FOREST HILLS Record number of residents recycle at Clean Out NEWS A record 290 vehicles participated in the City’s Spring Recycling Clean Out April 12 as resi- dents recycled five tons of bulk metal and scrap items and three tons june 2014 of electronics. VOL. 19 NO. 2 Residents disposed of 24 cubic feet of medicines and do- nated 2,000 pounds of clothing, shoes, or reusable items. Spring, summer A new service was well received. “The paper shredding paving schedule was a great success,” said City Manager Amanda Dea- Recycling The following streets are ton-Moyer. “Shred on the Run helped us safely dispose of scheduled for paving, along 6,000 pounds of documents.” Clean Out with paving for the bikeway The fall clean out should see more-efficient operation as extension. organizers plan a circular drop-off route, she said. Beddington Park (tentative) Day Kingsbury Drive SPONSORS City of Forest Hills • Earthsavers • SpringBack • Junk-King Stanford Drive ThriftSmart • Metro Police • Creative Recycling • Shred on the Run TheThe Mayor’sMayor’s CornerCorner Hall Tax changes would affect Forest Hills The Hall Income Tax was established by the Tennessee six years but would have main- General Assembly in 1929 and is named for Frank S. Hall, the tained the revenues coming to local state senator who sponsored the legislation. The Hall Tax applies municipalities such as Forest Hills. to interest and dividend income at the rate of 6%. Five-eighths The Koch Brothers through their of the income from the Hall Tax goes into the state coffers and Americans for Prosperity organiza- Bill Coke three-eighths is distributed to the local municipality or county tion asked state legislators to take a Mayor where the taxpayer lives. pledge to repeal the Hall Tax. Many This is significant for municipalities such as Forest Hills, Oak legislators signed the pledge. Hill, and Belle Meade. In the 2013–2014 fiscal year, Forest Hills Finally, in one of the last sessions of the General Assembly, received $1,417,191 or 60% of total revenues from the Hall Tax. Senator Green withdrew his bill because amendments had been When the Tennessee General Assembly met in January 2014, made to eliminate the local tax as well. This effectively killed any a top priority for many legislators was the total elimination of legislation to change the present status of the tax this year. There the Hall Income Tax. Bills were introduced to eliminate the tax will be no changes during the coming year, and Forest Hills will immediately. Other legislation proposed phasing out the Hall receive its portion of tax revenues as usual for the 2015–2016 year. Tax over a six-year period. Your Board of Commissioners followed all of the legislative Governor Bill Haslam argued that it was not the time to proceedings closely including meeting with our local represen- eliminate it because state revenues were lagging and it would tatives, Speaker Beth Harwell and Senator Steven Dickerson. be difficult to replace the approximately $165 million the state What happens to the Hall Income Tax will have consequences derives from the Hall Tax. for Forest Hills one way or the other. The most promising bill was proposed by Senator Mark The legislature will meet again in January 2015. The one Green of Montgomery County. This legislation would have thing that can be assured is that the Hall Income Tax will be eliminated the state’s portion of the Hall Tax over a period of high on its agenda again. Follow progress on City projects with SeeClickFix mobile app Here is a scenario. You call into City hall with a pretty routine complaint: there is a giant pothole in front of your driveway that you hit every day on your way to work. The From the City City responds with something like, “We’ll C I T Y O F look into that and get back to you.” Manager FOREST HILLS Weeks pass. You have spilled your morn- Amanda ing coffee too many times to count, all on 6300 Hillsboro Pike Deaton-Moyer Nashville TN 37215 account of that pothole, and you’ve heard 615/372-8677 nothing. You patiently await a phone call [email protected] 372-8677 CityofForestHills.com from the City and it never comes—so you call again. indicated by dots on a map. City Manager They tell you, “Oh, yes, we looked into that, This program is meant to help us keep up Amanda Deaton-Moyer W 372-8677 and it’s the State’s responsibility.” When were with our work orders and provide an orga- Board of Commissioners they going to tell you that? And now, coffee nized communication tool for our residents. William G. Coke, Mayor H 665-1992 stains and all, you will have to start the calling Perhaps you do not have a smart phone or process all over again. John Lovell, Vice Mayor H 371-1716 W 292-9925 Sigh, government. I am sure many of Lanson Hyde III H 714-9699 you have experienced City Attorney something close to this Matthew Foster W 256-0500 scenario one time or another with Forest City Engineer Hills or another gov- Brad Bivens W 383-8420 ernment. Upfront, I am sorry if you have ever you do not like accessing the internet to make felt completely frustrated by Forest Hills. The a complaint or let the City know about an is- Planning Commission City is trying alleviate some of this frustra- sue. You are still welcome and encouraged to Winston Evans, Chair W 259-4685 tion by implementing SeeClickFix. call, and we’ll log it into the program for you. George David Waller III, H 373-2360 SeeClickFix is a mobile app that is avail- If you want updates, you’ll be asked for your Vice Chair able on your computer and smart phone. email and phone number. In every case, this Jennifer Frist 372-8677 When you see a problem, we encourage you system will help the City organize the issues James C. Gardner III H 665-0936 to click a picture, and send it in to be fixed. and serve you better. Em Ghianni H 373-1359 Get it? See, Click, Fix. SeeClickFix can be accessed by download- Clay Jackson W 292-9000 How does this help your problem? When- ing the app on your smart phone or simply ever you put in an issue, the program sends it going to seeclickfix.com. A picture is not Blair Myers W 760-5157 The Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Commissioner directly to City Hall and it goes on to the City necessary, but helpful. also sit on this commission. issue dashboard. Whenever the City updates The program will ask it—by fixing the issue, researching the situ- you to create a login and Board of Zoning Appeals ation, etc.—you receive a message. You can password. This is so you Janie Rowland, Chair H 665-0642 communicate by commenting on the issue. can be updated on the issue Jim Littlejohn H 371-0008 Residents are also able to see other re- you log. The City has begun Smartphone apps W 385-4144 en.seeclickfix.com/ Mark Richard Banks H 447-4262 ported issues in their neighborhoods. Your using the software and is apps neighbor already reported that graffitti’d learning along with you. We sign? SeeClickFix allows for you to vote for are very excited about giving you better ac- it to be fixed. Votes will help us prioritize our cess to City Hall and hope you will embrace Safe location work. You can see issues throughout the City it with us. In case of storm or natural disaster, Hillsboro Church of Christ at the corner of Hillsboro Frist, Jackson join Planning Commission Pike and Tyne Boulevard will be open to the public as a Planning Commission chair Winston Hills for nearly all of their lives,” Evans said. safe place to come for shelter. Evans announces the addition of two new “We are fortunate that they are willing to members, Jennifer Frist and Clay Jackson. give their time, knowledge, and experience to Emergency and “Mrs. Frist and Mr. Jackson are recognized preserve and improve our City.” Information Line community and business leaders in Nashville. Jennifer is a community volunteer. Clay is 309-1324 In addition, they have lived in or near Forest regional president for BB&T Insurance. 2 Keep culverts clear One key to handling stormwater run-off effectively is keeping culverts flowing freely. ● Do not rake leaves into the street or into drainage ditches. Stormwater washes loose leaves into culverts, causing them to clog. ● Do not flatten drainage ditches to Culvert work make them easier to The City is working mow. Shallow ditch- on drainage and es may overflow culvert projects in during heavy rain, these areas: causing flooding. • Hemingway Drive ● Inspect cul- • Priest Road verts periodically, • Robert E. Lee Court especially after a • Saxon Drive heavy rain, and remove any large objects that have washed down and could potentially block drainage. City considers solution The City recently completed drainage and culvert work on to Beddington Park slide Priest Road. City Engineer Brad Bivens gave Commis- sioners the results of a report from TTL envi- ronmental and geotechnical consulting firm analyzing a landslide on Beddington Park. The shallow slide is shifting soil from pri- vate property onto the City’s right-of-way and the roadway, which is preventing Beddington Park from being paved. It began following heavy rains and flooding in May 2010. The City is considering options to have the Soil from the hillside is encroaching on the slide stabilized or cleared so that paving can pavement along Beddington Park.