Benchmarks 2024 | Section B | Government

GOVERNMENT

measure was considered.

ANIMAL CONTROL

utilizing the General Fund balance, or a combi2024 budget.

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ing in from new homes being constructed in the counbe used to balance the budget at a lower tax rate.revenue could be found to create a balanced budget with a lower tax rate.

knowledge of the reverter clause in the deed at the

$110,000 of the $150,000 in funding to the improveThe reallocated funding was directed toward putting a new roof on the building, the cleaning of sewer and drainage lines, the removal of dead and diseased the construction of a barn with stalls for livestock, the replacement of HVAC units and the installation preparing the building for use to use for expanded operations.

FIRE DEPARTMENTSAssociation. department will maintain a checking account with aaccording to the resolution. The resolution stemmed in part from the case of a SOLAR FARMS

extended a moratorium on new solar farms, bitcointended the pause for 14 additional months. According-

2023 as new regulations percolated.

COUNTY OFFICES

former Takoma Regional Hospital building, and the opened at the site in August 2023.mer hospital campus in 2021.

former hospital and contains numerous exam rooms. the former hospital throughout 2024 as renovations progress, according to Morrison.

new home in the old Adventist church behind the former Takoma hospital. once it is remodeled.

purchase of the 50-acre tract of land located along in November 2022 for $1.3 million.

opment grants to prepare the site to encourage an grant funding. Morrison said the funding would be used in conpatient process.”

2025.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

lowed the recommendation of the Greeneville andagreement for the proposed “Mosheim Crossing” development near Exit 23

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Saw New City Council Member Elected And Increased Taxes

BY SPENCER MORRELL STAFF WRITER

2023 after making numerous changes to the town’s charter.

The changes amended the town’s charter to

The changes made also allow the dividing line between the two town wards to be moved from Southerland carried the charter changes to Nashville for passage through the state legislature in the form of a House of Representatives bill and Senate bill.

March 20, 2023. It was then transmitted to Gov. changes at the state level on April 4, 2023. The discussion on changes to the charter was and the costs associated with those elections.

people voted in four of Greeneville’s recent

per $100 of assessed Manager Todd Smith, the proposed tax increase stemmed from four factors, including in the Greeneville for the construction of

wages. Although the Town of approved its budget with an increased tax rate in June 2023, the rate was changed in August 2023 due to the town reappraisal process in 2023.

reappraisal being in 2018. The reappraisal process results in a new and is lower than the previous rate in order for municipal governments to remain revenue neutral. is plugged in as the beginning of the next local government can rate in setting its budget, Council elected to do so. The Town of Greeneville received a value.

Corporation rescue pumper, was also accommodate six over 435 cubic feet of compartment space, a 1,000-gallon water tank, a 30-gallon foam tank and a 2,000 gallons-perminute pump.

TAX INCREASE properties located within the town of Greeneville in August 2023. The new

approved a new tax rate 2024 budget. The 21-cent increase replaced the previous 28-cent increase that was approved before were known, but it amount of increased revenue the town would have received with the 28-cent increase reappraisals. Residents

LAND PURCHASE

In October 2023, the the purchase of about 53 acres of land located possible construction of a new school. The cost of million.

Education and the build a new school for the Greeneville sometime in the future.

school are ongoing, but the construction of a school has not been Education.

TUSCULUM GEARS UP For The Future In 2023

BY KEN LITTLE STAFF WRITER

several milestones in 2023, completed and others moved forward.

appears that 2024 will be more -

RESIDENTIAL, BUSINESS GROWTH Residential constructionalong Greenwood Road, Erwin said.

appreciate the services that Tusculum provides, and thetics released in 2022 show that Tusculum’s population grew and 2020.increased from 2,663 in 2010 to 3,298 in 2020. but receives funding from its share of state taxes collected at state to distribute Tusculum’s share of tax revenues based on population have increased to population.

“It appears that, at this point at least, we are on track to meet or exceed that growth

said.

Several new businesses opened in 2023 on East Andrew Arcane, a health and fitnessbusiness; and X-Factor Smoke

near the intersection with TusThe Tusculum Planning Commission bears much of the “and managing that growth in a Planning Commission Chair-

Longtime building inspector stepped right in to monitor building activities and code

GREENE VALLEY ACTIVITY

Changes are imminent on theTusculum-Greeneville-Greenereceived grants and appropriations from the State of Tenfor $1.5 million. Official closing on the undeveloped 336-acre section of the-

ration of the closing documents

about the proposed business park from parties interested ined to “allow a business park/opment including businesses, offices, restaurants, and light 2023.

“envision a development that maintains the character of the

to review and consider. A Tennessee College of Apregional office of the Tenneswill be built on the state-owned “Current plans call for both of

education addition in progthe TCAT construction on the “All of this reinforces Tus-

soon the TCAT are all located

he said.

SCHOOL SPEED ZONES, NEW FIRE STATION Tusculum officials took steps in 2023 to curb speeding drivers in school zones.

police officers, have indicated that speeding in our school for our children, with a significant number of vehicles ex-

and Commissioners in 2023 approved the placement of “speed zones.

“Information gained from the officers for an appropriate acsaid. The Tusculum Volunteer Fire fire station in 2023 on Alexander Street, across from TuscuThe fire department responds to an ever-increasing number of calls as Tusculum and the surrounding area grows in pop-

have said the new station provides much-needed room for the all-volunteer fire department to house its engines and

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Construction of the fire station was completed in 2023. It was still being outfitted in the spring of 2024. “The department continues building to make it more useful. The fire department consistrains its members, and provides fire, rescue, education, Shelton was reelected to another term as fire chief in late 2023.

“The completion of the long-awaited fire station last which is evaluating the cur-termine how to best use it to provide expanded space for the police department and record-

architect to explore those options. Once a plan is in place, improvements will be made as funds are available.”

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ment added a third full-time officer in 2023, “fulfilling aOfficer Chan Humbert suc-

“to provide professional, well trained, and experienced service to Tusculum.”

“Having a third full-time officer allows the police department to provide additional hours of coverage for our citi-

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$69,000 state Violent Crime Intervention Fund grant. Proceeds of the grant were used to purchase police cruiser accessories, traffic control devices,

said.

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

ment of Environment and Conservation non-competitive grant of about $1 million in

to begin to extend sewer service into residential areas near East of about $250,000 from the -

said. Other infrastructure improvements were also discussed in 2023.

Transportation agreed to make “significant repairs” to the bridge over railroad tracks on “A contract has been signed

Tusculum Linear Trail both “received a significant amount of improvement over the past

new restroom complex is under construction and is scheduled

annual road repair and pavsections of the Linear Trail that needed attention were repaired and repaved as well.”

As part of an ongoing safe-

assist with providing pedestri-

area around Tusculum UniverStreet.

provements to existing crosswalks, lighting improvements, and the addition of sidewalks in the area. The proposal is said.

uses recommendations from ago.

if we are awarded the grant,”

and part-time-”retired” Roger Hipps, “continues to do great “From mowing along roaddowned trees, to spreading salt to collecting brush, leaves, and garbage, to maintaining the sewer treatment center, hard to keep Tusculum looking good,” he said.

audit, “Thanks to the efforts

and answering citizens’ com-vices, “as well as keeping all

conduct an election in Novemis composed of three commissioners. In November, two of the three commissioner seats,ton, will be up for election. The third commissioner, Mike

After the November election, the three commissioners will from the three elected commissioners.officials and volunteers who serve the public.

dedication, and hard work of elected officials as well as the continued support of our citi-

tinuing our growth and progress in 2024,” he said.

BY SPENCER MORRELL STAFF WRITER

The Town of Mosheim movedtion in 2023, marking a change are represented for the first time in decades. Mosheim moved to a one-ward government after action taken

The board approved an ordinance that repealed the twohad been in place since the The entire town is now considered one ward, and the town’s be elected in at-large, townwide elections. Those running for the town’s aldermen seats the town under the one-ward Prior to the change, there were two seats available for each ward.

The change in representation law that went into effect in 2023.

wards, and candidates had to to represent, the aldermen were elected in at-large elections. However, candidates could secure signatures for residents in both wards, and the entire town voted on each ward’s candidates, despite the candidates.

mitted to continue in Mosheim and 16 other municipalities across the state, including Tazewell, New Tazewell and others.

State law now stipulates that no member of the legislative elected to such office throughing candidates to be nominated from a district and elected atlarge.” Under the new law, the process of obtaining signatures -

to represent, is considered an “election procedure,” according

MOSHEIM ADOPTS New System Of Representation

to information provided to thepal League.

and Aldermen remains a fiveor.

The aldermen seats up for election will alternate in each-

ningham said he hoped that the change would lead to more

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ter North America-South, LLC to provide wastewater operations and maintenance for the town.

The board took the step in order to make improvements to the town’s sewer treatment

The wastewater treatment plant in Mosheim has experienced decades of neglect,

people running for office and participating in local government in the town.

Mosheim also saw the resignation of an alderman in Janu-

submitted a letter of resignation to Cunningham, and in the resignation letter Long noted that he was resigning his position as a town representative due to health reasons.

Long had served as an alderman in Mosheim since being elected in 2011. -

Carter works in the truckingunteer firefighter. Carter is also an active member in the Mosheim Ruritan Club.

WASTEWATER PLANT CONTRACT

according to Cunningham, and put into it. He also cited that plant.

that through the new conbrought up to date and be beneficial for long-term growth of the town.

the town is not spending $1.5 contract as funding that al-

RATE INCREASE

The town saw a sewer rate increase in June, however, town officials said it was not related -

ter, but rather due to the rising cost of materials and supplies.

The rate increase was planned to occur regardless of the contract with Veolia according to town officials. The residential sewer rates in Mosheim had not been raised in over a decade, while maintenance costs had more than doubled according to officials.

NO NEW BILLBOARDS

In August, the board moved to prohibit the construction of new billboards within the Mosheim’s town limits. There are a total of seven billCunningham said that the move was meant to keeplined” and “clean and neat.”

SAFE EXCHANGE ZONEment established a “Safe Exchange Zone” in March 2023

in the front parking lot of the 230 Main St., for the purpose. “These two parking spaces are under video surveillance, being restricted to a 15-minute a news release in March. “The wants to give citizens a safe place to conduct transactions from online sales or trades. Online sales are becoming more Craigslist, Facebook Market Place, and mobile classifieds. The Safe Exchange Zone ofpublic spot, under constant video surveillance as a site to conduct these person-to-person transactions between complete strangers.”

According to the release, the Safe Exchange Zone can also be between divorced or estrangednificant problems or disagreements between the parents during past exchanges. The area was set up to make thesechanges safer and less confrontational for parents and persons purchasing online items.

BY NELSON MORAIS STAFF WRITER

TOWN OF BAILEYTON Has A Busy Year

to North Greene Middle School in 2023 due to growing enrollment at the

director, in an email last month. McLain explained, “At the moment grade back. “This is something that could be considered in the future if we see a

the moment we don’t anticipate that happening.”

state grant of $600,000 to upgrade the sewer plant, pump stations and aged pumps in individual homes, said

As of last month, “some of the work” had begun in those areas, he stated.

purchase of a new pump truck, as had been hoped for, he said. In 2024, a federal grant of approved for improvements to well as paving there.

Joshua Ferguson, who has been the town’s police chief since 2013, is also directors.

2024 to give the Greeneville-Greene

In addition, there are four who serve

Sherri Ottinger, Steve Clouser, Steven SUCCESFUL CELEBRATIONS

The town again had large turnouts at

it was one the event’s most successful

almost 20 food vendors on tap at the September, in addition to musical that the 2023 edition of the annual celebration was one of the biggest and most successful. It marked the 29th time that the A parade opened the festivities on

Aldermen meeting. The town started handling its own Town Hall, which also has a drop box.

Ins car shows. The car shows are fundraiser department.

beginning March 16.

Celebration was back in full force for a

festival and spilled onto the Horton a car show was held as a part of the annual event.

tournaments and games were held

SUN FILE PHOTO

Stacy Carter, right, was sworn in as a Mosheim alderman by Mosheim Mayor Rick Cunningham, left, in February after the resignation of Dave Long from the Mosheim Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

SUN FILE PHOTO

The new “Safe Exchange Zone” in front of the Mosheim Police Department was established in March 2023. It is under constant video surveillance and provides a place for online sales transactions and custody exchanges.

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