SECTION B
Government
Benchmarks Edition March 13, 2021
Page 2B
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 13, 2021
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN/COURTESY OF GREENE COUNTY
This aerial shot shows construction last fall of the new substation for the Greene County-Greeneville Emergency Medical Services behind the office building occupied by the Election Commission and the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. The two departments moved into that office in the summer.
County Sees Election Commission Move, EMS Upgrades BY EUGENIA ESTES STAFF WRITER One of the highlights of 2020 for Greene County was magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the move of the Greene County Election Commission and the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (EMA) was planned prior to the pandemic, the larger office building allowed people to safely cast ballots in person in the popular early voting periods for the August and November elections, according to County Mayor Kevin Morrison. Other high points of the year, the mayor said, were upgrades for the Greene County-Greeneville Emergency Medical Services, assuming operation at the Greeneville-Greene County Landfill and Transfer Station with the town, providing funds for school capital projects and significant progress on creating a fuel depot for the county and replacement of the telephone/ communications system in county offices and structures. The pandemic also brought operational changes as offices within the Greene County Courthouse Annex and other county departments closed to in-person public traffic in the spring. After the offices reopened, Greene County was one of the first counties in Northeast Tennessee to put a mask mandate in place during the summer, requesting people wear facial coverings in public buildings to help limit the spread of the virus. That mandate was in place for the next seven and a half months. Access was also limited to the Greene County Courthouse in accordance with measures instituted by the Tennessee Supreme Court throughout the year. Measures followed the number of cases as they have been relaxed during periods when virus case numbers went down, but tightened again in periods in which cases have surged.
OFFICE RELOCATION, EMS The Greene County Election Commission moved into its new home at 311 CCU Blvd., Suite 1, in the spring and opened to the public in the first week of June. The EMA office moved during the summer to join the Election Commission in Suite 2 of the facility. Greene County had purchased the office and about 13 acres around it in August 2019 to provided additional space for the Election Commission. The building at 218 N. Main St., that housed both offices also needed repairs. The additional space provided in the lobby area became more
SUN FILE PHOTO
One of the new Greene County-Greeneville Emergency Medical Services ambulances sits in one of the three bays for the vehicles included in the substation recently constructed on CCU Boulevard.
important to meet guidelines in providing an area in which voters could socially distance while casting their ballots during early voting periods. “It allowed space to effectively vote in person at the same level as before the pandemic and to do so safely and in accordance with guidelines,” Morrison said. If the Election Commission had still been located on Main Street, the COVID-19 guidelines would have allowed only one or two people to vote at a time during early voting, the mayor said. At the new office, there were eight voting machines available. In August, 4,573 people cast ballots in the early voting period, and 12,948 ballots were cast during early voting prior to the November election. The Election Commission and the EMA also gained a new neighbor. An EMS substation behind their office building was completed by the end 2020, funded by a Local Government Support Grant from the state. Two ambulance crews are housed at the substation, which helps provide better service for the eastern side of Greeneville and surrounding areas by spreading out the ambulances headquartered in town. Two of the four crews headquartered at the Forest Street substation were relocated to the new facility. The Local Government Support Grant funds also provided for the purchase of new ambulances to help accomplish a significant roll over of the ambulance fleet to newer trucks, Morrison said. “It is quite
an accomplishment,” he continued. “No taxpayer dollars had to be used to fund the upgrades. Greene County has the most up-to-date life-saving equipment on board their ambulances bar none.”
CREDIT RATING, LANDFILL Another highlight of the year was the upgrading of the county’s credit rating last summer by Moody’s Investors Service. The county’s rating was raised to “Aa3” from the previous ranking of “A1.” The “Aa” ratings by Moody’s are defined as a very low risk investment grade and obligations are judged to be of high quality with “A” ratings designated as low credit risk with upper-medium grade obligations. Upgrading of the credit rating reflects the county’s trend of operating fund surpluses leading to growth in financial reserves, according to Moody. This upgrade in the rating will benefit taxpayers by providing the government with more favorable financing terms. “Moody’s made it very in clear in their communications that they were not anticipating upgrading many government ratings during the pandemic,” Morrison said, adding that the upgrade reflects responsible and conservative financial management. Another significant milestone for the year came in July as the county and Town of Greeneville took over the operation of the Greeneville-Greene County Landfill and Transfer Station. In the partnership, the county is operating the transfer station for transporting
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN/COURTESY OF GREENE COUNTY
Significant progress was made during the year on a new fuel depot for county vehicles located at the Greene County Highway Department on Hal Henard Road.
solid waste for disposal in Hamblen County while the town operates the demolition landfill. An immediate savings of $500,000 was realized by the county through not having to pay fees for a third party to operate the landfill, Morrison said. During the year, the county was able to continue contributing toward a capital projects fund for the Greene County School System, providing resources for projects outside of the schools’ general operating funds, he said. In 2019, the county allocated a portion of tax revenues toward the
school system’s capital projects fund, with $630,000 provided. Last year, that amount grew by $285,000 due to increases in sales tax revenues, Morrison said. Work continued through the year in creating a fuel depot for use by all county departments. The fuel depot is located at the Greene County Highway Department facility on Hal Henard Road. Progress also continues on upgrading the telephone/communications system within county buildings, Morrison said. The system had not been upgraded in decades.
Benchmarks B Story Index
Benchmarks B Advertisers Index
County Sees Election Commission Move, EMS Upgrades .................................................. 2 New Park, Playground Among Highlights For Greeneville ................................................. 3 Improvements Continue Despite Pandemic Uncertainty ................................................... 4 City Of Tusculum Remains Busy During 2020.................................................................... 6
Automotive Guide................................................................................................................. 3 Bulls Gap Guide .................................................................................................................... 6 Greeneville Light & Power System ....................................................................................... 5 Greeneville Water Commission............................................................................................8 Heating & Air Conditioning Guide ....................................................................................... 4 Insurance Guide ................................................................................................................... 7
GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 13, 2021
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
Page 3B
SUN FILE PHOTO
Greeneville Mayor W.T. Daniels cuts the ribbon to symbolically open the new W.T. Daniels Park on Whirlwind Road in a ceremony in August. The naming of the park was kept secret from Daniels, who learned of it only when the sign was unveiled. Behind Daniels is Jenny Boyd, speaker at the ceremony.
New Park, Playground Among Highlights For Greeneville BY EUGENIA ESTES STAFF WRITER While the COVID-19 pandemic dominated life in the past year, it did not prevent some notable progress in several areas for the Town of Greeneville. A new park opened during the summer and an all-inclusive playground welcomed children at Hardin Park later in the year. The Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the town’s Board of Education had mostly familiar faces returning following a municipal election in August. Purchase of a new truck to help provide greater emergency service and replacement of critical air apparatus became possible as the result of successful efforts by the Greeneville Fire Department to obtain sizable grants. Local matches for those grants were part of the budget additions made in the fall after tax revenues were higher than expected for the first months of the 2020-21 fiscal year. When the pandemic began, budget preparations were underway, which resulted in reductions
SUN FILE PHOTO
Greeneville Mayor W.T. Daniels, right, administers the oath of office to Second Ward aldermen Tim Teague, left, and Scott Bullington, center, in September following their election to the town board.
in both anticipated revenues and allocations due to the uncertainty of what would happen economically in the near future. After years of contracting the operation of the Green-
eville-Greene County Transfer Station and Landfill to an outside company, the town and county took over operation of the facility in July. The town is now operating the demolition landfill on the
site. The town also implemented a fleet management system for most of the municipality’s vehicles to help reduce costs. The pandemic did lead to some changes in operations for the
town to help protect both town employees and the public. In the early months of the pandemic, Town Hall was closed to SEE GREENEVILLE ON PAGE 5
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Page 4B
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Improvements Continue Despite Pandemic Uncertainty BY EUGENIA ESTES STAFF WRITER Uncertainty about the pandemic’s effects on the economy slowed the progress on the Greeneville Downtown Redevelopment Project, but work continued on individual building improvements. As 2020 began, construction documents were being developed to seek bids for a general contractor for the initial phase of the Downtown Redevelopment Project with the expectation that one would be hired and work would begin later in the year. However, with the uncertainty of the pandemic’s impact on the economy and tax revenues, the Town of Greeneville took a conservative approach to preparing its 2020-21 fiscal year budget and did not include allocations for some of its larger capital projects, including the downtown initiative. Funds for the initial phase were returned to the budget in amendments approved by the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen in November, including funds for a property purchase in the effort to create more downtown parking. Although the town’s project was affected by the pandemic, individual building owners moved ahead with improvements to structures downtown. Facade improvements continue on two buildings on South Main Street and the Greeneville Theatre Guild building on Depot Street. Upgrades of natural gas lines were completed during the past year under Depot Street in connection with the Downtown Redevelopment Project.
SUN FILE PHOTO
Utility crews work in May 2020 on West Depot Street. A natural gas pipeline under the street was replaced along the street as part of preparations for the Downtown Redevelopment Project.
REDEVELOPMENT, PARKING As 2020 began, the town was looking to begin construction work in the coming months in the initial phase of the Downtown Redevelopment Project. This phase includes streetscape improvements along a stretch of Depot Street from its intersection with Academy Street to near the railroad depot building. Those improvements include creating wider sidewalks and landscaping with a focus on the block of Depot Street between Main and Irish streets as a “festival” location. That block will feature colored pavers to create a distinct space for events. However, as construction documents were developed to let the initial phase for bid, the pandemic began, which led to project funding being removed from the 2020-21 fiscal year budget. But tax revenues were higher than anticipated by the town, and in November the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved budget amendments to return funding for some projects, including Downtown Redevelopment. Another of the allocations added to the budget was $125,000 for the purchase of the Adams building on Crowfoot Alley. The town’s board had approved the purchase price in September for the SUN FILE PHOTO
SEE IMPROVE ON PAGE 5
Crews from E. Luke Greene Co. Inc. removed siding and its framing from the Greeneville Theatre Guild building to reveal an earlier facade during June.
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GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 13, 2021
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
Page 5B
SUN FILE PHOTO
Crews have been working on upgrades to the facade for the building to house the McAfee & McAfee attorney office. Facade improvements are also continuing at a building across the street at 122 S. Main St., as a new street level entrance is taking shape. Its owners, Jamey and Tammy Fillers, received a facade grant through Main Street: Greeneville for the improvements to the building planned for a bistro/pub. A Main Street grant was also provided for earlier improvements at the McAfee & McAfee building.
IMPROVE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
property, which will be used to provide more parking in the Depot Street area. “This is another step toward downtown redevelopment,” Mayor W.T. Daniels said at the time. “This is the one building we have to purchase. The rest are to be donated to the city.” Utility upgrades along Depot are planned in conjunction with the Downtown Redevelopment Project. Natural gas lines have been the first to be upgraded. Crews from contractor Pipeline Construction began replacement of the existing Atmos Energy line underneath Depot Street in the spring. Crews worked in a phased approach, one block at a time, from the intersection of Main Street to where Depot crosses Loretta Street. Pipeline Construction returned in late fall to replace the line along the block from the intersection of Academy to Main streets, and that work continued into the new year.
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN: GREENEVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
A grant obtained by the Greeneville Fire Department during the year provided funds for the purchase of replacement air packs, similar to those used by firefighters responding to a blaze at a home on Rankin Drive last year.
Grants have also funded a new vehicle and equipment for the Greeneville Fire Department. The department was CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 commended for proactively obtaining the grants by town officials in October as in-person traffic, the parks were closed to local matching funding was approved. activities and the Roby Fitzgerald Adult Firefighters went door-to-door to conCenter suspended its programs. duct a survey required in the application As virus cases leveled in late spring, the for a Community Development Block town adopted a phased COVID-19 ReGrant, which has funded a first responder opening Plan. Reopening at the different vehicle for the department that can be levels is based on three factors — persent to emergencies such as traffic accicentage of active cases in Greene County, dents or medical calls, saving wear on the consecutive days of zero new positive larger fire trucks. The new truck will also COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 bed capac- have a mini-pumper and be able to access ity in the Ballad Health hospital system. locations where a roadway or bridge may The town moved to Phase II in the sumnot be able to hold the weight of one of mer, reopening Town Hall and allowing the larger fire trucks. limited use of parks but returned to Phase The department also received an AsI as cases increased in the fall. sistance to Firefighters grant providing funds to replace aging air packs.
GREENEVILLE
GRANTS LEAD TO IMPROVEMENTS
NEW OFFICIALS
In August, the Greeneville Parks and Recreation Department hosted a ribbon cutting for its newest facility and, surprising the town’s current mayor, announced its name to be W.T. Daniels Park. Located at 375 Whirlwind Road, the facility features a 3-acre dog park, an 18-hole frisbee golf course and a nature walking trail. The opening came after the construction of the park by the Parks and Recreation Department, reclaiming land for public use that had once been the city landfill decades ago. The park is already an award winning one as it earned the “New Facility Award” for 2020 from the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association. Grants were received by the department for the park’s establishment from the Greene County Health Department and the Boyd Foundation. GFL Environmental, formerly Waste Industries, also provided assistance as the park was constructed. Resources from grants and other contributions also helped fund an all inclusive playground at Hardin Park. The Parks and Recreation Department received a grant for the playground from the state with local matching funds coming not only from the town but also from a number of community and civic organizations. The park was completed in the fall before opening to the public.
August’s municipal election brought a new member to the Greeneville Board of Education and a return of some familiar faces to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Crystal Hirschy, who was seeking her first elected office, joined current chair Cindy Luttrell in election to the school board. Both were running unopposed for the two school board seats representing the 2nd Ward. Scott Bullington and Tim Teague also ran unopposed for the Board of Mayor and Aldermen from the 2nd Ward. Both were sitting on the board as appointees when they were elected. Bullington was appointed to the board last year after longtime Alderman Sarah Webster resigned due to moving outside the corporate limits into the county. Teague, who served as alderman from the 1st Ward from 1999 to 2003, was appointed earlier this year to fill a vacancy left when Jeff Taylor resigned after taking the position of president and chief executive officer of the Greene County Partnership. Teague had filed his petition to run for the office at the time he was appointed. Mayor W.T. Daniels was re-elected with 1,680 complimentary votes to his sixth term as mayor. Daniels, who served as aldermen for 20 years prior to his first election as mayor, ran unopposed for the position.
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BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS Three buildings that have had significant changes in appearance in the past year all received federal Community Development Block Grants for facade improvements through Main Street: Greeneville. Using the funds, the Greeneville The-
atre Guild removed exterior siding from its Theatre Depot building to reveal its older facade this summer. The store front windows and doors were replaced along the street level of the building and windows were replaced in the upper floors. Interior renovations also continue inside, but at a little slower pace than expected because of some additions not originally anticipated, such as an additional exterior, necessary safety lighting, a firewall, a new circuit breaker box and additional HVAC units. Two buildings on South Main also continued to change. Siding and a sliding door were removed from the street level of the building at 122 S. Main St., with the framework of the new facade constructed earlier this year. Building owners, Jamey and Timmy Fillers, plan to establish a bistro/pub on the street level with the upper floors used for a residence. Windows are also to be replaced in the upper part of the building. Windows are also part of facade improvements for 127 S. Main St. The building’s previous owner was granted a facade grant in 2019 for repair of the prismatic glass transom over the storefront. In early 2020, the building was purchased by Joseph and Jessica McAfee for their law office. Work has now begun to replace windows and the storefront, repaint features such as the awning and the cornice and restore the hardwood flooring at the entrance of the building.
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Page 6B
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 13, 2021
SUN FILE PHOTO
Tusculum Vice-Mayor Barbara Britton and Mayor Alan Corley were sworn in for four-year terms of office as commissioners Nov. 23, 2020, in Tusculum City Hall by Recorder John Lamb, standing at right. Looking on is Commissioner Mike Burns, who was reelected to a four-term in 2018.
City Of Tusculum Remains Busy During 2020 BY KERN LITTLE STAFF WRITER The City of Tusculum moved forward with various projects in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic. As in many cities and other municipalities, the pandemic curtailed many activities and delayed several others, Tusculum Mayor Alan Corley said. “We are hopeful that 2021 will see many of those projects come to fruition,” Corley said. Tusculum’s financial status remained stable in 2020. “Despite the pandemic in the last several months of the 20192020 budget year, the city ended the year with a surplus of revenues over expenses as of June 30, 2020,” Corley said. He said the surplus was due, “in large part, to our elected officials and employees recognizing the need to conservatively spend funds during that time.” The budget year for the City of Tusculum runs from July 1 to June 30. Corley said policy during the 2020-21 budget year “reflected a cautious, conservative approach to spending due to the uncertainty around the economy and revenues due to the continuing pandemic.”
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN: CITY OF TUSCULUM
Tusculum put a new side-loading automated garbage collection truck into service in 2020. The automated tote-lifting mechanism enables one-person operation.
The city also received a “clean” audit report for the 2019-2020 budget year from auditor Mickey Ellis “with no findings,” Corley said.
One ongoing matter — the future use of the former Greene Valley Developmental Center property — remained a topic of discussion with state officials in
2020. “Discussions continue with the State of Tennessee concerning future use of the Greene Valley Developmental Center property,”
Corley said. He said the Town of Greeneville, Greene County, and the SEE TUSCULUM ON PAGE 7
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GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 13, 2021
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
Page 7B
TUSCULUM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
City of Tusculum are working together with state Sen. Steve Southerland, Rep. David Hawk, and Gov. Bill Lee’s office “to outline a path for future development of the property.” “I believe we are getting closer to a resolution,” Coley said. One new project given the green light in 2020 by the Tusculum Planning Commission and the Tusculum Board of Mayor and Commissioners should be a welcome addition to the community, Corley said. He said progress is ongoing at Everhart’s Pioneer Miniature Golf, at 4555 E. Andrew Johnson Highway near the Route 107 intersection. “Construction is evident at the site, and we are hoping for an opening of the venue soon,” Corley said. Another project slated open in 2021 is the new office for the Chuckey Utility District located on the Tusculum Bypass. “Progress is evident there as well, with the building under roof,” Corley said. In the city, the new side-loading automated garbage collection truck was put into service in 2020. “This investment allows us to collect garbage with one public works employee, rather than two, and is a much safer alternative for those employees than manual garbage collection. The truck and system are working well,” Corley said. SUN FILE PHOTO Funding for a new police cruiser An architectural rendering shows Everhart’s Pioneer Miniature Golf. Progress on the course is continuing at 4555 E. Andrew Johnson Highway near was included in the 2020-2021 the Route 107 intersection presented at the Tusculum Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday shows a proposed miniature golf course. budget to replace the Tusculum Police Department’s oldest patrol vehicle, which was six years old. up to an $80,000 match from signal upgrade at the intersection Corley and Vice-Mayor Barbara Britton were re-elected to fourThe sport utility vehice cruiser the city depending on the cost of of Highway 107/Erwin Highway year terms. They were challenged was delivered in January and is the equipment, which can be up and U.S. 11E/East Andrew Johnby newcomer O.J. Early. now in service, Corley said. to $420,000 as specified in the son Highway. The third commissioner seat in The City of Tusuclum was grant. The upgrade was was completed Tusculum is held by Mike Burns. notified in 2020 that it had been “We expect to learn whether in November 2020. awarded a Community Transwe will receive the grant around Work on the the project, funded It is up for re-election in 2022. Corley said the City of Tuscuportation Planning Grant moSeptember,” Corley said. by the TDOT, began in early lum’s “continued success is due to bility grant in an amount up to Steps toward construction of 2020. its citizens, its employees, and its $125,000, which will require a a new home for the Tusculum VolSafety improvements at the volunteers.” $12,500 match from the city. unteer Fire Department were also busy intersection have been disCity employees include the two “The result of this grant will be taken in 2020. cussed for years. full-time police officers, Chief a comprehensive transportation There is also a need for addi“The city began the process of Danny Greene and Officer Dustin plan for the city, particularly tional space in Tusculum City Hall working with TDOT on that projfor the area around Tusculum at 145 Alexander St. A new fire ect in 2014, so we are very excited Jeffers; two full-time Public Works Department employees, University and the Linear Trail,” station would be located across to see it completed. We are conMayor Alan Corley Warren Cutshall and Roger Corley said. the street from city hall and open fident that it will improve safety Hipps; and our part-time RecordThe transportation plan will in- by June 30, but may be delayed up space there for other departat that intersection, which has er John Lamb. clude planning for both vehicular due to a late start, Corley said. ments. had a 30% and greater incidence “They work hard for our city,” and pedestrian traffic. The city also recently applied for “As a part of our continuing of serious accidents in the past Corley said. “While the grant does not a Community Development Block need to address space and securi- than other similar intersections,” Volunteers “particularly the provide any funding to implement Grant on behalf of the Tusculum ty issues for the fire department, Corley said. Tusuclum Planning Commission the resulting plan, it will provide Volunteer Fire Department to repolice department, and recorder’s Intersection improvements inus goals to work toward and will place a 25-year-old pumper truck. office, plans are still under consid- clude LED traffic signals on masts under the leadership of Chairman also assist us in attaining other If the grant is awarded, the fire eration to build a new fire station instead of cables, a radar lane de- Dale Landers and Vice-Chairman tection system, additional traffic Mike Burns, and our fire departgrants to implement portions of department plans to possibly and remodel current facilities the plan,” Corley said. purchase a used ladder truck that into expanded space for the police signal heads to improve visibility, ment, under the leadership of Chief Marty Shelton and Assistant A steering committee will meet will allow them to better protect department and recorder’s office,” and flashing warning signals in advance of the intersection. Chief Scottie Crawford, provide in March, and there will also be two-plus story structures in the Corley said. Two City of Tusculum Commis- countless unpaid hours of service open meetings for public input as area, said Corley, a former fire The driving public benefitted in sioner seats were on the ballot to our city and our citizens. We the plan is developed. department chief. 2020 from a Tennessee Departin the November 2020 election. are blessed,” Corley said. The project was to be completed The block grant will require ment of Transportation traffic
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Page 8B
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
Saturday, March 13, 2021
GreenevilleSun.com
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he most common cause for a high water bill is running water from your toilet. A continuously running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day and can double a family’s typical water use and bill. Fix toilet leaks as soon as possible. You can usually hear a running toilet, but not always.
Employee Appreciation Charles “Goose” Gosnell is our service technician by title, but he is so much more. He has over 40 years with the Greeneville Water Commission. He knows where every meter in our system is, was, what it may be buried under and any other thing you might need to know. He is one of the finest men I have had to pleasure of meeting. He is so helpful and kind. He individually calls people when he notices that they have a higher than normal bill. He works with customers to find problems and at 70 + years young, Charles Gosnell he still gets in there and changes out meters with the best of them. There are none finer than Charles. He is truly a jewel of an employee. Goose recently received the Patriots Award from the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts for the whole state of Tennessee. He embodies what it means to have a hard work ethic, positive attitude, and exemplary customer service.