Benchmarks 2016: PERSPECTIVES (Section F)

Section F

Perspectives The Greeneville Sun

Benchmarks — March 26, 2016

2

www.greenevillesun.com

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 26, 2016

Greeneville Mayor Reflects On Year Of ‘Development’ hensive Plan is still under way,” he said. “With that, we’re listening to the people. We’re not just sitting in a board room and writing this. We’ve gotten all kinds of involvment from the people.”

So far, at least eight public workshops on various topics and a two-day Town Summit have been held to gather citizen input and steer development of the 20-year plan.

The lengthy process of developing the new plan is expected to continue well into 2016, Daniels said.

BY SARAH R. GREGORY STAFF WRITER

The Town of Greeneville has had many accomplishments in the last year, and more are expected in the coming months, according to Mayor W.T. Daniels.

In a recent interview, Daniels reflected on some of the town’s most significant developments in the last several months while looking ahead to other efforts currently in the works.

BUDGET DEVELOPMENTS In June 2015, the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen narrowly passed a $26 million budget that included in it a 17-cent property tax increase.

With aldermen deadlocked, Daniels cast the tie-breaking vote that put the budget in place for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

It marked the first time the town has increased its property tax rate since 2001. He noted that a different option for dealing with a projected budget deficit — implementation of a per month solid waste collection fee — was discussed but never acted upon.

“We were talking about a fee for door-to-door pickup, and we decided not to go that route,” Daniels said. “Ultimately, what that property tax increase was about was schools.”

Although property tax increases were enacted in 1999 and 2001, the revenue they generated was insufficient to cover repayment of bonds the town took out for school construction projects, including total reconstruction of Greeneville High School.

“We actually had in the very beginning (of the school construction projects) two tax increases, but we never raised the property tax to the point it would alleviate the burden of those bonds,” he said. “Now, we have that behind us.”

When the 2015-16 budget was passed, Daniels said it was a “tough decision” to implement a tax increase, but that it ultimately put the town on a path toward being debtfree.

“Our debt — our structure of our debt — will

W.T. DANIELS GREENEVILLE MAYOR

take care of itself from this day forward,” he said at the time.

Although budget hearings for the 2016-17 fiscal year have not yet begun, Daniels said he expects the development process to go smoothly.

“I think it’s going to be relatively easy putting our budget together,” he said, pointing to the fact that the amount of last year’s property tax increase is projected to be enough to cover increasing debt payments over the next several years.

GRANT-FUNDED PROJECTS Daniels added that he believes the board has limited its spending in recent years and will continue to do so.

“One thing that we’ve really tried to concentrate on is our spending,” he said, noting that grant funds have provided much of the funding for some of the town’s more significant expenses in recent years.

Clean Tennessee Energy Grant program funds from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation covered half the cost of a new hybrid garbage truck put into service by the town’s Public Works Department in late 2015, Daniels said.

On The Cover The view from a 1928 Ford Tri-Motor plane made for a unique perspective on downtown Greeneville in May 2015. The plane, also known as a “tin goose,” was in Greeneville for several days in 2015, offering rides to passengers.

Sun photo by Sarah R. Gregory.

Cover design by Hala Watson.

The new truck utilizes a drive system developed by Parker Hannifin designed to reduce emissions and fuel and maintenance costs. Its hydraulic transmission reuses as much as 70 percent of its braking energy for accelleration.

The town’s portion of the truck’s cost was about $195,000, compared to the nearly $250,000 cost of a new, standard automated garbage truck purchased in 2014.

Grant funds are also paying 50 percent of the $250,000 cost of transforming the former EastView Pool site into a new splash pad recreation center.

That facility will include several water features, like jets and sprayers, for children to enjoy during warm weather months.

In all, it will encompass about 3,200 square-feet with an actual “wet zone” of about 2,900 squarefeet.

“We’re working on the splash pad, and that is exciting,” Daniels said. “I think if you go by other communities, that’s been very successful. Hopefully, ours can be just as successful.”

A highlight of 2016 will be work to complete the final phase of the Fairgrounds Connector Road

project, which has been in the works for more than 20 years.

This last phase of work, at an estimated $2.5 million cost, will use about $1.5 million in Federal Highway Administration funds that flow through the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

“I’m very much looking forward to the completion of the Fairgrounds Connector road,” Daniels said. “That will open up a lot of opportunities for commercial development.”

The new road will start behind Fairgrounds Plaza, near the entrance to the rear parking lot of the Greene County Fairgrounds. It will continue for seven-tenths of a mile and intersect with Rufe Taylor Road. It will have two 12-foot lanes and one 12-foot center lane, and be lined by a 10-foot multi-modal sidewalk.

Daniels said he believes the route will also help alleviate traffic congestion along U.S. Highway 11E while providing better access to rear loading areas at existing business developments that front the highway.

“I think it’s going to prove to be a very good investment,” he said.

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Growth and development will continue to be a focus for the town, Daniels said.

“We’re seeing an increase in commercial development,” he said.

“Ingles built a beautiful store out there, we’ve got Publix coming in and Food City is going through an expansion.

Eastman Credit Union is coming to Greeneville.”

Daniels said the town is looking to recruit more retail businesses.

“I think you’re going to see more in the retail sector,” he said. “What we’re looking for is retail sales or any kind of service industry. We try to follow up on every contact that we get.”

But, Daniels said, the town wants to encourage responsible development.

“If somebody is looking at Greeneville, we will give that consideration,” he said. “But one thing we’re not going to do is go out and recruit any industry that is harmful to the community or the environment.”

The town’s new Comprehensive Plan, still in development, will serve as a long-term plan to guide development, Daniels said.

“Work on the Compre-

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION Work to revitalize the downtown area will continue to be a priority throughout the coming year, Daniels said.

“Thank goodness we’ve got downtown revitalization going,” he said.

“I think people can see where that’s starting to come around.”

Daniels pointed to an increase in special events downtown, like the town’s official Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve celebrations, Main Street: Greeneville’s Lyrics on the Lawn summer concert series and plans for a downtown Farmer’s Market and regular First Friday events as proof that those efforts are working.

The Greene County Heritage Trust’s “Windows to the Past” project that has already seen several murals added to the downtown area and several additions to the Downtown Greeneville Quilt Trail also aim to spark tourism and other activity in the heart of Greeneville, he said.

But, the 2017 opening of Walters State Community College’s expanded downtown campus will also play a significant role in boosting activity downtown, Daniels said.

“Walters State looks like it’s back on pace now,” he said, noting that crews have returned to the site after a several month hiatus while contracts for construction on its interior were in the works.

“That is huge. That is a big deal,” he said, noting that the building’s opening will attract more students to the campus and downtown Greeneville in general.

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Saturday, March 26, 2016

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

3

County Mayor Cites Strides Made In 1st Year In Office

BY BRAD HICKS STAFF WRITER

Although challenges lie ahead, Greene County made great strides in 2015, according to Greene County Mayor David Crum.

Last year was Crum’s first full calendar year as county mayor, having taken office in September 2014.

“I appreciate the opportunity to be in this position,” he said. “It’s where I feel like I’ve been placed for this point in time. As you look back, you can obviously see we’ve had a lot of issues that we’ve dealt with, mainly taking office with a number of new (commissioners) and dealing with the budget and the shortfall that we had.”

When Crum, a former county commissioner, took office, he was not alone in assuming new governmental duties. Sixteen of the 21 county commissioners elected last year were newly elected. But Crum said the new officials and officials in new positions have worked well together, which has helped in county matters, including the relatively early passage of the county’s budget.

The county’s 2015-16 fiscal year budget — one that included no property tax increase — was approved by the Greene County Commission on July 20.

“I think the thing I’ve found is most of us really work good together,” Crum said.

One much-discussed measure implemented last year was an increase to Greene County’s wheel tax rate from $20 to $55. It took effect May 1 and was projected to generate $1.7 million for the county.

Crum said the increase helped generate funding for the county’s general fund, a fund that had been depleting over the years, and allowed officials to balance the budget.

The $35 increase was divided to serve multiple purposes: $25 dollars to the general fund, $5 to debt services, $3 for allocations to local volunteer fire departments, and $2 to bolster the capital projects fund.

Crum said the money set aside to boost the capital projects fund will allow the county to tackle upcoming projects, such as work to repair damage at the Greene County Courthouse caused by leaking.

“That’s going to help us in the long run to develop a maintenance plan,” Crum said of the capital projects funding. “We’re really behind on that, and a lot of maintenance issues have been put off over the years that now can’t be put off any longer.”

Another increase that took effect on May 1 was a $1 fee increase for rabies vaccinations, Crum said. The mayor said this increase will not only allow animal control to purchase a new vehicle, which is in the process of being funded through the fee, but it will help fund future improvements at the James H. “Jim” Eagle Animal Control facility.

“I know from talking to (Animal Control Director Chris Cutshall), one of the long-term things he would like to do is build a fence around that facility, because you do get some vicious animals in down there,” Crum said. “So, for the safety and security with two schools across the road, that’s one of the longterm things we would like to do with that money, to help fund those improvements.”

Improvements to the Greene County Hunter Education Range continued throughout 2015.

The improvement project to the more than 30year-old shooting range was made possible by $1.6 million in grant funding provided through the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The county has an approximate required match of $400,000.

To facilitate this project, the Greene County Range Oversight Committee was formed and began meeting in late 2014 after the project was approved.

Movement with regards to the project that occurred over 2015 included the

DAVID CRUM GREENE COUNTY MAYOR

completion of some site grading, the approval of plans to situate the range’s skeet/trap range on countyowned property, and putting the project out for bid.

However, the bids submitted by the October deadline exceeded the funding available for the project.

The committee is in the process of again collecting bids for the improvement project. Once the project is complete, the range, which has served as a law enforcement training facility, must be open to the public for 21 hours per week.

Crum said the completed project will allow the range to be used for hunter education and firearms safety courses.

The way for the redevelopment of downtown Greeneville through the use of a tax-incentive program was also cleared in 2015. On Dec. 21, the commission met jointly with the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the Greeneville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. At that time, each body voted to terminate a 1992 Redevelopment Plan. This was tax-increment financing plan that allowed for the extensive renovation to the General Morgan Inn and Conference Center.

Greeneville officials have expressed an interest in utilizing TIF for the rede-

velopment of the downtown district, but the existing TIF had to be closed out before a new one could be pursued.

“So there’s the possibility of redevelopment in our county seat that could help improve our downtown community,” Crum said.

Redevelopment discussions are expected to continue throughout 2016.

Now that the weather has taken a turn for the better, Crum said funding acquired last year will be put to use.

In October, the commission approved a resolution to budget $10,000 received from the Tennessee Valley Authority to the Greene County Highway Department for the completion of a launch area along the Nolichucky River under the Elbert Kinser Bridge.

The launch will provide improved access for inner tubes, canoes and small kayaks.

“So that should help us from a recreational standpoint,” Crum said.

But there were two areas of concern in 2015 — areas that Crum said will remain as such throughout 2016.

There are the county’s solid waste fund and its highway fund.

Neither of these funds were impacted by the wheel tax increase.

Crum said solid waste operated in a deficit this

year. According to the county’s 2015-16 budget, solid waste was projected to see $1.6 million in revenues this year against more than $1.85 million in expenditures, leaving the department with a negative fund balance of more than $241,000. After using the remaining fund balance, the fund was projected to end 2015-16 with only $67,000.

Efforts were made prior to the start of the fiscal year to reduce solid waste expenses.

In June, Crum announced that hours at each of the county’s 17 convenience centers were being reduced to 30 hours per week beginning July 1 in order to cut costs.

But Crum subsequently announced a new schedule for the centers. Per this move, the centers’ weekly operational hours continued to total 495, just as they did with the changes announced in June. The difference is the hours were spread out across the centers, with

some to be open more than 30 hours per week and others less. Unlike the prior plan, this second plan, which went into effect in late July, provided residents the opportunity to utilize a center every day of the week except Sunday.

“I think our citizens have spoken throughout the year that they want more hours,” Crum said of the convenience centers. “That is going to take increased funding. All you have to do is look and see that we generate more garbage, it seems like, per household than we did 20 years ago.”

The solid waste department has also placed recycling containers at some county schools. And Crum said the revenue-generating bins would be placed at all county schools if funding was available to do so.

Crum said officials must look at long-term funding solutions for that would allow the department to operate without a deficit and

allow it to replace expensive equipment and increase recycling.

When the commission approved the budget in July, it also approved a measure that would see solid waste funded in 2015-16 through sales collected in the county.

Prior to this, approximately 5 cents of the county’s property tax rate was designated for the solid waste fund.

Crum said sales tax collections are failing to fund solid waste, adding that leaders in the county’s municipalities feel solid waste should be funded from the property tax.

The mayor said officials must work to find a funding source that is “fair” for all residents of Greene County.

Highways and associated funding continues to be a topic of discussion from the state level on down, Crum said.

The highway fund was projected to see revenues totaling more than $5.6 million in 2015-16 against expenditures of over $6.4 million. Carving out of the fund balance the projected loss of more than $765,000 would leave the fund with a projected ending fund balance slightly less than $1.4 million.

“I get calls, people complaining about their roads deteriorating, and I know they’re deteriorating,” Crum said. “But that comes straight down to funding.”

The cost of paving one mile costs approximately $50,000.

Over the past year, Crum said much of his work has involved “facilitation” — working behind the scenes with county officials and organizations to complete projects and secure grant funding.

And although many citizens contact Crum to voice their concerns over a myriad of matters, he said many also call to give some positive feedback.

“I do get a lot of positive (comments) and encouragement from people,” Crum said. “I think most people realize that our elected officials, it’s not easy jobs we do and we do our best.”

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THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 26, 2016

Mosheim Mayor Highlights Year Of Improvements

BY LISA WARREN STAFF WRITER

Mayor Tommy Gregg and the leaders of the Town of Mosheim always seem to be working some sort of new project involving the western Greene County municipality.

This past year was no exception.

Among the accomplishments was the completion of a new $220,000 addition to the Mosheim Public Library, which doubled the size of the existing 2,000 square feet of building space. The project, which was recently completed, was funded largely through state and federal grants.

Because the library is located in close proximity to the Mosheim Elementary and Middle School campus, the town has been working toward the construction of a walkway connecting the two properties for the safety of the school children who visit there.

The town had previously hoped to secure state grant funding to help with the planned walkway through the Safe Routes to School program, but did not receive funding from that particular program.

Despite this, however, Gregg said that the town hopes to still move forward in the coming year toward a walkway from the Mosheim School campus to the public library.

“I think we will probably put it in the tree section (between the two properties)” the mayor said.

In addition to the walkway, Gregg said the project will most likely also include some park benches and picnic tables.

One walkway that the town decided against this past year was the planned construction of a walking trail at Harmon Cemetery Park.

A state grant had been awarded to the town through the Tennessee Recreation Trails Program to aid with the project.

The 80/20 grant would have provided for the construction of a walking trail at the Harmon Cemetery/

TOMMY GREGG MOSHEIM MAYOR

Pottertown Road Park.

There was just one major catch: The Town of Mosheim would have been financially responsible for an archealogical dig at the site before the construction could begain.

Because of this, the town’s board members expressed reservations about proceeding with the project — which would have had the added expense beyond the town’s 20 percent construction cost.

The proposed project would have constructed a 1,895-foot walking trail with landscaping, park benches and fencing. The estimated cost of the project was $103,500 with proposed funding of $82,800 from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation funds and the remaining $20,700 to have been provided by the town.

The project has not been entirely ruled out as a possibility for the future, the mayor said.

However, it is no longer in

the forefront of planned activities by the town.

One purchase the town did make during the past year, Gregg noted, was a new ladder truck and equipment for the Town of Mosheim Fire Department.

The truck was necessary to replace an aging ladder truck that was put out of commission due to safety issues following a major fire during the past year.

In October, the board voted unanimously to approve the installation of a Business Information System credit card processing system at Mosheim Town Hall.

This new system, which is now available for use, gives town customers the option of paying their municipal bills via credit or debit card. Until now, the town hall had no such option available to its customers.

Another project that Gregg said he was happy to have completed during the past year was the completion of a 2.5-

mile paving project for Mosheim’s Main Street.

The town spent $262,000 on the Main Street.

In the coming year, Gregg said the town expects to begin an additional paving project for portions of Blue Springs Parkway.

Plans are in the works to pave a six-mile portion of the roadway, he said. However, the cost is going to be expensive, the mayor added.

“We had it estimated at about $100,000 per mile,” he said.

Because of that cost, he said the town may have to focus on the most problematic areas first.

Another major project that the town is launching into is needed upgrades and renovations to its sewer system and plant.

In January, the board agreed to authorize the issuance of $600,000 in sewer revenue and tax bonds to help further fund upgrades to the municipality’s Lick Creek Valley Wastewater Treatment

Plant, which provides service to the muncipality’s residents and some neighboring areas.

The $600,000 bond is being combined with a $600,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Agency in order to cover the cost of upgrades to businesses and industry within the town and parts of the municipality’s surrounding area.

Town officials say they anticipate that user fees will fully pay for the bond without an increase to existing fees.

Work on the project was scheduled to begin this month by Frizzell Construction. The Bristolbased construction company was awarded the lowest bid on the project at $762,750, which came under the planned budget.

The town’s sewer system has been in operation since 1986.

The town is in the process of applying for a new grant to help with sewer upgrades for the Cherokee and Hartshaw areas.

“We may get that grant — and we may not,” he said.

“But it’s almost impossible [for a small municipality] to do sewer work without some financial help,” he explained.

Another project in the works by the town is street lighting where both Bridge Burners Boulevard and Pottertown Road intersects with Highway 11-E. Gregg explained that the town has been working with Greeneville Light & Power System on the project. GL&PS is installing the lighting, while the Town of Mosheim will be responsible for the electricity payment and upkeep costs, Gregg said.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation had previously installed caution lights at the Bridge Burners Boulevard intersection.

The Town of Mosheim, he said, is responsible for maintaining them.

In another TDOT project in Mosheim, surveying studies for a couple of intersection upgrades have been conducted in the past year.

Among the intersections

are ones at the entrances to the Dollar General Store, Mosheim Town Hall and Blue Springs Market.

It may be 2017 before work will begin on the projects, the mayor said.

“TDOT officials have really spent the time and money doing extensive surveying here, though,” Gregg said.

A memorial sign for the late Mosheim Mayor Billy Myers was installed during the past year at Mosheim Town Park, and Gregg said he hopes that the town can do some improvement work at the park and playground in the near future.

“We have talked about planting some trees there,” he said.

He said the town also hopes to redo the tennis court surfaces.

Another ongoing project for the town involves storm drainage control in some problem areas, including a couple on Main Street.

“We’re not sure how extensive we’re going to get into that or what exactly we have to do at this time,” Gregg said. “It’s going to be expensive. Some have existing drainage tiling, but they have filled up, so we need to look at clearing those out and getting them usable again.

“Many people also don’t like a ditch in front of their property and some have driveway culverts that have not been maintained,” he said.

In the coming years, Gregg said he would like to see the town attract additional retail businesses, especially ones such as hardware and home improvement stores, auto parts businesses and sitdown restaurants.

Establishing a police department in Mosheim has also been a long-time aspiration, but he said he doesn’t think it will come to fruition in the near future.

It is something, however, that he said he feels the town will need to do at some point.

“We need some teeth to enforce our ordinances,” Gregg said.

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Saturday, March 26, 2016

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

5

Tusculum Mayor Describes Challenges, Opportunities

BY KEN LITTLE STAFF WRITER

Alan Corley has provided decades of service to his native city. As mayor of Tusculum since 2014, Corley said in an interview this month that service to the community is important to him.

“I have lived in the City of Tusculum most of my adult life, and have appreciated the opportunity to do so. I have always been encouraged by my family to volunteer and give back to my community and to those who have helped me along the way, and serving as a city commissioner and now as mayor of Tusculum gives me an opportunity to do that,” Corley said.

“I am proud of our city and want to see it grow and prosper, and I appreciate the opportunity to play a role in that,” he added.

Corley, owner of Corley’s Pharmacy, is also a long-time volunteer fire-

ALAN CORLEY TUSCULUM MAYOR

fighter and active in area scouting as a member of the Nolachuckey District of the Boy Scouts of America organization.

“Speaking of scouting, two of the prime objectives of that program are to develop good citizens and a commitment

to public service — so maybe that lesson ‘took’ with me,” Corley said.

GOALS REALIZED As mayor of Tusculum, Corley said some goals for improvements in the city were met last year.

“During 2015, we were

able to complete the road/driveway to the new John D. Foster Wastewater Treatment Facility, which was the final step in the completion of that major project. The facility is now completely operational,” Corley said.

He said that a continuing goal “is to develop the commercial property along the East Andrew Johnson Highway now that sewer is available.”

“While we have seen much interest in those properties, we have yet to be able to announce a development, so those efforts continue,” Corley said.

As a part of that effort, there has been discussion of placing a referendum on the November election ballot to allow liquor by the drink in Tusculum.

“One of the most common wishes that we hear from residents is for more restaurants, and some restaurants will not locate in an area that is ‘dry.’ If the referendum is

approved by the voters, it may help to attract restaurants to our available commercial property and increase revenues for the city,” Corley said.

Corley said that residential development is also important to the growth of Tusculum, “and that has seen a definite uptick in 2015 and early 2016.”

Another project completed in 2015 was the update and recodification of the Tusculum Municipal Code with the assistance of the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service.

“This project reviewed our code and ordinances for compliance with state and federal law, made necessary changes, and incorporated all new ordinances since the last update more than 10 years ago,” Corley said.

Despite fiscal challenges to all area municipalities, Tusculum has managed to continue operat-

ing in the black without a city property tax, Corley said.

“An always important goal was achieved — we operated within our budget with a slight surplus in 2015,” he said.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PLANS At the city’s request, Corley said that the Tennessee Department of Transportation completed a study in 2015 for the city concerning pedestrian safety, particularly in the areas around Tusculum College and the Tusculum Linear Trail.

“We implemented some of those recommendations in 2015, and plan to continue efforts in 2016 to improve the safety of pedestrians and motorists in those areas,” he said.

The Linear Trail received some needed attention in 2015.

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www.greenevillesun.com

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 26, 2016

Baileyton Mayor Reflects On Rate Hike, Pit Bull Ordinance from Eastman Kodak Co. with more than 30 years experience.

He was last re-elected in 2012. The next election happens in August.

In March, Casteel told the Sun that he plans to run for re-election as mayor.

BY O.J. EARLY STAFF WRITER

An 18 percent jump in sewer rates, the planned retirement of a long-time alderman and debates over pit bulls marked the highlights of Baileyton government over the last year, according to Mayor Tommy Casteel.

When the Baileyton Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved the town’s budget in July, Baileyton residents got an 18 percent jump in sewer rates “To make us come out even,” Casteel said then, “we have to raise sewer rates 18 percent.”

In July, Casteel gave the board two options.

The first was raise rates 10 percent, a move that he said wouldn’t balance the budget, and the second was increase rates by 18 percent and get a balanced budget.

The new rate went into effect in August.

Here’s what the rate increase looked like: for a Baileyton resident using less than 2,000 gallons each month, the jump meant an increase from $32.85 to $38.76.

Commercial property owners using more than 2,000 gallons a month saw a hike from $94.61 to $111.64.

The balanced budget approved last summer

TOMMY CASTEEL BAILEYTON MAYOR

expected most of the town’s revenue to come through local taxes. In 2015-16, Town Recorder Barbara Tilson projected $235,000 via sales tax and $62,500 through wholesale beer tax.

The town planned to spend about $450,000.

In a March interview with The Greeneville Sun, Casteel ref lected on the town’s last 12 months.

“With the way the economy has been, we’ve done good,” he said.

ALDERMAN RETIRES Casteel also highlighted the planned retirement of J.D. Sensabaugh, an alderman since 1979.

S e n s a b a u g h announced his retirement in February.

“I have decided that it’s time for me to step down,” he said. “I want to thank the people of Baileyton for electing me all these years.”

Sensabaugh’s work extended well beyond his alderman post. He was an auxiliary police

officer for the Baileyton Police Department, and he also performed mechanical work on town vehicles.

“By the time I was 18 years old I was rebuilding engines. So when I became an alderman I began doing a lot of repair work on city vehicles,” he said.

“I saved them a lot of labor. All it cost them was the cost for the parts.”

A 1956 graduate of Baileyton High School, Sensabaugh retired

PIT BULL DEBATE Over the last year, Casteel said pit bulls were a problem in Baileyton.

In January, Casteel told the board that the town would start enforcing an on-the-books ordinance that bans the dog breed being unconfined in city limits.

In 2009, the board adopted a measure that stipulates what owners of “vicious dogs” can do with their animal.

Among the requirements: Pit bulls must either be locked in a pen, or the animals must be muzzled and restrained by a chain or leash.

Owners of pit bulls must also have public liability insurance that totals at least $100,000.

“These pit bulls are kind of getting ridiculous in Bailey ton,” Casteel said. “We don’t need vicious dogs running around kids. We’ve had this ordinance for a long time, and it’s a good ordinance.”

Baileyton’s breed-specific ordinance has its supporters. Pat Dun-

away of Rialto, Calif., an advocate for victims of pit bull attacks, lauded the town’s ordinance. “ This move by your city means much to us all over the country,” Dunaway wrote. “It means you care about the safety of your citizens and I can respect that.”

But G r e ene v i l le Greene County Humane Society Manager Amy Bowman felt measures could be taken other tha n breed- spec if ic legislation.

She said a spay/neuter law across Greene County would help prevent stray dogs from running around. She also wants to see local gover n ment s en ac t a nti-t ether i ng ord inances to prevent dog owners from keeping the animals chained out in their yards.

“I just think our government needs to pay attention to the laws we have on the books and look into making some new laws that make the owner responsible,” Bowman said.

Casteel said the law shouldn’t surprise anyone.

“We’ve had this law on the books for years,” Casteel said. “ We’ve had so many complaints here lately we’re starting to enforce it heavier.”

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Tusculum Starts on Page 5 “Trail damage, particularly that caused by tree roots causing unevenness in the trail, was repaired and many fading signs along the trail were replaced,” Corley said.

Annual street paving projects included the entire portion of Rufe Taylor Road within the city, including a portion of Shiloh Road and several patches of damaged streets.

Corley and the Tusculum Board of Mayor and Commissioners have other plans for 2016.

“We continue to work with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to make improvements to the traffic signals at the intersection of East Andrew Johnson Highway and the Tusculum Bypass,” Corley said. “We are awaiting the decision on a TDOT spot safety grant to make those major improve-

Saturday, March 26, 2016

ments, although we have made some repairs and improvements recently.”

Also in 2016, the city will consider applying for a grant to provide residential sewer service “to one of our larger neighborhoods where there are currently some septic system issues,” Corley said.

“Whether that project takes place or not will depend on approval of the grant and the amount of the local funding match. Even if approved, the project would likely not occur until 2017,” he said.

CHALLENGES FOR 2016 The city has challenges to meet this year and in upcoming years, Corley said.

“As with most governments, maintaining services for our residents while living within our budget is always a challenge,” Corley said.

Unplanned expenses had to be addressed after a surprise decision by the Greene County Commission to impose

tipping fees on city curbside garbage collection.

The action, taken after the 2015-16 city budget was in place, cost Tusuclum thousands of dollars.

“It definitely stressed our budget,” Corley said.

As a result, the board “made the difficult decision to suspend curbside garbage collection in January until that issue might be settled in the 2016-2017 budget year,” Corley said.

“That is a decision that will be reassessed moving forward, depending on budgets and revenue. Resuming that service will also likely require the purchase of a new garbage collection truck, which will require a major investment,” he said.

Corley said that since there is no property tax in Tusculum, the city doesn’t have a direct way to increase revenue, “so we have to depend on growth to increase revenues — and that is something we cannot directly control and is

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

hard to predict.”

The future of the Tusculum City Hall building at 145 Alexander St. is another issue that must be decided soon, Corley said.

“A recent inspection of our 60-plus-yearold city hall building revealed some pretty serious structural issues that will have to be addressed. We are currently gathering expert advice about how to correct the issues,” Corley said.

The mayor said another challenge “is the continuing need for additional, and better designed, space for the city recorder and police department.”

Additional public meeting space “is also a long-term, but costly, goal,” Corley said.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE In coming years, Corley anticipates an improved economy and population growth in Tusculum.

“Residential construction is underway in

several locations and I would expect that to continue if the overall economy continues to improve. I believe that commercial development will also occur in the near future and will improve our city revenues, as well as the local economy by providing jobs,” Corley said.

Corley also provided his long-term outlook for Tusculum.

“I believe the outlook is strong long-term, with a few bumps short-term.

The long-term outlook will be improved once we have some tax-generating development along the East Andrew Johnson Highway, which will take some time to mature even if it starts now,” Corley said.

Revenue from new development “will allow us to address some of our challenges while maintaining services to residents without a property tax,” Corley said.

Tusculum College continues to be a vibrant part of the community, Corley added.

“It is very exciting to see the college continue to grow, with very visible evidence of that now evident as the construction of the magnificent Meen Center for Math and Science progresses alongside the Erwin Highway, and with new educational opportunities such as the recently announced nurse practitioner program,” he said.

Tusculum’s citizens are its greatest asset, Corley said.

“The primary reason I feel positive about the future of our city is its people,” he said.

In addition to the city’s residents, Corley mentioned the city’s five employees: a recorder, two public works employee, and two police officers.

He also included the city’s dozens of volunteers, such as members of the Tusculum Volunteer Fire Department and Tusculum Planning Commission, and elected officials.

“I am grateful to all of them on behalf of our city,” he said.

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www.greenevillesun.com

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 26, 2016

City Schools Director Focuses On Innovation, Standards

BY SARAH R. GREGORY STAFF WRITER

Greeneville City Director of Schools Dr. Jeff Moorhouse says he’s focused on not only maintaining a standard of excellence already established within the school district, but raising the bar to ensure success for all students.

“Coming in to Greeneville City Schools, I was eager to look at what the secret ingredient was to their success,” Moorhouse said in a recent interview. “Being from the outside, GCS was always a benchmark system. They always did fantastic work in lots of their programs and have for a long time been considered one of the more innovative systems.”

As the 2015-16 school year nears its end, Moorhouse is wrapping up the first year in a three-year contract signed in 2015 naming him director of schools.

“Coming in, what I was able to identify early on is that it boils down to one thing. It’s the people that GCS is blessed with,” he

DR. JEFF MOORHOUSE GREENEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS DIRECTOR

said. “We’ve got great leadership at key positions, from the central office to the principals.

But, also, we’ve got some leaders in the classrooms that don’t just lead our system, but play significant roles in our state, providing input and feedback in curriculum development.”

For the size of the school district, Moorhouse said, GCS has a higher ratio of “high fliers” than other systems in the state.

“I think that the reputa-

tion of the system attracts that kind of person. High fliers typically want to be in places where there are high expectations,” he said. “There’s certainly a culture of high expectations here. We want to be standard-setters.”

Moorhouse said that although the school district is regarded as an innovative one, he’s learned that school leaders aren’t looking at new technology and teaching techniques just to be different.

“We’re always looking for what is the next thing. And it’s not that we have to be the biggest or the first, but that whatever we choose to do, we do it the best,” he said.

“There’s not innovation for innovation’s sake, just to be doing something different.”

Initiatives that GCS undertakes, like the inprogress systemwide “digital transformation,” are taken on “to a very deep level,” Moorhouse said.

“When you’re sitting on the outside, you hear about things because what GCS chooses to do becomes a big deal. There are many things that go on that don’t reach that level of communication out there,” he said.

Like other educators, Moorhouse says he was drawn to the field of education by a desire to be a positive influence.

“Educators have been a huge influence in my life, impacting me in a positive way. I wanted to do the same thing,” he said.

After 10 years as principal of Morristown West High School, he began seeking opportunities

to serve as a superintendent. At the time he was selected to lead GCS by the Greeneville City Board of Education, he was also being vetted by Unicoi County Schools for its top leadership position.

“I’m somebody that likes to learn new things.

Not that there weren’t challenges in my last stop, but at 10 years at one place, you’ve kind of experienced the majority of things that are going to be happening at that level,” he said. “I was ready for a new challenge. I saw this as an opportunity to learn, to learn from the best and to be trained up to be in a culture of excellence.”

Moorhouse said he’s wants to demonstrate a leadership style that helps students and teachers see him as approachable.

“I want to grow into my style,” he said. “I think (teachers) have the most important job in our country, which is shaping the lives, minds and hearts of young people.

I want to present myself as, not that they’re serving me, but that I’m

serving them. I want to be a servant leader for our teachers and central office, to be a support to them and what they need to have happen in the classroom.”

In his first year at GCS, Moorhouse has focused on learning about the inner workings of the school system.

“I’m questioning a lot of things as to why we do what we do, and then I’m challenging us that. If we don’t have a good answer to that, do some of our things that are happening in our schools happen because that’s just the way it’s always been done, or because that’s the best way to do it,” he said.

“I want to help people formulate their thinking about what’s best for our students.”

In the upcoming 201617 school year, he hopes to spend more time in each of the district’s six schools.

“I would like to be in the schools more than what I’ve been able to,” Moorhouse said. “Once I get through that cycle of PLEASE SEE CITY | 12

County Schools Director Tackles Tests, Praises Progress

BY BRAD HICKS STAFF WRITER

Greene County Director of Schools David McLain has been on the job for about 10 months now, but the new superintendent said he has already seen his share of both challenges and positives for the county schools system.

McLain officially took the reigns of the school system on June 1, filling the spot previously held by Dr. Vicki Kirk, who announced in March she had accepted a position with the Tennessee Department of Education as the department’s chief academic officer.

But Greene County Schools is not unfamiliar grounds for McLain. Prior to being selected as the school system’s new director in May, McLain had served as the system’s assistant director of operations and students services since 2013. Prior

DAVID MCLAIN GREENE COUNTY SCHOOLS DIRECTOR

to this, he had served as principal of North Greene High School since 2007 and had taught in local schools from 1997 up until he became principal.

“I’m humbled to be chosen to lead this county, no

doubt,” McLain said. “Not everybody can live this life and say they’ve been chosen to lead a school system, especially the size of this one.”

And McLain said he has learned quickly that

each day presents its own challenges in a school system that boasts around 7,000 students across 17 schools.

“It is challenging but it’s also very rewarding at times, as well,” McLain said of the director’s job.

Immediately after his selection, McLain faced the task of replacing eight administrators across several schools. McLain said a new principal and assistant principal was needed at Chuckey-Doak Middle School, a principal and two assistant principals had to be put in place at Mosheim Elementary/ Middle School, a new principal was needed at Glenwood Elementary School, a new principal needed to be brought in at Baileyton Middle School, and a new principal was needed at West Pines Elementary School.

These hires were suc-

cessfully made, McLain said.

“We’re excited about those people, and we’re excited about all administrators,” McLain said.

“They’ve done a great job.”

McLain said a director of schools must always keep academics in the front of his mind, adding that one of the things he has worked to address since taking over as director is improving K-2 literacy across the district.

And the school system has had help in this effort.

The Niswonger Foundation is partnering with the school system to launch the Greene County/Niswonger Foundation Literacy Initiative, a project aimed at enhancing K-2 literacy.

“I really feel with the partnership with the Niswonger Foundation, we’re trying to do some things there,” McLain said.

McLain also said the district must work to improve the number of Greene County students seeking and completing a post-secondary education, which he said could include two-year colleges, four-year universities or career technical education programs.

“To me, everything we do in public education or in Greene County, it’s our job to try to prepare these kids, to prepare them for college,” he said. “As educators, we want kids out there that are good products to Greene County and, hopefully, have some who want to work and stay in Greene County.”

McLain said he believes state initiatives, such as Tennessee Promise and Drive to 55, will improve local post-secondary percentages.

PLEASE SEE COUNTY | 12

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12

www.greenevillesun.com

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 26, 2016

City

“If the culture of our school system is to be excellent, and if we now have students with these devices, how do we separate ourselves out from what anyone else is doing,” he said.

Moorhouse said the system is embracing an increasingly popular educational concept called “blended learning,” where students are engaged with technology and digital content in a way that allows them to work at their own pace.

“That’s the model we’re adopting and we’re wanting to support. Our teachers are allowed a

Starts on Page 8 firsts — after I’ve experienced that and as we come around the second time — I’m looking at what personal touch I can put on that, and how can I engage in the classrooms more?”

Going forward, technological innovation will continue to be a focus districtwide, as new computers, tablets and devices make their way into the classroom, due, in large part, to the GCS Education Foundation.

County Starts on Page 8 Another item McLain, administrators and educators have prepared for is the new TNReady test. This marked the first year of the TNReady assessment, which is the state’s new test for English language arts and math for grades 3-11. It replaces the TCAP tests for those subjects.

“The issue we’re faced with in our county right now is, basically this year, you’ve got a new test in reference to TNReady,” McLain said.

“That’s been a challenge within itself for our teachers because of the way testing has been done and you’ve got some additional testing in the Social Studies area.”

In February, the Greene County Board of Education, like other school boards across the state, approved a resolution opposing the use of TNReady data for teacher evaluations for the 2015-16 school year.

McLain said work must also be done to improve the district’s composite ACT score. According to the 2015 Tennessee Department of Education Report Card, Greene County Schools’ composite ACT score for the 2014-15 school year was 18.9, less than the state average of 19.4 for the same school year.

“Even when I was a high school principal, ACT was always on your mind,” McLain said. “You look at ACT, and I think that’s something that’s constantly we’re trying to work on to improve.”

McLain said officials have worked to increase professional development opportunities to county educators.

He also said work has been done to increase dual-enrollment, with as many teachers as possible being sent to Advanced Placement training to increase rigor in the classrooms.

“No doubt, research proves the more AP classes you have, the better ACT scores you have, so we’re trying to look at those things to improve education,” McLain said.

With a greater emphasis placed on End of Course scores and the accountability based on the new TNReady test, McLain said his year has been more difficult than most.

“It’s kind of a wait-andsee to get that baseline year and then here we go,” he said. “Certainly, we know we’ve got some improvement to make in reference to ACT, but EoCs and the old TCAPs at the K-8 level, which is now TNReady, they’re just some unknowns right now to see where we need to be.”

McLain also said schoollevel performance varies across the district. He said the goal is to bring all schools up to the highest level of achievement.

“In certain areas we’re doing some great things, and in other areas we’ve got a lot of areas to improve,” he said.

One of the greatest challenges McLain said he has faced thus far is the school system’s food services fund.

The board is in the process of determining whether the system’s food services will continue as a self-operating entity or if they will be outsourced.

Greene County Schools’ food services has seen losses in recent years, including a loss of more than $100,000 so far in the 2015-16 school year.

“We’ve lost substantially quite a bit of money the last two to three years,” he said.

“That’s a pretty difficult situation.”

But strides have been made in recent months to improve the environment for Greene County students, including an agreement with PT Solutions that would see full-time athletic trainers placed at the county’s high schools and middle schools, and an agreement with eMD Anywhere, a telemedicine services provider. This agreement would see a nurse practitioner placed within the school system to provided enhanced medical access to students and staff.

“So we’re doing some great things there,” McLain said.

And McLain said he is optimistic about the future of Greene County Schools looking forward, citing the quality of the district’s employees as the reason.

He said everyone from the principals and teachers to the bus drivers and custodians are assets.

“We have a lot of caring people within our communities and our community schools and, certainly, we strive for every kid to be on grade-level and to make sure they’re productive citizens,” McLain said.

lot of autonomy as to what depth they engage with the technology,” he said. “What I want to be able to communicate with our teachers is this, again, is a tool. We want to be able to identify best practices and let that influence and drive where we’re going. Technology is here to stay.”

The school system is also using technology to engage parents and the community more, Moorhouse said.

“That’s the society we live in. News travels, and school newsletters are not the only way we’re sending something

home,” he said, adding that GCS educators are using sites like Twitter and Facebook to communicate the district’s efforts and accomplishments.

“What has been really neat coming in is that the culture is already established that people really value what’s happening in the city school system,” he said.

“We want to continue to create value. People have made an investment in the school system and we want to be able to show the return on investment.”

Community support

and engagement creates a “unity of spirit” in GCS, Moorhouse said. “ There is a sense of belonging, that, at homecoming, you see former band members playing the national anthem and alumni choir members singing.

Homecoming is something that is a homecoming where people belong, like, ‘once a devil, always a devil,’” he said. “ That is to be celebrated. I think there’s an assumption that that happens everywhere, and that doesn’t happen every-

where.”

That type of spirit, he said, reinforces that the people that make up GCS are what make the school system unique and successful.

“Everybody’s rowing in the same direction.

It’s about excellence in everything. The standard has been set,” he said. “We want to have a vision for the success of all students.

“I think that we’re blessed here, and I’m proud to be able to be a small part of something huge and be a part of something special.”

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“Serving the Children of the World”

Greeneville Chapter #223 Order of the Eastern Star Regular Stated Meeting 2nd Thursday of the Month - 7:30 p.m. at the Greeneville Masonic Lodge #3

Sponsor of

Art Quest • Scholarships Free Art Exhibits for more information, call Abby Gourley 423-470-3524 P.O. Box 2282, Greeneville, TN 37744

KIWANIS CLUB Hunter Reed, President

Sunshine Court #20 Order of the Amaranth Meets the 3rd Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Mosheim Masonic Lodge Hall In Honor of Sir Knight, John Harmon, Past Grand Royal Patron of the Grand Court of Tennessee Order of the Amaranth.

Meeting Every Thursday at Noon at

Ryan’s For more information, call 423-341-0322 Visit Us On Facebook Kiwanis Club of Greeneville

In Honor of Our Sister Carmen Ricker, Past Grand Matron Grand Representatives: Sister Betty Gregg, South Dakota & Brother Danny Crum, Massonic Relation Masonic Charities Committee

Mosheim Chapter #292 Order of the Eastern Star Regular Slated Meeting 3rd Monday of the Month - 7:00 p.m. at the Mosheim Masonic Lodge #463 In Honor of Sister Helen Paxton; Past Grand Matron Brother Lowell Gregg Past Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of Tennessee Order of the Eastern Star Brother John Harmon, Grand Instructor Scarlett Harmon, Grand Representative, Utah