On Saturday, March 15 nearly 10,000 people came together to celebrate Main Street Days: St. Paddy’s Edition in Downtown Johnson City. With a full lineup of festive entertainment and local vendors, the event proved to be a resounding success for attendees and businesses alike.
“One of the most exciting aspects of this event is seeing people who may not typically visit downtown discover new businesses for the first time,” said Main Street Director Lindsey Jones. “Whether it’s a local boutique, a new restaurant, or a hidden gem of a shop, Main Street Days introduces our downtown community to fresh faces and future loyal customers.” The day started with windy
conditions but soon turned sunny, creating a perfect day for festivalgoers. With more than 75 vendors participating, including businesses from both inside and outside the downtown core, the event highlighted the energy of Johnson City’s growing downtown scene.
Businesses across downtown saw a significant impact from the festival’s foot traffic.
“Our business is on Walnut Street, and we still saw a significant increase in traffic due to the downtown festival. It’s always a win for surrounding businesses when downtown has an event that draws the masses,” said Niki Giles with Groovy Grover’s.
Lora Eshbach with the The Generalist reported a 203% increase in sales compared to the same Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day in 2024.
Chase Day with The Hunters Hearth Pottery shared, “The increased foot traffic to the upper part of East Main Street provides a lot of awareness to our business, which those who don’t usually come downtown may not have heard about otherwise.”
Festival vendors echoed the sentiment, with Ally McElroy of Soluna Sage Yoga Studio stating, “Main Street Days has been the best festival we’ve been a part of!”
The next installment of Main Street Days is on the horizon, with the fall edition scheduled for Oct. 18. With this spring’s success setting the tone, the upcoming event promises to continue bringing engagement and economic growth to Downtown Johnson City.
Parks and Recreation shines at Main Street Days
Johnson City’s Parks and Recreation team brought fun and excitement to Main Street Days with the Kids Zone at Majestic Park! This familyfriendly area was a huge hit, offering a variety of activities for children, including arts and crafts, a football toss, disc golf, and more.
One of the standout attractions was the Shamrock Scavenger Hunt, which saw around 60 families compete. Participants searched for 13 handmade shamrocks hidden throughout downtown businesses, snapping photos with each one to complete the challenge. Those who finished the hunt were rewarded with a
special prize from Parks and Recreation.
The Kids Zone remained busy throughout the day, welcoming a steady stream of excited children. Every participant who completed an activity received a festive St. Patrick’s Daythemed prize, adding to the fun and excitement.
A huge thank you to the Parks and Recreation staff who made this event possible! A special shoutout to Park Service
Technician Richard Marosites and crew who created a giant pot of gold, which anchored the Kids Zone and made a festive backdrop for family photos.
Planners seek input on downtown parking study
The Johnson City Planning and Development Services Department is conducting a downtown parking study and is seeking public input through an online survey. Community feedback will help shape a plan for safer, more efficient parking in the downtown area. Residents and visitors are encouraged to participate by visiting the link to the right, where both mobile and desktop-friendly versions of the survey are available or visit www.johnsoncitytn.org/ downtownparkingstudy.
Solid Waste inspires future Educare recyclers
Recently, Public Works Crew Supervisor Lynn Richardson and Health, Safety, and Skills Training Specialist David Cullop had the opportunity to engage with a group of enthusiastic K-5 students at an Educare event, where they shared the many benefits of recycling.
Lynn and David explained why recycling is important for the environment and our community, breaking down what materials can and cannot be recycled. Using real-world examples, they helped students understand how their actions can make a positive impact in reducing waste. The presentation sparked curiosity, and students eagerly asked thoughtful questions about the recycling process.
Following the discussion, the young learners put their knowledge to the test with a hands-on activity, sorting various items into the appropriate recycling bins. Through this interactive experience, they reinforced what they had learned and gained a greater appreciation for sustainability.
A big thank-you to Lynn and David for representing Public Works and inspiring the next generation to be responsible stewards of our environment.
April 2025
WSS earns high marks in sanitary survey
Johnson City’s Water and Sewer Services has once again demonstrated its commitment to excellence, earning a sanitary survey score of 98 from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).
To maintain approval status, water systems must achieve a minimum score of 95 — making this a significant achievement for the Department.
Between Dec. 5, 2024, and Jan. 8, 2025, personnel from the State’s Division of Water Resources conducted an in-depth evaluation of the Water and Sewer Services Department. The survey assessed key areas, including system management and operations, operator compliance, water sources, treatment processes, monitoring and data
verification, finished water storage, and distribution/ cross-connection control. Data from December 2022 through December 2024 was reviewed as part of the inspection.
“We are very pleased with the outcome of this inspection,” said Director Tom Witherspoon. “Maintaining our approval status for more than 50 years is a testament to the City’s continued investment in water infrastructure and the dedication of our staff.”
Witherspoon credited strong support from the Board of Commissioners for ensuring consistent funding for capital improvements and operations.
“This ongoing commitment allows us to maintain a high level of service and address infrastructure needs proactively,” he said.
Tom also praised the efforts of Water and Sewer Services personnel in preparing for the survey.
“I am incredibly proud of our staff, who not only
prepare diligently for these inspections but also provide outstanding service every day,” Witherspoon said. “I especially want to recognize Michael Manuel, our water-wastewater maintenance superintendent and certified operator in responsible charge of the water distribution system, for leading and coordinating the preparation over several months.”
Water and Sewer Services operates infrastructure within Johnson City and portions of four surrounding counties. Each year, the department treats 5.6 billion gallons of potable water for delivery to more than 48,000 accounts in the service area.
A historical review of sanitary survey scores dating back to 1971 confirms that Johnson City’s water system has consistently met or exceeded state standards for more than five decades — underscoring the department’s longstanding commitment to public health and safety.
April 2025
West Oakland construction set to begin
Beginning Wednesday, April 9, Public Works crews will begin construction activities on West Oakland Avenue that will require a full road closure between West Mountainview Road and Marketplace Boulevard. This closure is expected to last approximately one month, or until work is completed.
Detour signage is in place to guide motorists around the construction zone. Drivers should use Marketplace Boulevard and Hanover Road to connect to West Mountainview Road as alternate routes during the closure period.
Local traffic will still be permitted on West Oakland Avenue at West Mountainview Road to accommodate residents and visitors of The Reserve at Johnson City and The Cottage of Charleston Square.
Businesses in the area remain accessible. Knob Creek Winery and Off Leash Social can be reached by taking Denny Mill Road at Marketplace Boulevard. Visitors to Juniper Restaurant should follow the posted signage at West Oakland Avenue and Marketplace Boulevard to navigate to the restaurant’s parking lot.
Drivers are encouraged to plan for additional travel time, use caution in the work zone, and obey all posted speed limits for the safety of both workers and fellow motorists. Thank you to our Public Works crews for their continued efforts to improve our roadways!
Congratulations new hires, promotions, retirements
New Hires - March
Landon Larkins - Water and Sewer Services
Jessica Haun - Finance
Raymond Jones - Parks and Recreation
Wyatt Wundrak - Public Works
Andrew Phillips - Planning and Development Services
Jessica Ford - Fleet Management
Adam Hoover - Public Works
Andrew Laney - Police
Austin Canter - Police
Daniel Rodriguez - Police
Promotions - March
Scotty Arwood - Water and Sewer Services
Alexa Peterson - Purchasing
Tammy Tetreault - Transit
Jered Carlson - Water and Sewer Services
David Grubb - Water and Sewer Services
Martha Barton - Juvenile Court
Charles Phipps - Public Works
Annual leadership program offers insights
Each year, participants in the Chamber’s Leadership program get a behind-thescenes look at how Johnson City operates during City Services Day. This event provides an overview of the essential services our City
departments deliver every day, along with opportunities for attendees to connect with City leaders.
This year’s event kicked off with a warm welcome from Mayor John Hunter and City
Manager Cathy Ball, setting the stage for a day full of insightful presentations and site visits. Attendees got an up-close look at the work of several departments, including Public Works, Water and Sewer Services, Police, Budget, and Fire. They also participated in a Q&A session with Multicultural Engagement Manager Adam Dickson, discussing the City’s efforts to foster an inclusive and engaged community.
A huge thank you to all of the participating departments for helping make this event a valuable and memorable experience.
April 2025
New provider to offer extended mobile services
After experiencing issues, particularly during and after Hurricane Helene, Information Technology has assessed mobile providers, and soon, the City will transition to T-Mobile for services. This change will improve connectivity and generate cost savings. Key benefits include:
• Projected savings of up to $50,000 per year for the first two years.
• Free upgrades from 4G to 5G devices at no cost to the City.
• Free upgrade of all flip phones to smartphones to enhance functionality.
• T-Priority plan for all first responders to ensure optimal network performance.
• Improved 5G coverage across Tennessee, addressing known coverage gaps, including the Johnson City Medical Center.
• Exclusive Starlink partnership for satellite text, voice, and data by year-end, eliminating dead zones.
We will provide more details on the transition timeline and next steps soon.
Fire Department offers hands-only CPR in June
Enrollment for the firstever community session of hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training is now open. The Johnson City Fire Department (JCFD) course, designed to empower participants with life-saving skills, is in response to feedback from the department’s community survey.
After a successful first session with nearly 70 City employees, JCFD will host the free training quarterly for the community. The first session will take place at the JCFD Training Facility, 2832 W. Walnut St. on June 6 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Additional sessions may be added based on demand.
Participants will train on hightech Brayden CPR manikins, which use animated LED lights to provide real-time
feedback on compression quality and blood circulation.
Hands-only CPR is an easy-to-learn, two-step process that involves calling 911 and performing chest compressions until professional help arrives.
For additional information call 423.975.2840, or to sign up for the June course, visit www.johnsoncitytn.org/ handsonlycprclass or click below.
