In a previous post (click here), I mentioned the City of Morristown's illegal transfer/loan of $2.5 MILLION dollars from the city's sewer fund to the city's general fund in the fiscal year ending 6/30/08. Former City Administrator Jim Crumley apparently authorized the transfer to cover up the "poor" cash situation of [...]
The first image (left) is the first page of a 7-page draft of the proposed city administrator's contract that was approved yesterday at City Council. The other pages (2-7) of the draft contract are in order at the end of the blog text. You can click on [...]
At yesterday's public meeting, the Mayor and City Council passed an employment contract to forward to Anthony Cox, the city-administrator select, for his consideration.
During the "public" discussion and deliberation of the contract, Mayor Barile and council seemed nervous.
It seemed like they were talking in some kind of [...]
The City Council Agenda is here. It lists the contract with the new city administrator as one of the items [IX (1)] for consideration at the council's 4:00 PM meeting at the City Center on Tuesday, December 1.
IX (1). Approval of an employment contract with Anthony Cox [...]
Not surprisingly, Anthony Cox of Radford, Virginia was named the new Morristown "city administrator-select" at yesterday's 11:30 AM special called meeting of council. Wonder how many working taxpayers were able to leave work and make it to that meeting?
Pat Hardy of MTAS and Interim City Administrator Lynn Wampler had presented the [...]
[UPDATED] There was an announcement in today's Sunday paper that the City Center would be closing at 3:30 PM on Fridays beginning December 4.
Now, if you had a business that served the public, would you shut your business down completely for 1-1/2 hours on Friday afternoons or would you rotate' [...]
The City Council is having a special meeting on November 24, 2009, at 11:30 AM at the City Center to:
1) Name a new city administrator; and 2) Consider a bond anticipation note in the amount of $950,000 for the purchase of the Roy Widener property on N. [...]
City leaders are offended when financial responsibility--or their lack thereof--is mentioned. They blame "the economy." Certainly, the overall economic outlook today is not good. However, the city's mismanagement and wasteful spending sprees that have driven it into virtual crisis-mode go back to pre-bailout times.
Industrial Board Chairman Jack Fishman, who is also owner of the Citizen Tribune, appeared at the city council work session yesterday. Fishman wants the city to fund the purchase of 11 pieces of property inside the East Tennessee Progress Center near I-81 and 25-E. Fishman wants the city [...]
This afternoon's city council meeting was lengthy. Interim City Administrator Lynn Wampler, who did not have cuts ready for discussion at last Thursday's Finance Committee meeting, today had each department head present cuts to the council today.
The council chambers were full of police, fire, public works, and other [...]
Morristown City Council meets today at 4:00 pm. [At their last meeting, they refused to move the meeting time to a taxpayer-friendly 5:00.] Most councilmembers are happy with 4:00 and especially with the fact that 4:00 makes it inconvenient or impossible for working taxpayers to attend and actually watch what is being done with THEIR money. [...]
Interim Administrator Lynn Wampler went over the qualifications of the four candidates for city administrator. He stated that he and MTAS representative Pat Hardy did phone interviews during the previous week. Wampler said that the four on the final list are' [...]
Yesterday's City Finance Committee meeting was long. I will go into more detail this weekend.
Although it was not on the agenda, there were several comments about calls that councilmembers had received from WATE-TV in Knoxville about the financial condition of the city. The WATE website report is here. ' [...]
There are a lot of people in Morristown who don't like the red light cameras. And that sentiment is shared by many people across the state.
An attorney in Clarksville claims that the cameras are "private investigators" for the company (Redflex) that operates them. The attorney represents several clients, all of' [...]
As Americans, we owe a special debt to all veterans of all branches of the armed forces. Our freedom has been bought with their sweat and blood. Many have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Freedom isn't free.
Tomorrow's agenda for the Morristown City Council includes an Ordinance to change its meeting time from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This is a request made by Charles Cook several weeks ago and discussed at the council's last work session.
The full agenda is on the city's website. Click' [...]
The City of Morristown is in a financial mess--even more so than was previously admitted or known.
At least some of former City Administrator Jim Crumley's handling and MIShandling of city accounts is gradually coming out. The Mayor and Council may be looking at budget cuts and postponing projects as the true' [...]
The state attorney general has issued an opinion (AGO 09-167) addressing the question of whether deputy sheriffs who run for sheriff (without first resigning their deputy position) violate any state or federal law.
OPINION:
If the deputy sheriff's position or duties are in connection with an activity financed' [...]
I contacted the City yesterday morning when I saw that the agenda for today's meeting and work session had not been posted on the city website as is customary.
I received a reply e-mail yesterday afternoon that said that the agenda was usually posted on the Friday before the council meeting' [...]
In addition to the discussion about the KIA Property and Sewer/Wastewater problems, there was one other discussion at Thursday's City Finance Committee meeting that deserves mention.
Councilmember Kay Senter suggested that council meet to discuss where the city wants to be five years from now.
At yesterday's regular meeting of Morristown City Council's Finance Committee, several councilmembers grilled Wastewater Head Bryan Fowler about potential fines of up to $175,000 that have been levied against the City by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Division of Water Pollution Control.
Fowler provided the council with copies of the TDEC [...]
At yesterday's meeting of the City Finance Committee, councilmember Kay Senter turned the presentation over to Realtor/County Commissioner Paul Lebel.
Lebel noted that a community center has been a topic of discussion in Morristown for a long time. He stated that the KIA property on West Andrew Johnson Highway' [...]
The regular meetings of the Morristown City Council are on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The Finance Committee of City Council meets regularly on Thursdays prior to Tuesday council meetings.
Yesterday (Tuesday) there was a special called meeting of the [...]
Newly "retired" former Morristown City Administrator Jim Crumley appears to be headed to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to take the number two position there. Click here for more details.
Hopefully, as the 'Boro's #2 man, Crumley won't lead Murfreesboro into horrendous debt as quickly as he did Morristown.
I have publicly asked county commission several times to update the county website and to make it easier to access information about county government. Here and here.
Commissioner Nancy Phillips and I pushed for a county website from the moment we took office in 2002. A website was [...]
As one who was directly involved in pushing for and implementing a Hamblen County Government website when I served on the county commission, I asked then and I have continued to ask that the site be better utilized to provide much more information than is currently available.
At its August 20 meeting of the full commission, the Hamblen County Commission voted 12-1 to stop three of the four car allowances that have been paid for several years in violation of state law. [Commissioner Tommy Massey was absent.]
This was a total reversal of what the Finance [...]
For all who believed "Morristown" Mayor Barile when she said that she would contact the "Morristown" Industrial Board to find out what was going on about the "Morristown" Industrial Board contacting landowners in Jefferson County about selling their land to "Morristown/Morristown Industrial Board," she didn't do it.
Sometimes, there is so much going on at home and at work that posts get postponed. [I like puns. If you don't, just give that last one the obligatory groan.]
Here's a quick catch-up post on the City Council meeting on August 18 with some interesting information that the [...]
Sometimes, there is so much going on at home and at work that posts get postponed. [I like puns. If you don't, just give that last one the obligatory groan.]
Here's a quick catch-up post on the City Council meeting on August 18 with some interesting information that' [...]
Hamblen County is not authorized to pay car allowances to county officials. But Hamblen County pays them anyway.
Hamblen County is not authorized to provide a car or vehicle for full-time use of salaried county officials. But Hamblen County provides vehicles anyway.
At yesterday's meeting of the Public Services Committee of the Hamblen County Commission, there was lengthy discussion and many public comments about barking dogs, bark collars, coon dogs, an allegedly weak and/or unenforced nuisance ordinance, limitations on the number of animals per acre, and all things dog-related.
The field is getting more crowded in the race for Hamblen County Sheriff in 2010.
Democrat Ernie Burzell's recent announcement that he would be running for sheriff in 2010 was quickly followed by Democrat Freddie Kimbrough's announcement that he would be running for sheriff in 2010 as well.
There is a strong rumor from several sources that a last-minute addition will be made to a Hamblen County Commission Committee agenda today. [Maybe Finance Committee?]
It seems that a few officials and maybe a commissioner or two have been involved and have been "in the know" about the [...]
If you were reading the Tribune yesterday, August 9th, you may have done a double "double-take"!
The Trib put the same exact article in two different sections of yesterday's paper. Tommy Bible, general manager of the Jefferson-Cocke County Utility District, received the Tennessee Gas Association's Silver Flame Award. The [...]
Drugs: Mexico to Morristown (via Atlanta). The Knoxville News-Sentinel report is here. [Here's the Trib link. Catch it while you can---- the Trib disables its links quickly.]
John Cahill recently resigned from the Morristown Regional Planning Commission. He was appointed to the post by former Mayor John [...]
If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly. Macbeth.
At yesterday's city council meeting, the removal/retirement of Jim Crumley was "done quickly" and with little of the bloodletting that marks Shakespeare's Macbeth. The vote was 6-1 to approve the agreed severance package that [...]
After budget discussions concluded yesterday afternoon in the tiny Conference Room at City Center, frank discussion of City Administrator Jim Crumley's exodus began.
The City initally offered Crumley approximately $110,000 to leave. Crumley recently countered with a proposal to "retire" at a cost to the city of a $129,000 [...]
The City Council meeting was over quickly, and then the work session began. Work session agenda topics: Chief Overholt's proposal that city council set a fixed price that tow trucks can charge when they are called to a wreck by a police officer on a rotating basis and a wellness [...]
City Council met yesterday at 4:00. It was a short agenda that was dispensed with quickly.
During the public comments portion, I asked the council about the double rates charged to outside sewer customers. I asked if they have any cost study or any report by anyone showing that [...]
It is the Soldier, not the minister, who has given us freedom of religion. It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us [...]
The (well-founded) rumor that I reported on Thursday turned out to be on-the-money.
Jeff Gardner was indeed named Hamblen County Administrator of Elections at a public meeting on Friday of the Hamblen County Election Commission. The job pays $62,000/year plus all kinds of benefits.
At yesterday's 11:00 am city council meeting, it was apparently decided to change the original proposal for an approximate 14%, 6%, and 2% rate increase over the next three years to an 8%, 8%, and then another 8% increase. See the original proposal by clicking here.
At the county commission meeting on June 18 and in the June 19th edition of the local "news"paper, Wanda Neal's retirement from the position of Administrator of Elections in Hamblen County was finally announced.
I mentioned her retirement in several previous posts, here, here, and here. [...]
Rumor is that the meeting of the local 5-person election commission will be held soon to appoint a local Administrator of Elections. Wanda Neal is the current Administrator. Click here for the names of the Election Commissioners and other background information.
As a follow-up to Friday's post about the likely change in the local Administrator of Elections post, I see that Knox County recently took formal applications for the Knox County Election Administrator position. Forty-five individuals applied.
Click here for the News-Sentinel article and there's even a link [...]
As a follow-up to Friday's post about the likely change in the local Administrator of Elections post, I see that Knox County recently took formal applications for the Knox County Election Administrator position. Forty-five individuals applied.
Click here for the News-Sentinel article and there's even a link [...]
There is a rather persistent rumor that Wanda Neal, current Hamblen County Administrator of Elections, will resign soon and open the way for the new Republican majority on the Hamblen County Election Commission to appoint a new administrator to the post.
The local position of Administrator of Elections is [...]
Tuesday's City Council meeting included a third major item that was not mentioned in Wednesday's "news"paper.
[The "news"paper ignored two other items of importance that were discussed at Tuesday's meeting. One of those items was City Administrator Jim Crumley's admission that he gave car allowances to four employees by [...]
At the end of yesterday's city council meeting on sewer rates, Councilmember Claude Jinks brought up car allowances and the 33% cut in car allowances that City Administrator Jim Crumley had earlier proposed in the current budget.
It appears that Crumley's 33% cut only applied to employees who are [...]
The City of Morristown continues the pattern of large increases in sewer fees.
Yesterday, the Mayor and City Council heard a presentation by Lamar Dunn and Associates regarding sewer costs and rate increases for the next three years for sewer customers.
I just happened to be listening to the local radio this morning when a local public meeting was announced.
It appears that the Hamblen County School Board has scheduled a meeting at 7:30 AM this morning at the Central Office to vote on budget revisions to present to county [...]
The Hamblen County School Board did little cutting to its original budget at a meeting on Wednesday, June 3.
Based on the report in Thursday's Tribune, it appears that all the School Board and Director Lynch did at the meeting was political posturing while ranting and raving at' [...]
Something that has been mentioned once or twice but never actually discussed at Morristown City Council meetings is the city sewer fund and upcoming changes in city sewer rates.
There was supposed to be a presentation and discussion of the results of a sewer study last Thursday. That didn't' [...]
Yesterday's budget session at city council was lengthy as City Administrator Jim Crumley presented cuts of $1,775,700 to the previously proposed 2009-2010 general fund budget. I have already outlined most of those cuts here.
Police officers were in attendance--occupying about one-half of the seats. Several officers spoke out' [...]
It's been almost ten months since CLAIBORNE COUNTY Sheriff David Ray signed a diversion agreement in HANCOCK COUNTY in which the State of Tennessee agreed to suspend its prosecution against Ray of charges of statutory rape and statutory rape by an authority figure.
Director of Schools Dale Lynch met with county commissioners yesterday to present the school budget.
His budget and his planned presentation were derailed two days before by the action of commission's budget committee on Tuesday, moving 8-cents of the school's property tax revenue to debt service earmarked/reserved for school [...]
Director of Schools Dale Lynch met with county commissioners yesterday to present the school budget.
His budget and his planned presentation were derailed two days before by the action of commission's budget committee on Tuesday, moving 8-cents of the school's property tax revenue to debt service earmarked/reserved for school [...]
At yesterday's meeting of the Hamblen County Budget Committee, the commissioners voted unanimously to recommend to the full commission that the school system's share of increased sales tax revenues go to the schools (which, of course, is required by law) and that 8-cents of the current school property tax rate [...]
I posted early yesterday morning (Friday) about the big city council budget meeting on May 21 (Thursday) and the proposed cuts of $1,794,300 to the city budget. The post is here.
After I got home from work yesterday, I was reading the paper, but I didn't see a' [...]
At a budget meeting on Tuesday, May 19, Mayor Sami Barile and councilmembers Frank McGuffin and William Rooney expressed support for elimination of ALL commercial garbage collection within the city limits. Such a move would have saved the city some money but would have required many businesses (apartment owners, Morristown [...]
Louis "Doe" Jarvis was appointed to the 5th district seat on the Hamblen County Commission yesterday without opposition.
Ernie Horner--as I posted yesterday morning--decided to withdraw from contention for appointment. My earlier post describing some of Ernie Horner's political connections and actions is here.
In a relatively quick meeting yesterday, Morristown City Administrator Jim Crumley proposed reducing the city budget by $1,794,300.00 in order to bring expenses down in line with decreasing revenues.
The summary sheets passed out list the cuts as follows:
Personnel $1,167,100 Police 59,500 Fire 13,600 Administration 7,500 All [...]
The rumor going around is that Ernie Horner has now dropped out of the race for the county commission seat that has been vacant since April when Joe Swann resigned.
See my previous post about Horner here when he was still in the race and trying to get [...]
Recently, I have received anonymous comments and comments that have a first name only but no true identifying information. This is a good time to refresh readers on my policy for anonymous comments.
I do not post anonymous comments or comments from sources that I can not identify. However, [...]
All is quiet on the news front as Hamblen County Commissioners prepare to select a replacement for Joe Swann in the 5th District. I haven't seen any news in the Tribune about those who are interested in the position.
[Swann was elected to the county commission in 2006 but' [...]
Former city council candidate Bill Swann's ad in the May 11 Tribune was bitter in tone while heaping a lot of criticism on Tribune election reporting and on the Trib for failure to investigate the candidates. Swann pretty much blamed the Tribune for his election loss.
Yesterday's Morristown City Council Budget Meeting was held at 5:00 pm in a small conference room near the Mayor's office.
Other than the Mayor, Councilmembers, City Administrator Jim Crumley, and a few members of city staff, only Tribune reporter Bob Moore, Gwen Holden, and I were present.
New Morristown City Councilmembers Gene Brooks and Bob Garrett and long-time member Kay Senter will be sworn in today to 4-year terms. Following the swearing-in ceremony, the Mayor and Council will get to work, starting with a presentation from city staff on the financial position of the city.
Morristown City Council will have two new faces and one familiar face.
Bob Garrett defeated former assistant City Administrator Jack Kennerly to take the vacant Ward 1 seat. Gene Brooks took the at-large seat, prevailing in a crowded field over former MUS head Bill Swann and incumbent councilman Rick [...]
Watch out for higher gas taxes in Tennessee and nobody is responsible!
A subcommittee in the Tennessee House of Representatives has quietly approved legislation providing for "automatic" increases in Tennessee's gasoline tax based on the consumer price index.
The Win the Vote group supporting the Sales Tax Increase Referendum in Hamblen County filed its first financial disclosure form on April 28. More on Win the Vote in a previous post.
Win the Vote reports taking in $2,380. [$1,680 in unitemized contributions under $100/each. $700 in itemized [...]
Gotta love it. I blog about the county and city debt and then the Tribune jumps in with not one, but two front-page news articles--- actually they're more like front-page press releases---with the county and city saying everything is just fine while ignoring the real issues with the structure of' [...]
The New York Times ran an article weeks ago about how many counties in Tennessee are being hit with additional debt due to debt swap agreements arranged by Joe Ayres of Cumberland Securities, Joe Ayres of Morgan Keegan, Joe Ayres of Regions Bank, and Joe Ayres of TNLoans.
The News-Sentinel has an article and interesting comments on a second sales tax increase referendum in less than a year in Sevier County. Hamblen County also has a second sales tax increase referendum on the May ballot.
There are many similarities between the Sevier and Hamblen sales tax increase [...]
Right after voting this morning, I dropped in on the Hamblen County Election Commission meeting which was just starting.
This was a reorganizational meeting since the composition of the Election Commission has recently changed. There are now three Republicans on the Election Commission (Judy Blackburn, Lyle Doty, and Joe [...]
The Tribune actually wrote and published its own editorial! Yep. The April 15 editorial was apparently written in Morristown, Tennessee, instead of being copied out of some other newspaper.
The Tribune editorial supports the May 5 county sales tax increase referendum and is actually [...]
Well, lo and behold, County Mayor David Purkey at long last wants to get an "objective appraisal" of the county debt.
In previous posts, audit documents have shown that the county borrowed $40 Million between 1998 and 2001 and still owed the full $40 Million as of 2007[...]
The Tribune reported on Sunday, April 19, that there would be a joint work session meeting of the Hamblen County Commission and School Board on Monday, April 20, at 6:00 PM. That joint work session didn't happen.
Expect cars and car allowances to be a topic of discussion in Hamblen and other counties.
Which counties may provide car allowances for salaried county officers? Which officers? Which counties may provide cars for salaried county officers? Which officers?
On Sunday, the Tribune announced in a front-article that "Hamblen County commissioners and school board members will meet in a work session Monday to continue their discussion on the future of the school building program."
According to the paper, the work session was set for 6:00 PM in the [...]
[...] 
Happy Thanksgiving to All. 
Freedom isn't free. 
