LEBANON, Tenn. – Lebanon city officials have cited Mayor Philip Craighead's son for failing to obtain a permit to build a private drive that connects to a public street.
Zack Craighead, who is an officer at Craighead Home Sales Inc., was cited on Thursday.
Craighead Home Sales Inc. is a real estate acquisition and construction company in Wilson County that is run by Mayor Craighead.
Zack Craighead received the citation because he reportedly built a private driveway that now attaches to a cul-de-sac in an exclusive subdivision known as Richmond Hills.
City officials told Nashville's News 2 Investigates that they had no idea this project was underway because Craighead failed to notify the city as required by city code.
Alex Buehler is a Lebanon City Council member who says his constituents have questions about this project and the appearance of how it progressed.
Nashville's News 2 Investigates obtained a copy of the permit signed by Zack Craighead, which was filed Thursday, after the road was all ready built.
The Lebanon building inspector says the correct sequence for the project is as follows:
1. Fill out a permit.
2. Pay a $25 fee.
3. Have a city engineer inspect and authorize the project.
4. Once the project is approved, the builder is granted a permit.
5. Then, construction can begin.
In this case, city officials say Zack Craighead completed the driveway project first, attaching to the city street, and then he came to Lebanon City Hall to get the proper permits for the job.
The head of the planning and codes department told Nashville's News 2 Investigates that his methods were highly unusual and not how the process should work.
Mayor Craighead could not be reached for comment.
By phone, Zack Craighead said, "It was just an accident on my part. I was in charge of doing that, and I forgot to pull the permit."
City officials said they are in the process of now inspecting the drive, and if it doesn't meet codes, the builder will be forced to correct all problems at his expense.
Zack Craighead is ordered to appear before a judge next month where he is subject to a $50 fine.
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