A Letter From City Manager
C. SETH SUMNER
Howdy Friends! A fewand years ago,a Istep charged Recently, I hit pause took
Team Athens adoptedthe“Our Why” my staff with remarkable back from thecelebrating intense workday that astories few years you of their service to our community, consumes myago. life —Ifand myhave family visited City Hall, you have seen this to identify highlight incredible and friends’and lives, too. I the devoted much statement hung with care on thehere difference that Team Athens is making time during that period to reflection, walls. It is there as a reminder to in our hometown. From that challenge, recollection, and prayer. citizens and team members alike to an info-graphic was developed and is now reinforce the reasons why we work annually ouraffirmation fellow citizens. Idelivered prayed for clarityto and for so hard, together, to fight for the I amcurrent pleasedpath. to share the latestwho Annual my Individuals are sacred ideals Info-graphic of our community. Year-In-Review for the Fiscal
called to Servant Leadership often bear Year ending June 30,burdens. 2020 withThe youneeds, on Atlas proportioned Our Why states: “We believe in the City of and Athens’ Facebook page (www. demands, stressors of a community improving facebook.com/CityofAthensTN). Within can feel likethe the human weight ofcondition. the world and We afford all citizens and guests a the pages of the review you will see the always come first and, in time, this takes higher of hard life by providing the the work mywho staffbear has aculmination toll onquality the of wonderful people infrastructure and services that lead to accomplished the load day inthis andpast dayyear out.and the success astories safer,that happier, healthier,can and more our community share economically vibrant environment last summer. Itogether recalledsince a speaker I heard several years where people can succeed.” ago, whose name I cannot recall. I hope This past January, volunteered Our McMinn County she’ll forgive that andIEconomic the poor para-as an overnight caretaker athas our Development Authority scored our phrase, because I was moved by her
community’s warming center at second Tax-Increment Project message to “be well, doFinanced good.” As a true Keith Memorial United Methodist in three years with the up-and-coming Vol, I have worked always to exemplify Church. We served 10 people, Athens Marketplace. first TIF the Volunteer spirit, The but lately I’veproject been although not all stayed overnight. three years agofrom was the installment disconnected people thatofI the One person came in ready to seek new Food downtown Athens. serve - I’veCity beeninin board rooms andThe on help to overcome addiction. We Athenscalls, Marketplace willitbe Zoom and there hasa multi-venue been so fed everyone, provided showers, retail for development encompassing over hard me to see the good that comes clothing, toiletries, and a warm safe 100,000 square feet of new retail space from my work and volunteerism – place until dawn broke again. We and anticipating apparel shops,I actually cosmetics, separated from those whom believe in improving the discount retail, bath & beauty, and serve. human condition. restaurants. I reflected on a program from my In the community, I’ve heard Early in in theClifton, fiscal year, paid a church FeedweHiswere Sheep. many talk about the issues around specialper visitweek by Tennessee Once we wouldGovernor cook andBill boxLee homelessness – withwhat genuine care as we broke ground willinbecome meals, deliver them on to people need, for those affected – yet the callwith for the state for higher and makemodel personal contacteducation with those volunteers, to give just one night, theserved. completion the McMinn County we It wasoftruly an uplifting and or a few hours Center. has often Higher Education This gone center humbling experience. unanswered. The few who give will house TCAT-Athens, Cleveland State constantly need a rest themselves. Community College, of This reflection is whattheledUniversity me to think Tennessee’s Agricultural Extension about Table Graces, a local feedingServices, Homelessness is aallnoticeable andThis and AdultinEducation under one roof. program Athens. So, I just showed growing issueworkforce for citiesdevelopment worldwide. center will last drive up on the Wednesday in October to Last fall, I visited Portland, Oregon in collaboration witha hand. local industries and is ask if they needed Of course, where tents abound on sidewalks well underway in construction for the entire they did and I got put straight to work. all over the downtown area. One Athens willminutes become to thefind center Itregion. only took a few thefor resident noted that the growth has workforce development inofthe rhythm and machination thesoutheast process only occurred in the last 5-6 years. Tennessee and just likecorridor. that – I was lost in service. Cities large and small are seeing Once the assembly line slowed, I took an inAthens homelessness, and Theincrease Main Street that time to step outside, toprogram, place food boxes approaches to help vary widely. merged withtothe Business in vehicles, seeDowntown those we were serving. There are the in ourhas community Association yearnoted prior, made Afterwards, itthose was that we hadgreat a who have given tremendous strides in the revitalization of our historic record day: 240 meals served. Not the amounts of their timedowntown, commercial core kind of record wedistrict, hope toand see. effort to help those in need. From the heart of our community. Alongthe with bottom of my heart, I am humbled the development of an Historic Walking The best day would be when zero food by their and thankful Tour, Main Street Athens with boxes are contributions needed by ourpartnered neighbors. that they do their best to fill a the Southeast Tennessee Until then, there are manyDevelopment of us who current void in service to ourfacade District complete grant funded can helptoour friends in need. This neighbors need. improvements for downtown businesses. experience letinme focus on monotonous
www.CityofAthensTN.com www.CityofAthensTN.com
As City Manager, it was important Main Street Athens also embarked physical labor all the while makingona adirect, that I served in our warming visioning process developingand newits visible impact on and our iscommunity center to study this issue, those plans to reinvigorate downtown. underserved members.
affected, and how our community and partners can better serve On to city finances, Fiscaland Yearhumbling 2020 marked There it was – uplifting this portion of our population. As years of Excellent Financial Reporting, –28that feeling of doing good and being the weather has turned warmer, an award presented by the well. It is well with my soul.Government I can’t help but to look back and Finance Officers Association heralding think of that night I gave, away ourprayer exemplary management of taxpayer My for you this Holiday season is from the warmth and safety of my funds our financial that if and you the findtransparency yourself likeofI did, mired own bed, to provide to those in stewardship of the public’s trust. This or blasé in the workaday life we tendmakes to greater need.
Athens oneif of theare best fiscally managed lead — or you getting caught up cities in the entireyour United States.—Athens in things beyond control pause.is Homelessness been in a very stable andhas sound fiscallisted position, as a priority for our citizens maintaining among taxand rates in Pause and find a waythetolowest do good. community, and while we have Tennessee for our service level. many working toward filling the There are countless volunteer opportunities gap, needs still exist.story Many express Finally, another success thatwith has all been in our giving community. Even the care, but few give. Your local more than years in the making, the growth andfifteen advancement we’ve experienced government doesn’tthe have theBoard Athens Cityfew Council in the past years,and we stillAthens have many answer, but we want to an beagreement the of Education to reach neighbors in worked great need. strongest possible partner for our on approaching the needs of our school community’s solution. is, of system and the of ourThis children As we stroll intofuture the holiday season, may course, one of many issues facing regarding our school The you remember to be buildings. kind, to give ifcitizens you our community and we need of Athens voiced their desire and willingness can, and to find some way to do good; it many more citizens leading to pay for the be consolidation of our the four will help you well. see. change they want to elementary schools by approving the referendum to raise the local option sales Genuinely, It takes community toGroundbreaking tackle tax by 0.75% last summer. community issues. Will answer C. Seth Sumner on the new school building isyou set for the call to make our community a December 21, 2020. safer, happier, healthier, and more economically environment All in all, we havevibrant had a tremendous year where ALL people can succeed? here at the City of Athens and we look
forward to another year of progress in the Friendly City. May God bless you and may God bless the City of Athens! Genuinely, C. Seth Sumner City Manager
