6,250 subscribers www.TML1.org Volume 71, Number 3 Feb. 24, 2020 GNRC Unified Transportation Plan unites Key legislators to speak at dozens of mayors across Middle Tennessee By KATE COIL TML Legislative Conference TML Communications Specialist Several key legislators will join Mayors and municipal officials us March 16-17, at the DoubleTree from across Middle Tennessee are by Hilton in Nashville for TML’s coming together to support a new 2020 Legislative Conference. transportation plan aimed at alle- House Speaker Cameron viating congestion and preventing Sexton, Senate State and Local predicted gridlock on major road- Chairman Steve Dickerson, and ways in the greater Nashville area. House Local Government Chair The Unified Transportation John Crawford are among a host of Plan 2020 was created as part of speakers scheduled for the two-day the “Year of Transportation,” an event. initiative seeking federal fund- Also on the agenda are Comp- ing for mass transit and alterna- troller Justin Wilson and TBI Cameron Sexton tive transportation in the Middle Director David Rausch who will House Speaker Tennessee region. Created by update us on key issues taking the Greater Nashville Regional place within their departments. We Council (GNRC), the plan has the Research has already indicated if the area’s current congestion will also hear for the U.S. Census support of 93 mayors in the region. and transportation issues are not dealt with the region could face Bureau who will provide a timeline The plan involves studies complete transportation gridlock, which not only wreaks havoc on for the upcoming census and pro- of key corridors, including the citizens’ quality of life but it will greatly affect economic growth for vide information on some on-line southern Interstate 65 corridor, the entire state. tools that are available to help each Downtown Interstate Loop (I-40, community with the count. I-24, I-65), and incorporating local The conference is an excellent transportation plans and priorities, Middle Tennessee Transportation opportunity to hear state leaders ad- including the work currently under- dress the municipal issues currently way across Metro Nashville and the Issues by the Numbers being debated in the Tennessee greater Nashville area. General Assembly. The schedule Steve Dickerson Research has already indicated 1.2 million licensed also allows ample time to attend Senate State & Local Chair if the area’s current congestion and 1.3 House and Senate floor sessions at transportation issues are not dealt drivers living in million people expected the Capitol and committee hearings with the region could face complete Middle Tennessee to move to Middle TN by taking place at the Cordull Hall transportation gridlock. Building. Franklin Mayor Ken Moore It’s not too late to register, serves as chair of the Regional 13% TML has moved to an online reg- Council’s Mayors Caucus, which the percentage of istration process. The form can develops the organization’s annual major roadways in be used to register all officials, policy and legislative priorities. the region with bike 26% the amount average travel https://www.cognitoforms.com/ Moore said the study of key corri- lanes speeds could decrease TML1/_2020TMLLegislative- dors is aimed at regions that seem to by 2040 Conference. A second form is avail- be major sources of congestion that able to register guests and spouses. can led to traffic issues further out. Contact Sylvia Harris at sharris@ “We know that the major choke 33.2 John Crawford the average number tml1.org with any additional ques- points happen to be the inner loop 48 House Local Chair of miles commuters minutes the region’s av- tions. in Nashville,” Moore said. “That travel daily erage commuter spends is why both TDOT and the GN- in traffic RC’s Transportation Policy Board Doing more, spending are studying that loop to see what 93 solutions there may be. That would the number of mu- less with cloud computing be a good start in solving some of nicipal and county 113% the congestions and delays. There mayors in the GRNC how much more time cit- BY JOE HOWLAND are some unusual things about the izens will spend in traffic VC3 Information Security Officer South Interstate 65 corridor that if no changes are made goes from Davidson County down by 2040. What if you could pay only for through Williamson into Maury. what you need when you want it? The major difference between that That’d be pretty nice, right? That’s corridor and others is that it has 2040 almost the same number of people the year Nashville and the sur- the power cloud computing can rounding 10-county region will bring to your organization. leaving as it does coming in every hit complete gridlock if nothing day.” changes Technical Definition The plan also looks at how Cloud computing utilizes off- See PLAN on Page 3 Data courtesy GRNC Unified Transportation Plan 2020 site third-party resources to deliver computing services like applica- tions, servers, and storage. Kingsport takes proactive approach,

What Is Cloud Computing? builds coalition to address homelessness Think of your favorite enter- By KATE COIL tainment streaming service, like Netflix. Remember what it was like When city officials began to before Netflix? You either needed notice an increase in the local home- to own individual movies or go to less population, the city of King- Blockbuster to rent them. sport decided to take a proactive, What’s it like now? You can expense to plan for to a manage- data-driven approach to solving stream thousands of movies and tv able, budget-friendly operational the issue. shows whenever you want. expense. While the city has several or- The old way of watching mov- Greater Access. Because ganizations that provide services to ies (owning hard copies of them) you’re using the internet instead local homeless citizens, Kingsport is a lot like on-premise computing of an onsite server, you can access officials felt more could be done to services. You own your servers your files and applications - any address the issue in the community. and purchase the key operational where you have an internet con- In the fall, Kingsport City Manager software you need to use. This nection. This is incredibly helpful Chris McCartt, and Kingsport Po- setup requires office space for the for offices with remote employees lice Chief David Quillin met with servers and someone to install and or satellite locations. the United Way of Greater King- The city of Kingsport has created two new municipal liasion positions manage the servers. Also, you may Improved Flexibility. With- sport board members to plan a way and a coalition of city officials, community leaders, and nonprofit only use 25-50% of the full power out the burden of physical hard- forward for homelessness outreach leaders already working to address homelessness in the region to of that server. This method can be ware, leveraging the cloud allows in the community. tackle the issue. One of the project’s first tasks is collecting data on inefficient in time and cost. you to scale up and down based The result was the creation of homelessness in Kingsport to better connect people and services. The alternative is cloud com- on employee count with ease. Get a new homelessness coalition to puting. And it’s a lot like using more licenses for key software, study the issue and the addition of ganizations in both Tennessee and We are also looking at how our Netflix. Replace the on-site server increase data storage, and more two new positions with the munici- North Carolina. data compares to other areas in our with cloud servers that you access thorough digital replication. pality: a homeless liaison partnering Anderson said the city and region – and whether or not there through the internet. Better Support. Onsite main- with the local United Way chapter its partner organizations will be is an increase in homelessness and tenance is no longer needed. Your and a Kingsport Police Homeless working with the homelessness co- what is causing it.” What are the benefits? internal IT staff or your IT partner Outreach Worker working with the alition to find data-driven solutions The annual PIT Count is Efficient Spending. You may is now able to perform routine city’s police department. to the issue. The coalition is com- conducted each January by the only need a fraction of the power maintenance, update software, Erin Gray, the new police prised of a cross-sector of commu- Appalachian Regional Coalition your server or servers can provide. and patch a greater number of homeless outreach worker with the nity members, community leaders, on Homelessness (ARCH) through So why buy 100% of something servers faster. Cloud computing Kingsport Police Department, will and non-profit organization leaders the U.S. Department of Housing when you maybe only need 40%? can also be helpful when it comes be working as “boots on the ground” who will guide the city’s approach. and Urban Development. In 2019, Cloud computing allows you to to cybersecurity. Your IT partner to help the coalition gather more ac- “We want to determine the this data showed an average of 150 buy what you need and use it when can deploy security measures curate statistics on the issue. Gray is makeup of the homeless popula- people in Kingsport experiencing you need it. Sometimes, you can faster and at greater breadth. a licensed master social worker with tion,” Anderson said. “We will be homelessness. Of those 150 home- even save money by shutting down more than a decade of experience using different data from different less citizens, 50 individuals typical- machines at night or other times of Takeaway in the field. organizations and agencies. We ly have a shelter to stay at overnight, inactivity. Cloud computing is to Netflix Jonathan Anderson is the are looking at crime statistics, the 46 are unsheltered, and 38 who are Predictable Budgeting. In- as on-premise computing is to homeless liaison serving in part- Point-In-Time Count (PIT) num- transitionally sheltered or between stead of purchasing, installing, your DVD library. nership with the city of Kingsport bers, and numbers from the school shelters – meaning two-thirds of the managing, and fixing your servers, and the United Way of Greater system. We are trying to gather as city’s homeless population doesn’t you gain access to cloud servers for For more information on VC3 and its Kingsport. Anderson is the founder much data as possible and have always have a safe place to stay at a monthly cost. This moves your services, head over to TML’s TECH of Engage Tri-Cities and has 13 as much of an education for our night. IT costs from a difficult capital page, https://www.tml1.org/tech years of experience with local or- coalition before we move forward. See HOMELESS on Page 3 www.TML1.org 2-TENNESSEE TOWN & CITY/FEB. 24, 2020 TVA donates brush truck to New Johnsonville FD

COLUMBIA The GreenLea Commons develop- NASHVILLE The city of Columbia has been ment will include two new restau- The city of Nashville set another awarded the Government Finance rants, a dentist office, fitness center tourism record in 2019 with 16.1 Officers Association’s (GFOA) and daycare. The Mapco at Hunter million visitors coming to the city Distinguished Budget Presenta- Pointe will expand to include an over the course of the year. Events tion Award for the City’s Fiscal outdoor flex area and event space, like the NFL Draft and the city’s Year (FY) 2019-2020 Budget, the bicycle repair, and dog washing New Year’s Eve party are credited first time the city has received the stations while the Learning Zone, for the 6% increase in tourism over award. The city of Columbia also a locally owned daycare, has 2018 when 15.2 million people received the city’s first Popular plans to build a new facility in the traveled to the city. Nashville’s Annual Financial Reporting Award Belvedere Drive area. The $10.3 hotel room sales were similar to in July 2019 and the 21st consecu- million Gallatin Subaru extension those in Tampa and Philadelphia tive Certificate of Achievement for on 5.82 acres will not only create a and exceeded sales in New Orle- Excellence in Financial Reporting 26,750-square-foot-dealership but ans, San Antonio, Charleston, and from GFOA in August 2019. As also a dog park. Austin, according to the Visitors the primary department designated Corp. The top states where tour- to prepare the annual budget, the HENDERSONVILLE ists visited from include Florida, TVA Johnsonville Combustion Turbine Plant Site Manager Mike city’s finance department will also Vanderbilt University Medical Tennessee, Kentucky, California, Parker, left, hands the keys of a donated fire truck over to New receive a Certificate of Recogni- Center has announced the ground- Illinois, Alabama, Ohio, Georgia, Johnsonville Fire Chief Dale Allen, right. The Tennessee Valley tion for Budget Presentation. The breaking for a new 31,000-square- Texas, and Indiana. The number of Authority recently donated the former Johnsonville Fossil Plant GFOA is a major professional asso- foot medical facility in Hender- Nashville hotel rooms has grown fire brigade brush truck to the city of New Johnsonville and New ciation servicing more than 18,000 sonville. The clinic will offer adult to 33,200, up from 30,600 in 2018. Johnsonville Volunteer Fire Department. The truck was used by appointed and elected local, state, outpatient specialty care along More than 5,000 rooms are under the Johnsonville Fossil Plant’s fire brigade, but after the fossil plant and provincial-level government with limited pediatric specialty construction and more than 9,600 was retired, TVA officials decided to donate the truck to the local fire officials, and finance practitioners. care and imaging services. The are in the final stages of planning. department. The truck will still continue to serve TVA, however, as The GFOA’s Distinguished Budget single-story facility will contain Another 17 hotel projects are the department’s coverage territory includes the TVA Johnsonville Presentation Awards Program is 40 clinic exam rooms, urgent care expected to open in 2020 and 18 Combustion Turbine Plant. the only national awards program services, and imaging capabilities opened in 2019. in governmental budgeting. including CT, ultrasound, and X-ray. Vanderbilt expects the facil- NASHVILLE Collierville official, arts council ELIZABETHTON ity will require between 50 and 60 Genesco, Inc., will expand its The city of Elizabethton has re- employees to serve in fields includ- operations in Nashville, creating honored at local chamber awards cently achieved Tennessee Main ing women’s health, pediatrics, 60 new jobs and investing $31 Street status, bringing the total of adult primary care, orthopedics, million in the next five years. Tennessee Main Street communi- imaging, rheumatology, walk-in Genesco will be relocating to ties to 37. Elizabethton has a histor- care, and non-chemotherapy med- 535 Marriott Drive in Nashville, ically significant downtown that it ical infusions. where it is expected to occupy plans to improve through the Main approximately two-thirds of the Street program, encouraging new HUMBOLDT existing 310,000-square-foot investment and entrepreneurship. The city of Humboldt has recently facility. The company’s expan- The city, in conjunction with the achieved Tennessee Main Street sion will be complete by 2021. Elizabethton Downtown Business status, bringing the total of Ten- Genesco, founded in Nashville Association, announced the hiring nessee Main Street communities in 1924, is a retailer and whole- of a director for its Main Street pro- to 37. Humboldt successfully saler of footwear, apparel, and gram in October 2019. Elizabeth- participated in the 2016-18 round accessories. The company oper- ton’s Main Street application was of the Tennessee Downtowns ates under several retail brands supported by Sen. Rusty Crowe, program, focusing on rebranding including Journeys, Johnston R – Johnson City, and Rep. John its downtown and celebrating its & Murphy, Schuh, and sells at Holsclaw Jr., R – Elizabethton, in longstanding strawberry festival. wholesale under the Johnston & the Tennessee General Assembly. Humboldt officials selected areas Murphy and Trask brands and of their downtown cores where the licensed Levi’s and Dockers ERWIN the program will focus on historic brands. Genesco operates approx- The town of Erwin is on track to preservation, community events imately 1,490 stores throughout Collierville Vice Mayor Maureen Fraser and the city’s arts council open the city’s first bark park this and economic revitalization. Hum- the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and the were lauded at the Collierville Chamber’s 2019 Excellence in Busi- spring. Fencing and signs have boldt’s Main Street application was Republic of Ireland, and employs ness Awards. Fraser was honored as the “Person of the Year” while already been installed at the dog supported by Sen. John Stevens, approximately 21,000 employees the Collierville Arts Council was named the “Non-Profit of the Year.” park, which is located behind the R – Huntingdon, and Rep. Curtis worldwide. Unicoi County Animal Shelter. The Halford, R – Dyer. town is waiting for conditions to SEVIERVILLE Dayton purchases new fire truck improve to install benches. The dog KNOXVILLE The Eastern Band of Cherokee park was funded through a $25,000 The Knoxville City Council re- Indians (EBCI) has purchased a grant from the Boyd Foundation’s cently approved a $1.6 million new property known as Dumplin Creek Dog Park Dash grant program. sidewalk project in East Knoxville near Interstate 40’s Exit 407 in Se- The park will provide 1.5 acres of that will remove and replace vierville. The tribe paid $13.2 mil- natural space for dogs with sections 35,000 square feet of sidewalk in lion for 198 acres of commercial for smaller and larger animals. The 32 areas of the city. The Wilson property and is considering many property had previously been used Avenue Sidewalk Project will options for the property, including as a brush dump. The park will be construct 1,500 linear feet of new a resort, several branded hotels, free and open to the public during sidewalk with a curb and drainage retail outlets, and a hotel with daylight hours. system along the north side of Wil- convention space. Development son Avenue, connecting existing of the 198-acre property will be GALLATIN sidewalks between the corner of handled by the new Kituwah LLC, The city of Gallatin has announced South Chestnut Street and South which was created by the EBCI to the top 10 construction projects Harrison streets. Recently com- conduct business on behalf of the the city anticipates for the com- pleted work in the vicinity created tribe. The tribe has already devel- ing year, including a new retail about 1,300 linear feet of sidewalk oped a resort hotel and casino on The city of Dayton recently unveiled its newly purchased fire truck, shopping center, the city’s first along nearby South Castle Street its property across the state line in Tower No. 1. The new truck will be stationed at the Dayton Fire-Res- all-inclusive park, a mixed-use between Martin Luther King Jr. Cherokee, N.C., and is also work- cue’s Station No. 2, whose service area includes the local industrial development, and an addition to Avenue and the entrance of Claude ing to develop a similar property park. a local car dealership that will Walker Park. The Wilson Avenue near Bristol, Va. include a dog park. The city’s $31 Sidewalk Project will also involve million Albert Gallatin Avenue installing two concrete pads for fu- SHELBYVILLE Fayetteville PD K-9 team extension to State Route 109 will ture bus shelters on Knoxville Area Newell Brands will expand its divert 12% of downtown traffic and Transit’s Burlington Route 34. operations in Shelbyville, creating completes training course is expected to be complete in 2021. 115 new jobs and investing $11 The city also has been awarded MCEWEN million in the next five years. The $700,000 to fund various sidewalk Gorman Woodyard LLC will consumer goods manufacturer will improvements, including from expand its operations in McE- expand into a 211,000-square-foot Browns Lane from Starpoint Drive wen, investing $1.5 million and facility in Shelbyville. Newell to Nashville Pike. A $375,000 creating 46 new jobs in the next Brands is a leading manufacturer drainage improvement project will five years. Gorman Woodyard is and distributer of consumer goods include a 1,700-foot-long ditch and a wood chipping company based including appliances and cook- pipe network to alleviate flooding in McEwen that provides wood ware, writing products, home fra- issues in the Belvedere and Lake- for several paper mills, including grance and more. Newell Brands shore Drive areas. The 126-acre Hood Container in Waverly. The and its subsidiaries currently em- mixed-use Windsong development company plans on expanding its ploy more than 1,000 Tennesseans will feature 630 new homes and current operations in McEwen and across the state. retail establishments anchored by adding new equipment to keep up a Publix grocery store while the with growing demand. SMYRNA Butler Properties retail shopping The Smyrna Fire Department center will feature a McAllister’s MEMPHIS (SFD) recently received a grant Deli and Moe’s Southwest Grill. Two Memphis landmarks have from Firehouse Subs Public been added to the U.S. Civil Rights Safety Foundation to purchase TENNESSEE TOWN & CITY Trail: the WDIA Radio Station three Mobile LED Light Towers. Tennessee Town & City (ISSN 00403415, and Beale Street Historic District. Smyrna Fire and Police Depart- USPS 539420) is published semi-monthly except in the months of June and December WDIA Radio was the first radio ments plan to use the lighting 19 times per year by Tennessee Municipal station in the country programmed when responding to a variety of League, 226 Anne Dallas Dudley Blvd, entirely for African Americans. incidents. Appropriately lighting Suite 710, Nashville TN 37219-1894. Subscription rates: $6 per year to members, Efforts to break down racial bound- the scene allows personnel to $15 to nonmembers, $1 a copy. Periodicals aries pushed WDIA Radio to the respond effectively and to alert Postage Paid at Nashville TN. POSTMAS- top of the charts, both on the air citizens—particularly motor- TER:Send address changes to Tennessee Town & City, 226 Anne Dallas Dudley and in the Memphis community. ists—that personnel are on the Blvd, Suite 710, Nashville TN 37219-1894. The Beale Street Historic District roadway. Firehouse Subs Public Official publication of the Tennessee Municipal League. Publisher: Margaret is a National Historic Landmark. Safety Foundation was founded Mahery (mmahery@ TML1.org); Editor: The 15-block area was a hotbed in 2005 in the aftermath of Hur- Carole Graves ([email protected]; for several African American ricane Katrina. Its mission is to Phone: 615-255-6416. Advertising: Pub- lisher reserves the right to reject any adver- businesses, a Freedman’s Bank, impact the lifesaving capabilities, tising deemed unacceptable. Fax classified the headquarters of Ida B. Wells’ and the lives, of local heroes and ads to TT&C: Attention Carole Graves at anti-segregationist newspaper, communities. This is the second 615-255-4752, or e-mail cgraves@TML1. org. Fax advertising copy to TT&C: At- “Free Speech,” and churches after grant SFD has received from the K-9 Officer Bryan McCrory and K-9 Omen of the Fayetteville Police tention Debbie Kluth at 615-255-4752, or the Civil War. African Americans foundation. In 2011, the city was Department are pictured with Madison County, Ala., Deputy Craig e-mail to dkluth@ TML1.org. Opinions came to work, entertain and be awarded $8,516 for the purchase expressed by non League officials or staff Wells after completing an 11-week course at the William C. Wells do not necessarily reflect policies of TML. entertained, shop and strategize of four gas monitors to have on Training Center. The team is now certified to U.S. Police Canine during the Civil Rights Movement. every front-line apparatus. Association standards as a dual purpose team. 3-TENNESSEE TOWN & CITY/FEB. 24, 2020 www.TML1.org GNRC Unified Transportation Plan unites dozens of Middle TN mayors PLAN from Page 1 ways only have reached a tipping point with traffic. many of these same routes could one person in The organization launched benefit from alternative transpor- them. We can help www.solvethistogether.org as a tation. our congestion resource center for government “This study is looking specifi- now if there were officials and the public during the cally at I-65, Highway 31, and the more opportuni- process. The public is encouraged CSX rail lines, which are potential ties to carpool, to visit the site to learn more route options for us,” Moore said. even a few days about ongoing studies, upcoming “This helps us paint a vision for of the week. Van- meetings, and other ways to get the future, what potential there is, pools can be great involved. potential stops for mass transit, and options because “We can’t ignore our trans- some potential funding options. if people work at portation challenges any longer,” I don’t think we want to leave one place they can Reed said. “Past initiatives have anything off the table at this point. ride share or share fallen short in communicating There are some things that might be in the cost of the the importance of a multi-county more attractive to us.” van, which is very approach or to get broad enough If nothing changes, Moore economical.” buy-in from Middle Tennesseans. said the region’s continued growth Brown said The process for the Unified Plan could be impacted. the plan looks will be collaborative, and our job is “In our corridor, there will be into several op- to work alongside TDOT to bring more than half a million people in tions that rely on people together across the region Williamson County by 2045,” he new and emerg- to solve these problems.” said. “The last transportation plan ing transportation Nashville Mayor John Coo- we had showed that we would technology. per also recently announced the be at complete gridlock by 2040 “We are also Mayor’s Office and Department if nothing changed. Now we are looking at options of Public Works has kicked off looking toward 2045 and those like a transit lane a comprehensive evaluation of growth factors continue to indicate or a lane for auton- traffic management operations a lot of positive growth, a lot of job omous vehicles,” throughout Metro Nashville. An creation, and a great economy. All she said. “The assessment of Metro’s traffic and of those things could come to a halt reality of where signal management system, a if we don’t solve this transportation we are in Middle modern traffic control center, and problem.” Tennessee is that staffing required to improve the Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown we will have new efficiency, effectiveness, and safe- said her community faces similar technology on the ty for all traffic will be performed. issues on transportation routes that roads before we “Nashville’s traffic problems travel south into Nashville. have the funding need smart, 21st century solutions, “Within the city of Gallatin, for those transit and smarter traffic management is there are two things our residents projects. That re- low-hanging fruit to improve con- ality is going to complain about most,” she said. A map of some of the routes the new Unified Transportation Plan is targetting. gestion on our roadways,” Cooper “There is an increased amount impact what our said. “There’s no good reason that of traffic in our city, and it takes future transpor- our drivers should be spending longer to get across town than it tation networks 20% more than the national av- once did. The second is the com- look like. Other parts of the country has worked so closely together. does take revenue to provide service erage commuting. I’m confident mute time to Nashville, which is are using a lot of technology that The cooperation has been there, at a top level.” that my transportation team, led a serious concern. We have pro- we aren’t using here. There are also but I think it is more evident now. Brown said, if left unchecked, by Faye DiMassimo, and Metro posed a Northeast Transportation toll lanes where you pay based on We are trying to promote the fact the transportation concerns in Mid- Public Works will determine a (NET) Corridor. The idea of that traffic to get into the lane. The rate that we are all in this together and dle Tennessee could even have a right-sized traffic management is to widen Highway 386 because fluctuates based on the intensity of the only way to solve this is by greater impact than realized on the solution for Nashville.” it is gridlocked every morning and traffic when you’re using it.” working together. I think there is a state as a whole. The assessment will compare afternoon, provide a northern loop These new technologies may lot of positive alignment from a lot “Everybody in this region is ex- the region’s traffic to similar areas in Gallatin that is connected to also benefit those who prefer more of different areas to move transpor- periencing the same issues,” Brown including metro Atlanta; Los An- Highway 31, and take a four-lane old-fashioned methods of travel. tation solutions forward.” said. “That is why this consolidated geles; Anaheim, Calif.; Orlando, road up through the northern part “Some people are so excited Likewise, citizen input and plan has to happen. Roads don’t Fla.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Denver, of Sumner County to the state line. for whatever technology might buy-in will be important moving stop at city lines or county lines, Colo. We feel that is very important to bring and would love to have public forward. and traffic is the biggest issues we “We are working to build a our entire county. We also have the transit,” Brown said. “There are “Citizens are going to have to are all facing. We have to have a Nashville for everyone and estab- Highway 109 connector, which other people who will hopefully work with us,” he said. “We have solution and that solution has to be lishing equity in our transporta- will change traffic for us and for understand that those options will no dedicated funding at this point, regional. We know that none of us tion and infrastructure systems is Nashville. That will allow a lot of make it easier for them to drive their which can scare people. There was can do it alone. It’s not just a Middle crucially important,” Cooper said. freight traffic to take an alternative car into Nashville. You can’t pave a failed referendum in Nashville. Tennessee issue; it’s a state issue. “Folks need to be able to reliably route around Nashville.” your way out of traffic. There has We have to have some source of Middle Tennessee is an important get to job opportunities and other Moore said changing technol- to be another solution. That is why dedicated funding to pay for what economic engine for Tennessee, resources. We also know that ogy may help provide some solu- I like so much of this plan because we are going to do to solve this. and when your congestion starts to traffic for people trying to get in tions to the region’s transportation it does touch on some of the other That is important for us to work negatively impact your economy it and out of downtown Nashville is woes. needs we have to make our traffic together as a region and in our com- becomes a state issue. This plan is unpredictable, creating problems “Technology is changing very run more effective.” munities build support for dedicat- going to help holistically alleviate a for the entire region. We need rapidly,” he said. “Things like Overall, the solution to the ar- ed funding in the future. There has regional issue. You have to look at everyone’s voices at the table to Smart Corridors and autonomous ea’s congestion will require support to be a revenue stream for things we the big picture.” ensure equitable solutions.” vehicles can be part of the solution from the entire region. do as cities and counties. You can’t Town of Smyrna Mayor Mary For information about the moving forward. With all of the “The whole region is growing, keep the same revenue stream you Esther Reed, who chairs GNRC’s Unified Transportation Plan or options we have, we still have to and it’s not just one corridor that had 20 years ago. Our cities are very Transportation Policy Board, said how to get involved with it, visit change some of our habits. It’s esti- has traffic issues,” Moore said. frugal with taxpayer dollars, but if the planning process comes at a www.solvethistogether.org. mated 95% of the cars on our high- “That’s why the Mayors Caucus you are growing at the pace we are it crucial time for a region that has Kingsport takes proactive approach to homelessness HOMELESS from Page 1 an issue of homelessness in small- Anderson said the city’s new er cities, but it may be a situation homelessness coalition is working where an individual family might to determine both what services are help a homeless person or family being provided in the community, rather than it being a very visible if homeless individuals are receiv- community issue.” ing services that best address their In addition to the United Way, specific needs, and what services organizations including the Sal- are still needed. One of the goals vation Army and Family Promise, for the project is a coordinated Frontier Health, Safe House, Hope entry-system, which will make it Haven, Friendship Diner, Kitchen easier for homeless individuals to of Hope, Hunger First, Shades of connect with the programs that are Grace, and nearly 30 other orga- right for them. nizations already providing home- “That will cut down both on lessness services to the community struggles clients are having and will be working with the city as part streamline processes for local of the project. agencies, giving them more time to “We have a lot of great orga- assist clients,” Anderson said. “We nizations in our city, and I want to know we have issues with mental assist them moving forward as a services and needs with addiction team,” Anderson said. “We already and recovery services. We are try- have a lot of great communication ing to figure out specifically where across the board, but we need to those gaps are and how to address think about how we can improve them moving forward.” that. We have to help them better Homelessness is an issue that track those numbers so we can see touches citizens from all walks of what programs are working better life. A report issued in January 2018 than others. We want to see a great- found that the state of Tennessee er increase of folks getting off the had an average of 6,139 residents street and into housing. There are no quick fixes to this issue. You have to experiencing homelessness on A recent study of Tennessee’s homeless population found that 6,139 Tennesseans are homeless on any given day. Of those more than be slow and steady to see progress over time.” any given day of the year. Of these people, more than a third have no shelter during the night. Some of 6,000 people, some 1,744 were the largest groups of the homeless population include military veterans, family units, and young adults. entire family households, 742 were military veterans, and 485 were young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. Anderson said it is also im- portant to realize that homelessness isn’t an issue confined to major metro areas. “Unfortunately there isn’t a one-size fits all solution for home- lessness,” he said. “With smaller communities there may be a home- lessness problem, but it may not be as visible. In more rural communi- ties, people aren’t as centrally locat- ed so it isn’t always something you can see. I think we have always had www.TML1.org 4-TENNESSEE TOWN & CITY/FEB. 24, 2020 Garrett named House Whip House Republicans elect- ed State Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, to serve as Re- Bob Brown- for Public Policy Studies. Crest or under the board’s spon- publican Whip for the 2020 legis- ing, town ad- sorship. Hercules has been town lative session ministrator Mildred manager of Smyrna since 2018. As Republican Whip, Garrett for Jonesbor- Garrett, a is the fourth ranking officer in the ough, has an- recreation Keith Mc- House Republican Caucus. He will nounced his program- Cafferty has serve as the information channel retirement. mer with been named between membership and caucus Browning the city of the new pub- leaders. Garrett is also in charge of lic works di- has served Bob Browning Cookeville providing communication to mem- three stints Department rector for the bership related to caucus positions city of Mt. as the town administrator, first in of Leisure Mildred Garrett on legislation. He will work with 1978 and beginning his most recent Services, Pleasant. members to understand their posi- Rep. Johnny Garrett term in 2001. Browning intends for has retired after more than 35 McCafferty Keith tion related to legislative initiatives will take his last day to be June 30, but said years with the city. Garrett’s career McCafferty and communicate all information Assistant Majority Leader Ron over from he will continue consulting with the in local government stretches back obtained to House Republican Gant, R-Rossville; Republican Donald Groves, who left the posi- city for ongoing projects such as the to 1979 when she was hired by the leadership. Floor Leader Paul Sherrell, R-Spar- tion in October. McCafferty comes Jonesborough School project and Putnam County Parks and Recre- Garrett joins a leadership team ta; Freshman Leader Chris Todd, to Mt. Pleasant from the city of Jackson Theatre. During his tenure ation Department to teach arts and that also includes House Speaker R-Madison County; Republican Columbia, where he served as the with the town, Browning has also crafts at the West End Community Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville: Caucus Vice-Chairman Brandon chief operator of the wastewater been credited for facilitating proj- Center in Cookeville. When the Speaker Pro-Tempore Bill Dunn, Ogles, R-Franklin; Majority Sec- plant. He holds a bachelor’s de- ects such as improving the waste- county and city divided recreation R-Knoxville; House Majority retary Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski; gree in liberal studies from Middle water treatment plant, creating the services in 1983, she became a city Leader William Lamberth, R-Port- Majority Treasurer Mark Cochran, Tennessee State University, and new senior center, and the look of employee but continued working land; Republican Caucus Chair- R-Englewood; and Deputy Speak- has multiple certifications ranging downtown Jonesborough. at the community center. In 1987, man Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby; er Curtis Johnson, R-Clarksville. Cookeville developed its own lei- from leadership theory and man- Amy Fitz- sure services department, at which aging change to extensive training gerald, time Garrett moved to city hall. in public utilities, water and waste- Fatal accident injures Sevierville government Garrett then worked for the city water treatment and pre-treatment. affairs and for the next 37 years, planning and employees returning from event information presenting a variety of classes, Bettye A van transporting several Hospital from her injuries. In ad- services di- programs, workshops and events Scott, the city of Sevierville employees and dition to teaching fourth grade at rector for for the community. first woman their relatives was struck by a tree Sevierville Intermediate School, the city of elected to on Feb. 8, killing a Sevierville Sampson was the wife of Sevier- Oak Ridge, Amy Fitzgerald Brian Her- the Gallatin elementary school teacher and ville municipal employee Michael has been ap- cules, Smyr- City Coun- injuring four city workers. Sampson. pointed by the Secretary of Energy na town cil, died on The accident occurred on City employees Bob Moncrief, to the U.S. Department of Energy’s manager, Jan. 20, at Wears Valley Road near Heaven Nathan Raulston, Joseph Dodgen, Environmental Management Advi- has been the age of 80. Bettye Scott Road in Blount County during and Eldon Denney were all trans- sory Board (EMAB). The EMAB appointed Known as a heavy rains. ported from the scene as well. Two provides advice and recommenda- to serve on trailblazer as well as an outspoken “The van was returning from other employees in the van were tions to DOE’s Assistant Secretary the TriStar and staunch protector of taxpayer an American Public Works Associ- not hurt. ation meeting in the Townsend area for Environmental Management on StoneCrest Brian Hercules money, Scott served on the Gallatin “The city of Sevierville asks the complex issues facing the pro- Hospital City Council from 1962 until 1970 when the tree fell on the van, caus- that your thoughts and prayers be gram. Fitzgerald holds a bachelor’s Board of Trustees. The Board of and again from 1986 until 1992. A ing extensive damage,” Sevierville with Michael Sampson and his degree from Vanderbilt University Trustee’s primary responsibility is Gallatin native, Scott helped to fur- spokesman Bob Stahlke said in a family, and the families of the as well as a master’s degree in pub- to develop and follow the hospital’s ther develop Gallatin’s park system statement. “Rescuers had to extract injured employees,” Stahlke said. lic administration and a doctorate mission of being committed to the and was instrumental in many de- some of the persons from the van.” “We respectively ask for your un- in political science from the Uni- care and improvement of human cisions that helped advance growth The one fatality from the ac- derstanding as we grieve as a city versity of Tennessee-Knoxville. life. The board is also responsible throughout the city. cident was Brooke Sampson, 36, family at this time.” She held research positions at the for assessing physician credential- who died later at Blount Memorial University of Tennessee’s Energy, ing, as well as quality of services Environment, and Resources Cen- provided by all individuals who ter and at the Vanderbilt Institute perform duties at TriStar Stone- Smryna Police Department hosts pinning ceremony for six new officers

Smyrna Police Department (SPD) recently hosted a ceremony pinning six new officers. The pinning ceremony is the culmination of an intense officer training period, including 12 weeks of in-residence training at The Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy and 16 weeks of internal training with SPD. From left to right, Captain Jeff Dwyer, Officer Brandon Kilfoyle, Officer Cole Lewis, Officer Ernest Carr III, Officer Alex Watlington, Chief Kevin Arnold, Officer William Charbonneau, Officer Matthew Richert, Officer Khang Pham, and Dispatcher Elizabeth Hennegar. No loan is too large or too small

Etowah recently closed a $1 million fixed-rate loan with the Tennessee East Ridge recently financed a $132,748 note with the Tennessee Municipal Municipal Bond Fund (TMBF) to finance a new city hall. Etowah has used Bond Fund (TMBF) to purchase police cars. The city has used TMBF programs TMBF loan programs 21 times since 1997. Seated L to R: Mayor Burke 16 times since 1992. Seated: Mayor Brian Williams. Standing L to R: Steve Garwood and City Manager Tina Tuggle. Standing L to R: Finance Director Queener, TMBF Marketing Representative; Chris Dorsey, City Manager; and Alison Bull, and Steve Queener, TMBF Marketing Representative. Diane Qualls, Finance Director.

See us for your special projects needs. (615) 255-1561 5-TENNESSEE TOWN & CITY/FEB. 24, 2020 www.TML1.org TACIR reports $55B needed for public infrastructure improvements Only half of Tennessee parents as unemployment rates reported in Tennessee needs at least $54.8 talk with their children about the state in December 2019. The billion worth of public infrastruc- substance abuse according to a highest job gains were reported in ture improvements during the new youth survey conducted as sectors including leisure and hos- five-year period of July 2018 to part of the TN Together initiative. pitality, professional and business June 2023—a $4.8 billion (9.7%) The first-ever Student Survey con- services, and trade, transportation, increase from the year before— ducted by the initiative found that and utilities. The state’s unemploy- according to a new report by the parents are a valuable influence on ment rate was below the national Tennessee Advisory Commission their children’s decisions whether average of 3.5% for December. on Intergovernmental Relations or not to use substances and can (TACIR). have the most impact by discussing A new mobile app is making it More than $3.7 billion of this these issues with children in early easier for Tennesseans to ac- year’s increase is attributable to in- middle grades. Approximately half cess state government services. creases in the need for transporta- of students surveyed said their “MyTN” is now available for tion and utilities infrastructure, the parents had talked to them about to- download from the Apple and An- fourth year in a row the estimated bacco and other drug use, but only droid store. Citizens will be able cost of needs for this category has about a third had discussed the dan- to access the services including increased. This increase in needed gers of prescription drug misuse. renewing or getting a duplicate infrastructure for transportation Across all substances, the average driver’s license, renew a handgun and utilities resulted primarily age of first use was 13 to 14 years carry permit, upgrade to a gradu- from road projects being devel- More than $3.7 billion of this year’s increase is due to increases in old. Alcohol is the most frequently ated driver’s license, get hunting oped as part of the Improve Act. the need for transportation and utilities infrastructure primarily from used substance among youth with and fishing licenses, register boats, The $575 million increase in road projects being developed as part of the Improve Act. 40% of students saying they have use the Tennessee Felony Offender needed improvements for educa- consumed it. Students reported Information Lookup (FOIL) or tion infrastructure is the second general government ($195 mil- • Health, Safety, and Welfare: alcohol and tobacco products were Child Abuse Referral and Tracking largest among the infrastructure lion). Reported needs decreased in $7.6 billion the most accessible substances (CARAT), get information on Pick categories in this year’s inventory. one category: economic develop- • Recreation and Culture: $2.1 with around two-thirds saying they Tennessee products, info on the Most of this increase resulted from ment, which was down $65 million billion could easily obtain either. Approx- state museum, and use Kidcentral the $395 million increase in need- compared to last year. • General Government: $894 imately half of students said it was TN. Additional services will be ed improvements at institutions of Information about funding for million “very easy” or “fairly easy” for added to the MyTN mobile app higher education across the state, the infrastructure needs reported • Economic Development: $300 them to gain access to prescription this year. while the need for renovations in this year’s inventory indicates million drugs or marijuana. to existing public K-12 schools that 67 % of the funds required to Child sexual abuse is on the increased $242 million. meet those needs was not avail- For each county, the report More than 90% of Tennesseans rise in Tennessee according to Some of the need for additions able at the time the inventory was includes one-page summaries, used seat belts in 2019, a re- a new report by the Tennessee and improvements to existing conducted, relatively unchanged which list the estimated cost for cord-high in seat belt usage for Bureau of Investigation. Our space at public K-12 schools are from last year’s 68.6%. Excluding all types of needed infrastructure the state. The Tennessee Highway Kids, an agency that partners caused by the condition of existing improvements needed at existing in each county by stage of develop- Safety Office (THSO) reported with TBI to treat child sex abuse schools. Although local school schools and those drawn from ment, highlight the top three types that 91.75% of state residents victims, reported that they treated officials rated just under 11.5% capital budget requests submitted of infrastructure improvements used seat belts in 2019, increasing 940 children in 2019, their highest of public K-12 schools (198) in by state agencies, neither of which needed in each county based on the from 90.9% in 2018. This marks patient volume in a single year to Tennessee to be in fair or poor includes funding information, only total estimated cost, and provide the second year the state’s usage date. Of those children, 95% were condition, 182 of those schools $13.6 billion in funding is available comparisons of the infrastructure rate surpassed 90 percent and the abused by someone known and need improvements to existing for the remaining $41.1 billion in needed at public school systems to second year the state’s usage rate trusted by their family –including space and account for 48.2% of the needs. student enrollment. exceeded the national average. family members. One in four girls total estimated cost for improving Total estimated costs for cur- The full report is available Female occupants used seatbelts and one in seven boys will be existing space. rent infrastructure needs fall into on TACIR’s web site at https:// at higher rates than male. Those in sexually abused before the age of Estimated cost was also up in six general categories: www.tn.gov/tacir/infrastructure/ pickup trucks were the least likely 18. However, 88% of child sexual three categories: health, safety, and • Transportation and Utilities: infrastructure-reports-/infrastruc- to use seat belts. Data for the survey abuse incidents are never report- welfare ($208 million); recreation $29.6 billion ture-needs-2018-2023.html. was collected at 190 pre-identified ed. Children are most likely to be and culture ($206 million); and • Education: $14.2 billion roadway locations across the state. abused by someone unknown to the child but known to other relatives The state of Tennessee ended (43%) followed by a biological 2019 with an unemployment parent (38%) followed by another Online hazardous waste tool to rate of 3.3%, just 0.1% above relative (13%). Child abuse can be the state’s all-time low unem- reported via the Tennessee Child assist with determination process ployment rate. December 2019 Abuse Hotline at 1-877-237-0004. unemployment rates were the same The hotline is available 24/7. The Division of Solid Waste vided by this tool is not intended tn.gov/environment/about-tdec/ Management (DSWM) is pleased to be all inclusive and is subject to policy-and-guidance-documents/ to announce the development of change. This Matrix is not a substi- boe-guidance-document-drafts. an online draft of a Hazardous tute for evaluation of compliance html. Nominations being accepted Waste Determination Matrix, in accordance with all applicable The DSWM is accepting com- which is designed as an assistance laws and regulations. It is the ments on the draft online Hazard- for Governor’s Environmental tool to guide persons step by step responsibility of the generator of ous Waste Determination Matrix Stewardship Awards through the questions and regula- a solid waste to determine if that through March 23. tory citations associated with the waste is a hazardous waste. Please send comments to Janet Each year, the Governor’s En- Outreach hazardous waste determination The draft guidance document Dutto at [email protected]. If vironmental Stewardship Awards 6. Materials Management process. that refers to the draft online Haz- you have any questions contact honor outstanding accomplish- 7. Natural Resource (NEW) The Matrix is only an assis- ardous Waste Determination Ma- Dutto at 423-634-5775 or at Janet. ments that support the protection 8. Water Quality (NEW) tance tool. The information pro- trix may be found at https://www. [email protected]. and enhancement of Tennessee’s 9. Sustainable Performance natural resources. Nominating an 10. Lifetime Achievement individual, group, or organization for their achievements is a mean- Any individual, business, or- Grants for Volunteer fire departments ingful way to promote conserva- ganization, educational institution, tion and recognize effective envi- or agency is eligible, provided it is available, deadline to apply March 27 ronmental leadership in Tennessee. located in Tennessee and the proj- The Tennessee State Fire Mar- valid recognition from the SFMO to a seven member committee who Nominations are currently ect was completed during the 2019 shal’s Office (SFMO) announced and have a staff made up of at least will make the final decision and being accepted for the 2020 Gover- calendar year. All nominees must that applications are now being ac- 51% volunteers to apply. Grant award selection. The committee is nor’s Environmental Stewardship have a minimum of three consecu- cepted from volunteer fire depart- proceeds may be used to purchase composed of three representatives Awards. Help identify organiza- tive years of overall environmental ments for grants through the newly equipment used by a firefighter to from the Tennessee Fire Chief’s tions and individuals who are im- compliance with the Department established Volunteer Firefighter extinguish fires and protect the Association, three representatives proving the quality of Tennessee’s of Environment and Conservation. Equipment and Training Grant life of a firefighter, other than fire from the Tennessee Firemen’s land, air, and water. Self-nominations are encouraged. Program. trucks or vehicles. Association, and TDCI’s Assistant The Governor’s Environmen- A panel of judges representing Created through legislation The grant program joins on- Commissioner of Fire Prevention. tal Stewardship Awards include 10 agricultural, conservation, forest- overseen by Gov. Bill Lee and going lifesaving programs such Per statute, the funds will be award- categories: ry, environmental, and academic passed by the General Assembly, as “Get Alarmed, Tennessee!” and ed equally among Tennessee’s 1. Agriculture and Forestry professionals will select award re- the program earmarks $500,000 for “Close The Door!” while further Grand Divisions. (NEW) cipients based on criteria including the purchase of firefighting equip- expanding TDCI’s commitment Applications will be accepted 2. Building Green level of project or program comple- ment by Tennessee’s volunteer fire to saving lives, protecting prop- until 5 p.m. CT on Friday, March 3. Clean Air tion, innovation, and public educa- departments or to help volunteer erty, and reducing fire fatalities in 27. For a full list of rules and an 4. Energy and Renewable tion. The deadline for nominations departments meet local match re- Tennessee. application form, visit https:// Resources is March 31. Award recipients will quirements for federal grants for Applications received during www.tn.gov/commerce/fire/de- 5. Environmental Education and be announced in May 2020. purchasing equipment. the submission period will be partments/grant-opportunities. Fire departments must hold a scored internally and submitted html

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university in recreation administration descriptions can be picked up at city hall and requirements are available online. or other acceptable field and moderate or download from the city website: www. Applications must be filed electronically leisure service experience. Some expe- shelbyvilletn.org. EOE/drug free work- and are available at the city’s website, rience in the management of a parks and place. Successful applicants required www.mtjuliet-tn.gov. This position Advertising: $9.25 per column inch. No Assists in reviewing site plans, proposals, recreational program/division, ideally to pass background check, physical and will be open until filled. The city of Mt. charge to TML members. Send advertis- subdivision plats, rezoning requests, drug screen. ing to: Carole Graves: [email protected]. in a county, municipal, or state setting Juliet reserves the right to stop accepting variance requests, annexation proposals, is highly desired. CPRP is also highly street construction; Represents the city applications at any time. For questions, ACCOUNTANT / ASSISTANT FI- desired. Starting salary is $51,701.00 POLICE OFFICER regarding the electronic application and the department before all boards and - $61,456.25 annually DOE with an FAIRVIEW. The city of Fairview is cur- NANCE DIRECTOR commissions; Must possess required process, please call (615) 754-2552. The GREENEVILLE. The town of Green- excellent benefits package. To apply for rently accepting applications for police city of Mt. Juliet does not discriminate knowledge and abilities normally ac- this position, you must submit a city of officer. Applicants must have a high eville is seeking a professional with a quired through an M.A. in urban planning based on race, color or national origin CPA, CMFO, or achievement of such White House application. Applications school diploma and must possess a valid in federal or state sponsored programs, or related discipline and 4 years of city and additional details on how to apply are Tennessee driver’s license. Applicants certification within two years. Munic- or regional planning related experience pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights ipal government finance accounting available on the city’s website at www. must be a citizen of the United States, at Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d). EOE/ or an equivalent of education and expe- cityofwhitehouse.com or in person at the least 21 years of age and meet the physi- experience preferred. This is a career rience. Must possess a valid TN driver’s Drug-free Workplace. track to the finance director position. Human Resources Office at 105 College cal, psychological and criminal records license. AICP Certification required or Street, White House, TN 37188. This and other standards for the assignment Bachelor’s degree required. Salary DOE. obtain within one yr. of hire date. Pay STORMWATER COORDINATOR Resumes will be accepted by email to position is open until filled. as established by the City of Fairview SPRINGFIELD. The city of Springfield range $58,718 - $88,088 DOE Applica- Police Department. Current Tennessee [email protected] or mail to tions/resumes must be submitted online is accepting applications for a storm- Attention: Human Resource Director, PARKS AND RECREATION P.O.S.T. certification is preferred but not water coordinator with Springfield at www.cookeville-tn.gov. Position open DIRECTOR. required. Starting salary is $34,632 DOE 200 N. College Street, Greeneville, TN until filled. EOE. Public Works Department from Feb. 37745. An application will be required LAKELAND. The city of Lakeland with an excellent benefits package. Full 17- March 20. Essential responsibil- is seeking qualified applicants for the job description and applications available for full consideration. Click “Forms and BUILDING /ELECTRICAL ities include providing leadership and Downloads” for the application. Opened position of parks and recreation director. at www.fairview-tn.org. technical guidance for implementation INSPECTOR This employee is responsible for a broad until filled. EOE/Drug Free Workplace MT. JULIET The city of Mt. Juliet is of the stormwater program to maintain range of administrative and support POLICE OFFICER compliance with the city of Springfield currently accepting applications for services under the general supervision WHITE HOUSE. The city of White AIRPORT MANAGER a building /electrical inspector in the MS4 permit. The employee must per- GREENEVILLE. The airport manager of the city manager. The director is House is currently accepting applications form difficult professional and technical building and codes Department. Appli- primarily responsible for planning, di- for police officer. Applicants must have a will serve as operations manager at the cations must be filled electronically and duties in administration of the stormwater Greeneville Municipal Airport. Experi- recting, organizing, and administering the high school diploma or GED. They must management program. Graduation from are available at our city’s website, www. city’s parks programs, including special possess an appropriate driver’s license ence in budgets, planning, staffing, and mtjuliet-tn.gov Detailed job description a standard high school with a minimum economic development/improvements. events and other activities. Coordinates valid in the state of Tennessee. P.O.S.T. of two years of college level courses in and requirements are available online. the maintenance and improvements of Certification must be obtained within Requires initiative, problem solving, The city will accept electronic applica- engineering, environmental sciences positive customer service. Bachelor’s leisure facilities. Participates in the long- six months of employment. Must meet or a related field; at least one year of tions until the position is filled. Salary range planning of parks and recreational Minimum Standards Law (TCA 38-8- degree in aviation or management with $17.89/hr. and tops out at year three increasingly responsible engineering 5 yrs. of experience. Licensed pilot pre- facilities and guides plan development. 106) requirements. Applicants must be or environmental sciences experience $25.83/hr. The city of Mt. Juliet reserves Updates boards and commissions on the a citizen of the United States, at least 21 ferred. Application and job description the right to stop accepting applications at in stormwater management programs; available at www.greenevilletn.gov mail status of programs and facilities, as appro- years of age and meet the physical, psy- experience developing and implement- any time. For questions, please call (615) priate. Supervises staff with responsibil- chological, and criminal records and other to ATTN: Human Resources, 200 N. 754-2552. EOE/Drug-free Workplace. ing watershed planning that includes College Street, Greeneville, TN 37745, ity for employment-related decisions or standards for the assignment established floodplain management, stream valley recommendations that include hiring, dis- by the White House Police Department. or email to [email protected] CITY BUILDING INSPECTOR protection and restoration, TMDL im- EOE / Drug Free Open until filled. ciplining, training, and evaluating perfor- Starting salary is $14.86 - $17.66 hourly plementation, low impact development TULLAHOMA. The city of Tullahoma mance. Procures funding for recreation ($35,233.06 - $41,871.86 annually) DOE is accepting applications for the position and use of non-structural best manage- ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR and parks facilities and programs from with an excellent benefits package. To ment practices and stormwater control of chief building inspector which coor- a variety of sources, including grants, apply for this position, you must sub- COLUMBIA. The city of Columbia is dinates the activities of the building and measures. Must have a TDEC Level I seeking talented, qualified candidates to donations and fund-raising activities. mit a city of White House application. & II certification or ability to obtain both codes compliance functions, property Hires employees under contracts with the Applications and additional details on apply for the assistant finance director maintenance and permitting process. within one year of employment. Salary position. This position reports to the city and monitors activities for contract how to apply are available on the city’s range $50,627 - $69,618. Applications The chief building Inspector conducts compliance; coordinates activities and website at www.cityofwhitehouse.com or assistant city manager/finance director/ inspections, provides technical and can be submitted on-line at the following city recorder, and interacts with elected trains volunteers, staff, officials, instruc- in person at the Human Resources Office website: www-springfield-tn.org. City professional advice on building issues, tors, and other personnel associated with at 105 College Street, White House, TN officials, citizens and other staff mem- prepares and coordinates reports, and of Springfield Personnel Department, bers. The city operates on an annual recreation and parks programs; seeks 37188. This position is open until filled. 405 North Main Street, P.O. Box 788, recommends codes and processes for public input on parks and recreational budget of more than $64 million, includ- building codes enforcement. Associ- Springfield, TN. 37172. AA/EOE ing an enterprise and internal services facilities, programs, and associated activ- PROJECT MANAGER / CIVIL ates or bachelor’s degree preferred in ities. Successful applicants will possess PLANS REVIEWER fund. This position will include tasks construction management or closely TOWN PLANNER related to accounting, financial plan- the proven ability to maintain effective MT. JULIET. The city of Mt. Juliet is THOMPSON’S STATION. Long ten- related field. Five years of progressively working relationships with the public, seeking a full-time project manager/ ning and analysis, financial reporting, responsible experience with building ured town planner has accepted a private controls over financial reporting, debt city officials, and other employees and civil plans reviewer to assist the director sector position. Accordingly, the town of inspection or construction management the ability to prepare and present accurate and deputy director of public works and management, cash management, grant of complex residential, commercial Thompson’s Station is accepting appli- compliance and billing, investments, reports to the governing body; three to engineering in a variety of functions cations for the position of town planner. and industrial facilities. Certifications five years of related experience and a related to development services, general accounts payable, payroll, purchasing in building inspection, mechanical and Bachelor’s degree required, related ex- card program, revenues, and budget bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation engineering, construction plans review, perience and AICP is a plus. Interested plumbing preferred or the ability to attain administration or related field. Must have and the publication of manuals, specifi- management. The ideal candidate will the certifications within one year of date parties should apply through the town meet the following education, experience CPRP certification or obtain it within 12 cations, for the city of Mt. Juliet. Selected website, https://www.thompsons-station. of employment. The annual salary starts months. Competitive salary and benefits candidates will be required to complete and minimum qualifications: Graduation at $58,561, depending on qualifications. com/jobs.aspx. Resumes may also be from an accredited college or university offered. For more information and for pre-employment testing as deemed nec- sent to the Town of Thompson’s Station, Qualified individuals can submit a a complete job description, please visit essary by each specific position. You will with a bachelor’s degree in accounting resume to [email protected] or Attn: Steve Banks, 1550 Thompson’s or a related field. A minimum of three www.lakelandtn.gov/jobs need to hold a valid TN driver’s license. Station Road, W. Thompson’s Station, mail a resume to City of Tullahoma, Excellent benefits and TCRS Retirement; years full-time professional employment Attn: Human Resources, PO Box 807, TN 37179. Open until filled. Salary DOQ in accounting, auditing, budgeting, or PLANNING DIRECTOR Salary DOQ. Detailed job descriptions and attractive benefit package. Tullahoma, TN 37388. Additional LAKELAND. The city of Lakeland closely related financial activity. Other information is available on-line at www. combinations of experience and educa- is seeking qualified applicants for tullahomatn.gov and applicants can print the position of planning director. tion, which meet the minimum require- and complete the application. A job ments, may be substituted. Licensed as a This employee is responsible for a description is available upon request and broad range of administrative and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with the position is open until filled. EOE UT-MTAS experience working with Government support services under the gener- al supervision of the city manager. Accounting Standards Board (GASB) CITY MANAGER Continuing Education Classes principles and/or Certified Municipal The planning director is primarily MAYNARDVILLE. The city of May- responsible for planning, organizing Finance Officer (CMFO) is preferred. nardville, a general-law, manager-com- Experience in supervision of parapro- and directing all planning and land mission city located just 15 miles north development for the city of Lakeland. INTRODUCTION TO GRANT WRITING fessional and/or clerical staff. Qualified of downtown Knoxville, is currently applicants should submit applications Duties include: advising and making staff accepting applications for a city man- recommendations to city boards, com- This class is a broad overview Target Audience: All Municipal and resumes online by visiting the city’s ager. The position is appointed by, and of the grant writing process and website at www.columbiatn.com. Posi- missions and departments on planning Employees responsible to a five-member board of focuses on how and where to find tion open until filled. EOE. and land development issues including commissioners. The city manager is interpretation, revision, implementation available grants and how to write Credits: 3 CPE responsible for oversight of a budget and enforcement of regulations and a grant proposal. Also discussed ASSISTANT FINANCE DIREC- of approximately $3.3M and 19 FTE TOR/CITY TREASURER ordinances and the creation and imple- will be how to find federal and state To register for a course go to the employees, including water and sewer mentation of development and growth government grant sources and how BRENTWOOD The city of Brentwood utilities. Maynardville is a friendly town MTAS website at www.mtas. is currently seeking an experienced pro- plans; directs implementation of sign to find foundation grant programs. tennessee.edu and select training with an eye on the future. The next city ordinance, zoning ordinance, subdi- The essential components of the fessional to serve as assistance finance manager must have highly developed calendar under the “Training” tab. vision regulations, design guidelines, grant proposal package and how director/city treasurer. The purpose of problem solving, technical, project You can pay upon registering with this job is to assist the finance director by comprehensive plan and related plans to craft a quality grant proposal a credit card or request an invoice. management, presentation, and public and policies; provides strategic direc- performing managerial/financial activi- relations skills. For more information, designed to align with the grant ties associated with cash management, tion in short and long-range planning makers interest will be addressed. visit www.mtas.tennessee.edu/sites/de- and growth management; researches, Program Information: budgeting, and financial accounting/ fault/files/Jobs/City%20Manager_May- Sarah Curtis, (615) 253-6385 reporting for the city. Duties and respon- prepares and implements technical and Dates/Locations/Times: nardville.pdf operational studies, reports and projects; [email protected] sibilities include: supervising department March 10 Jackson Registraion Information: staff, directing accounting activities; supervises staff with responsibility 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. CDT GRANT WRITER for employment-related decisions or Doug Brown, (865) 974-9140 managing receipt of revenues; approving April 7 Knoxville LAVERGNE. The city of LaVergne is recommendations that include hiring, [email protected] disbursements; coordinating investment currently accepting applications for a 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. EDT activities; implementing and maintaining disciplining, training, and evaluating grant writer. Responsibilities include: performance; develops and implements May 6 Franklin cost controls; and assisting with budget researching various sources and seek- 8:30 a.m. –11:30 a.m.CDT development and related activities. The the departmental operating budget and ing external funding for existing and monitors costs to maintain budget integ- position requires a bachelor’s degree in proposed programs and/or services; accounting, finance, or closely related rity; evaluates and revises tracking pro- coordinating and overseeing the grant cedures for development projects; makes area, with prior experience in local gov- application and management process ernmental accounting activities, auditing, presentations to boards, commissions, including: identification of potential new volunteers and other community groups. or related areas. Working knowledge funding sources, writing grants, develop- of GAAP standards. Experience with Successful applicants will possess the ment of funding resources, collaborating proven ability to maintain effective governmental budgeting; analysis and on grant applications with various city reporting financial data. CPA or CMFO working relationships with the public, departments and community organiza- city officials, and other employees and designation or ability to obtain within tions, and processing, monitoring and TML Board to meet March 16 a reasonable time preferred. Prior the ability to prepare and present accu- coordinating required report evaluations rate reports to the governing body; five Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Municipal supervisory/management experience on existing grants. Additionally, the grant required, preferably in a local govern- to seven years of progressive planning League will meet in regular public session on Monday, March 16, 2020, at 10 writer will provide support to the city experience and a bachelor’s degree with a a.m. in the Nashville Meeting Room of the Doubletree Hotel, 315 4th Avenue ment or related environment. Requires administration and assist other depart- professional use of MS Office Suite with focus in Planning and American Institute North, Nashville, for the purpose of considering and transacting all business ments as needed. Bachelor’s degree in of Certified Planners (AICP) certification that may properly come before said board. If reasonably possible, an agenda specific emphasis in MS Excel a must, education, public administration, public and the efficient use of 10 key calculator required. Competitive salary and benefits will be available on Friday, March 13, at the offices of the Tennessee Munic- relations, human services or related; offered. For more information and for ipal League, 226 Anne Dallas Dudley Blvd., Suite 710, Nashville. Additional and other modern office equipment. 2 years’ experience in grant seeking, Interested parties can review a complete a complete job description, please visit information may be obtained from Jackie Gupton, 615-255-6416. grant writing, and grant administration www.lakelandtn.gov/jobs job description and apply for this posi- or acceptable combination of relevant tion by visiting the city of Brentwood education and experience. Annual salary website at https://www.governmentjobs. POLICE DISPATCHER Bond Fund Board to meet March 16 for this position will be $35,384-$41,001. SHELBYVILLE. The Shelbyville Police com/careers/brentwoodtn. Deadline for Open until filled. To apply visit https:// Notice is hereby given that the Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund Board of Di- accepting applications is Feb. 28. Department will be accepting appli- www.lavergnetn.gov/190/Job-Oppor- cations for full-time police dispatcher. rectors will meet in regular public session on Monday, March 16, 2020, at 8:00 tunities. EOE. a.m., local time, in the Vanderbilt Room on the lobby level of the Doubletree ASSISTANT PLANNING Applicants must be 18 years of age and high school graduate or equivalent. Ap- Hotel at 315 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, for the purpose of considering DIRECTOR PARKS AND RECREATION and transacting all business that may properly come before said board. Some COOKEVILLE. The Cookeville Plan- plications and a copy of job description ASSISTANT DIRECTOR may be picked up at city hall during members of the board may participate in such meeting by telephonic means, ning Department is now accepting ap- WHITE HOUSE. The city of White which will be audible to any member of the public attending such meeting. plications for assistant planning director. normal business hours. Applications must House is currently accepting applications be returned to City Hall Administration If reasonably possible, an agenda will be available on Friday, March 13, at Responsibilities include assisting in the for parks and recreation assistant direc- the offices of TMBF, 226 Anne Dallas Dudley Blvd., Suite 502, in Nashville. management of the planning department, Office, 201 N. Spring Street, Shelbyville, tor. Applicants must have a bachelor’s TN., 37160, and will be accepted until Additional information may be obtained at 615-255-1561. which includes planning, zoning, sub- degree from an accredited college or division regulations, and related areas. position is filled. Applications and job 7-TENNESSEE TOWN & CITY/FEB. 24, 2020 www.TML1.org Tennessee Municipal League 2018-2019 Offi cers and Directors PRESIDENT Jill Holland The Social Media opportunities Mayor, McKenzie VICE PRESIDENTS Mike Werner local governments are missing Mayor, Gatlinburg Ken Moore It shouldn’t be just for announcing meetings, holiday offi ce closures or road construction. Mayor, Franklin TENNESSEE Bobby King Local governments should see platforms like Twitter and Facebook as powerful tools for FESTIVALS Mayor, Henderson building community, not just posting city hall selfi es. DIRECTORS Jimmy Alexander March 4-7: Pigeon Forge Mayor, Nolensville BY DUSTIN MCKISSEN Successful community build- Luther King Jr. Day represents a 26th Annual A Mountain Quiltfest Andy Berke Communications Consultant ing is also the difference between fantastic opportunity to do that. Celebrate the art and heritage Mayor, Chattanooga Governing Magazine a city that attracts and retains a Instead of merely reminding res- of quilting at the 26th Annual A John Cooper talented workforce and a city that idents that offi ces will be closed Mountain Quiltfest. Quilters from Mayor, Metro Nashville For the last decade or so, watches its labor pool (and any or posting the same meme as a all around come together at the Le- Tony Cox Conte Center in Pigeon Forge for City Administrator, Morristown (District 2) lots of smart people have de- chance at a vibrant local economy) thousand other cities, why not also Vance Coleman bated the purpose and value disappear before its eyes. Simply feature residents who best embody this fi ve-day-long quilting event. Mayor, Medina of social media. Do we really put, social media illustrates some the spirit of MLK? The event will be open from 9 a.m.- Mike French need to take pictures of our basic facts about humanity: We all Digital community-building 5 p.m. all days. For more info, visit Alderman, Somerville (District 7) half-eaten food? How many want to belong to something. We doesn’t begin and end with the https://www.mypigeonforge.com/ J.H. Graham duck-faced selfi es does one all want to feel like we are a part of sender delivering a message people event/quiltfest Councilman, Crossville (District 4) person need? Are 280 charac- something bigger than ourselves. want to hear. At the civic level, com- Doris Hensley March 6-7: Etowah Mayor, Erwin ters all that’s required to ex- And, we all want to live somewhere munity-building occurs when local John Hickman press complex thoughts? And that feels like home. governments recognize and elevate 26th Annual Cousin Jake Tullock City Manager, Waynesboro (District 6) if I work in local government, Unfortunately, most local gov- the important role residents play. Memorial Bluegrass Festival Gina Holt how do I use this tool to tell ernments use social media only to Most local governments have The Cousin Jake Memorial Blue- City Manager, Springfi eld (District 5) our story without alienating or push information toward residents a decent-sized social media fol- grass Festival, established in 1994, Avery Johnson angering the people, families rather than to engage them. lowing. Twitter and Facebook is an annual event that celebrates Vice Mayor, Cleveland bluegrass music and honors the Terry Jones and businesses that call our Need an example? Every year are excellent ways to learn more Mayor, Millington (District 8) community home? on the third Monday of January, the about road closures and upcoming late “Cousin” Jake Tullock, a na- Indya Kincannon Getting social media right nation honors Martin Luther King events, but those kinds of feeds tive of Etowah. The festival takes Mayor, Knoxville in any environment is hard, but Jr. How do most local governments receive remarkably little engage- place in the historic Gem Theater. Katie Lamb local government — which is, recognize the importance of Dr. ment. For more info, visit http://www. Mayor, Collegedale (District 3) as a result of painful experi- King’s contributions? That Jan. 20 tweet from the etowaharts.org/ Christa Martin ence, risk-averse — presents For the most part, local gov- city of Phoenix informing residents Vice Mayor, Columbia March 20-21: Linden Keith McDonald unique challenges. Even the ernments: that municipal offi ces would be Mayor, Bartlett most well-intended tweet or • Post a meme or a photo featur- closed? It received two likes and 12th Annual Blooming Arts Wade Morrell status update can easily de- ing one of King’s quotes (look- eight retweets — in other words, Festival President-CEO, TN Municipal Bond Fund scend into a rage-fi lled com- ing at you, Portland, Maine). .00029 % of the city’s 34,300 The Blooming Arts Festival hosts Lonnie Norman ment section. Just try posting • Or inform residents of govern- Twitter followers engaged with more than 150 regional and local Mayor, Manchester something on Facebook about ment offi ce closures (looking the post. Typically, a good Twitter artisans and vendors featuring fi ne Todd Smith an upcoming city council meet- at you, Phoenix). engagement rate ranges between arts, quality woodwork, crafted art City Manager, Greeneville (District 1) glass, chainsaw carving, live dance Jim Strickland ing where a proposal to allow 0.2 and 0.9 percent. While that lat- Mayor, Memphis apartment buildings in a sin- There isn’t a city in the Unit- ter number might be attainable for performances, painting exhibits, a Mary Ann Tremblay gle-family neighborhood will ed States that would intentionally Kylie Jenner, it’s probably unreal- quilt showcase, and exhibitations Vice Mayor, Three Way be discussed. Seriously. Go disrespect King’s legacy. Phoenix, istic for a routine announcement of homemade and handmade goods PAST PRESIDENTS ahead. Try it. You will regret it. Portland, and the thousands of of municipal business, but there is that refl ect local and regional cul- Wallace Cartwright (2018) Mayor, Shelbyville The result of this (very jus- other cities that treated that day no reason social media should be ture. For more info, visit https:// Bo Perkinson (2017) Vice Mayor, Athens bloomingartsfestival.org/ John Holden (2016) Mayor, Dyersburg tifi able) caution is a hesitancy the same way weren’t guilty of limited to routine announcements. Curtis Hayes (2015) Mayor, Livingston to use social media for one of its dishonoring one of history’s most Clearly there is a lot of room Dale Kelley (2013) Mayor, Huntingdon most effective purposes. Since important Americans. What were for improvement for local govern- March 21: Bell Buckle Kay Senter (2011) Morristown Vice Mayor its inception, social media has they guilty of? Failing to capitalize ments that understand the mostly Daffodil Day Sam Tharpe (2010) Commissioner, Paris been an incredibly effective in a meaningful, authentic way to untapped power of social media. Historic Bell Buckle has invited Tommy Pedigo (2009) Councilman, Morristown tool for community building. use social media to strengthen their Of course, the real objective visitors to see its daffodils in bloom AFFILIATE DIRECTORS It doesn’t matter whether communities. of approaching social media as a in March. This year’s Daffodil Day Eric Stuckey, Franklin (TCMA) event will include the Daffodil TML AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS that community exists around So what should they have tool for community-building is far (Ex-Offi cio Directors) Kylie Jenner’s makeup tips or a done? more important than the number of Flower Show, book signings, an TN Assn. of Air Carrier Airports shared interest in video games. Rather than use their social likes. A social media strategy cen- interactive BBQ cook-off, and Ar- TN Building Offi cials Assn. Either way, those communities media feeds solely to push a mes- tered around community-building bor Day festivities celebrating Bell TN Assn. of Chiefs of Police are real, and they matter to the sage toward their audience, local can be an important step toward Buckle’s 25th year as the smallest TN Assn. Municipal Clerks & Recorders people who belong to them. governments should use it to ele- attracting and retaining the work- Tree City USA in Tennessee. For TN Government Finance Offi cers Assn. But community building vate the people and organizations force, businesses and people that more info, visit https://bellbuckle- TN Fire Chiefs Assn. chamber.com/daffodil-day/ TN Fire Safety Inspectors isn’t just the domain of social working hard to create better cities, make a city special. TN Assn. of Floodplain Management media infl uencers and gamers. counties, regions and states. Martin TN Assn. Housing & Redevel. Auth. TN Municipal Attorneys Assn. TN Municipal Judges Conference TN Chapter, American Public Works TN Recreation and Parks Assn. TN Chapter, American Planning TN Personnel Management Assn. The U.S. added 255,000 jobs biggest jobs losses. why they have not done so. Nearly TN Assn. of Public Purchasing in January, above projects of three-quarters (74%) admitted that TN Section, Institute of Transport TN Public Transportation Assoc. economists who had expected U.S. home prices rose 4% in 2019 in order to purchase a home they Feb. 27 - 28, 2020 Assoc. Independent & Municipal Schools the economy to only add be- over the previous year accord- would have to make “signifi cant TMAA Winter Seminar TN Renewable Energy & Economic tween 150,000 and 160,000. The ing to the CoreLogic Home Price fi nancial sacrifi ces.” Brentwood Development Council U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Forecast. Based on previous year’s TN Urban Forestry Council said the job gains were boosted increases as well as increases in The U.S. ranks 39 out of all March 8-11, 2020 TN Stormwater Assn by a decline in trade tensions and recent months, the HPI further nations in the world in a recent NLC Congressional Conference TML SPONSORS mild winter weather. However, projects that home prices will rise survey of children’s rates of Marriott Wardman Park 5 STAR SPONSOR Voya Financial Advisors the nation’s unemployment rate by 5.2% between 2019 and the end survival, health, education and Washington, D.C. 4 STAR SPONSOR also rose to 3.6% while the labor of 2020. Home prices are predicted nutrition. The report was published Blue Cross Blue Shield force participation rate rose by to increase because less people can in the medical journal The Lancet March 16-17, 2020 3 STAR SPONSOR 0.2% to 63.4%. The construc- afford homes and a lack of new and ranked 180 countries based on TML Legislative Conference First Horizon Bank tion sector led the number of housing inventory has driven up a “child fl ourishing index.” One of DoubleTree Hotel, Nashville 2 STAR SPONSOR jobs gains with 44,000 workers. prices. Moderately-priced homes the reasons for America’s middling AARP rating on the scale was the fact that April 1-3, 2020 Alexander, Thompson, Arnold, CRA’s Healthcare, transportation and are in high demand and short supply, Alliance Water Resources warehousing, leisure and hos- which in turn makes it harder for the country was ranked No. 173 for TCMA 2020 Spring Conference Bank of America pitality, and business services fi rst-time buyers to purchase homes. environmental sustainability. The Franklin Bank of New York Mellon, Co. also posted signifi cant job gains. While 79% of people between top 10 countries on the list were Barge Design, Inc. Employment in manufacturing the ages of 21 and 38 expressed a Norway, South Korea, the Nether- June 27 - 30, 2020 Entegrity – particularly the automotive desire to purchase a home, most lands, France, Ireland, Denmark, Ja- TML Annual Conference Master Meter, Inc. industry – and mining posted the cited affordability as the top reason pan, Belgium, Iceland, and the U.K. Chattanooga Convention Center Waste Management Inc. of Tennessee 1 STAR SPONSOR Charter Communications Employee Benefi t Specialists, Inc. J.R. Wauford & Co. Consulting Engineers Local Govt. Corporation Mattern & Craig, Inc. NORESCO Pavement Restorations, Inc. Republic Services Smith Seckman Reid Tennessee 811 Trane Commercial Systems & Services TLM Associates, Inc. Waste Connections of Tennessee Inc. Waste Industries USA, Inc. TML SPONSORED PROGRAMS Public Entity Partners Tennessee Health Works Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund TML PARTNERED PROGRAMS American Fidelity GovCard GovDeals Omni Partners Peachtree Recovery Services, Inc. Reach Alert TN Drug Card VC3

TML STAFF Margaret Mahery, Executive Director Chad Jenkins, Deputy Director Mark Barrett, Legislative Research Analyst Kate Coil, Communications Specialist Jackie Gupton, Administrative Assistant Carole Graves, Communications Director & Editor, Tennessee Town & City Sylvia Harris, Conference Planning Director John Holloway, Government Relations Debbie Kluth, Marketing Director / Member Services Kevin Krushenski, Legislative Research Analyst Denise Paige, Government Relations www.TML1.org 8-TENNESSEE TOWN & CITY/FEB. 24, 2020 Hazlewood brings business experience, work ethic to legislature By KATE COIL TML Communications Specialist

Never one to be idle, State Rep. Patsy Hazlewood uses her experience in business, finance, and community involvement in a va- riety of ways on arguably one of the busiest committees in the Tennessee State House. Hazlewood serves as vice chair of the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee. In their work on the state budget, Committee Chairwoman Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, has gotten to know Hazlewood well. “I absolutely love working with Patsy,” Lynn said. “She has terrific experience both professionally and personally. She is a real asset to the finance committee.” Born in Fayetteville, Hazlewood grew up on a family farm just over the state line in Athens, Ala., today a suburb of Huntsville. After graduating high school, Hazlewood became Above: State Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, the first in her family to earn a college degree R-Signal Mountain, addresses the Down- when she graduated from Middle Tennessee town Chattanooga Noon Rotary Club. State University in 1973. After college, she Hazlewood was the first woman elected went to Nashville to work for BellSouth – now president of the club. AT&T. She met her late husband there. The two then moved to Signal Mountain to work for Below: Hazlewood presents a state res- BellSouth and to raise their son, Ben. olution honoring the 50th anniversary of In addition to working for BellSouth and the incorporation of Soddy-Daisy at the city’s Veteran’s Park to City Commissioner AT&T for more than 30 years, Hazlewood Hazlewood helps officials with the city of Red Bank cut the ribbon on the new Red Bank served as director of CapitalMark Bank and Rick Nunley, Vice Mayor Robert Cothran, Commissioner Max Lowe, Mayor Gene City Hall. Hazlewood’s district encompasses a portion of Chattanooga as well as five Trust. In 2011, she was selected by then-Tennes- small cities: Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain, Soddy-Daisy, Red Bank, and Walden. see Economic and Community Development Shipley, and Commissioner Jim Adams. (TNECD) Commissioner Bill Hagerty to serve worth. There are always things that could be as the TNECD Regional Director for Southeast done that we don’t have the resources to do. Tennessee. There are always disagreements over what Hazlewood also served on numerous the priorities are. We always try to prioritize and boards and commissions in the Greater Chat- make sure we provide the services for citizens tanooga area. She became the first female that they can’t provide for themselves. I believe president of the Chattanooga Downtown Ro- that is what government is supposed to do. We tary, served as president of the Chattanooga also have to take care of the more vulnerable, Area Chamber of Commerce, and served on those who can’t take care of themselves. the boards of the United Way, the Enterprise On the flipside, we want to make sure we Center, the Stadium Corporation, the Speech are putting as much money in the pockets of and Hearing Center board, and the Community taxpayers as we can because it’s their money. Foundation board. That’s something you have to remember. In 2014, Hazlewood was elected to serve the state’s House District 27, which includes TT&C: What do you think are the major the municipalities of Lookout Mountain, Red priorities for this year’s budget? What can Bank, Signal Mountain, Soddy-Daisy, Walden, we expect from this year’s state budget? and a portion of Chattanooga. area is my home and it’s been good to me and dren to have better opportunities than we do. [Editor’s Note: This interview with Rep. Ha- my family. I am fortunate that my son lives a few miles zlewood was conducted prior to Gov. Bill Lee’s TT&C: How did your upbringing make you from me on Signal Mountain, and my grand- State of the State Address on Feb. 3] who you are today? TT&C: How would you describe your dis- children are there. I want to do all that I can PH: We always have to deal with some house- Patsy Hazlewood: I was born in Fayetteville, trict to someone who had never been there? to make sure there are places in Tennessee for work issues like education. These are issues but I grew up in North Alabama about 45 min- PH: First of all, I would tell them what I tell them to come back to when their education is that are always there; they don’t go away. There utes away, but was still very close to family. I everyone at the Capitol all the time when we completed. I want to keep them close, so I want is probably going to be a lot of legislation in grew up on a farm. The area is not rural now, but are introducing ourselves, which is that I truly to do all I can to make Tennessee an attractive the healthcare and insurance arena that could it was rural then. Athens, Ala., is a small town think I have the most beautiful district in the place for my grandchildren and other people’s impact the budget perhaps. There is always a that has really become over the years more of a state of Tennessee. I have everything. I have the grandchildren as well. surprise or two, something you never thought bedroom community for Huntsville, but for us river as you come into Chattanooga, Lookout about but will jump out of the woodwork. The it was a small rural town. We grew cotton and Mountain, and Lookout Valley. We have Elder TT&C: Last year, when you and House Fi- governor’s package I think is going to include corn, and raised chickens, pigs, and cows. We Mountain and Signal Mountain. We have the nance, Ways and Means Committee Chair judicial reform work that will more than likely always had a big garden in the summer. When lookout at St. Elmo that is an older community Susan Lynn presented the budget, it was the have budget implications. you grow up on a farm you learn to work. There on the upswing. We have Red Bank at the foot first time in Tennessee history that two wom- is always something to do all the time, and if of Signal Mountain and Soddy-Daisy on the en presented the budget. Why do you think TT&C: What is your stance on pre-emption nothing else you develop a work ethic. That is lake. We have lakes, rivers, and mountains. it’s important to see women in leadership and local control? definitely something that has shaped me. I’m It really is a slice of Tennessee that I have an roles in the Legislature? PH: I contend the best government is the best not very good with leisure time. I feel like God opportunity to represent. It’s a little bit of ev- PH: First of all, I think we all have talents government that is closest to the people. I try gave me this day, so I should use it. erything geographically and demographically and we all have gifts. I think in order for our to be accessible to my constituents, but I know as well. state and country to be successful, we need to there is no way I can be accessible as one of TT&C: You were one of the first in your access and maximize the potential of everyone. the town council members in Signal Mountain. family to graduate from college. Why was TT&C: How has your experience in the Women are at least half the population. Women There is just a different opportunity for inter- that an important step for you? business world helped with your work as a have a lot to offer just as men have a lot to of- action there. I think it is really critical that we PH: My mom went to college but didn’t grad- public servant? fer. I think it’s important that young girls and leave as much to local government as possible. uate. My dad didn’t go. I have three brothers, PH: The job that I had for a number of years young boys are able to recognize that it’s not a I do think there are some times when stan- and I am the only one who went to college and with BellSouth and AT&T was working as the gender issue, that it’s about talent and passion. dardization issues come up, that have statewide graduated. Two of my brothers were killed in face of the company in that area. You have a It’s about who is really equipped or wants to components and it doesn’t make sense to have separate accidents, and my youngest brother lot of interaction with people, but rather than become equipped to lead and serve in that way. a patchwork of regulation. If you are trying to was a senior in high school who was headed constituents they were customers. I had an op- At the end of the day, we talk about leadership do business in Tennessee, you shouldn’t have to college, but didn’t have the opportunity to portunity because of the position I had with the roles, but these are servant positions. That’s to have a whole different set of rules in Nash- make it. company to serve in a lot of capacities within what they are designed to be. We are meant to ville, Chattanooga, and Shelbyville. I hope we While my parents didn’t have a college the community. I headed up a number of com- serve the people in our district. I try to remem- try not to pre-empt, but there are instances in education, they had a great respect for educa- munity organizations including the Chattanoo- ber that, and I think my colleagues do as well. our legislative session when we feel there is a tion. They really encouraged me to be a good ga Chamber of Commerce, the Community need to do that. student, and I was able to get some financial Foundation, and was the first woman president TT&C: What do you enjoy most about aid. At the high school I went to, not every one of the Downtown Chattanooga Rotary Club. your work with the House Finance, Ways, TT&C: How would you describe your rela- went to college. Not even the majority of kids I chaired United Way campaigns and served & Means Committee? What is the most tionship with the municipal officials in your went to college, so I think I had an appreciation on lots of boards. I think all of that gave me a challenging aspect of working with the district? What projects have you worked on for that education that perhaps those from other pretty broad perspective in terms of both the committee? with them? backgrounds took for granted. business community and other parts of the PH: One of the great things about being on that PH: I would describe the relationship as good, I knew it was a huge opportunity for me. community as well. committee is that it gives you such a broad and and I hope they would as well. I try to work with It opened a lot of doors for me that wouldn’t I was part of a group that started a bank, and in-depth understanding of state government. them, and a lot of the things I have done with have been opened otherwise. I have been very I think the experience I had chairing boards and Anything that costs $1 in state government them have been TDOT related, repairs, and ex- blessed in that God has always guided my steps serving on executive committees with those has to go through us. We hear from every pansions. I try to work with my municipalities and blessed them. I certainly never planned to organizations as well as the work I had done department about their work. It’s great edu- to get local grants and dollars from the state to be a state representative or spend a lot of years with the company made me an effective bank cational experience just to learn about state do projects they wouldn’t be able to finance in the business world. I wasn’t a math major, so board member. government, what it does, what works, and on their own. Most of the area I represent is it was a bit of a switch. Having a degree got me I think education and economic devel- what doesn’t. comprised of small cities. in the door. It provided a big step up. opment are the two things in my mind that It’s also a place where you feel like you can I also represent a small part of Chattanoo- government needs to focus on. They are inex- make an impact. A lot of the dollars are prede- ga. The budget of those small cities is a whole TT&C: Who would you say were your big- tricably connected. You can’t bring in jobs if termined because we have to fund TennCare, different animal from that of Chattanooga or gest influences? there aren’t people in the community who have education, and corrections. We have been in Hamilton County. You have to recognize that PH: My parents were always so supportive the education to do those jobs. We did a lot of such a positive fiscal position in this state for the and work with them to get things done. Most of and wanted me to have more opportunities work with both new companies that were trying past few years, it has given us some latitude to all, you have to work with them to make sure than they had. They did all that they could to to recruit and companies that were already in focus on some other things as well. I think being the legislation we propose is not detrimental. make that happen. I had fantastic grandparents the area trying to expand. in finance gives me more of an opportunity to on both sides. I had and do have a very good, Working with the legislature from a busi- impact that. TT&C: Is there any particular piece of leg- close family growing up with cousins, aunts, ness perspective throughout the years really There are so many good ideas, wonderful islation you have worked on that has stood and uncles who provide a lot of support. I had prepared me for the legislative process. I think programs, and great things that could be done out or been special to you? some teachers who made a big difference in it showed me the real importance of what hap- should we have the resources. One of the more PH: I have done a lot of business legislation my life from elementary school on up. I think pens at the state level. I think in many ways the frustrating things about the budget – and this that isn’t going to excite anyone but me and the sometimes we can underestimate the kind of things that happen at the state legislature have sometimes seems like a contradiction of com- business community or people that it helped impact those folks have on us long years after more of an impact on our lives than any other mon sense – it can be harder in years when we and benefitted. I was a co-sponsor last year on we leave their classrooms. place in government. have more resources because there are so many the Hands Free bill, which I think will save ideas and suggestions on how to spend those lives. If you feel like you can positively impact TT&C: What first brought you to Signal TT&C: What first interested you in politics? resources. If everyone knows you’re short of a life or save a life, it’s a pretty big deal. A few Mountain and the greater Chattanooga Was there a particular issue or cause that money, they don’t ask for anything. years ago, I sponsored a bill with Sen. [Steve] area? prompted you to run for office? My priorities are always to continue to Dickerson, [R-Nashville,] on needle exchange, PH: I went to work for South Central Bell/ PH: Because of the position I had with Bell- beef up the rainy day fund. We have to make which has saved lives. It has helped people get BellSouth in Nashville after I graduated from South, I had been involved from that per- sure we stock some money away because we out of that addiction cycle and move forward MTSU. I met my husband who also worked for spective. My involvement on various boards will have a rainy day at some point, and since with their lives. I am really proud of some of the company. He was transferred by the compa- showed me how political dynamics impacted we are a sales-tax driven state we are in some the other things we’ve done because ultimately ny to Chattanooga, so frankly I had to go. We those organizations and people’s lives. I felt the ways more susceptible to economic downturns. my goal in carrying those bills was to make moved there in 1980, and it was a great move. experience I had gained put me in a position to At the end of the day, we have to live within Tennessee a business-friendly climate so we Our son was born there and grew up on Signal hit the ground running and accomplish things our means, and we have to have a balanced bud- could continue to have businesses move here, Mountain. It’s a great place to live and was a that will make Tennessean’s lives better. get. I think Tennesseans as a culture are very grow here, and provide living-wage jobs. great place to raise a family. The Chattanooga We all want our children and grandchil- frugal. We like to make sure we get our money’s