News
City in special session — new
political rules adopted
January 20, 2010
Brownsville’s aldermen voted on second reading to
pass ordinance allowing city employees to run for
select political offices. The city board met in
special session Tuesday night at 7:15.
The
new rules passed the first test a week ago.
The
old rule prohibited city employees from running for
any political office. The new rules allow them to do
it on a selective basis. The ordinance allows a city
worker to run for mayor while continuing employment
with city government. But a city worker may not run
for a part time aldermanic position.
City workers may, however, run for political
positions in other governments.
Charter change likely delayed until 2012
January 20, 2010
Aldermen and the mayor are considering delaying
their earlier plan to change the city’s charter
requiring Brownsville’s elected representatives to
be elected by a majority of voters.
Mayor Webb Banks says he wants to also wants to move
the election day to earlier in the year so that, in
case a run-off is required, the new representatives
won’t take office so late in the year and long past
the end of the city’s fiscal year.
Banks’ proposal won’t change the charter until 2012.
Mayor Banks made the proposal at this week’s special
meeting of the city board but did not ask aldermen
to vote on it.
It is expected the issue will likely be discussed at
the February meeting.
Wheel tax going to a public vote
January 20, 2010
The Haywood County Commission’s proposed increase in
the wheel tax is going to the voters.
The increase in the tax, ordered by the county
commission last fall but stopped by a petition
drive, will be a question for voters to decide and
will appear on the ballot within sixty days.
The
tax was adopted to help pay for the $15 million
criminal justice complex debt and to fund the
$100,000 stipend the county voted to provide the air
ambulance service. But community protestors managed
to get enough signatures on a petition to stop it.
County Mayor Franklin Smith says the petition
requires the special election.
The
election commission forecasts the special election
to cost $13,000. The exact date hasn’t been set but
we the election is likely sometime in March.
County officials say county bills will have to be
paid one way or the other. If the wheel tax fails,
then it is likely commissioners will be required to
again hike the property tax.
Education committee wants a bigger school
board
January 20, 2010
Could the Haywood County School Board double in
size? It could if the county commission’s education
committee gets its way.
At this week’s county commission meeting the
education committee recommended the school board
grow from five to ten members. County commissioners
talked about the idea but didn’t take any action
except to suggest the committee continue to study
the idea.
Commissioners may appoint temporary school
board member
January 20, 2010
National Guardsman Daniel Thornton has been deployed
to the Middle East. Thornton, who is a member of the
school board, will be gone for about a year and
county commissioners are considering placing
somebody in his seat — at least until he returns
home. Thornton represents district two and six.
When commissioners met this week they didn’t take
action, but have asked County Attorney Michael Banks
to research the issue and report.
With Thornton absent from the five-member body,
there is no tie-breaking vote.
More debt approved
January 20, 2010
The county commission has adopted a resolution
authorizing the issuance of 5,575,000 in general
obligation bonds.
The
bonds are a part of the $15 million financing
previously approved for the project. The most recent
bond issue includes Build America Bonds. They
include special financial incentives for bondholders
and taxpayers. The incentives are tied to the
national stimulus program.
County committees unchanged
January 20, 2010
The county’s standing committees won’t see changes
this year. Mayor Franklin Smith re-appointed,
without changes, committee assignments this week.
The
committees, which include the powerful budget group,
are made up exclusively of county commissioners.
(Committee assignments may also be seen at
brownsvilllehaywoodcounty.com)
“Greenway” could be paid by grant
January 20, 2010
Development of the new industrial park may include
scenic trails and plots known as “greenways.”
Haywood County government will submit an application
to the Tennessee Department of Environment and
Conservation to help pay for the project. The
$107,658 grant will be used to construct
approximately 1,900 linear feet of greenway in the
new industrial park. The grant includes a request of
$80,000 from the Recreational Trail Program. Local
taxpayers will ante up a match of $27,658.
County now owns part of the megasite
January 20, 2010
The Haywood County Commission has voted to purchase
3.5 acres of land at the megasite for $37,100.
Taxpayers paid $10,600 per acre. Mayor Smith said
the acreage was considered in the original purchase
but the owners would not agree to sell —only
recently changing their position. The tract will
belong to the county unless it is purchased by the
state.
County recycling program wins top state award
The
Tennessee Recycling Coalition (TRC) has announced
that the solid waste department of Haywood County
has been named Government Recycler of the Year.
The
award will be presented at the TRC Conference
February 10.
"Clinton Neal has certainly led the department to
the next level in providing, promoting, and
encouraging recycling and waste minimization
throughout the county, “ County Mayor Franklin Smith
said.
New Director named for West Tennessee Delta
Heritage Center
Sonia Outlaw-Clark
Brownsville Mayor Webb Banks recently announced a
new director has been appointed to the West
Tennessee Delta Heritage Center.
The
new appointee is Sonia Outlaw-Clark. Clark is a
native Haywood Countian who has years of service in
community projects.
“Sonia was selected,” the Mayor said, “due to her
journalism experience, management skills, and her
proven ability to work with people in organizing
successful projects.”
Clark was employed for approximately eight years
with the Brownsville States-Graphic and has served
six years as office administrator for First
Presbyterian Church in Brownsville.
She
is a graduate of Leadership Haywood County and the
recipient of many community service awards. Clark
has been a member of the Hatchie Fall Festival since
it inception about six years ago and served two
years as chairperson. She is currently serving as
president of the Brownsville Business Association.
“The Heritage Center offers a very unique
opportunity for promoting our region,” says Clark,
“and I’m looking forward to helping the counties
showcase themselves to the millions of visitors who
travel Interstate 40 each year.”
Clark assumed her duties as the new director at the
Delta Heritage Center January 1, 2010.
The
West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center is located at
121 Sunny Hill Cove, just off I-40 at Exit 56, in
Brownsville, Tenn. The center features the music
museum, a cotton museum, the Hatchie River museum
and two rotating exhibits including the photography
of Joe Guinn and information boards highlighting
counties throughout West Tennessee. Current museum
hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday. For more information, call the center at
731-779-9000. Group tours are welcome.
Lea making sweeping changes in BPD
December 9, 2009
Chris Lea has been on the job less than a month, but
already he’s won approval from the Brownsville City
Board for significant changes at the Brownsville
Police Department. Lea was named police chief just
last month, replacing Gill Kendrick who took a job
as chief in Jackson.
Highlights of personnel changes include:
-
Increasing
investigators from two to four. An investigator
will be on duty and on patrol between 8 a.m. and
midnight.
-
Promotions that
include three new lieutenants and four new
sergeants. Promoted to lieutenant are Sgt. Kim
Williams, Sgt. Jason Singleton and Sgt. Jason
Haynes. New sergeants include Chad Jackson,
Mitchell Turner, Shaun Ribble and Brad Davis.
-
The personnel
changes mean there will be at least five
officers on patrol at all times.
-
Lea’s personnel
program will add $2796 in additional expense to
the BPD’s personnel budget but overtime is
expected to be virtually eliminated.
Aldermen and the mayor also granted permission for
Lea to upgrade the police department’s computer
software. Chief Lea told the city board the software
was last updated in 1991 and the annual software
maintenance agreement cost $10,000.
The
new software will cost $44,546 but won’t include an
expensive annual maintenance fee. The computer
upgrade will eliminate several steps in paperwork
and will link to other law enforcement software
including the jail, central dispatch and the
sheriff’s office. Lea believes the upgrade will
reduce administrative time and allow more time for
patrols.
New money
December 11, 2009
Police Chief Chris Lea easily justified his new
expenditures, but news that the city has received
some unexpected income made pulling the trigger on
the costs easier for aldermen.
City Clerk Jerry Taylor told aldermen and the mayor
government has received $269,273 from TVA. TVA pays
local governments so-called impact fees because of
the work they’re doing on their Lagoon Creek Power
Plant. The city also received $27,573 from an
insurance claim, and just over $1,000 from a
tax/equity payment from the Brownsville Housing
Authority.
City plans emergency equipment and
other purchases with disaster funds
November 11, 2009
A federal disaster declaration, the result of storms
that occurred in 2008, has made Brownsville, Haywood
County and Stanton eligible for more than $2 million
in assistance.
The
Brownsville City Board has applied for a $750,000
grant under the program. The money requires no local
match and doesn’t have to be repaid.
At
this week’s city board meeting aldermen learned the
money, if granted, would be used for a number of
items.
-
The city fire
department will get a $250,000 first response
truck and a 1,000 gallon pumper truck estimated
to cost $185,000.
-
Two portable
generators at a cost of just over $46,000.
-
Two private homes
will be relocated and will cost $160,000.
-
$86,250 will go
for rental housing rehabilitation.
Hatcher sells new police cars
November 11, 2009
Three new police cars will soon be delivered to the
city. Hatcher Chevrolet will sell the cars to the
city after placing a low bid of $23,036 per car.
City to hold auction
November 11, 2009
Seventeen surplus and seized vehicles now owned by
the city of Brownsville will go on sale in early
December. The city board authorized City Clerk Jerry
Taylor to conduct an auction.
The
auction will be conducted December 5 at 8am at the
city shop located on East College Street.