Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee

News- December 2007

BUD to borrow for infrastructure and adjust rates

Tuesday night, December 11, Brownsville Utility Department manager John Sharpe probably presented to the board his last report in his official capacity. He’s retiring December 31 after 43 years with the city utility. Sharpe told aldermen and the mayor the utility will need to borrow – via a bond issue - $1.25 million dollars early next year to cover various infrastructure improvements.

Sharpe said matching two utility improving grants, sinking a new water well, buying sewer cleaning equipment and painting a water tank contribute to the need for the debt which will be funded by a bond issue.

As a result, Sharpe said, water and sewer rates need to be increased. The water rate hike is a little over 7% and the sewer increase 17%.

Sharpe had some good news, too. BUD will be passing along a 3% reduction in electric rates and a 4% reduction in gas rates. He says added all together – the increases and the decreases -the result is a slightly lower utility bill for the average residential customer.

Anti-drug and tobacco grants effective

Rev. Bent Porterfield told aldermen federal grant monies funneled through the state and designed to help reduce drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse here are being spent effectively. Porterfield said the evidence is in the reduction of crime and traffic fatalities in the county.

Porterfield says he is working to build a coalition with the goal of combining similarly themed grants and programs into a coordinated force that could strengthen all of the programs.

Committee and board appointments

Mayor Webb Banks appointed Sandra Silverstein, Jack Fox and Walter Battle to the Brownsville Industrial Development Board.

The mayor reappointed Bill Lea to the utility board and Michelle Hood to the Brownsville Housing Authority.

Alderman Carolyn Flagg was appointed by the mayor to the Park Commission Board.

Industrial Park annexed and zoned

Brownsville grew a bit, thanks to action of the city board. The board annexed 289 acres along Windrow Road when it met December 11. The property is owned jointly by the city and county governments and is expected to be developed into an industrial park.

Haynes promoted

Aldermen approved a request to promote Brownsville Police Corporal Jason Haynes from corporal to sergeant. The promotion became official when the board met December 11.

Local unemployment rate drops

A few more people in Haywood County were working in October than in September, according to statistics released in late November by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce.

October’s unemployment rate in Haywood County is reported as 7.1 percent, down from the September unemployment rate that was 7.2 percent. A year ago 7.8 percent of Haywood County’s labor force was out of work.

Neighboring counties’ rates are: Crockett County, 5.5 percent; Hardeman, 6.9 percent; Lauderdale county, 7.2 percent; Fayette, 7.4 percent; and Tipton County, 4.8 percent.

The state’s unemployment rate for October is 4.6 percent. The United States unemployment rate is 4.7 percent.

For the complete Tennessee Unemployment report, click here.

County to develop regional development authority

Haywood County government took a major step – and made a significant investment – when, Monday night, November 18, commissioners agreed to an industrial recruiting plan that joins Haywood County and Brownsville’s governments and utilities with similar entities in Tipton County.

Haywood County Commissioners unanimously adopted an Inter-Local Agreement establishing the Southwest Tennessee Community Development Authority. The Authority, if adopted by the other cooperating governments, creates an office “to market the entire region as a site for industrial development.”

County Mayor Franklin Smith said Covington and Brownsville city governments and the Tipton County government are expected to join the Authority. Haywood County agreed to contribute $50,000 to the annual $250,000 budget. Tipton County, Brownsville and Covington are also expected to contribute $50,000 each and utilities including Brownsville, Covington and Southwest Electric will, together, provide $50,000.

Once established, the industrial recruiting agency will likely hire a staff. Smith said Monday a national search for a director and a salary “approaching six figures” is likely.

Searching for a site

Willing to spend up to $15 million on the Justice Complex project, county commissioners can’t get started in earnest until they find a site, and so far that hasn’t been settled. Jail Committee Chairman Brad Bishop said the county has moved its site selection deadline to December 6.

Local property owners have made offers, but, based on discussion at the meeting, there are questions about whether any of the sites are suitable.

They include:

A tract on the bypass near Jefferson owned by Donnie Hatcher and Galon and Travis Baggett. It’s offered at $10,000 per acre.
Two lots owned by Bill Lea. Lea is offering lots located on the bypass across from the old Wal-Mart location for $50,000 per acre. He is also offering property east of First South Bank on East Main at $40,000 per acre.
Mike English has offered 8.8 acres on East Main near the city limits for $500,000.
Ray Mathis is asking $3,900 for property located at Shaw’s Chapel Road and the bypass.
Kent Moore priced the old Moore garment factory and surrounding property on North Washington, just over 6 acres at $500,000.

Bishop said the county requires about 10 acres for the new facility. He also said the jail committee is also considering county-owned property, including the new industrial park and the site of the present jail on Highway 70 East. Bishop reported that his committee may also want to look at property left over in the old industrial park, and he plans on reviewing property for sale “just east of the hospital.”

County Commissioner Richard Jameson expressed concern about neighborhoods, whether they are industrial, retail or residential, that may surround the new complex. He said he hoped the committee would consider future “residential, retail and industrial development.”

Other business

County government will use local funds to pay about $40,000 of a $71,000 waterline that will be extended to Woodlawn Church. The church, located near Highway 19, isn’t in the present waterline extension plan but Monday night commissioners voted to extend the line to the 300-plus-member church. Mayor Smith said there is about $20,000 in “contingency funds” in the waterline budget and the church will contribute $10,000 to the cost, leaving taxpayers with a $40,000 balance.

Pets and zoning topics at City Board meeting November 11

Aldermen took the first step –passing on first reading – two tough new ordinances at the November 11 city board meeting.

Under scrutiny are any breed of so-called vicious dogs – especially pit bulldogs, and they are about to be illegal in Brownsville. City leaders have also taken steps to restrict the number of pets residents of Brownsville may own.

Under the new vicious dog ordinance it will be illegal to own a pit bulldog. The ordinance states, “It shall be unlawful to keep, harbor, own, or in any way possess a pit bull dog” in Brownsville.

The ordinance allows current pits to stay with their owners but only under strict guidelines that include registering the animals with the city, paying an annual permit fee, housing them appropriately and buying liability insurance covering each animal.

In a separate action, aldermen approved the first reading of an ordinance that will restrict single-family homeowners to a total of six pets and those living in multi-family dwellings to two.

Aldermen passed the measures on first reading but say they plan to further examine the new rules before the final vote expected next month.

Zoning request denied

Public protest has apparently ended a zoning change. Aldermen previously passed on first reading a change to zoning ordinances that would allow equestrian events in general commercial zones.

The change came at the request of owners of property located on the bypass near Jefferson who want to lease property to promoters of horse racing. Tuesday afternoon aldermen heard from residents of the area who are opposed to the plan. They say they’ve also received calls from others who oppose it.

Aldermen never voted on the zoning issue but did unanimously pass a motion made by Alderman John Simmons “to not let this event come to Brownsville.”

Other business

The new parade ordinance passed. The most important feature of the new rule requires parade organizers to be covered by special parade insurance and cover the city as an additional insured. The next parade is the Christmas parade set for December 1.

City leaders also agreed to purchase 29 police car video/audio recording systems. The devices cost taxpayers just over $100,000.

Aldermen approved to promote two police officers. Sgt. Barry Diebold and Sgt. Harry Walton were both promoted to Lieutenant.

Mayor Banks reported to the aldermen that the sale has closed on a portion of the new industrial park. The city purchased the “Hendrix” farm Monday for just over $900,000. The remainder of the property was purchased on Wednesday. The new 500-acre park is located at the bypass and Windrow Road.

Chamber announces “Of the Year” awards at annual banquet

Six were honored at the Brownsville-Haywood County Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet Thursday, November 8, held at the Brownsville Country Club. From left, Volunteer of the Year is Sonia Outlaw-Clark; Jo Anne Finn is Chamber Ambassador of the Year; Haywood Company is Business/Industry of the Year (Rob Lincer accepted the award); Emma Delk is the Woman of the Year; Carlton Veirs, Man of the Year; and Rhonda Thompson, Educator of the Year. More than 130 people attended the annual event.