News-
May 2007
The 1175th back to Iraq
The 1175th Transportation Unit of
the Tennessee National Guard, stationed in
Brownsville, pulled out Monday, May 7, in preparation
to return to the war in Iraq. The usual fanfare,
according to family members, was avoided for reasons
of security. It’s the third time members of this unit
have served in the Persian Gulf region.
Their destination is Fort Bragg, N.
C., via Tullahoma, where they will be for an
undisclosed amount of time for training before leaving
the U. S. for the Gulf War. The military doesn’t
disclose the unit’s ultimate mission, their exact
final destination or how long they will be gone.
City board approves changes to charter
The city clerk doesn’t have to live in Brownsville
any more and downtown merchants don’t have to pay
for the upkeep of the sidewalks in front of their
buildings.
Amendments to the city charter completed May 8 by
the city board make the changes.
Mayor Webb Banks says the city has been paying for
sidewalk maintenance downtown for years.
And the old rules requiring the city clerk rule to
live in Brownsville is also out-of-date, according
to city leaders. Mayor Banks said this dates back to
the days when the city had a part-time mayor.
Banks reviewing drug enforcement efforts
Mayor Webb Banks wants to know more about the
enforcement of illegal drug laws in Brownsville.
The mayor recently asked for and received a report
about drug investigations conducted by the 28th Judicial Drug Task
Force and from the city police department.
In the last 11 months, officers have made 212 drug
cases. The city has receipted over $18,000 in seized money.
The mayor also wants to know more about the seized
cash and other assets. While emphasizing that he doesn’t believe
there are any improprieties, he is asking the Drug Task Force for
their accounting information. The Task Force is run by the
attorney general’s office, and seizure funds are split between the
force’s account and that of the municipality. The mayor wants to
know more about collections and distributions.
Brownsville’s cleanup policies to be bolstered
by new code officer
Brownsville’s city government will soon hire a
new Code Enforcement Officer. The city board
approved the proposal made by Mayor Webb Banks at
the May 8 city council meeting.
Mayor Banks says enforcement of all of the
various zoning ordinances is a huge job and many
ordinances are not being enforced. Junk cars,
vicious dogs, derelict housing and enforcement of
historic zoning ordinances top the mayor’s list.
The new officer will likely be paid between $10
and $11 per hour – and will work full-time. The city
will soon advertise for applicants.
Brownsville adopts ethics policies
The city board adopted new ethics policies when
they met May 8.
The city’s new rules prohibit the acceptance of
gifts and don’t allow certain business transactions when the
business is done with government’s employees or elected officials
who have financial interest in the deals.
The city attorney is designated as the ethics
officer. Violation of the rules could mean censure for elected
officials and termination of employees.