Allen to build a mill on his tract of land lying on Stone's River in Williamson and Davidson Counties which would be a public mill.  Allen was directed to meet the standards and specifications mentioned in the act when building the dam for the mill.  The dam was not to obstruct navigation on the river.  Allen would be liable in damages to property owners who might be injured thereby.
23. Acts of 1815, Chapter 170, instructed the Treasurer of West Tennessee to pay the witnesses in the case of John Sevier, Governor, vs. Robert Searcy, Treasurer of the Mero District, and His Securities, Andrew Jackson and William Dickson, when the attendance and mileage of the witnesses had been satisfactorily proved.
24. Acts of 1817, Chapter 76, recites that Governor Willie Blount employed Mose Eakin to ride to the different militia units in the State with an important communication for which service Eakin had not been paid, although he performed in a most satisfactory manner.  The act directed the Treasurer to pay Eakin $48 for his services.
25. Private Acts of 1819, Chapter 10, stated that Michael Campbell, Robert C. Foster, and Jacob McGavock, or any two of them, were authorized to receive from the person in possession of the same, the amount of the fine of $500 imposed on Benjamin P. Pearson by the Davidson County Court for an assault and battery on the person of one William Rutherford.  After obtaining the money, it was to be their duty to pay the same over to the family of Rutherford, but not to pay it on his debts.
26. Private Acts of 1821, Chapter 130, stated that two men of color, commonly called Sam and Harry Molloy, slaves of Thomas Molloy, deceased, having been conveyed by the executors of Molloy's will to John Cockrill, were emancipated and free, provided Cockrill appeared in open Circuit Court of the County and gave h is assent to the same and then entered into bond to cover any wrong or injury done by the two while free.
27. Private Acts of 1823, Chapter 193, stated that after passage, Susan Fussell,  wife of Harrison Fussell, was to be authorized to have and hold personal property in her own name and in all respects to act and manage for herself and children over whom she was named guardian.  She would exercise all rights as a feme sole without any control from or subjection to her husband.
28. Private Acts of 1827, Chapter 101, authorized Thomas Horman of Davidson County to hawk and peddle his goods in Robertson and Davidson Counties without a license, as long as the goods were his own and no one else's.
29. Public Acts of 1831, Chapter 43, Section 6, ordered the Cashier of the Bank of Tennessee to place to the credit of Davidson County its respective share of the $60,000 previously set apart for the internal improvements of Middle Tennessee.
30. Public Acts of 1831, Chapter 46, named Commissioners for several counties to serve on their Boards of Internal Improvement.  The Board of Internal Improvements for Davidson County was to be composed of Robert Weakley, Samuel Seay, and Robert C. Foster.  As soon as $20,000 had been subscribed in the stock thereof, the commissioners were to pay the amount over to the Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Shelbyville Turnpike Company.  See Nashville, Murfreesboro and Shelbyville Turnpike v. W & S Turnpike Co. v. Davidson County, 106 Tenn. 261 61 SW 68 (1901), for a discussion of the rights of the turnpike company when the County opened a competing road.
31. Public Acts of 1832, Chapter 30, declared that after January 1, 1833, all laws theretofore passed authorizing lotteries to be held for any purpose were repealed and anyone conducting any lottery would be subject to prosecution and fine, but the Act was not to be extended to include the lottery then being sold to extend Union Street in Nashville.
32. Private Acts of 1833, Chapter 166, authorized and directed the County Court of Davidson County, Tennessee, to license James Goodwin to keep a house of entertainment and to retail liquors in Nashville without paying any tax therefor, provided Goodwin gave a bond and security to the Court to keep all things orderly at the house of entertainment.
33. Private Acts of 1833, Chapter 241, permitted James B. Moore to hawk and peddle in Davidson County without having to procure a license.
34. Public Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 11, gave the Justices of every county the authority to appoint two Notaries Public in each county except in Davidson where they could appoint three.
35. Acts of 1839-40, Chapter 143, directed the Trustees of the Counties of Davidson, Bedford, and Rutherford, to demand from the Board of Internal Improvement Commissioners in each respective county all the monies to which each was entitled under the existing laws, and upon receipt to apportion the money among the school districts in their respective counties.
36. Acts of 1849-50, Chapter 189, Section 2, authorized the County Court of Davidson County to appoint one Revenue Commissioner for each Ward in the City of Nashville District and allow to the said Revenue Commissioner such compensation as the Court in its discretion might deem proper and just.
37. Acts of 1853-54, Chapter 139, amended Public Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 11, above, which provided for the appointment of notaries public, to allow Davidson County to appoint four notaries instead of three.
38. Acts of 1853-54, Chapter 281, formed a corporation for the building of a synagogue in Davidson County for those persons of the Jewish faith.
39. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 96, was the authority for the Governor of the State to purchase the five hundred acres and mansion known as the Hermitage from Andrew Jackson's heirs, and to issue bonds in the amounts not exceeding $48,000 to provide the funds to do so.  The property was to be offered to the United States as a branch of West Point.  Mr. A. Jackson, the then present owner, was given the right to stay on the property for two years.
40. Public Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 58, created a five-member Board of County Commissioners for Davidson County.  The members were required to be residents for two years and they were to be elected for five-year terms by popular vote, although the first election for the five-year term would be President and would have and exercise all the powers of the County Judge, who was relieved of all the duties imposed on him by law.  Any vacancies would be filled by the remaining members.  All the powers and jurisdiction of the County Court was transferred to the Board.  The Magistrates were also relieved of all responsibilities.  Personal interest in any County contract was prohibited.  The President would draw $2,000 annually and the members would draw $1,500.  The act was repealed by Acts of 1869-70, Chapter 6, below.
41. Public Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 77, Section 4, stated that the presiding Judge of the County Court of Davidson County was authorized and directed, in addition to the number of notaries public then authorized by law, to appoint an additional notary who would be able to understand, speak, and write the German language, but otherwise would be as all other notaries.
42. Private Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 99, Section 20, amended Section 1 of Public Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 58, above, by reducing the number of County Commissioners from five to three and requiring them to be two-year residents and to serve six-year terms.  The first Board would be appointed by the Governor to serve until March 1, 1870, when their successors would be elected.  Section 2 was amended by making the person serving the longest the president and setting his salary at $1,500 and those of the members at $1,200, payable out of regular county funds.  No injunction would be allowed to prevent this act from taking effect.
43. Public Acts of 1868-69, Chapter 35, Section 14, allowed the County Commissioners of Davidson County to appoint one additional notary public for Davidson County, who, when appointed, would keep his office in Nashville.
44. Public Acts of 1869-70, Chapter 6, repealed Public Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 58, above, which created a Board of County Commissioners in Davidson County.  The Magistrates would hold the Quarterly County Court at the times specified by law, the first session following this act to begin on the 1st Monday in November, 1869.
45. Public Acts of 1869-70, Chapter 49, repealed all prior acts which had created a board of county commissioners in any county and revived all acts which had been repealed when such boards of county commissioners were established.
46. Public Acts of 1869-70 (2nd Sess.), Chapter 68, consolidated the offices of Entry Taker and County Surveyor with the Surveyor being required to perform the duties of both offices and be paid the same fees and emoluments as the Entry Taker.
47. Public Acts of 1870-71, Chapter 81, amended Section 1792, Code of Tennessee, so that there would be appointed by the Justices of the County Court, if they deemed it necessary, three notaries in every county except Davidson County which would have six.
48. Public Acts of 1875, Chapter 15, amended Section 1792, Code of Tennessee, to allow the Counties of Knox, Dekalb, Shelby, Cannon, White, Davidson, and Weakley to appoint one more notary public than was then allowed by law.
49. Public Acts of 1897, Chapter 124, fixed the annual salaries of most of the county officials according to a classification of the counties by population.  Although this Act was declared unconstitutional in Weaver v. Davidson County, 104 Tenn. 315, 59 SW 1105 (1900), many of its features were carried over into later acts and survive in our current salary laws.
50. Acts of 1905, Chapter 109, stated that no person, firm or corporation, could engage in the business of making loans on personal property or wages, without first filling an application for a license to do so, after making bond.  The application was to contain certain information specified by the act and the license was not transferrable but could be defaulted.  Records were to be kept which would be open at all times for inspection.  This act applied to all counties with 50,000 or more in population.  The act was declared unconstitutional in Spicer v. King Brothers, 136 Tenn. 408, 189 SW 865 (1916).
51. Acts of 1907, Chapter 306, authorized the Quarterly Court of Davidson County, a majority being present, to adopt a Resolution to contract with a bank making the highest and best bid to pay interest on the monthly balances in county government accounts.  The Finance Committee of the Court would consist of the County Judge, the Trustee, and three members of the Court.  When the contract was complete and signed, and the bank had made bond, the Trustee would be notified to deposit government funds in that bank.  The bank was required to render to the Quarterly Court by the fifteenth of every month a statement of the interest earned.
52. Acts of 1909, Chapter 250, declared that all banks and trust companies in Davidson County, organized under Acts of 1883, Chapter 168, with a paid up capital of $100,000 for the purpose of conducting a savings, safe deposit, and trust banking business, could deposit $25,000 in bonds or cash with the State Treasurer, whereupon the bank would have the right to assume such fiduciary capacities as permitted under its charter.  The deposit would constitute security for the performance of its obligations.  The Treasurer of the State would issue a certificate to the bank as evidence of the deposit.
53. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 541, was the legislative authority for Davidson County to elect and appoint some competent person as the janitor of the Courthouse to hold office for two years, drawing the salary set by the County Court.
54. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 91, allowed Davidson County to pay F. C. Beerman the sum of $2,400 for services rendered by him in installing a new system of bookkeeping in the various County institutions.  The County Judge was directed to issue his warrant in Beerman's favor for that amount.
55. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 704, amended Acts of 1907, Chapter 306, Section 1, above, by changing the population figures in the caption to make them conform to the then present population of Davidson County, and then adding a provision to authorize the Finance Committee of the Quarterly Court to contract with banks, trust companies, or persons to borrow money for the use of the County on short term loans, the interest rate not to exceed six percent.
56. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 14, recited that Carl Hardin had worked as a stenographer during June, July, and August, 1920, and that some doubt existed as to the legality of appropriating county funds to pay him.  The act authorized the Quarterly Court to appropriate $300, that amount seeming to be a reasonable one, and to pay the same to Carl Hardin on the warrant of the County Judge.
57. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 98, was the authority for the County Court of Davidson County to make appropriations out of the ordinary funds of the County to pay the premiums on liability insurance policies covering public officials serving without compensation, but no more than $5,000 coverage would be taken on any official.
58. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 589, authorized the Davidson County Quarterly Court to appropriate an amount not to exceed $15,000 to the "Nashville Battlefield Memorial Association".
59. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 794, returned to T. A. McAdams, the sum of $125 which he had deposited as bail for one Otis London who had apparently ignorantly failed to appear for trial, at which time the bond had been forfeited, but who later did appear when notified and was acquitted.  No other remedy being available, the General Assembly authorized the return of the money to McAdams.
60. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 410, was the authority for the Quarterly Court of Davidson County to appropriate an amount not to exceed $3,750 to the Treasurer of the Fort Nashboro Market for the purpose of erecting a monument in Nashville to the original settlers of Nashville to be known as "Fort Nashboro", which project was being sponsored by the four Nashville Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  The money was not to be appropriated until matched by the City of Nashville and by a donation of $7,500 from the State.
61. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 656, allowed Davidson County to erect a public building on the Public Square in Nashville at such place as would be determined by the County Court, the Mayor, and City Council of Nashville with such plans and specifications as would be selected by the Public Building and Courthouse Commission upon a competition as provided in another act permitting a bond issue of $3,000,000.  The building would be used by the County as a Courthouse and for other purposes and by the City as a City Hall and for other City purposes.  The County was also empowered to lease space to the City for not more than fifty years but with the right to renew or extend the lease for twenty-five year terms.  The old Courthouse was to be torn down and removed  and if done before the new one could be occupied, the County was authorized to rent or acquire suitable space elsewhere until the new Courthouse could be built.  Any and all actions taken and business transacted in the temporary location would be as valid as if done in the then present Courthouse.
62. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 71, removed the disabilities of being a minor from Lester T. Gifford, of Davidson County, making him a legal adult in all respects.
63. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 177, removed the disabilities of infancy from Thomas Alexander Kelly, who was born November 6, 1912, in Davidson County.
64. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 291, removed the disabilities of her minority from Margaret Rollow, of Davidson County.
65. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 410, made Edward  H. Hooper, a minor residing in Davidson County, a legal adult.
66. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 440, removed the minority status of Robert Donald Goodlett of Davidson County, Tennessee.
67. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 441, removed the disabilities of minority of Hammonds Goodlett of Davidson County.
68. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 500, provided that all the salaries, wages, and per diems, of all the office holders, clerks, deputies, court officers, jurors, or other employees of Davidson County which were fixed by private or special act, except the District Attorney General and his assistants whose compensation had already been reduced by twenty-five percent by the State, were reduced by ten percent of the amount stated in the acts.  The Tax Assessor whose compensation was fixed by special enactment was exempt.  The act reduced the lump sum allowances for salaries wherever and however fixed, by ten percent.  The Act would be in effect for two years.
69. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 503, authorized the Quarterly Court of Davidson County, by appropriate action and coordination with other officials, to refund to the Fourth and First National Band of Nashville, as the administrator of the estate of B. H. Klyce, deceased, the sum of $90 which was the County's part of an ad valorem tax inadvertently assessed on the personal property of the decedent for the year 1928.
70. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 610, amended the general law by setting up additional classes of counties determined by population figures from the 1920 Federal Census, and then fixing a schedule of annual salaries to be paid certain county officials in each class.  In counties of the first class, the Trustee, Sheriff, and County Court Clerk, would be paid $7,500 a year, and the Clerk and Master, the Circuit Court Clerk, the Register, and the Criminal Court Clerk would be paid $6,000 a year.
71. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 205, removed all the disabilities of minority from Dolly Dearman of Davidson County.
72. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 206, removed the disabilities of minority from Jeannette Caldwell Mitchell of Davidson County, and granted her the right to receive from the Clerk and Master of the Chancery Court certain funds belonging to her and to execute valid receipts therefor as if she were an adult.
73. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 351, removed the disabilities of minority from Fannie Hawkins Searcy, granting her the right to conduct herself as an adult and the power to convey real estate.
74. Private Acts of 1935 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 165, emancipated Willie Clay Markett, Jr., granting him the authority to conduct all his affairs as an adult.
75. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 620, removed the disabilities of minority from Clarence Albert Head of Davidson County.
76. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 634, emancipated Robert Baltz, Jr., of Davidson County.
77. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 690, removed the minority of Paul Jones Slayden, giving him the authority to settle accounts with his guardian.
78. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 735, emancipated Francis Lorraine Ford of Davidson County, granting her the privilege to follow her business as a Notary Public and do all other things as an adult.
79. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 855, removed the disabilities of infancy from William Franklin Tinnin of Davidson County so that he could settle affairs with his guardian and the administrator of his father's estate.
80. Private Acts of 1937 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 4, recited that John Richard Moore was a young man under twenty-one years of age, finishing high school and desiring to go to college, and that it would be necessary so sell some property to enable him to do so.  This act removed his minority in order for him to sell his real estate.
81. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 220, recited that there was no specific authority for the County Court to make appropriations for Civil Defense; therefore, the act validated the resolution of the Quarterly Court which appropriated $7,000 for the purpose of cooperating with the City of Nashville in the maintenance of a Civil Defense Organization, notwithstanding the lack of any statutory authority to do so at the time.
82. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 222, was the authority for Davidson County to purchase and carry liability insurance for the protection of the public from accidents resulting from the negligent operation of county owned and operated vehicles.  The Quarterly Court would determine whether such insurance should be carried or not, and if so, in what amounts.  Any such insurance would be purchased through the Purchasing Commission.
83. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 225, allowed the Davidson County Court to appropriate public funds from time to time, not to exceed an aggregate of $35,000, to be expended by the Community Services Commission for Davidson County and Nashville.  Payments would be made on the vouchers of the County Judge or Chairman, and signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Commission.
84. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 241, created the Community Services Commission in Davidson County to study and analyze the relationship of the two government, city and county, and how services were provided the public.  A report and recommendation would result from the study concerning improvement and efficiency in government.
85. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 496, was the authority for Davidson County to pay rent for the County Committee of the Production and Marketing Association in a sum not to exceed $750 a year and to continue until office space became available for the Committee in the Courthouse or otherwise.
86. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 643, authorized public officials, in their discretion, to close the offices and departments over which they exercised control to business on Saturdays.  The authority did not extend to custodial institutions such as jails and hospitals.
87. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 408, created a metropolitan government charter commission in and for the County of Davidson.  The commission was vested with all authority provided by law and would function until the date of ratification or rejection of the charter, which would be determined by majority vote of the qualified voters residing inside the Nashville city limits and by those residing outside Nashville but inside Davidson County.