Tracy Harris tharris@themarshallcountypost.com
The Lewisburg City Council met Jan. 9 at 6:00 p.m. The Mayor and all councilmembers were present. The following employees received service awards: Mike Barron, Lonnie Cook, Gary Fralix, Anthony Garrett, Jeremy Hazel, Georgina Jones, William Langley, Brent McMahon, Stacy Martin, Justin Rhiner, Chris Sawyers, Cody Schramm, Jeremy Spray, Kim Solomon, Tracy Teal, and Buddy Wiles.
Bam Hailsip gave his City Manager’s Report. He congratulated and announced Drew Haskins as the new fire chief. Haskins officially takes the position on Jan 15, 2024. He also introduced the new City Treasurer Allan Owen. Haislip read the report from Parks and Recreation Director Cary Whitsell. The Rec Center’s therapy pool install began on Monday and is still ongoing. The Sports Complex is having the hallways painted and the floors are being stripped and waxed. Basketball league practice has started so the gym is closed at 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Games are held on Saturdays. Indoor soccer practice is held on Fridays from 5 – 6 p.m.
Pickleball’s morning hours are 8 – 10 a.m. Monday- Friday in addition to Wednesdays from 4 – 8 p.m. and Fridays from 3 – 5 p.m.
Lewisburg Police Department Chief Scott Braden reported that in December, the department received 1,100 calls for service and opened 33 new investigations. He also reported than four vehicles are ordered and he hopes they come in soon. Sergeant Anthony Garrett is leaving in March after 10 years with the department. Braden said, “He’s an asset to the department and we are looking to fill his spot pretty quickly.”
The Violent Crime Intervention Fund (VCIF) is a grant for local law enforcement agencies to implement programs, technology, and strategies to reduce violent crime in Tennessee communities. The LPD received $130,000+ in VCIF funds. Two of the three projects being done with that money are completed. They purchased a drone and Cook has been able to use it a little bit just to get used to it. The department also purchased a crime scene van scheduled for pickup on Jan. 10.
The third project, license plate readers, has been tedious with multiple layers for implementation. It requires the Department of Safety’s (DOS) approval first then must come back before City Council. The state has requested Braden modify or amend the current policy on data retention. The policy introduced last year had 180 days for retention but according to the DOS “we can only hold it for 90 days,” Braden said. Braden explained things like aerial photographs and latitude/longitude must be done first with/by the DOS and then it goes to the Department of Transportation (TDOT). License plate readers are taking a lot longer than anticipated, but it will happen.
The new city Treasurer, Allan Owen, gave his report and it was his first week in the role. He reported that he has signed up for Certified Municipal Finance Officer (CMFO) program and will start those the third week in January. He received confirmation from Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) that the hours in that CMFO program will also count toward his yearly continuing education as a CPA. Owen said learning the current system has “been really an eye-opening process coming in. Everything’s a very manual and labor-intensive process. In the future, I think it would really behoove the city to look at a comprehensive ERP.”
Debbie Montgomery informed the council that funds have already been allocated for updating the system from a grant. The city received money from The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. It guaranteed direct funding to all cities, towns and villages in the United States. Montgomery said they have received a quote in the past and that she will work on getting the representative who made the quote back to provide more details and information soon.
Codes Director Richard Donovan said, “I want to discuss a little bit of change I am going to make in the department. In the couple of months that I have been here, I have noticed with permits, things are being missed. We shouldn’t really be issuing them when somebody’s in the office. We need some time to review them. So we’re going to take three days to review those.” Donovan has already started having the discussion with people coming in requesting permits. “We need to enforce what we have on the books,” he said.
The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. The next work session is scheduled for Feb. 6 at 5:00 p.m. The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Feb. 13 at 6:00 p.m. All meetings unless otherwise posted are at City Hall located at 131 East Church St. Lewisburg, TN 37091.
