6,250 subscribers www.TML1.org Volume 69, Number 1 Jan. 22, 2018 110th TN General Assembly reconvenes TML Legislative Conference March 26- 27, Nashville TML’s Legislative Conference is a chance to hear state leaders address the municipal issues being debated in the General Assembly. The two-day conference held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Nashville provides an excellent forum for you to interact with your legislators as well as other munic- ipal officials. To register go tohttps://www.cognitoforms.com/ TML1/_2018LegislativeConferenceRegistrationForm New lawmakers seated for Lt. Gov. Randy McNally House Speaker Beth Harwell 2018 legislative session The second session of the 110th substances like fentanyl. his final State of the State speech General Assembly got underway Some of the more controversial at the end of January, when he Two new faces will be joining Jan. 9. issues include legalizing medical will outline his budget and last the state Senate and three in the state With November elections marijuana, offering in-state tuition legislative agenda. Issues he is House in the Tennessee General looming, most have speculated the to undocumented students, and expected to address include welfare Assembly for its 2018 session. 2018 session will be shorter than expanding Medicare benefits to reform for food stamp recipients, Republican Mark Pody has last year and is expected to wrap low-income residents. and improvements to Education won the special election for the up in early April. Key issues that city officials by offering some type of incentive Senate District 17 seat vacated by Some of the larger issues set to will be watching include regulations for community colleges, technical former Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. be addressed include a comprehen- on short-term rental properties, schools, and four-year higher ed- Juliet, so she can focus on her run sive plan for addressing the state’s design standards for residential ucation institutions that graduate for governor. opioid crisis including securing dwellings, de-annexation, changes students at a higher percentage rate. Pody left his own seat as the more money for rehabilitation and to open records laws, and legislation He is also expected to propose re- state representative for District 46 drug court programs; and tougher on small cells wireless technology, ducing the number of members who to run for Beavers’ vacated seat. Mark Pody penalties for drug dealers who just to name a few. serve on the University of Tennessee Both Pody and Beavers reside in lace their products with dangerous Gov. Bill Haslam will deliver Board of Trustees. Wilson County. He beat opponent Mary Alice Carfi by 308 votes in the special election. Lawmakers offices, legislative committee The Wilson County Commis- sion appointed Lebanon insurance rooms moved to Cordell Hull Building agent Clark Boyd to fill the seat Pody vacated. Boyd is a former chairman of the Wilson County Republican Party and previously ran against Mae Beavers for the District 17 Senate seat in 2014. State Rep. Art Swann, R-Maryville, was recently sworn in to represent Senate District 8 Art Swann following the resignation of Doug Overbey, R-Maryville, when he was selected as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Swann was elected to the State House in 2010 and had previously served as a Blount County commis- sioner from 19778 to 1982. Jerome Moon, former Blount County Commission chairman, was then appointed and sworn in to represent the House District 2 seat vacated by Swann. Both were chosen to fill the Clark Boyd Tennessee lawmakers now have a new home. The Cordell Hull legislative office building has undergone a complete makeover throughout the last several months. On Dec. 14, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially open the building –– just in time for the 2018 legislative session that got underway Jan. 9. All of the committee meeting rooms have been relocated to the new renovated building as well all of the offices of legislators and their staff. Pictured at the ribbon cutting are Secretary of State Tre Kevin Vaughan Jerome Moon Hargett, State Comptroller Justin Wilson, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, House Speaker Beth Harwell, State Treasurer David Lilliard, and State Architect Ann McGauran. vacancies by the Blount County Commission. Swann was select- ed after a 14-3 vote while Moon New year brings new law aimed at distracted drivers received 16 of the 19 votes cast for Swann’s replacement. Swann BY KATE COIL and Moon will serve until a new TML Communications Specialist candidate is elected in the Nov. 6 general election with a primary to Drivers found using cell be held on Aug. 2. phones in school zones will be fac- Kevin Vaughan will represent ing new fines after a law designed the residents of Tennessee House to decrease traffic incidents near District 95, receiving 62 percent of schools went into effect on Jan. 1. the votes in the special election to Based on a bill sponsored replace Republican Mark Lovell, by former state Sen. Jim Tracy, who resigned from the legislature R-Shelbyville, and state Rep. John in February 2017. Holsclaw, R-Elizabethton, the new A special election is being held law makes it a Class C misdemean- on March 13 to replace former or to operate any handheld device Sen. Jim Tracy, who was recently while in an active school zone. appointed as the head of the U.S. Those found talking or other- Department of Agriculture Rural wise operating a handheld device Development Office for the state in a school zone could face up to a of Tennessee. Candidates running $50 fine for the action. for Tracy’s seat include former The law exempts those with state Rep. Joe Carr, Murfreesboro hands-free devices, and texting businessman Shane Reeves, and while driving in school zones has A new law preventing the operation of handheld devices in school zones is aimed at curbing distracted lawyer Gayle Jordan. already been prohibited. Drivers driving when students are present. Violators could face a $50 fine for the action. Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collier- under the age of 18 are not allowed should be aware of the new law ticket in a school zone could result of the bill was the result of a few ville, has also been nominated to to operate handheld or hands-free as students return from holiday in fines of more than $200.” car accidents close to home. serve as a U.S. attorney and will phones while driving regardless of breaks. Tracy told The Tennessean the “My nieces were in accidents have to resign if the Senate con- location. “A recent study by Safe Kids bill came out of complaints constit- that involved cell phones,” he said. firms him to the position Like with The new law is designed to not USA found that one in six drivers uents had over distracted driving. “A lot of people consider it like a Overbey’s spot, the Shelby County only protect school children but in school zones are distracted, “You should be concentrating seat belt law, taking away my free- Commission could chose to appoint also law enforcement officers and with the most common distraction on reducing your speed limit and doms. I would rather save your life. a replacement to Norris’ seat until crossing guards directing traffic in being cellphones,” Austin said. “It paying attention,” Tracy said. “You It is that important to me.” the general election following a school zones. is wise to also remember that the have children walking and a lot of According to data from the lawmaker’s resignation. Major Matt Austin of the Bris- speed limit is 15 miles per hour traffic around.” Tennessee Department of Safety tol Police Department said drivers in a school zone. In Tennessee, a Holsclaw said his sponsorship See DISTRACTED on Page 3 www.TML1.org 2-TENNESSEE TOWN & CITY/JAN. 22, 2018 Mural welcomes visitors to Columbia Arts District BRENTWOOD headquarters is already underway The Brentwood Fire and Rescue and is targeted for completion in Department has achieved its high- the second quarter of 2019. Mars est rating for Public Protection has a substantial footprint in the by the Insurance Services Office state with more than 2,600 associ- (ISO) and its Public Protection ates, which includes Banfield and Classification program. Fire Chief Blue Pearl, both part of the Mars Brian Goss announced the city has Veterinary portfolio, an R&D received notice of a Class 2 rating. facility in Thompson’s Station, a The Class 2 designation places pet food factory in Lebanon and Brentwood Fire and Rescue in the two Mars Wrigley Confectionery top 3 percent of fire departments production facilities in Cleveland across America. The new classifi- and Chattanooga. cation becomes effective in March 2018 and could mean significant FRANKLIN property insurance reductions for The city of Franklin has won the residents and businesses.For more National Research Center, Inc. A new mural recently completed by Atlanta-based artist Michael Colley now welcomes visitors to than 20 years the Brentwood Fire (NRC) the Voice of the People Columbia’s Arts District. Famed for its annual Mule Days, the side of the mural facing Columbia’s and Rescue Department has main- Award for Excellence in Education South Garden Street depicts a mule while side that faces Columbia’s Fire Station No. 1 commem- tained a Class 4 ISO rating. and Enrichment. The award is giv- orates 150 years of fire service in the city. The city of Columbia worked with the Tennessee Arts en to top-performing jurisdictions Commission (TAC), a partner agency that awarded the city matching grant funds that offset the cost DUCKTOWN that best listen and act for the of both sides of the mural project.