City hiring assistant police chief

The upcoming retirement of Police Chief Doug Goff has led to a few changes to the structing of the law enforcement department for the city of Sparta.

According to the agenda information for the Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, set for 5 p.m., March 23, Nicholas Dunn is the hiring recommendation for assistant police chief. Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery told The Expositor that the new chief will be named at a future meeting.

In other business on the agenda for March 23:

Under the heading of ordinances, the board will vote on the following:

• Ordinance 23-954, on first reading, an ordinance authorizing the rezoning of 239 King St. from (R-A) residential “A” to (C-D) commercial “D.”

Under the heading of contracts, the board will vote on the following:

• Approve contract for sewer sludge removal with TDS LLC.: The company was contacted about the need for sewer sludge removal for the city of Sparta because White County’s landfill has closed. The landfill was the state approved dumping site for waste sludge from the city’s wastewater treatment plant

Under the heading of purchases, the board will vote on the following:

• Approve the purchase of 2023 police Ford interceptor utility AWD vehicle: According to a memo from Chief of Police Doug Goff, one of the police cruisers was involved in a recent accident. The wrecked vehicle was a 2017 Ford Taurus, with approximately 35,000 miles. The vehicle was reportedly determined to be unfixable. Goff recommended the purchase of a new Ford Explorer from Lonnie Cobb Ford, in Hendersonville. The dealership has the Ford Explorer available, which has already been equipped with emergency equipment. The final cost would be $49,443.

• Approve the low bid for mowing at the YMCA and adjacent ballfields
• Approve the emergency purchase of a motor for Edd Rogers pump station: According to memo from Dillard Quick, public works director, there are two motors in the lift station behind Edd Rogers Chevrolet. One motor had stopped working, but the other motor is working properly. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation regulations require two functional motors. There is only one company in the area that provides this motor, which will cost $15,459, and delivery is 16 to 26 weeks.

• Authorize solicitation of bids for water meters (This is a budget item.)
• Authorize solicitation of bids for chemicals
• Authorize paving schedule using confirmed low bids from Highways Inc.

Under the heading of personnel, the board will vote on the following:

• Approve the hiring recommendation for the position of finance director: Tonia J. Wilson is the recommendation for the position of finance director

• Approve the hiring recommendation for the position of assistant police chief: Nicholas Dunn is the recommendation for the position of assistant police chief.

• Authorize the solicitation of applications for the position of police investigator
• Authorize the hiring recommendation for the position of trades helper I: Anthony Curtis Elrod is the recommendation for the position of trades helper I.

• Authorize the solicitation of applications for the position of water plant operator

Under the heading of property, the board will vote on the following:

• Approve property tax change of assessments #22-529 and #22-530

Reports from city department supervisors:

Mike O’Neal, codes enforcement officer:

(1)     The car wash on Mayberry Street has begun renovation to storage facility

(2)     Life Church is working on a new parking lot as well as a quick claim deed to the city for the remainder of Clark Street to Hays Street

Belva Bess, electric manager

• Several outages were remedied
• Pulled pump at Mayberry pump station for sewer department
• Safety meeting with JT&S
• Replaced guy wire on Mayberry Street
• Completed primary installation at 530 S. Young St.
• Replaced primary pole and transformer at 525 Turn Table Rd.
• Cherokee Circle: replace service line, fuse, and cut tree off primary line
• Replaced lightning arrestors and primary underground termination at THK Rhythm North America
• Removed tree on service on Marshall Street
• Removed broken security light pole on North Main Street.
• Replaced primary pole on Turn Table Road, set two primary poles and one service pole to provide three-phase service to 326 N. Spring St, built a three-pot transformer bank – waiting on inspection connect three-phase service
• Replaced blue LED street lights with warranty replacements
• Hooked up service at 207 E. Bronson St.
• Disconnected service to 108 Highland Dr. – remodeling and rewiring house
• Unhooked and reconnected service to 215 N. Spring St.
• Jonathan Simms attended TVPPA (Tennessee Valley Public Power Association) Staking School
• Repaired 26 street lights – bulbs, heads, photo cells, etc.

Kirk Young, fire chief

• March 11, landing zone setup, at 401 Sewell Dr.
• March 12, assist White County Sheriff’s Office, at 965 Country Club Rd.
• March 13, brush fire
• March 13, structure fire
• March 14, landing zone setup
• March 14, structure fire
• March 14, landing zone setup
• March 17, medical
• March 19, landing zone setup
• March 20, fire alarm

Firefighters also attended a class about natural gas, which was conducted by Middle Tennessee Natural Gas.

Doug Goff, police chief

• Seeking approval to purchase new patrol SUV to replace one that was wrecked last month
• Police department received Violent Crime Intervention Grant for $64,000
• March 6-10: Lt. Brent Copeland and Patrolman Andrew Corso attended SFST (Standardized Field Sobriety Testing) instructor class conducted by THSO (Tennessee Highway Safety Office)
• Seeking approval for Project Graduation Color Run that will take place beginning at 9 a.m., April 29.
• Shop With a Cop motorcycle ride will take place beginning at 9 am., May 20

Dillard Quick, public works director

WATER

• Installing new water services and tied on main lines to connecting streets on Wagner Street
• Repaired yards due to water leaks
• Several main water line repairs

WATER PLANT

• Picked up 300 horsepower motor on March 13 and installed

SEWER OPERATIONS

• Pulled big pump at Mayberry Street; reinstalled backup pump
• Meeting with contractor to price pumping out several of the bigger pump stations of debris that builds over time
• Working with sewer contractor finishing up on Love Street and cleanup

SEWER PLANT

• Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has sent a letter that the city cannot take their sludge to the landfill; looking for other places to take sludge in the future.

STREET DEPARTMENT

• With warmer weather, the restrooms at the parks have been opened
• Cleaned ditches, tiles, storm drain covers, and roads of debris from storms
• Cleaned up parks, streets, cemetery, and Liberty Square
• Patched holes; maintenance on equipment
• Worked on park lights and installed various signs throughout the city.

SANITATION

• All trash and brush have been picked up on schedule the last few weeks
• Still hauling city trash to Southern Central, only taking brush to county landfill
• Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has sent letter stating the city cannot take sludge to county landfill

Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen will meet at 5 p.m., March 23, at Sparta City Hall.