6,250 subscribers www.TML1.org Volume 70, Number 2 Feb. 4, 2019 Bill Lee sworn in as 50th Tennessee Governor Bill Lee became the 50th governor of Tennessee on Jan. 19, promising to build on the state’s Registration Open! successes while focusing on the state’s many challenges. He said that despite Tennes- 2019 TML see’s record-low unemployment, low tax rates and thriving eco- Legislative nomic development, the state has 15 counties that are still living in Conference poverty. “We have great challenges,” March 18-19, 2019 Lee said. “We have 15 counties DoubleTree Hotel, Nashville living in poverty – all rural. We have some of the most econom- TML’s Legislative Confer- ically distressed zip codes in ence is a chance to hear state America – right here in the heart leaders address the municipal of our greatest cities.” issues being debated in the Lee pledged to make rural General Assembly. The two-day economic development one of his conference provides an excellent key focus areas. He also talked forum for city officials to interact about criminal justice reform, and with legislators as well as other the need to address the high rates municipal officials. of recidivism among released The voice of Tennessee’s prisoners. municipal governments must be “I believe we can be tough on heard in the legislative process, crime and smart on crime at the and the TML Legislative Con- same time,” he said. “We need to Photo by Andrew Nellles/The Tennessean ference is a key opportunity to help non-violent offenders re-en- communicate that message. ter society, not prison.” Bill Lee, 59, is sworn in as Tennessee’s 50th Governor, with his children and his wife Maria at his side. TML has moved to an on- Other key areas he plans to line registration process for focus on are continuing to address our events. To register go to the opioid epidemic plaguing our Lee issues first executive order to address https://www.tml1.org/2019-leg- state and working to find solutions islative-conference for affordable health care. economically distressed rural counties Access to TML’s group rate He emphasized less govern- at the DoubleTree is only avail- ment involvement but instead Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued utive department to submit a state- the nation. Each year, the Appa- able after a paid registration form to work in partnership with the his first executive order, requiring ment of rural impact explaining lachian Regional Commission has been submitted. The form will private sector and nonprofits. all state executive departments to how the department serves rural (ARC) prepares an index of county redirect registrants to the hotel “Government is not the an- issue a statement of rural impact Tennesseans no later than May 31 economic status for every county in registration page after submis- swer to our challenges,” Lee said. and provide recommendations for and recommendations for improving the U.S.. sion, and a copy of the link to the “I believe in a limited government better serving rural Tennessee. that service by June 30. The 15 distressed counties in hotel group will also be included that provides unlimited opportuni- “My administration will place “Our state has reached historic Tennessee include: Lake, Lauder- in the confirmation email. ties.” a high emphasis on the devel- levels of prosperity and I want dale, Hardeman, McNairy, Perry, The TML special room rate Given before an estimated opment and success of our rural to ensure that the 15 distressed Jackson, Clay, Grundy, Van Buren, will be available until Feb.12, or crowd of 1,600, the inaugural areas,” Lee said. “Our first exec- counties in our state benefit from Bledsoe, Fentress, Morgan, Scott, until the group block is sold out, ceremony, which has historically utive order sends a clear message a concentrated mission,” said Lee. Hancock, and Cocke. whichever comes first.Contact been held outside on the Legisla- that rural areas will be prioritized “Each department has commu- Economic status designations Sylvia Harris at sharris@tml1. tive Plaza, was moved inside to the across all departments as we work nicated full support as we move are identified through a composite org with any additional registra- War Memorial Auditorium due to to improve coordination in our forward with putting this plan into measure of each county’s three- tion and hotel questions. forecasted rain. efforts.” motion.” year average unemployment rate, This executive order is the first There are 22 executive depart- per capita market income, and step by the administration to accel- ments that will engage in this review poverty rate. Comptroller’s Office provides erate plans to address 15 distressed and recommendation process. Based on these indicators, counties in Tennessee which are all Distressed counties rank each county is then categorized free online utility training rural. among the 10 percent most eco- as distressed, at-risk, transitional, The Tennessee Comptroller’s nience of watching this free online The order requires each exec- nomically distressed counties in competitive or attainment. Office is pleased to offer free online training,” said Comptroller Justin training for board members who P. Wilson. “Ultimately, we believe oversee a water and/or wastewater training will improve the gover- Tullahoma partners with VC3 to take utility system. nance of Tennessee’s water and In 2018, the Tennessee Gen- wastewater systems, which has a eral Assembly passed legislation direct impact on utility customers.” proactive approach to cyber security requiring the comptroller’s office The Comptroller’s Online BY KATE COIL to provide online training for mu- Utility Training can be accessed at TML Communication Specialist nicipal and county utility board https://comptroller.tn.gov/boards/ members by March 1, 2019. The utilities/water-wastewater-financ- When Jennifer Moody took comptroller’s office is not only ing-board/ot/training.html. the role of city administrator for the pleased that it has met this dead- For more information go to: city of Tullahoma in 2018, one of line, but that it has also done so www.comptroller.tn.gov. her goals was to learn about how using existing resources. the city operated and how she could State law mandates that all help keep things running smoothly. utility board members, which may Utility Board Training One of the first tasks Moody hit include city council members and offered at TML upon was looking into the technolo- county commissioners, attend 12 gy the city used and how secure that hours of utilities training within Annual Conference June 22-25 in Memphis technology was. 12 months of their initial election “IT is one of the areas we know or appointment. Continuing educa- As part of the workshops is changing all the time,” Moody tion is also required. offered at the TML Annual said. “There is new technology and The comptroller’s online train- Conference, June 22 - 25 in new ways of doing things, but also VC3 chief executive officer Sandy Reeser, left, and Tullahoma City ing provides a variety of courses Memphis, several sessions will new threats. It’s similar to other Administrator Jennifer Moody, right, met at TML offices in Nashville covering subjects such as budget- be offered that meet the con- kinds of infrastructure. We are very to discuss the results of VC3’s security gap analysis for the city. ing, debt issuance, fraud, water loss tinuing education requirement reliant on our technology, so we prevention, public records, and for utility board members. need it to be reliable. I was looking to emulate professional emails to get access to city data and lock open meetings compliance. Workshops will be held on at this process from the standpoint of and other documents from banks, the files. The hackers then sent the City and county board mem- Saturday afternoon, June 22, making sure we are up-to-date with medical offices, companies, and city screen shots of their locked bers are eligible for all of the Sunday morning, June 23, and current security methods.” government agencies. files, initially demanding $51,000 courses. A selection of courses has throughout the day on Monday, Joe Howland, chief informa- Governments are also becom- in order to restore municipal access also been approved for utility dis- June 24. Training for CMFOs tion security officer with VC3, said ing a higher-level target of cyber to computers and data. trict and treatment authority board will also be offered during this cyber attacks are becoming more security attacks. It wouldn’t be until November members and commissioners. time. sophisticated all the time. “One of the important things – eight months after the attack – that When a board member com- So mark your calendar for “If you have your computer to recognize is that governments two men would be charged in the at- pletes a course, he or she will re- the 2019 TML Annual Con- hooked up to the Internet, hackers in the past few years have become tack by the FBI. During their inves- ceive a certificate. Board members ference. And stay tuned for a have access,” he said. “The most one of the most targeted groups in tigation, the FBI found that a similar should maintain these certificates. complete conference line-up common attacks we see now are the U.S.,” Howland said. “Hackers, attack on the city of Hinesville, Ga., “We believe board members and course descriptions. phishing or spear phishing attempts malicious users, and others have the month before may have been a will certainly enjoy the conve- that come in through email. These recognized that governments are trial run for the Atlanta attack. email attacks are so effective be- fairly open and susceptible targets.