Benchmarks 2012 Section F by The Greeneville Sun

Section F

Perspectives ALAN BROYLES

W.T. DANIELS

GREENE COUNTY MAYOR

GREENEVILLE MAYOR

TOMMY CASTEEL

BILL GRUBB

BILLY MYERS

JOHN FOSTER

BAILEYTON MAYOR

BULLS GAP MAYOR

MOSHEIM MAYOR

TUSCULUM MAYOR

DR. VICKI KIRK

DR. LYLE AILSHIE

GREENE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS

GREENEVILLE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS

The Greeneville Sun March 31, 2012

2012 Benchmarks

www.greenevillesun.com

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 31, 2012

Broyles Reflects On County’s Successes And Challenges BY KRISTEN BUCKLES

really make a difference.”

STAFF WRITER

After a year full of large expenditures and a few controversial issues, the Greene County Commission — and in particular County Mayor Alan Broyles — now face the looming 2012-2013 budgeting process. Mayor Broyles is preparing for the stress of several increasing expenditures, and revenues that he said are only just beginning to creep back to normal. “We always have challenges we’re going to face,” he said in an interview this month. “The biggest challenge, and the challenge that will cause a lot of sleepless nights — will be balancing this next year’s budget and providing these same services on the revenues that will come in.” The process took several months out of the past year and prompted considerable debate concerning employee pay and the need to maintain the county’s savings (or fund balance).

SUN PHOTO BY O.J. EARLY

Greene County Mayor Alan Broyles serves as chairman of the county’s Budget & Finance Committee, a group of mostly county commissioners that reviews the prior year’s county budget and develops a recommended budget for the coming year.

a strong advocate of the county’s maintaining at least $5 million in reserve for unforeseen emergencies, in the fund balance. However, without reimbursements from the Federal and Tennessee Emergency Management agencies (FEMA and TEMA, respectively) for tornadorelated county expenditures, the projected fund balance for the start of the coming 2012-2013 FUND BALANCE DEBATE budget year would be $3.5 Broyles, as the county’s million: $1.5 million short chief financial officer, is of the $5 million target.

Broyles serves as chairman of the county’s Budget & Finance Committee, a group of mostly county commissioners that reviews the prior year’s county budget and develops a recommended budget for the coming year. No county budget is final until approved by a majority vote of the Greene County Commission. Also serving on the committee is County Director of Finance Mary Shelton,

who makes estimates of the coming year’s revenues to balance against the expenditures that county department heads propose for their departments. “If the revenues don’t come in, you’ll be spending out more than you’ll be taking in, which is not good,” Broyles said. “One [piece of] good news: we might be seeing a trend upward with a light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s very slight,” he added. “Not enough to

SOME RAISES, BONUSES GRANTED Last year’s budget brought considerable debate when the committee chose to deny all requests from department heads for raises due to a $1.2 million deficit in the General Fund’s budget. (The county’s General Fund is the overall operating budget for many of the county departments.) However, the County Commission voted 14-to6 to approve 1.6 percent raises for all county school system employees, in addition to $500 bonuses. (Greene County Director of Schools Dr. Vicki Kirk explained that, for the system’s professional employees, such as teachers, the raises were a state requirement, or mandate. (For “classified” employees, such as clerical staff, she said, the raises and bonuses were not staterequired — but they were possible in the 2011-2012 budget year if the county school system used federal Jobs Bill money.) After much discussion and debate, the Budget and Finance Committee informally agreed in September to consider bonus-

es (if the money became available) for those county employees who did not receive a raise or bonus in the 2011-2012 budget year. In looking ahead at the upcoming budget process for 2012-2013, however, the mayor said he anticipates refilling his blood pressure medicine more frequently. “I refill my blood pressure medicine more and more every budget cycle,” he said. “[This cycle] I fear the worst in that there will probably have to be some cuts.” US NITROGEN In regard to the county’s financial situation, “one of the biggest things in a long time” has been the recent groundbreaking for US Nitrogen, LLC, which is expected to bring considerable revenue and some job growth to the county. “Greene County is desperate for jobs,” he said. “We need to get our people working. I’ve always said that a prosperous county is an employed county. That’s one of our top priorities — to get people PLEASE SEE BROYLES | 3

On The Cover FROM THE TOP, AND LEFT TO RIGHT: COUNTY MAYOR BROYLES REFLECTS ON SUCCESSES, AND CHALLENGES THAT ARE UPCOMING

Mayor John Foster said. Foster noted 10 accomplishments made by the Board of Mayor and Commissioners in 2011, and talked in a recent interview about the future outlook for the city, which was incorporated in 1959. DR. VICKI KIRK: GREENE COUNTY SCHOOLS ACHIEVE GOALS AND FACE UPCOMING CHALLENGES

Baileyton Mayor Tommy Casteel said he is pleased with the accomplishments of several items of importance to the Town of Baileyton during the past year. Among Cover and page design of all Benchmarks sections by Hala Watson. those are energy-related upgrades to the town’s sewer plant, including new blowers and a generator. The money for the upgrades was provided through a federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, which was around $100,000. BULLS GAP RECEIVES GRANT FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, MAKES BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS

A grant that will help the local volunteer fire department and a long anticipated, and long overdue, bridge replacement project that finally got under way were two of the notable highlights at Bulls Gap in 2011. The old adage “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” best describes what happened with the Community Development Block Grant funding for the Bulls Gap Volunteer Fire Department. MAYOR BILLY MYERS: MOSHEIM MAKES PROGRESS WITH NEW INDUSTRY, WATER UPGRADE

Attracting new businesses will help Tusculum keep a balanced budget, Tusculum

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Saturday, March 31, 2012

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

Daniels Sees Hiring Administrator As Highlight Of Past Year BY AMY ROSE STAFF WRITER

The biggest accomplishment this year for the Town of Greeneville was the hiring of a city administrator, according to Mayor W.T. Daniels. A longtime former alderman, Daniels said that the lengthy process of amending the Town Charter to provide for the position of city administrator was the most thorough undertaking he had been involved in during his 22 years on the board. Todd Smith was hired as the new city administrator, and his first day on the job was Jan. 3. He is serving on an interim basis until the Town Charter is amended by vote of the Tennessee General Assembly and again by the city board, according to Pat Hardy, municipal management consultant with the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service. Smith has said he expects the legislature’s approval in April.

SUN PHOTO BY JIM FELTMAN

Pat Hardy, at left, municipal management consultant with the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service, attended workshops and other public meetings related to changing the town’s form of government from a hybrid of the weak mayor and strong mayor forms to a council/administrator form. He “did a good job in leading us through that process,” said Mayor W.T. Daniels of Hardy. Daniels is seated in the third row, wearing a sports jacket.

of the public meetings to discuss the administrator position. One of the biggest challenges for the town has been all of the time-consuming meetings that were held to make changes to the Charter, he said. “But I am tickled to death that we’ve been able to accomplish what we’ve accomplished,” he added. “I HARDY PLAYED KEY ROLE think it went over really The process of hiring a well.” city administrator started a year-and-a-half ago with WHY THE CHANGE? the board’s first retreat in One of the main reasons quite some time, the mayor the town decided to change recalled. its Charter was to build Hardy attended that stability in the community, retreat in 2010, and anoth- Daniels stated. er one last March. He explained that, Hardy also attended through the election proworkshops and other types cess, the makeup of the of public meetings related board can change every to changing the town’s 12 months, but having form of government from the same administrator a hybrid of the weak mayor in place, he said, will help and strong mayor forms with consistency of town to a council/administrator governance. form. Another reason for the He “did a good job in change, he said, was to leading us through that achieve increased profesprocess,” Daniels said of sionalism and efficiency. Hardy. “I think Todd [Smith] “It couldn’t have been any is an excellent fit for our more open,” Daniels said community,” Daniels said,

describing the new administrator as young, smart and full of energy. Smith has been communicating with department heads, an action which has improved morale, Daniels said. “We’ve got some great people who work for this city,” he added.

Broyles

that was done,” Broyles commented in the interview earlier this month. “The study by the County Technical Assistance Service was a very detailed study and a huge time-consuming study,” Broyles said. The mayor commended the county commissioners for “taking their time to actually study it closely. “They didn’t just act on this sporadically. They took a lot of time with it,” he noted.

Starts on Page 2 working again.” The county has also made some changes in the past year in hopes of seeing future savings. Two such major projects are energy-saving upgrades to several county facilities and a county asphalt plant.

Factory

ENERGY SAVINGS The County Commission approved the $2.7 million expenditure for the energy-saving upgrades in July 2010, but the contractor, Energy Systems Group (ESG), completed much of the work in this past year. “This was a big step,” Broyles said. “We’re about 95 percent through with this energy project by ESG. We’re very proud of that. I think the county’s going to reap great benefits from our savings.” The ESG contract promises enough savings in either energy or maintenance costs to pay for the improvements over 15 years. If this does not occur, the company would owe the county $91,650 for each of the 15 years to match the total ESG is guaranteeing for the county. ESG’s Russ Nelson, of Johnson City, reported back in 2010 that the largest project would be at the Greene County Courthouse, where upgrades were needed to the heating and cooling system and the electrical equipment and wiring, as

well as the addition of a sprinkler system and fire alarm system. The county has since added to the list of courthouse projects a new vestibule and handicap access. Other projects included replacing windows at the Courthouse Annex and upgrading lighting in all major county buildings. Despite some setbacks, Broyles said he has been “very well pleased” by their work. “All I can say is good things about ESG,” he commented. “We’ll be completing this project probably [by mid-April]. It has taken time to get everything done, but it has certainly been worth the wait and the discomfort that some offices may have had.” ASPHALT PLANT The other major project of the year was in beginning work on a countyowned-a nd- operated asphalt plant, which the commission approved on a 14-to-7 vote in August. (Please see related article on Page 6 of Benchmarks Section B, Government.) A study by the County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) and a separate feasibility group estimated that the plant would save the county enough to pay for the plant and see more roads paved within a matter of a few years, although the accuracy of the numbers was hotly debated for several months. “I feel sure the commissioners acted on the positive results of the study

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE One thing that many Greenevillians did not receive well was the board’s attempt to adopt a new Property Maintenance Code. The board rescinded its first-reading approval of the 2006 International Property Maintenance Code because of the amount of misinformation presented to the community, Daniels said. Adopting a new code failed despite the mayor’s appointing a five-member committee that met in five open sessions to make revisions that were intended to suit the local community, Daniels said. Many community members said the international code was too intrusive, too

DRIVER SERVICES CENTER A few other items have captured the mayor’s attention and pride in the past year as well, including the improvements and additions to West Greene High School. Perhaps the year’s strongest jolt came when the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced at the first of the year that most services at the Greene County Driver Service Center would no longer be available. (Please see related article on page 5 of Benchmarks Section B, Government.) “When I first read that in the paper, it was similar to grabbing hold of an electric fence,” Broyles said. “It was just a big shock, to do that without any prior notice of what was coming down the pike.” He said that he did appreciate, however, that the department’s commissioner, Bill Gibbons, “was willing to work through the problems.” Broyles requested that Commissioner Gibbons travel from Nashville to

authoritarian and showed too little respect for individual property rights. (Please see related story on Page 4 of Benchmarks Section B, Government.) “People can talk about intrusiveness all they want to,” Daniels said, but all codes, such as those related to food service or child care, are intrusive to someone. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life, to be honest,” Daniels said of the failure to adopt the new code. As a result of the board rescinding its action, the town is continuing to use the 1997 Standard Housing Code, which has been in place for a number of years. BUDGET SUCCESS In addition to hiring a new administrator, another big accomplishment for the town was the passage of a balanced budget with no increase in the property tax rate, Daniels said. Also, the town did not have to dip into its reserves to balance the budget, he noted. Several factors led to this success, he stated. meet with local officials and address their concerns face-to-face, he said. “It turned out to be a positive meeting, and I was just really pleased with the commissioner’s decision to leave [the center] open [and restore the services],” Broyles said. “That’s not to say that all the problems have been solved down there. We’ve still got major problems with the long waits.”

2011 - 2012

One factor, he said, was the board’s decision to refinance what had been its variable-rate debt, locking it in at a lower fixed-interest rate. “I think that’s been a definite plus,” he said. “We’ve saved a tremendous amount of money through [avoiding] fees.” Also helping to balance the budget were increased sales tax revenue and cuts to expenses requested by department heads, he said. CREATING JOBS One of the main goals the town is trying to accomplish is working with Tom Ferguson, president and CEO of the Greene County Partnership, and existing local industries to create jobs, Mayor Daniels said. A number of local companies are in the process of expanding, he noted. “It looks real positive,” he added. MEETING PROCEDURES Asked about his change in meeting procedures, Daniels said he was following similar guidelines used by the Greene Coun-

ty Commission. The mayor decided during 2011 to restrict the opportunity to address the board at meetings to persons who either live inside the city limits or own property inside Greeneville. “The people we [the members of the board] represent are the people allowed to speak,” he said. Mayor Daniels said he himself would not be allowed to speak freely at the State Capitol in Nashville, and he doubts he would be allowed to speak freely at the official meetings of other communities, such as Johnson City or Morristown. One reason for the change was to increase security, he said. He recalled one meeting, before the changes were made, when a county resident walked around the board room lectern while someone was speaking and approached the board to give the members documents pertaining to the subject. After that meeting, he said, someone approached him and asked if the board had any security precautions in place. Since that conversation, ropes have been in place at the G. Thomas Love Board Room to separate the board members on the raised dais from the audience at meetings, and at least one police officer is regularly stationed near the ropes to enforce the separation. Daniels also recalled that he has set a three-minute time limit on all speakers at meetings who wish to make statements to the board. When compared with limiting the right to address the board to residents or property-owners of Greeneville itself, the new time-limit rule has been more accepted by the public, Daniels said.

The issue, he said, seems to be that there are now much larger crowds at the center because the commissioner chose to keep all previous services but also make the center the only location for license reinstatements in Northeast Tennessee. “It’s not the fault of the employees that are there now,” he said, explaining that more employees are probably needed. “The [current] employees work hard

and they go full force.” Broyles said he will be in touch with Commissioner Gibbons to continue work on improving the situation. Despite these occasional stresses, however, the mayor said he is thankful he is in good health and continues to enjoy his position. “It’s been a pleasure,” he said. “You never say, ‘Never again.’ We keep all options open.”

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THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 31, 2012

Mosheim Makes Progress With New Industry, Water Upgrade BY KRISTEN BUCKLES

munity, Myers said. “It’ll make it so much better for [water customers],” he commented.

STAFF WRITER

Few towns can claim a mayor who lives for the position the way Mosheim Mayor Billy Myers does. Now in his eighth term in office, Myers says he’s never thought of retirement because he loves being involved and watching over the community. “I say I ain’t going to run again, but I don’t know,” he said with a small grin. “I said I wouldn’t last time, and here I am. I ain’t going to quit now. That’s one thing I will not do.” Despite some health problems that briefly hospitalized the 80-year-old mayor in January, he is proudly back in his office at Mosheim’s Town Hall. Joining Myers on this term’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen are Dave Long, Tommy Gregg, Claude “Junior” Weems Jr., and Harold Smith. Myers said he has a good working relationship with all the aldermen and believes he knows them well, including Long, who is the newest member. “He’s a good man,” Myers said of Long. “He’ll do anything you want him to do. He’ll just f ly right in.” In his personal philosophies as the town’s mayor, Myers indicated that he is keeping his focus on the old and his ambition on the new. “I look after the old people, I really do,” he said, explaining how he tries to drop by to see how the elderly citizens are getting along, especially those who are homebound. “One year the snow was so bad, I’d go to the store for them,” he said. MOSHEIM’S BIG CHANGE There was not any real snow to speak of this winter in Mosheim, but the winds of change are blowing through. Mid-February saw the groundbreaking for the US Nitrogen, LLC plant off Pottertown Road. Getting the company to come to Mosheim and locating 400-plus acres for their facility is probably the biggest thing that has ever happened to the small town, Myers said. And, so far at least, US Nitrogen has in general been well-received by the community, especially, he addd, after having paid well for all that land. “They’re good people. It’s been real easy to work with them,” he said. “I’m really proud that they came here.” Myers anticipated that the plant will just be the beginning of the town’s expansion. “When you get a big business, a lot comes with it — and they keep coming,” he said. And while industry is his main ambition in attracting new growth,

SLOW START Unfortunately, there has not been much progress after Water Superintendent Jessie Lowery broke his ankle during the early stages of the project, the mayor said. However, with Lowery now nearly recovered, the project is back on its feet again, Myers assured. Lowery also serves as the Fire Chief of the Town of Mosheim’s Volunteer Fire Department. The department and its volunteers are a particular matter of pride for the mayor, who clearly enjoys giving high praise for firefighters. “We’ve got a real fire department. Those boys work at it,” he said. “They really stay after it, trying to keep it going. They really do what they’re supposed to.”

SUN PHOTO BY O.J. EARLY

Groundbreaking for the US Nitrogen, LLC plant off Pottertown Road in February is probably the biggest thing that has ever happened to Mosheim, said Mayor Billy Myers. “I’m really proud that they came here,” he said. small businesses would low-interest loans and certainly be welcomed grants. with open arms as well. The acceptance of the “We’d like to have Revolving Fund loan also them, too — any business,” he said. WASTEWATER UPGRADE In order to accommodate the recent and upcoming growth, as well as the massive amount of wastewater that US Nitrogen will produce, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen is in the process of applying for government grants to upgrade the aging wastewater treatment plant. The board would like to increase the plant’s capacity from 975,000 gallons per day to 1.5 million, keeping in mind that grants and low-interest loans could keep the payments at an amount that would be covered by US Nitrogen’s estimated monthly utility bill of $30,000. In February, the board authorized Myers to sign an application for $1.5 million in federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) funds. The estimated total cost of the upgrade is $3 million. “It takes a lot of money to make money,” Myers said of the upgrade. With the grants, “we’ll be all right financially,” he added. WATER LINE UPGRADES In order to replace damaged water lines and the pump station at Fellers Cove Road, the board applied for and qualified for a $1.1 million Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan. This loan offers a 20 percent “forgiveness,” effectively serving as a partial grant. The board chose this offer over a $754,000 low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Agency, for which the town also qualified. “They see how we handle our money. We use it right,” Myers said of the town’s ability to obtain

meant that the board had few years. to approve a 39 percent The improvements in hike in customers’ water water pressure, however, bills spread over the next will be good for the com-

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Saturday, March 31, 2012

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

Tusculum Enjoys Population Increase, Seeks More Businesses BY KEN LITTLE STAFF WRITER

Attracting new businesses will help Tusculum keep a balanced budget, Mayor John Foster said. Foster noted 10 accomplishments made by the Board of Mayor and Commissioners in 2011, and talked in a recent interview about the future outlook for the city, which was incorporated in 1959. Tusculum has a population of 2,663, according to 2010 U.S. Census figures. That’s 659 more residents than were counted in the 2000 census, a growth rate of nearly 33 percent. Foster, 75, said one goal in particular is important to Tusculum. “In order to continue [existing] services, we want to grow our businesses along Andrew Johnson Highway,” he said. Foster highlighted the activities of city commis-

SUN PHOTO BY O.J. EARLY

A section of Ball Road in Tusculum that has been in poor shape for years will be repaired, primarily through funds obtained in a grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). The road is a vital transportation artery for trucks to nearby Jarden Zinc Products, Inc. sioners in 2011: SEWER SERVICE PLAN The board voted to move forward with a plan to provide sewer service to existing businesses along Andrew Johnson Highway “and hopefully attract new retail businesses,” Foster said.

Sewer lines will be installed in an area that includes 27 land parcels and encompasses about 120 acres. The cost of the project is estimated to be $967,000. A grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide $485,000 for the work.

cent local option sales tax, half of which goes to the municipality. The other half goes to county school systems. “We have some prime property on Andrew Johnson Highway,” Foster said. “This is looking at the future, because revenue tends to stay somewhat constant. “If you don’t have growth in retail, (other costs) tend to increase because of inflation and other factors,” he said. “It’s in the interest of Tusculum to provide services.” Some preliminary engineering and environmental work has been done “and we’re waiting on EPA to approve the plans so they can release the $485,000,” Foster said. If the plans are approved by the EPA, work on the sewer project could get under way by later this year, he said.

ning services to municipalities, communities such as Tusculum were confronted with a dilemma. Smaller municipalities including Tusculum would have been hard-pressed to come up with the resources to retain a planner to provide advice on zoning issues, subdivision regulations and other land use activities. The problem was solved when the board approved an agreement with the First Tennessee Development District to furnish planning services after the state discontinued its local planning offices. Planners are an invaluable resource to communities like Tusculum,” Foster said. “They do a lot of research. It helps us stay up to date.”

Several existing businesses on the property will benefit from having sewer lines, Foster said. “We have them on septic BALL ROAD PROJECT systems now. (The projA section of Ball Road ect) will hopefully attract in Tusculum that has new retail businesses,” PLANNING SERVICES been in poor shape for he said. After the state That would add to rev- announced in 2011 it PLEASE SEE TUSCULUM | 7 enues from the 2.75 per- would discontinue plan-

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First Church of God 1505 West Main Street 423-638-4818 H. Gerald Rudd, Senior Pastor Stephen Aiken, Associate Pastor Dale Gruver, Worship Pastor Anita Miller,Youth Pastor

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Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. Morning Worship: 10:00 a.m. Sunday Evening: 6:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Wednesday Night Ministries & Activities for All Ages: 6:30 p.m. www.greenevillefcog.com Home of Noah's Ark Childcare & Preschool

Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church 201 N. Main St.

423-638-4119

James W. Lively, Pastor Melissa Malinoski, Pastor for Youth and Children Roy Blakeburn, Pastor of Counseling Abby Cole Keller, Pastor for Senior Ministries

Worship Times Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship: 8:15 & 10:30 a.m. Ministries for All Ages Nursery Provided Wednesday Communion: 5:45 p.m. .www.GCPChurch.org

Kingsley Avenue Free Will Baptist 213 Kingsley Ave.

423-639-6785

Bobby Morrison, Pastor Billy Dyer, Sr. Youth Director Paula Morrison, Jr. Youth Director

Doyle Pruitt, Pastor

Worship Opportunities

Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. Senior youth Service: 6:00 p.m. Jr. Youth Service: 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening: 6:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study: 6:30 p.m. www.horsecreekchurchofgod.com “Where Salvation Makes You a Member”

Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m. Sunday Evening: 6:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY Adult Bible Study - Youth Classes or Adult and Youth Bible Study - 7:00 p.m.

Reformation Lutheran Church

Towering Oaks Baptist Church

400 W. Main St., Greeneville, TN 638-4627; fax 638-5431

Frederick (Rick) Ohsiek III, Pastor

1985 Buckingham Rd. 638-7464 • Fax 638-6026 email: office@toweringoaks.org

Jessica Siple, Organist Alice Myers, Choir Director Justin Pinotti, Youth Director

Dr. James K. Pierce, III, Sr. Pastor Worship Opportunities

Worship Opportunities

Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.

Sun. Morning Worship: 8:00 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. Sunday Church School: 9:30 a.m. WEDNESDAY Children’s Adventure Bible Club: 6:00 p.m. Greeneville Lutheran Youth Meeting: 6:00 p.m. Bible Study: 6:30 p.m. www.rlcgvl.org

WEDNESDAY Solid Rock Café: 4:45-5:45 p.m. All Adult, Youth and Children’s Activities Begin By 6:00 p.m. www.toweringoaks.org

Worship Opportunities Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m. Children’s Church: 10:30 a.m. TV Broadcast, Channel 18: 4:00 p.m. Sunday Evening worship: 6:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY: 6:30 p.m. Children’s & Youth Ministries - Adult Bible Study Nursery provided for all Services

Christ United Methodist Church Oldest Methodist Congregation in Greeneville 307 South Main St.

638-6224

Ginger Isom, Pastor Worship Opportunities Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Bible studies, youth, and children’s activities are based on the school year. For information, please call the church office. Additional parking is located off of McKee Street behind the church. christum307@yahoo.com

First Presbyterian Church 110 N. Main St., Greeneville

423-638-4533 www.firstpresgreeneville.org Dr. Daniel M. Donaldson, Pastor Alan J. Kobs, Director of Christian Education Dr. David Hendricksen, Director of Music Ministry

Sunday Worship

8:30 a.m. Worship with Weekly Communion 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages 10:45 a.m. Worship (broadcast beginning at 11:00 a.m. on WSMG 1450 AM) 5:00 p.m. Youth Fellowship MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES Instrumental, Vocal and Handbell Choirs WEDNESDAY FELLOWSHIP After School Youth Program, Family Supper, Worship & Education for all

Greeneville Free Holiness 1710 Whirlwind Rd.

423-823-2271 Mike Lamb, Pastor Worship Services Sunday Worship: 10:00 a.m. Evening Worship: 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:00 p.m. 1st Friday of the month: 7:00 p.m.

Limestone Free Will Baptist Church 3709 Old State Route 34, Limestone 423-257-3163

David Reece, Pastor Worship Opportunities Sunday School: 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship: 11:00 a.m. Evening Worship: 6:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY Bible Study & Children/Youth Group: 7:00 p.m. email: office@limestonefwb.org www.limestonefwb.org

Trinity United Methodist Church 524 Tusculum Blvd.

638-7521

David Brannock, Pastor Jerry Long, Director of Music Amy Brown, Director of Youth Jennifer McHan, Director of Children

Worship Opportunities Sunday Worship: 9:30 a.m. Sunday School: 10:40 a.m. Wednesday Meal: 5:15 p.m. Program: 6:00 p.m. Trinity-UM-Church.org email: trinity8888@embarqmail.com

www.greenevillesun.com

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 31, 2012

Baileyton Mayor Casteel Likes What He Saw During Past Year BY LISA WARREN STAFF WRITER

Baileyton Mayor Tommy Casteel said he is pleased with the accomplishments of several items of importance to the Town of Baileyton during the past year. Among those are energy-related upgrades to the town’s sewer plant, including new blowers and a generator. The money for the upgrades was provided through a federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, which was around $100,000. “We did the energy part of it, and it is complete. The [second phase of the upgrade], we hope to bid pretty soon,” Casteel said during a recent interview. The second phase of the upgrade will involve the construction at the sewer plant building of a wastewater clarifier, which will be used in the treatment of sewage waste to separate solid waste from water. Town officials hope to start work this summer on the second phase of the project at the sewer plant. PARK ENHANCEMENTS In other matters for the coming year, the mayor said plans are in the works for the construction of restroom facilities at the Baileyton Town Park, located behind Baileyton Restaurant. “We’re going to try to build bathrooms at the park and get those completed in the coming year,” Casteel said. The mayor called the park “a nice place” for citizens of the community. The park, which features pavilions, is situated in what the mayor described as “a nice, grassy area in between two sections of woods.” He encouraged the public to come and enjoy the facilities there. Earlier this month, the Baileyton Board of Mayor and Aldermen accepted an $18,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program. In doing so, the town also committed to a $ 6,000 match to the grant in order to build a quarter-mile walkway to circle the perimeter of Baileyton Town Park. Casteel told the board that there should also be enough funds to provide handicap access to the trail and to the park’s two pavilions. “This is not just for the town — it’s for the whole north side of the county,” he said. “It’s for everybody.”

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A new walking trail will wind through Baileyton’s Town Park thanks to an $18,000 grant from the USDA Rural Development (RD) program. The town will need to provide a $6,000 match to the project in order to build the quarter-mile walkway. Presenting and accepting the grant at the park in February are, from left: Joe Woody, USDA Rural Development Area Director; Lana Moore, a field representative for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander; Baileyton Mayor Tommy Casteel; Town Recorder Barbara Tilson; Louis Trivette, USDA Rural Development Area Specialist; and Bridgett Baird, a field representative for U.S. Sen. Bob Corker. past year, the Baileyton Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to approve a $40,000 mediation agreement between the Town and North Greene Utilities, Inc. This amount is significantly less than Baileyton originally sought, which included compensatory damages of $300,000, plus interest MEDIATION AGREEMENT and costs related to what Also during the the lawsuit referred to ENTRANCE WALL To welcome visitors to the Town of Baileyton, an entrance wall was constructed during the past year at the intersection of Vann Hill Road and Horton Highway. Members of the Baileyton Historical Society planted f lowers and shrubbery at the wall for its beautification.

as the “illegal” dumping of water into the town’s sewer system. However, Casteel said both sides are satisfied with the agreement that was ironed out. He said he feels confident that the town and North Greene Utlilities will be able to “work together well” from here on out. “Everything is going to work out fine for both sides” in that situation, the mayor said.

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Baileyton had alleged in the lawsuit that NGU was in breach of its contract “as a result of the unauthorized and surreptitious discharge of thousands of gallons of water over an extended period of time” into the Town’s wastewater system. The plant’s “sporadic

excess f lows for which it could not account” first began in late 1999, and in 2004, the town “started an exhaustive effort to determine the source of increasingly large, but unaccounted-for f lows,” the allegations stated. A f low meter reportedly installed in April 2008 near North Greene’s water plant “determined that the plant was dumping approximately 9,642 gallons of water per day into the Baileyton wastewater sewer system.” The complaint alleged that, based on 2008 sewer rates, this level of discharge would have resulted in $33,929 in annual revenue. In a reply to the lawsuit, NGU said that the utility has always operated under an agreement calling for the minimum charge for sewer services and that the Town “had knowledge that from time to time [NGU] would pump additional water into the sewer system but nevertheless accepted the mutual agreement that [NGU] would pay the minimum bill for sewer services at the water treatment plant.” Among other replies to the lawsuit, NGU also pointed out that the Town was aware that the water treatment plant did not monitor the amount of water discharged into the sewer treatment plant and that Baileyton had chosen not to install a meter there.

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Saturday, March 31, 2012

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

Bulls Gap Receives Grant For VFD, Makes Bridge Improvements BY BILL GRUBB MAYOR, TOWN OF BULLS GAP

BULLS GAP — A grant that will help our local volunteer fire department and a long anticipated, and long overdue, bridge replacement project that finally got under way were two of the notable highlights at Bulls Gap in 2011. The 2010 Census places Bulls Gap’s population at 734 residents. As Hawkins County’s smallest municipality, and one of the smallest in the state — the West Tennessee town of Saulsbury, with a population of 81, actually takes the honor of the smallest — grants are vital to our existence. We don’t consider them “handouts”; they are, instead, a helping hand, and a vital investment in our future. PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF The old adage “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” best describes what happened with the Community Development Block Grant funding for the Bulls Gap Volunteer Fire Department (BGVFD). The town applied for the

Tusculum Starts on Page 5 years will be repaired, primarily through funds obtained in a grant to be obtained from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). The road is a vital transportation artery for trucks to nearby Jarden Zinc Products, Inc., which is not within the Tusculum city limits. Trucks also use the road to access the Greeneville/Greene County Sanitary Landfill. In 2009, TDOT estimated that the job would cost $681,000. TDOT will construct and manage the project. Any required right-of-way and utility relocation costs will be shared equally by the city and TDOT. Approval for the project was fast-tracked late

grant to upgrade the volunteer fire department’s equipment in 2009. One of the major expenditures of the application would have been a desperately needed pumper/tanker truck to replace a vehicle in the department’s fleet that is older than most of the volunteer firefighters. When the final announcement was made in the fall of 2010, the BGVFD application did not make the final cut. In fact, according to representatives of the First Tennessee Development District (FTDD), the application missed out by a single point. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) opted to file basically the same application in December 2010 and hope for better results. In November 2011, Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty announced more than $23 million in Community Development Block Grants to assist with infrastructure improvements in Tennessee, and the Bulls Gap application made the cut. “As we work to make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the

in 2011 after a coalition of city, county, economic development and Jarden Zinc officials pursued action as a group. A signed contract was returned to TDOT earlier this month, Foster said. “We would hope they start work on it this year,” he said. REFLECTIVE SIGNS The Tusculum Maintenance Department continues a program started several years ago of installing new reflective road signs throughout the town. The reflective signs are to improve safety and are mandated by the federal government, Foster said. Because of the cost, the requirement was scaled back to only include installation of new signs when older ones need replacement. Tusculum was taking advantage of available fed-

Southeast for high-quality jobs, the proper infrastructure must support existing and future businesses,” Haslam said in a news release. “I am pleased the State of Tennessee is able to partner with our local communities to make these projects a reality.” State officials noted that the allocation of CDBG funds is based on priorities set at local levels “where community needs are best known.” The Bulls Gap Board of Mayor and Aldermen, both past and present, certainly consider improving the level of fire protection a high priority. While the $240,363 grant does not require any matching funds from the City of Bulls Gap, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen agreed to use city funds to provide half, $26,381, of the $52,762 in local matching funds. Basically, the fire department will receive a new truck and much-needed equipment and gear for “10 cents on the dollar.” The rationale for providing the local money is much the same as state and federal officials use: the money is an investment — all residents served by the Bulls

eral funding to install 374 signs and posts by midMarch. “We’re fortunate we got our foot in the door early,” Foster said. Other actions taken by the Board of Mayor and Commissioners in 2011 include: • The annexation of 8.84 acres at 80 Moon Creek Road. Public services to the area will include paving 600 feet of the road, installing street lights, collecting household trash, and providing police protection. The property was rezoned B-2: General Business. Foster said the owner plans to open a furniture business on the property. • Rezoning the 3.86-acre J.M. Cox property along Andrew Johnson Highway from R-1 to B-1 for neighborhood business use. The rezoning was done at the request of the property-

Gap Volunteer Fire Department will benefit, through possibly lower insurance premiums, and definitely through more dependable fire protection. BRIDGE REPLACEMENT It took until late February for the contractor to begin removing and ultimately replacing the old wooden timber bridge on South Main Street. The project had been on the drawing board for several years, and in December, Southern Constructors, Inc. submitted the low bid of $509,704 for the project. Simpson Construction, Inc. came in second, with a bid of $690,635.50, and Charles Blalock and Sons was the third bidder, submitting the highest proposal, $725,376.63. A similar timber bridge on McGregor Road had already been removed, with the town receiving $143,000 from Norfolk Southern to cover the replacement cost of the remaining bridge. Both bridges were built by the railroad more than 70 years ago. While each had a certain charm, the antiquated structures did not meet state or

owner. Part of the property is in Tusculum and part in Greeneville, Foster said. • Purchased a new 2011 patrol car for the Tusculum Police Department for $24,000 to replace a 2004 model. • Appointment of Commissioner Alan Corley to the Tusculum Planning Commission to replace James Seip. “He’s a longstanding commissioner, so he’s familiar with all the town activities,” Foster said. • Approval of an ordinance to update the city’s 2009 federal emergency management floodplain zoning plan. • Approval of annual road paving projects totaling $67,510. “It’s something we do every year. We try to repave streets in the most need so we don’t get behind,” Foster said. The city paves and maintains

about 27 miles of roads. • Adoption of a revised debt policy to be in compliance with a new state requirement. POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENTS The Tusculum Police Department and the Tusculum Volunteer Fire Department both had busy years in 2011, Foster said. Tusculum police reported a total of 629 citations, arrests, vehicle accidents and calls for service. The Tusculum Volunteer Fire Department responded to 185 calls and logged 760 man hours. That does not include man hours spent in training and monthly meetings, or hours spent giving assistance following the tornadoes that struck April 27-28, 2011, in several sections of Greene County. EXISTING SERVICES Foster’s vision for Tus-

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culum “is to be able to continue to provide the services we still provide the town.” The city’s annual budget is about $450,000 and includes the salaries of four full-time employees and one part-time employee. “It’s becoming more difficult” to balance the budget each year, Foster said. That’s where the need for new businesses in town comes into play. “Interest income on our fund balance has decreased dramatically, which puts a strain on our revenue stream,” Foster said. Tax revenues shared by the state come from the existing businesses in Tusculum, “and the businesses we have, have been here a long time,” he said. “The only thing affected by the economy is our interest income.”

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federal standards and were decaying beyond repair. The South Main wooden bridge had an approximate length of 76 feet and a width of 20 feet. The new structure will be built of pre-stressed concrete, with an overall length of 80 feet and a width of 30 feet, consisting of two 11-foot traffic lanes as well as shoulders. Even though the bridges were built by the railroad, the fact that city streets used the bridges meant that both the railroad and the city are involved in maintenance and upkeep. That made the South Main Street bridge a candidate for the federal and state cost-sharing program. In 2006, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen agreed to participate in a program that will use federal and state funds to cover 80 percent of the cost of the bridge replacement, with local funding sources required for the remaining 20 percent. The contract calls for the project to be completed by Aug. 31, 2012, just in time for the town’s annual Archie Campbell Labor Day Celebration.

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THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 31, 2012

Ailshie: ‘There’s A Bright Future’ For Greeneville Schools BY AMY ROSE STAFF WRITER

Dr. Lyle Ailshie’s biggest wish for the Greeneville City School System is “to continue the pursuit of excellence and to never accept mediocrity.” Ailshie, who moved March 21 to the position of Superintendent of Kingsport City Schools, said Greeneville is in good hands with the existing school board and its recent appointments of Ken Fay as interim director of schools and Dr. Linda Stroud as his successor. “I think there’s a bright future for this school system,” he said recently as he prepared to leave the Greeneville director’s position he held for 12 years. One of Ailshie’s personal belongings that likely accompanied him on his move to his Kingsport office is a wall plaque that quotes Scripture SUN PHOTO BY O.J. EARLY from Proverbs 29:18. “Where there is no Outgoing Greeneville Director of Schools Dr. Lyle Ailshie, left, was recognized Feb. 23 by the Greeneville Board vision, the people per- of Education. Ailshie became superintendent of Kingsport City Schools on March 21. Greeneville Board of Education Chairman Jerry Anderson presented Ailshie with a framed resolution from the board thanking him ish.”

for his service. BIG CHALLENGES Looking back over the past year, Ailshie said one of the biggest challenges for the school system has been preparing for the loss in 2013 of extra federal funding that the system has had during the past two years. Stimulus funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and Jobs Bill money will be running out, he noted. Race To The Top funding will be available, but it is earmarked for certain programs, leaving less flexibility in spending, he said. Another big challenge, he said, has been implementation of the new teacher evaluation model, which takes much time and paperwork. Other challenges include changes to the tenure law and new Common Core standards. “There’s been a lot on teachers’ plates,” Ailshie said. “It has proved to be a challenging year.”

es at Greeneville High School, he said. AP courses provide high school students the opportunity to earn college credit. Since 2009, GHS has increased the number of students participating in AP from 76 in seven courses (English, calculus, chemistry, biology, European history, U.S. history, and music theory) to 165 students enrolled in nine AP courses in 2011 (adding U.S. government and psychology). Additionally, the percentage of students earning AP exam scores of 3 or higher increased from 81 percent in 2009 to 88 percent in 2011. AP exam scores rank from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. As a result of the AP gains in 2011, Greeneville was one of 367 public school districts in the nation honored in November by the College Board with a place on the second annual Advanced ADVANCED PLACEMENT Placement (AP) Honor The school system’s Roll, Ailshie noted. biggest accomplishments have been aca- ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT demic achievement and For academic achievethe addition of Advanced ment, Ailshie recalled a Placement (AP) cours- number of highlights in

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OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS Ailshie listed various other accomplishments this year: • The addition of a Chinese language classroom; • A German exchange program at GHS; • A grab-and-go breakfast program that allows students who arrive at school at the last minute to take a breakfast to class; • The addition of the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) program, and • Winning football and cross-country teams and outstanding band and choral programs.

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ranked 10th in percent Proficient/Advanced (72 percent). The school system’s grade-level rankings for reading include: • Third in seventh grade growth in students scoring at the Proficient and Advanced achievement levels (26 percent);

• Fourth in seventh grade percent Proficient/ Advanced (84 percent); and • Seventh in eighth grade percent Proficient/ Advanced (85 percent). In social studies, Greeneville ranked 31st in percent Proficient/ Advanced (88 percent). The school system’s grade-level rankings for social studies include being first in seventh grade growth in students scoring at the Proficient and Advanced achievement levels (19 percent). Ailshie attributed the academic success to the work of teachers, principals and academic coaches; differentiated instruction; and a new site-based approach to professional development.

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Saturday, March 31, 2012

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

County Schools Achieve Goals And Face Upcoming Challenges BY KRISTEN BUCKLES STAFF WRITER

Better focus, clearer goals and considerable challenges face the Greene County School System in the coming year. The system is trying to adapt ahead of time to new curriculum standards soon to be put in place by the state — plus new federal standards, a new reading initiative, new evaluations, and a variety of other changes. So far, Director of Schools Dr. Vicki Kirk said she is proud of the motivation she has seen within the school system. “I would like to say how really proud I am — I don’t know how to say it otherwise — how pleased and proud I am of our leadership in Greene County, our principals and our supervisors, and their can-do attitude about all these initiatives. It’s a lot of work,” she said. “And also our teachers,” she added. “There have been lots of changes. It’s been rapid and difficult to manage, and it has not been easy, but I appreciate the way they’ve approached the challenge. “I think we’re moving in a really good direction,” Kirk said. Indications of this ability to adapt to changes are seen in the achievements the schools have accomplished in the past year. One of the year’s biggest accomplishments was in South Greene High School’s receiving its first-ever U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School Award. “South Greene’s Blue Ribbon award was a very big accomplishment for us this year,” Kirk said. There were only 305 schools in the nation that received the 2011 award based on their overall academic excellence or their success in closing achievement gaps.

SUN PHOTO BY KRISTEN BUCKLES

Tristan Criss, a first-grade student at Glenwood Elementary School, happily selects a free book from among a table full of prizes for those with winning numbers on their entry ticket at the first-ever “West Side Family Literacy Night.” The past year has seen several special “literacy night” events, and the county schools are launching a parent-involvement program, “Power Up! Read 20!” At South Greene, educators were able to aid in closing the gap in achievement between students who are from low-income families and those who are not, Kirk explained. “One of our unwritten goals that we have, and it may become a written goal now as we’re moving through some of the others, is that economic status won’t affect your success in Greene County Schools,” she said. “We won’t be able to predict it or tell, based on your test scores.”

tinuing to close the achievement gaps, she said. The new system also places schools in various categories. “Focus” schools are those in the 10 percent with the largest school achievement gap. McDonald Elementary School was one such school in 2011. “They have worked extremely hard this year,” Kirk said, complimenting the school’s administration. “They’re working very hard to resolve that situation, and I think they’re going to do it.”

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND After the U.S. Department of Education approved Tennessee for a No Child Left Behind waiver, the state had to set new goals. These goals are based on each school system’s current standings and provide achievable targets that are still challenging, Kirk said. “It’s positive — but it’s not, ‘Whew, we’ll be able to do this piece of cake,’” she said. “It’s doable, but it’s not easy.” For example, one of the more difficult goals is in con-

‘REWARD’ SCHOOLS There were also three schools in Greene County that, in the waiver system organized under the Race to the Top program, fell under the “reward” school category. Those schools were South Greene, North Greene High School and Chuckey-Doak Middle School, for having students exhibit more than a year’s academic growth in a school year. South Greene also qualified in this category for “high levels of proficiency,” Kirk

said. Overall, she said she is pleased with the new goals and standards set by the Race to the Top waiver, especially since the waiver tailors the goals to each system and to each school. “I like that model because we’re all swimming in the same direction,” she said. OTHER ACCOMPLISHEMENTS Kirk also praised this year’s 2011 Niswonger Scholars: Gage Armstrong, of Chuckey-Doak High, and Richard Vradenburgh, of West Greene. Other accomplishments for the year that Kirk cited were the additions and improvements at West Greene, the placement of high-speed fiber Internet connections throughout the system, the new county schools website, and the county’s reading initiative that kicked off in 2011. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING However, the year has certainly not been without its challenges. In fact, much of the professional training and assis-

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save costs when the government further reduces funds in the future, Kirk added. “All of us should be seeking ways to improve ourselves every year,” the director commented. BUDGET CHALLENGE LOOMS Perhaps one of the greatest challenges to come will be in facing this year’s budget, which Kirk said will not include significant revenue bonuses from the state and federal government that were previously allocated to school systems. “You see what our inflationary costs are going to be. There’s very little, quite frankly, that’s left to cut.” Unfortunately, she said, if there has to be a lot of cuts, the system may need to look to eliminating positions. “We would hope that, if we have to do that, we would do it by attrition and nobody actually loses a job. We would just lose positions,” she said. “But lost positions affect students. That is the bottom line, because we don’t have extra people. I don’t believe we have sufficient staffing at our high schools.” With this challenge and many changes still looming, the coming year will be difficult but not impossible, Kirk said. “Greene County Schools ... gives this community tremendous bang for their buck. [The school system] is a tremendous asset to the community and one that will become more and more so as time goes on,” she concluded, crediting the faculty and staff. “You don’t meet many people that work in this school system that don’t care deeply for children. Educating them is the most important work there is,” she said.

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tance that the system has accomplished in the past year has been a result of facing the growing challenges to meet new goals and standards. The county now has four academic coaches and a few reading specialists in place working throughout the system to aid, coach and support teachers. There will also be 19 of the county’s teachers who will complete their training in December as reading specialists. As a result of the reading specialists already in place, the past year has seen several special “literacy night” events and is just launching “Power Up! Read 20!”, a parent-involvement program. In fact, the literacy night events also inspired the schools to work together as “quad teams,” Kirk said, with the feeder elementary schools meeting regularly with their area high school administrators to plan together. “It’s a very team-oriented environment,” she said. Reading expert Debby Murphy also visited the school system to provide professional training on how to use small and flexible student groupings that allow teachers to coach students in an organized and engaging manner. Teachers have also received math training in preparation for the coming Common Core state standards, which will require teachers to rely less on textbooks and more on grouping skills under “big ideas,” Kirk said. Leadership training has also been a recent major focus, with teachers training to become the system’s experts in certain areas to

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THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 31, 2012

Meth, Other Illegal Drugs Factor Into Most Local Crimes BY KEN LITTLE STAFF WRITER

The scourge of methamphetamine is far from eliminated in Greene County and East Tennessee, and to make matters worse, there are other illegal drugs to be reckoned with by law enforcement officials. Law enforcement officials such as Greene County Sheriff Steve Burns will be the first to say that meth remains a serious problem. Meth and other drugs factor into the vast majority of crimes committed here, Burns has said numerous times. Methamphetamine, and the dangerous illicit laboratories set up to produce it, continue to pose challenges for law enforcement in Tennessee, Burns said. Methamphetamine lab seizures rose nationally again in 2011. Missouri regained the top national spot for lab seizures in 2011 with 2,096, but Tennessee was second with 1,687, according to the Associated Press. At least 15 labs were found in 2011 in Greene County. The large number of local meth lab seizures is further evidence that the highly addictive drug has a powerful grip on many people in the region and in Tennessee. MORE ‘ONE-POT’ LABS With the passage of state laws that limit the availability of pseudoephedrine and other key ingredients used to make meth, the number of meth labs in East Tennessee temporarily leveled off in many areas. But a new, portable method of producing meth — known as “shake and bake” and requiring only a plastic soft drink bottle and chemicals to mix the drug — has become more popular and continues to drive the meth problem, Burns said. “In recent years people have discovered how to

SUN PHOTO BY JIM FELTMAN

Sheriff Steve Burns looks on at left as Greene County sheriff’s Deputy Robert Livingston, right, helps Deputy Charles Jessie get into a Tyvek suit and adjust a self-contained breathing apparatus used by members of the Greeneville-Greene County Methamphetamine Task Force to dismantle meth labs. Burns and the deputies spoke last year at a Greeneville Exchange Club meeting held at Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Chemicals and acids used in the manufacture of meth are displayed on a table in front of the deputies. make smaller amounts,” he said. But “one-pot” meth labs are just as dangerous as full-blown operations that produce much greater quantities of the drug, along with toxic byproducts, the sheriff said. In the shake-and-bake production method, meth is made quickly in a twoliter soda bottle. The drug can be manufactured in cars and trucks, as opposed to the much larger labs that were common years ago. Cleaning up meth labs of any size is an expensive and time-consuming process, often running into thousands of dollars, Burns said. Funding to offset the cleanup expense, which had previously come from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, was eliminated in 2011. But efforts by Burns while he was president of

the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association in 2011 helped convince state officials to contribute resources to safely dispose of the toxic byproducts of methamphetamine. “It’s not the meth itself. It’s the waste that comes off of it that’s so dangerous,” Burns said. The combination of methamphetamine, prescription medication abuse, and newer “designer” drugs that are sometimes available from legitimate businesses all contribute to make the challenge to law enforcement ongoing, Burns said. “We’re always playing catch-up,” he stated. RECENT CASES That’s not to say the multi-agency GreenevilleGreene County Methamphetamine Task Force, Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force and other enforcement agen-

cies such as the Third Judicial District Drug Task Force aren’t up to the challenge. A recent arrest was typical. In February, a complaint of a “strong chemical odor” coming from a barn on Stone Mountain Lane in Greene County led to the discovery of a methamphetamine lab. The drug was seized, and drug charges were being filed against a man who lived nearby. The 48-yearold man was charged by members of the Third Judicial District Drug Task Force with initiation of a process intended to result in the manufacture of methamphetamine, and simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. A drug task force agent received a call about the odor and responded to the address with sheriff’s deputies. The defendant was asked

for consent to look inside the barn, and he told agents to speak with the barn owner, who lived next door and gave permission to go inside, the report said. Inside an unlocked room in the barn, a glass jar was found containing a liquid “consistent with that in which methamphetamine is produced,” the report said. The jar also contained lithium strips, which are used to make meth. Nearby was a bottle containing acid and some plastic tubing, also suspected to be part of the manufacturing operation, the report said. Also in early February, four pounds of methamphetamine were seized by authorities at what was described as a “rural” Washington County home. Three of the five defendants live in Limestone, in Greene County. That multiagency case is pending in

U.S. District Court. $20,000 WORTH OF METH Another reminder of the scope of the meth problem came on March 16, when a traffic stop in Greene County resulted in the seizure of one pound of meth. The drug is valued at $20,000. A Greene County resident was charged with possession of the drug. Burns said Tennessee jails are full of those who committed crimes to get money to buy drugs, including methamphetamine. It’s one reason law enforcement officials and judges were squarely behind tougher legislation that restricted the purchase of pseudoephedrine, and seek tougher laws to address the epidemic of prescription medication abuse. “Practically every case we deal with is the result of abuse [of prescription medication] or addiction to [it and other drugs],” Burns said.

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