Mayor Robert Ryle addressed the Dickson County Planning Commission to describe how county economic development staff approach recruitment and how that work intersects with planning and zoning decisions.

Ryle said the county removed "growth" as the primary goal about a decade ago and now focuses on "improvement," seeking employers that raise average local pay and avoid heavy pollution. He praised economic developer Terry Malone and described the county’s use of outside property evaluation programs, the Tennessee Department of Economic Development, the TVA and other partners to vet prospects.

Ryle described an example of a recent recruitment that would have brought about 60 jobs with an average salary he said was roughly "$90,000 a year," and emphasized the county’s reliance on careful screening rather than quick, low‑wage wins. He also reviewed how tax‑increment financing was used to fund infrastructure for commercial development—pointing to a past project that helped build a road and a shopping center while preserving the county’s tax base.

Ryle closed by urging commissioners to contact him or economic development staff with questions and thanking the commission for its independence in zoning decisions.

Next steps: The presentation was informational; no vote resulted. Commissioners did not ask follow‑up questions during the meeting but were invited to follow up with the mayor or staff.