Town meeting at city hall
City
and county leaders turned out for the town hall
meeting at City Hall Monday night organized by
Alderman Carolyn Flagg (pictured left), who represents
Ward 2. About 20 residents of the Ward attended along
with city and county officials who answered questions
about their areas of responsibility. Mayor Webb Banks
took notes about issues that he could address. Topics
and concerns discussed were semi-truck traffic on Main
Street, clean-up and beautification of the community,
the widening of Mercer Road east of the by-pass, and
livability issues in certain sections of the city.
Alderman Flagg said she was pleased with the meeting
and will host others. Also pictured is Code
Enforcement Officer Renee Hendrix.
Dynamental receives $20,000 grant
According to a press release from Tennessee Governor
Phil Bredesen’s office and Department of Labor and
Workforce Development Commissioner James Neely,
Dynametal Technologies in Brownsville has received a
$20,319 Incumbent Worker training grant. It is aimed
at assisting employers with training needs associated
with skills upgrades for their employees.
"The
Incumbent Worker Grants help companies invest in the
future of their workers,” said Neely. “I am pleased to
award this grant to Dynametal Technologies.”
The
press release said Southwest Tennessee Human Resource
Agency played a key role in awarding the grant to
Dynametal.
Stanton holding city elections in November
Five
local names will appear on the ballot in the November
4 General Election, all in the race for the Stanton
elected officials’ positions.
Current alderman Allan Sterbinsky will run unopposed
for the Mayor’s position since Mayor Royce Barnett has
chosen not to run for re-election. Also on the ballot
will be Emma Delk, Ruffie Jones and A. D. Miller,
current aldermen who are running for re-election, and
Frank Fawcett, who will be running unopposed for the
position that Allan Sterbinsky will be vacating in his
bid for the mayor’s position.
Unemployment up in county
According to the July statistics from the Tennessee
Department of Labor and Workforce Development,
unemployment in Haywood County is now at 13.8 percent.
That is an increase from the June rate of 10.2
percent.
Neighboring counties also saw increases: Crockett
County up to 9 percent from 8.5 in June, Fayette
County from 7.5 to 7.6 percent, and Lauderdale County
from 11.4 to 14 percent in July. Madison, Shelby and
Tipton counties saw decreases in July each by
one-tenth percentage point to 6.9, 7.4 and 8.0 percent
respectively.
In
the state, 60 counties saw increases in July, 29
counties’ rates decreased and six counties remained
the same. The national rate is up from June at 5.5 to
5.7 percent, and the state’s rate is 6.9 percent, up
from 6.5 percent in June.
County commission adopts budget; no tax increase
When
Haywood County property tax payers receive their bills
this fall, they’ll pay the same tax rate as last year.
County commissioners passed the $2.18 rate and also
approved the county’s 2008/2009 budget documents when
they met Monday night, August 18.
Spending could exceed income by $2.4 million,
according to the budget. County Mayor Franklin Smith
says he hopes spending is overestimated and income is
underestimated. He is also hopeful that new efforts to
collect past due balances due the general sessions
court will add more dollars to bank accounts than is
included in the budget. Fines and fees due the general
sessions court exceed $5 million.
Highlights of the budget include the purchase of six
vehicles for various departments, three new pumper
trucks for rural fire stations and 3 percent raises
for county workers.
The
budget includes a provision that requires workers
participating in the county’s health insurance program
pay a portion of their premiums. The new requirement
is the result of a 31% increase demanded by the
county’s insurance carrier.
County government presently has about $10 million in
various fund balances. Deficit spending will reduce
the reserves.
New employee pay plan approved
County commissioners unanimously approved a pay plan
that will take effect next year. The plan provides a
new pay scale based on 12 pay grades. The grades place
minimum full-time annual salaries starting at $14,976
and maximum full-time salaries at $64,092.
County Mayor Franklin Smith said if the plan had been
funded this year, it would have added at least $45,000
to the budget. Budget-makers will likely use the plan
as they plan the 2009/2010 budget.
Solid waste grant approved
County commissioners also approved application for a
grant that will purchase new recycling equipment for
the Haywood County Solid Waste Department. The $25,000
grant requires a $5,000 local government match.
City and County recertified as Three Star community
Frankie McCord with the State of Tennessee Department
of Economic Development presented a certificate of
recertification to Brownsville and Haywood County as a
Three Star community. Communities must now qualify for
recertification annually. Pictured left are Anne
Banks, City Director of Community Development; Joe Ing,
Chamber Director; Frankie McCord; City Mayor Webb
Banks; Realtor Pat Cummins; Brownsville Alderman Leon
King; Beth Thomas, assistant in the chamber office;
and Retail Development Director Richard Carraway.
City receives grant for Delta Heritage Center
At a ceremony at the Delta Heritage
Center on August 13, City Mayor Webb Banks received a
$25,000 check from Rural Development for the proposed
conference center to be built there. At the
presentation were (from left) Ron Miles of the
Tennessee Economic and Community Development
Department; Doris Owens from Southwest Tennessee
Development District; Ginger French, architect and
engineer of TLM Associates; Haywood County Mayor
Franklin Smith; Billy Lane and Harriet Cannon of USDA
Rural Development; Brownsville Mayor Webb Banks; U. S.
Congressman John Tanner; DHC Director Cathe Butler;
and Ann Banks, Economic and Community Development
Director for the City of Brownsville.
U. S.
Representative John Tanner and Rural Development Area
Director Harriet Cannon on August 13 joined
Brownsville Mayor Webb Banks and other local leaders
to announce a Rural Development Grant of $25,000 to
purchase multi-media equipment needed to make the new
West Tennessee Conference Center fully operational.
The announcement took place at the West Tennessee
Delta Heritage Center (DHC).
“It
is crucial that rural communities have access to
technology that can connect us with others,” Tanner
said. “This investment will be very helpful as our
local officials and business leaders continue working
to create more jobs in West Tennessee.”
Banks, Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith and DHC
Executive Director Cathe Butler accepted the
ceremonial check from Tanner and Cannon. The Rural
Development investment will outfit the 150-person
meeting and conference room with sound, projection and
computer equipment capable of meeting the needs of a
wide variety of educational, business and community
events.
The
conference center is an expansion of the Delta
Heritage Museum on Hwy. 6 at I-40. The new facilities
are funded through a $470,448 Transportation
Enhancement Grant administered by the State Department
of Transportation and an additional $95,000 investment
by Brownsville.
Places for people to come together, to learn, to do
business, to celebrate, are at the heart of every
healthy community,” said Cannon. “Thanks to
Congressman John Tanner and our congressional
delegation, Rural Development has the financial
resources to help increase the economic impact the
Delta Heritage Center has on Brownsville and Haywood
County.”
The
DHC serves as a welcome center for Brownsville and
West Tennessee. More than 240,000 visitors stopped at
the center last year, fueling growth for other area
businesses. With the investment announced on August
13, Rural Development has invested $774,000 in DHC
facilities and equipment.
Area mayors and utilities unite in community
development partnership
Contributed by Jerry Wilson,
Brownsville States-Graphic
Members of The Southwest Community Development
Authority listed with their governing entities are
(from left, seated) Rod Schuh, Lauderdale County
Mayor; Webb Banks, Mayor of Brownsville; Jeff Huffman,
County Executive of Tipton County; Duke Brasfield,
attorney for Tipton County; and CEO Duane Lavery; and
(from left, standing) Jon Pavletic, Mayor of Ripley;
Franklin Smith, Haywood County Executive; and David
Gordon, Mayor of Covington. Not pictured is Jack Fox
of Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership
Corporation.
“If
we do the same old thing, we’ll get the same old
results, ”said one. “If we do nothing, we get nothing
said another.” Such comments set the stage for
discussion during a meeting of the newly formed
Southwest Community Development Authority (STCDA) at
the Chamber of Commerce in Covington in early August.
STCDA
is the result of an interlocal agreement that was
reached by Mayors Webb Banks and Franklin Smith of
Brownsville and Haywood County, David Gordon Mayor of
Covington and County Executive Jeff Huffman of Tipton
County. Documents that established the authority were
signed in February 2008.
STCDA
gained strength in numbers at Tuesday’s meeting when
board members unanimously welcomed Ripley and
Lauderdale County as members. Ripley Mayor Jon
Pavletic and Lauderdale County Mayor Rod Schuh were
added to the board.
The
board is composed of each mayor and/or county
executive, the utility department of each city, and
Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation (STEMC).
Each of the partners contributes to the funding for
STCDA. Governing entities contribute $50,000 each
annually, the city utility departments in each city
contributes $15,000 annually and STEMC contributes
$20,000. The Mayor or county executive from each
governing entity serves by position on the board and
one member from the utility companies serves on the
board that is rotated in two-year intervals. Jack Fox,
general manage of STEMC, represents the utility
companies on the current board.
Chairman Jeff Huffman introduced Duane Lavery of
Texarkana, Texas, as the new Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) for STCDA. He is a certified economic developer
(CEcD) with 20 years’ experience in increasingly
responsible management positions in economic
development, research and analysis.
His
recent experience is working with the Red River
Redevelopment Authority (RRRA), a public economic
development agency responsible for the development of
the Red River Commerce Park, a commercial and
industrial park.
For
the past 12 years, he has served in senior management
positions directly in line with economic development
and community redevelopment. He has been directly
responsible for the attraction or expansion of about
20 companies that have created over 500 new jobs to a
rural area.
Lavery displayed a high level of enthusiasm with his
new assignment and is looking forward to the challenge
that lies ahead. “What impresses me,” he said, “is the
foresight and vision of these communities and what
they are doing in creating a focus regarding
industrial development on a regional basis. My goal is
to build a partnership with all the entities in this
region.” He begins his duties with STCDA on September
1.
After
meeting with Lavery, members were impressed with his
experience, enthusiasm and communication skills and
are anxious to have him on board. “I don’t know where
to go or what door to knock on,” said Lauderdale
County Mayor Rod Schuh, “We need direction.” Chairman
Jeff Huffman concluded, “It’s time to step out of the
box and look at development like big industry does,
from a regional perspective.”
Grant to fund improvements downtown
August 12, 2008
Brownsville may spend nearly $1 million dollars on
downtown. Mayor Webb Banks announced at the August 12
city board meeting that state government will provide
$740,000 in funding for downtown renovation. Local
government will provide a match of $200,000. Banks did
not say, specifically, what the money will be used for
but discussion has centered on aesthetic and
infrastructure.
The
grant funds came through the state’s Central Business
District Improvement Program.
Industrial recruiting plan to launch
The Southwest Community Development Authority will
officially commence business September 1, according to
Mayor Webb Banks. Banks says the Authority’s board has
hired Duane Lavery as executive director. Lavery’s
office will be located in Covington.
The
Development Authority is a joint effort and is funded
by utilities and governments in Tipton, Lauderdale and
Haywood Counties. SCDA will focus on industrial
recruitment for the three counties.
Mayor makes appointments
Brownsville Mayor Webb Banks won the city board’s
approval of several governmental board appointments.
Economic Development Board - Bob Bond, Allan Callery,
and Andy Wynn
Historic Zoning Commission - Ralph Brown, Tommy
Hooper, Riley Gregory, and Sharon Hayes
Joint
Economic and Community Development Board - Pat Mann
Jr., Regie Castellaw, Jere Williamson Jr., Jerry
Smith, Jack Fox, and Jack Brummett
Planning Commission - Sharon Hayes and Riley Gregory
Zoning Appeals Board - Tammie Canada
Housing Authority - Michelle Hood
County Mayor presents budget
At a public hearing held Tuesday night, August 12,
Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith provided details
of the proposed 2008/2009 county budget. Smith said
county government ended its last fiscal year spending
less and collecting more than predicted.
Had
it not been for local government’s decision to
purchase a $2 million tract for the new industrial
park, Smith said county government would have ended
the year with a budget surplus instead of the near $1
million deficit. The deficit, Smith said, is nearly
exactly what was spent on the land.
The
new (2008/2009) budget predicts a near $2.5 million
shortfall but no increase in property tax. As in
previous years, Smith says he hopes budget-makers have
under estimated income and over estimated spending. He
is also hopeful there will be significant income from
efforts to collect past due balances due the general
sessions court.
With
only three commissioners absent and a handful of
on-lookers, Mayor Smith took a little over an hour to
point out a number of budget highlights.
-
County workers, except for school teachers, will
receive a 3 percent raise. School teachers are
receiving a one-time bonus payment from state
government of $270.
-
Employees will have a new expense if they
participate in the county’s health insurance
program. During the past fiscal year, government
paid all of their $308 monthly individual health
insurance bill. Under the new budget, employees will
be required to pay $56.89 monthly. Those
participating in the family plan will see their
portion of the premium raised about $120. The
increases are the result of a 32% hike in premium.
-
Three employees have been added to the county’s
payroll including one new sheriff’s deputy.
-
Six automobiles will be purchased including four
sheriff’s patrol cars and a car for the county
mayor.
- The
county’s rural fire system has $100,000 in which to
purchase three pumper trucks.
Citing the large deficit predicted in the budget,
County Commissioner Richard Jameson asked why there
was no tax increase.
“We’re spending some of our fund balance,” Smith
replied. Referencing the general sessions court’s
accounts, he also said, “We didn’t think it right to
ask for a tax increase until we do a better job of
collecting.” County government has about $10 million
in fund balance.
August election reseats assessor and
nets two new school board members
The
August 7 general election in Brownsville and Haywood
County kept Assessor Dare Simpson in office, and
voters elected two new school board members to replace
two retiring ones. In the county, a total of 1.929
voters went to the polls.
In
the assessors race, 1,850 votes were cast with Simpson
receiving over 68 percent or 1,267 of those votes
defeating her challenger James Morgan.
School board member Patricia Gruenewald in Districts 2
and 6 was replaced by Daniel Thornton who received 64
percent of the votes to beat his opponents Freddie
Burnette and Bruce Steele. Winning the vote to replace
Joe Barden IV in Districts 4 and 10 was Allen Currie.
He earned almost 77 percent of the vote over his
opponent Maggie Stewart.
Currie and Thornton take their seats on the school
board in September. Only about 1,000 people voted in
those two races.
Running unopposed, Morris English (Districts 1 and 5),
Milton Booth (Districts 2 and 6), and Jack Brummet
(Districts 4 and 10) regained their positions as road
commissioners.
In
the U. S. Senate Democratic Primary, Gary G. Davis
received the most votes in Haywood County with 201.
Statewide, though, Robert D. Tuke will run against
Republican Senator Lamar Alexander in November.
John
Tanner, who holds the 8th District U. S. House of
Representatives seat, ran unopposed and has no
contender in the November national election.
Randy
Camp, also unopposed, will be the Democratic contender
in the race for the Tennessee Senate 26th District
seat that is being vacated by John Wilder. And
although Bob Shutt won the vote in Haywood County as
the Republican candidate, Dolores Gresham won
statewide and will compete against Camp in November.
In
the Tennessee House seat for the 81st District,
incumbent Democrat Jimmy Naifeh will be running
against Republican candidate Rory Bricco in November.
Stuff the Bus for Back to School
Saturday, July 26, was “Stuff the Bus” Day in Stanton,
and that’s what volunteers were doing. The bus also
served as a reminder that Haywood County school days
have returned. With the first day of school on
Tuesday, August 5, donations of school supplies and
money for school dress policy clothing was the purpose
of the 2nd annual event. Organizers gave the items to
the Haywood County School Board for distribution.
Stanton landscape is changing
A piece of history comes tumbling down
The old Stanton Bank building, later known as Hicks
Corner Store, was recently demolished after efforts to
save the structure were unsuccessful.
The
physical appearance in downtown Stanton is changing
drastically, and people with Stanton ties may want to
take a look before the buildings are razed and the
townspeople and leaders make their efforts to totally
rebuild. In fact, proposed plans also include the
possibility of moving the downtown business district
to another location in the area.
Practically all structures currently located downtown
have been declared unsafe and beyond rehabilitation.
The planning committee has also proposed that the town
adopt the International Building Code of 2006. The
code is awaiting a final reading and must be adopted
by the Board of Mayor and Alderman. Should the code
pass, it will jeopardize the future status of any of
the remaining structures since the code requires that
if 75 percent or more of the structure is
rehabilitated, it must meet the requirements of the
code.
Two
buildings have already been razed, including the old
Gilliam Jones Funeral Home and the original Stanton
Bank building. Exhausted but unsuccessful efforts were
made to save the old bank building. Other buildings
are also scheduled for future demolition.