6,250 subscribers www.TML1.org Volume 69, Number 10 June 11, 2018 Free Conference mobile app available Connects to all smartphone devices June 9 - 12 in Knoxville A mobile app featuring the an event will reveal a description; 2018 Annual Conference infor- and if it’s a workshop, speaker bios mation is available for free and is are also available. As an added New sessions added to accessible from any smart phone feature, you can create your own device. personal schedule by touching the Annual Conference lineup The app was developed by plus symbol next to events. You Protecting the availability of the Tennessee Municipal League can also set reminders for yourself. a clean and reliable water supply to help improve smartphone us- Conference events are color-coded in Tennessee is vital to support ers conference experience with by each event type. By using the fil- the state’s growing population and this easy to use digital guide. It ter button at the top to apply a filter, sustain economic growth. contains detailed conference in- you can quickly reference catego- Deputy Governor Jim Henry formation on workshops, speakers, ries such as food, workshops, or and TDEC Commissioner Shari exhibitors and special events – and special events. Meghreblian will help kickoff a it’s all at your fingertips. Speakers. To learn about each panel of local government officials To download the free app, of our conference speakers, scroll and industry leaders to discuss it’s as easy as searching for “2018 through the list and tap on the concerns about the state’s aging TML Annual Conference” in the speaker’s photo to reveal their bios. drinking water and wastewater Apple App Store or Google PLAY Exhibitors. The exhibitors’ infrastructure. Marketplace. There is a web app section includes contact informa- Earlier this year, Gov. Bill available for Blackberry and Mic- tion, booth numbers, and links Jim Henry rosoft phones. to company websites. And once Haslam appointed a steering Deputy Governor committee to formulate a plan to How to Use It you’ve left the conference, you protect Tennessee’s valuable water Once your app has success- can always refer back to this app to supply. Come hear how you can fully downloaded to your phone, find all the contact information you provide valuable input into the the conference schedule, work- need to get in touch with a vendor. shop information, vendor contact Convention Center Map. A rooms on these maps. The booth development of a statewide plan numbers attached to exhibitors in that addresses water availability. information, plus much more is detailed map of the Exhibit Hall, accessible through easy, navigable home of the TML Marketplace ven- our exhibitors’ section correspond The workshop is scheduled to numbered booths on the Exhibit for Monday, June 11, at 2:30 p.m. functions. dors, are available in this section, Schedule. To access the as well as maps of the convention Hall map. in Room 301 B of the Knoxville If you need help while at Convention Center. conference schedule, tap on the center where the workshops and schedule icon and scroll up and general sessions are held. You can the conference, find a TML staff Also on the agenda are two member to assist you. After the experts on civility in government. down, or flip left and right through move maps around, or swipe left the different days. You can also and right between maps, or zoom conference, contact Mark Barrett Cassandra Dahnke and Tomas at TML at 615-255-6416. Spath co-founded the Institute for tap the arrows at the top corners to in or zoom out. The room numbers Shari Meghreblian Civility in Government to address switch between dates. Touching on the schedule correspond to the TDEC Commissioner the decline in civil discourse in politics and government – and the impact that it has on policy and Municipal Bond Fund reaches $4.53 Billion community life. Now – 20 years later – Dahnke Savings to cities exceeds $630 million and Spath have developed a strong The Tennessee Municipal made a few changes in an effort track record of positive relation- Bond Fund (TMBF) reached a to better serve Tennessee commu- ships with elected officials on all pair of milestones recently. Since nities. TMBF began offering a sides of the political aisle. They inception, TMBF has loaned more fixed-rate loan option in addition to have developed a multi-tiered ed- than $4.53 billion and has now its variable-rate option. Since add- ucational approach that encourages closed over 1,440 loans. ing the fixed-rate option, TMBF civil behavior from those officials, “These milestones show has grown and the fixed rate loan while working to provide citizens TMBF’s ongoing commitment to option has become very popular. at-large with the necessary skill-set providing your community with “We could not have done this to identify and practice civility, and the loans you need at the lowest without all the hard work of our expect it in return. Cassandra Dahnke cost so that you can create oppor- dedicated board members and Based on their book, Reclaim- Institute for Civility in Government tunities for your communities to our extraordinary staff,” Seivers ing Civility in the Public Square: 10 grow,” said Charles G. “Bones” commented. “They work hard Charles G. “Bones” Seivers Rules That Work, this session will Seivers, President and CEO of the every day to make sure that we are TMBF President/CEO provide tips on how to maintain Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund. providing you the best service and civility and review what civility The TMBF was created by the the loan options you want at the nities have placed in us is not mis- makes possible, and what incivil- TML Board of Directors in 1986 to best price. We work with a num- placed,” Seivers said. “I sincerely ity prevents. provide municipalities in Tennes- ber of banks in an effort to get our appreciate our partnership with the Their session will be a part of a see with low-cost funds. It began borrowers the lowest cost of funds Tennessee Municipal League, and lunch program offered on Monday, full operations by offering a pooled that we can find.” our relationship with all cities and June 11, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. variable rate loan program as well TMBF feels that the valuable towns in the state.” in Ballroom EFG of the Knoxville as an alternative loan program. part of its job is maintaining a great Seivers stated that he is excited Convention Center. To date, the TMBF variable relationship with all municipal of- about the future of TMBF. A complete listing of all the rate program has saved cities and ficials. This is a practice we have “We offer many features and conference offerings can be found counties more than $630 million strived to create for more than 30 advantages that can save you mon- in the conference program booklet in interest costs alone. TMBF was years. ey. All we ask is that you give us a or on TML’s mobile app. Tomas Spath created for the sole purpose of “When we look at the num- chance to provide you with options. Institute for Civility in Government saving cities and towns money. ber of repeat borrowers, we get a We were created by you, for you. “I feel we are accomplishing our renewed sense of dedication that Our board of directors is composed mandate,” added Seivers. makes us work harder every day to of municipal officials, and we are Cities hold municipal elections In recent years, the TMBF has prove that the faith these commu- always here for you.” BY KATE COIL race in the city’s March 6 election. TML Communications Specialist Challenger Mike Pulley unseated Why we need a National Infrastructure Map incumbent Paul Bud Berry in the Elections were held in five race for the Ward 1 Alderman BY TERESA W. GERTON Tennessee municipalities during seat. Berry previously served as Route Fifty the spring of this year. Dover’s vice mayor. Incumbent The municipalities of Berry Robert “Boo” Beecham defeated Setting priorities is hindered by Hill, Dover, LaFayette, Loretto, challenger Archie Story in the race the lack of systematic information and Rockford all held elections for the Ward 2 Alderman seat. available on the nation’s inventory between March and May this year. of infrastructure assets, their loca- Voters in another five munic- LAFAYETTE tion and condition. ipalities are expected to go to the The city of Lafayette held a It is widely accepted that the polls this June while election sea- municipal election on May 1 in general condition of America’s in- son kicks into high gear in August which three of the six Lafayette frastructure is poor and that major and November. City Council positions were up for investments are needed. In its latest A total of 68 municipalities grabs. annual Infrastructure Report Card, will hold elections coinciding with Incumbent Steve Turner re- the American Society of Civil En- the Aug. 2 mid-term primaries tained his seat on the board while gineers issued an overall grade of while nearly another 200 cities D+ and estimated that $4.6 trillion challengers Seth A. Blankenship Crews in Johnson City work at night to repair a water line break. and towns plan to host elections and Jerry Wilmore were elected to would be needed to address the coinciding the Nov. 6 mid-term the seats previously held by Mar- challenge. elections. cus Smith and Jerry Wix. Challeng- Even though major investment emy of Public Administration, in infrastructure.