What We Learned and Why It Makes Us Stronger

Over the next few weeks, we will explore how we can  Make Gallatin Nice Again! 

1. The Process Is the Power

The Army Corps of Engineers has a strict permitting process, and that process is our greatest ally. Any commercial development on Old Hickory Lake requires federal authorization. We learned how to engage that process directly: submitting formal public comments, requesting hearings, and ensuring that environmental concerns are part of the official record. One of our  most successful tools was issuing official Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.  And we now know what transpired  between the city, the ACOE, and the developer.  The bureaucracy that once seemed like a wall is actually a door… if you know how to open it.

2. The City of Gallatin Answers to Its Citizens -  When Citizens Show Up

Our experience with city leadership confirmed what Make Gallatin Nice Again has been saying all along: it is important to try to get elected officials to respond to organized, informed, and persistent constituents. When we showed up at meetings, submitted FOIA requests, and put our concerns on the record, the conversation changed. Silence is permission. Engagement is power. In case our elected officials have not noticed, more and more Gallatin citizens are paying attention to what they do…and don’t do, too! This feeling is prevalent across the entire city, not just the neighborhoods impacted by the commercial marina.

3. Transparency Is Our Best Weapon

Through public records requests and open meetings, we uncovered information about this marina proposal that most citizens never knew existed. The more light we shone on the process, the more accountability we created. We will continue using every legal tool available - FOIA requests, petitions, and public hearings -  to keep this process transparent.

4. Coalition Matters

No single voice stops a well-funded development proposal. But a unified community, like you -  lake lovers, neighborhood associations, conservationists, boaters, and families can and does make a difference. The relationships we've built through this fight are among our most valuable assets going forward.

5. This Is Far From Over

The marina proposal has not been permanently abandoned.  It has only been slowed. The Army Corps permitting process continues, and the City of Gallatin's intentions remain in question. This is exactly why elections matter. The leaders who sit in City Hall this November will decide whether this lake is protected or exploited.

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THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW

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① STAY ENGAGED. STAY INFORMED. PAY ATTENTION

This marina didn't appear out of nowhere.  It was quietly advanced while most citizens had no idea what their city government was doing. That is exactly how bad decisions get made and bad projects get approved. The single most powerful thing you can do is stay awake to what is happening in Gallatin. Attend city council meetings. Read the agenda. Talk to your neighbors. Follow our associated groups  on Facebook and sign up for our email updates so you never miss a critical development. We cannot afford to be caught off guard again.

② KNOW WHO YOU'RE VOTING FOR

The candidates running for Gallatin City Council and Mayor this election will have direct power over the future of Old Hickory Lake, Nat Caldwell Park, and our community's quality of life. Before you vote, learn where each candidate stands on the marina, on development, and on transparency. In the coming weeks, we will provide information so you can  learn about the candidates and where they stand. An informed vote is the most powerful vote.

③ DONATE TO MAKE GALLATIN NICE AGAIN PAC

Fighting this marina has taught us that citizen advocacy alone is not enough:  we must also elect the right leaders. Make Gallatin Nice Again Political Action Committee (MGNA-PAC)  exists to do exactly that: recruit and support candidates who will put Gallatin's citizens, neighborhoods, and natural resources first. Your donation -  whether $25, $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 -  goes directly toward electing principled leaders who will protect Old Hickory Lake and govern with integrity.

➡ Donate today at Make Gallatin Nice Again-PAC . Every dollar is a vote for the Gallatin we deserve.

We didn't choose this fight, but we are not backing down from it. And with your continued support, we will win.

For Gallatin.