Tenn. Code § 12-10-104
Whenever any number of natural persons, not less than three (3), each of whom shall be a duly qualified elector of the county or of the incorporated city or town or each of whom shall be a current customer of the utility district, shall file with the governing body thereof an application in writing seeking permission to apply for the incorporation of a public building authority of the municipality, the governing body shall proceed to consider the application. If the governing body shall, by appropriate resolution duly adopted, find and determine that it is wise, expedient, necessary or advisable that the authority be formed, and shall authorize the persons making such application to proceed to form such authority and shall approve the form of certificates of incorporation proposed to be used in organizing the authority, then the persons making such application shall execute, acknowledge and file a certificate of incorporation for the authority as hereinafter provided. No authority may be formed unless such application shall have first been filed with the governing body of the municipality and the governing body shall have adopted a resolution as provided in this section.
T.C.A. § 12-10-104