Council Looking at $7.7M in Projects
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T U E S D A Y 161st YEAR • NO. 231 JANuARY 26, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 16 PAGES • 50¢ Council looking at $7.7M in projects By JOYANNA LOVE The projects and payments are antici- Branch Industrial Park infrastructure, during the annual strategic planning $3 million and they would do $3 mil- Banner Senior Staff Writer pated to be completed without a tax $1.7 million for a new fire hall, $900,000 session Monday. lion,” Casteel said. increase. for the apparatus needed for the fire Development and Engineering direc- The proposed fire station on the south Projects proposed for the city of “We don’t want to just present a list hall, $800,000 for a citywide computer tor Jonathan Jobe said the needed end of the city near Interstate Exit 20 Cleveland in the 2016 fiscal year would that is a wish list of projects,” said City system, $300,000 for email and GIS sys- infrastructure for the industrial park has been in the long-term plan for a mean borrowing $7.7 million, but would Manager Janice Casteel. “We want this tem upgrades, $200,000 for a mobile would include putting in the road, while. Cleveland Fire Chief Ron Harrison leave the tax rate the same. list to mean something, to guide us as police command post, $684,000 for installing utilities and site work to get said the station, and the eventual addi- These projects would be funded we go into the budget session.” improvements at Tinsley Park and the land ready for building. tion of Station 7 in 2024, will mean each through a bond issue and then paid off Casteel stressed that the Council $80,000 for paving at the soccer com- “Are we now on our own with no coun- of the areas of the city can be reached through debt service of $520,000 a year could change the plan at any point in plex. ty funding?” asked Councilman Bill with a four-minute response time. for 20 years. The 2016 fiscal year begins the budget process. The need for each project was Estes. July 1. Projects include $3 million for Spring explained to the Cleveland City Council “No, it’s proposed that you would do See PROJECTS, Page 16 Inside Today City asks Private for AG’s opinion agency on tax to help revenue in city Hotel/motel funds at issue search By JOYANNA LOVE Banner Senior Staff Writer City manager Revenue division between the city and the county was a topic hunt to begin Hawks win twice again during Monday’s voting Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS session of the Cleveland City CARING PLACE volunteer Donna Tisdale, center, had the honor during Monday evening’s By JOYANNA LOVE The TCPS Hawks flew to a pair Council. reception on the Lee University campus to talk, at the same time, with outgoing Director Reba Banner Senior Staff Writer of Monday night basketball wins This time the hotel/motel tax Terry, left, and incoming Director Dr. Randy Howard. The Cleveland City Council will over Apostolic Christian, inside was the subject. the “Hawks Nest.” The Polk be using a private consulting The Cleveland agency in its search for the next County Lady Cats and Wildcats City Council voted fell to Tellico Plains. The Lady city manager. unanimously to The move, which was approved Volunteers continue to struggle ask state Rep. on the basketball court, falling to Farewell to Reba unanimously Monday, could cost Kevin Brooks (R- the city between Kentucky on the road. Vols coach Cleveland) for an Rick Barnes is looking for more $25,000 and attorney general’s $35,000, accord- from Armani Moore. See Sports, opinion on the The Caring Place pays an emotional Pages 9-11. ing to an estimate current and from Municipal Hughes future division of tribute to Terry, welcomes Howard Technical Advis- Talking about the hotel/motel ory Service. tax. By LARRY C. BOWERS MTAS offers family, money C o u n c i l m a n Banner Staff Writer cities assistance Dale Hughes said When we think about money, let’s A little emotion showed Monday evening with city manager since the Bradley searches free of Norris be honest. We’re not talking about County Comm- when Reba Terry, former director of The just money, but also a host of relat- Caring Place, was honored at a reception on charge. ission is trying to “If we operate ed consequences and deeply felt raise the local the Lee University campus. The festive event was held in the John this like a busi- emotions. And in most cases, it hotel/motel tax ness, businesses becomes a family issue. Read one with a percentage Nichols Room of the Lee University Chapel. Banks Terry announced in December that she hire head- person’s perspective in a guest of the revenue hunters,” Counci- going to the gen- was stepping down from her position at the “Viewpoint” on Page 12 of today’s start of the year, and Monday was a day of lman Richard edition. eral fund, the city should receive Banks said. “I some of the revenue. tributes and farewell. The Caring Place’s staff, board members, think it would be The current plan is for 20 per- money well and volunteers acknowledged the growth and Johnson Forecast cent of the revenue to go to the spent.” county’s general fund. many successes of the organization during Terry’s 10 years, mostly as director. City, He spoke of the The county’s proposal would “headhunting raise the local tax from 5 percent county and state officials also paid tribute. Terry choked up slightly as she was lav- agency” working to 7 percent. Such a change is with MTAS. In a required to be approved by the ished with praise, recognition, and gifts. She was asked prior to the presentation if previous presen- Tennessee General Assembly. The tation, Margaret increase has passed the Senate reality had dawned on her that she was no longer with The Caring Place. “Oh yes,” she Norris, MTAS and is in committee in the House municipal man- of Representatives. said. “But, I’m really excited (about the future).” agement consult- Hughes, who is a motel owner, ant, said to her Estes said there are 22 hotels/motels Terry said she is not yet ready to retire. Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS She said she will be assisting Neighbors in knowledge a pri- within the city limits that would DENNIS CONOVER, left, director of opera- vate consultant agency had be required to pay this increased Need for several month, which will keep her tions at The Caring Place, presents outgoing Today should see rain showers, busy. never worked alongside MTAS with temperatures falling to around tax. Director Reba Terry with words of thanks and a before; however, MTAS would be 45 by late afternoon. Tonight’s fore- See REBA, Page 13 gift from the agency’s staff. open to whatever the city want- cast calls for mostly cloudy skies See REVENUE, Page 16 ed. and a 60 percent chance of rain, Norris provided a list of estab- with a low in the lower 30s. lished consulting agencies that Wednesday calls for mostly cloudy could assist the City Council in County eyes energy performance study its search. None are located in skies, and a high near 45. Tennessee. Norris presented a Wednesday night looks to be partly By BRIAN GRAVES next 15 years. determine the viability of entering into such sample job description that other cloudy, with a low around 26. Banner Staff Writer If approved, an energy services company a contract. cities had used in city manager would develop, design, arrange financing “Back in the fall, the board and the com- searches. Councilman Bill Estes Index Bradley County commissioners appear for, install and help maintain energy-saving mission voted to do the joint ad hoc commit- recommended that the city have ready to follow the lead of the county school improvements for their customer. tee to look at a potential energy upgrade a job description prepared by the next meeting in two weeks. Classified................................14-15 board in approving a preliminary study that Commissioner Johnny Mull, who serves funded by the potential savings from those Norris reiterated that selecting Comics...........................................6 could lead to initiating an energy perform- on the ad hoc energy committee and is ener- upgrades,” Mull explained. ance contract estimated to save the county gy manager for the school system, dis- Editorials......................................12 millions of dollars in utility costs over the cussed where the process is currently to See ENERGY, Page 13 See SEARCH, Page 16 Horoscope......................................6 Obituaries.......................................2 Sports........................................9-11 Contract proposal Pending county vote Stocks............................................4 TV Schedule..................................7 shifts SPCA policy eyes more road funds Weather..........................................8 By BRIAN GRAVES extent allowed without threaten- By BRIAN GRAVES revenue overcollected during the Banner Staff Writer ing the capacity of the leased Banner Staff Writer fiscal year 2014-15 and deposit- Around Town premises.” ed in the state’s general fund. A major shift in the acceptance Bradley County commissioners That total amount is $100 mil- The Bradley County Elkins Blake Terry Akins becoming a “pro- policy at the SPCA of Bradley Commission’s Finance committee will vote next week on a resolu- lion and it would be appropriated fessional dog whisperer” ... Brynn County now appears in the pro- has already passed the contract, tion supporting a bill in the state to the counties “for the purpose and Rodney Mills stocked up and posed contract that could be prior to the amendment, which Legislature that would bring in of county transportation projects ready for when there’s a good voted on as early as next week.