Good afternoon and welcome to the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen's
business meeting for August 18th. Let us all stand for the pledge to be led by
New Vision Youth followed by invocation by Alderman Cooper.
» I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
» Please bow your heads. Dear gracious and loving God,
as I come to my last Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, my heart is filled
with gratitude. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to serve the people of
Kingsport and for the privilege of being part of this community.
Bless Collette and Gary as they leave their place on the board.
Help us all to continue to serve you and others in whatever capacity you place
before us. Allow us to take the knowledge,
experience, and lessons that we have gained through our service and use them
to bless others and continue to make a difference in our community.
I pray especially for Richard, Calvin, and Julie as they begin their service on
the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Give them wisdom, patience, compassion,
courage, and discernment. May they always remember that their greatest
responsibility is to serve you and the citizens of Kingsport with integrity and
a servant's heart. Bless all of our elected leaders, our
city staff, and the many people who work behind the scenes to make our city the
wonderful place it is. Give them strength and wisdom as they
face the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Lord, thank you for the friendships made,
the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the many blessings we've
experienced through this journey. May we leave this world with a grateful
heart knowing that we have given our best to the city and its people.
Continue to guide Kingsport, protect our community,
and bless all of those who call it home. May we always seek what is best for our
city, care for one another, and lead with grace, humility, and love. In your
precious name I pray. Amen. >> Amen.
» You may be seated. Thank you,
New Vision Youth and Alderman Cooper.
Mr. Recorder, please take the roll. Mayor Montgomery.
» Here. >> Vice Mayor Duncan.
» Here. >> Alderman Baker.
Alderman Cooper. >> Here.
» Alderman George. >> Here.
» Alderman Maze. >> Here.
» Alderman Phillips. >> Here.
» Thank you. Six of seven board members are present. We have a quorum.
Mr. City Manager. >> Mayor, we have several recognitions on
the agenda tonight and we're going to begin by recognizing Sullivan County
Mayor Richard Venable. If asked,
Mayor, if you would please join Mayor Montgomery at the podium for a very
special recognition.
» I've been known for good timing. >> Yeah.
» It's It's nothing like coming in hot. We are honored tonight to
pay tribute to one of the best in the our region and the city. He's a resident
of Kingsport City and he has been involved for 35 years in
various opportunities throughout the city.
And tonight we want to say thank you for to Richard and and and Phyllis for the
the work that he's done and she's done over these many years. And again, we're
not saying goodbye, we're just saying we'll see what happens next.
Okay, City of Kingsport Commendation. Whereas Mayor Richard Venable
has faithfully and honorably served the citizens of Kingsport and Sullivan
County for more than 35 years in various elected and appointed positions. And
whereas prior to his distinguished career in public office, Mayor Venable
achieved success in the private sector serving as executive with the
Mason-Dixon Lines Incorporated and later founded his own successful trucking
company which has operated for 25 years employing 49 people and
managing 42 trucks. And whereas Mayor Venable first served people of Sullivan
County as a state representative serving in the house leadership from his first
term until retiring in 1996 as House Republican Whip. And whereas
Mayor Venable then held the position of Sullivan County Mayor for 15 years
during two separate stints leading the county through significant
progress and economic development including the expansion of the Sullivan
County Jail. And whereas his leadership has left a lasting impact on Kingsport,
Sullivan County, and the state of Tennessee
by championing fiscal responsibility, strong public safety, and workforce
readiness through higher education. Now, therefore, I, Paul W. Montgomery, mayor
of the city of Kingsport, and on behalf of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen of
the city of Kingsport, do hereby commend Mayor Richard Venable for his decades of
leadership and exemplary public service to the citizens of Kingsport and
Sullivan County, and encourage all cities all citizens to help us
uh with this commendation. Thank you, and Mayor Venable, let you sit if you
want. THANK YOU.
» THANK YOU. I'LL BE BRIEF. UM
I'VE ASKED PHYLLIS to come with me tonight because she's been a part of
everything I've done. Um
And as I look back on it, uh I actually started in 1984. That's a
different century, uh a different millennium.
And uh people say, "Well, you've sacrificed a
lot." Well, I haven't. I've been fortunate uh
in my life to be able to do what I had a passion for and also
make a living. And uh um
Paul, I'm I'm accustomed to reading these and not getting them, so I
um but uh the my company, RSV Inc., don't ever name a
company after yourself, by the way. Uh
uh we when I ran for mayor in 2014, uh I lost my key people. They were as
old as I was and should have been retired. They They worked on longer than
they should have, but uh that allowed me
over the years to do what my passion was, which is
I'm not going to say service, which is politics, and that's not a bad word.
But, if you do it right, it is a is a service, and I hope I've
done it right for the people of Sullivan County.
Phil and I have lived 24 years in Indian Springs because of a state
representative, and uh we got to Kingsport in 1998. So,
we've been here nearly 30 years. Um and there is no better place to live
than Kingsport, Tennessee. And I hope I've shown that over the
years in my leadership of the county because all the folks in Kingsport are
also residents of Sullivan County. And it's our
obligation to serve them well. Uh so, I I'm I'm going to stop there. I
could talk all night about Kingsport and what you've done.
Uh I think it's an amazing city, and you've always had good people
step up for leadership. You even stole one of my people.
Uh he he retired on me. And uh when you good people start
retiring, you better leave. Uh but, uh as a fact, I I
Kingsport's successful because leadership always steps up here.
And you elect people like Paul Montgomery. So, Mayor Montgomery, thank
you. Board members, thank you for the
recognition. Um I will be around, I think. Uh
it's a good lawyer. Give me a day. Uh I'll take it very happily. So, uh
you might not see us for a few weeks or something.
Uh but, uh anyway, we'll be here. THANK
YOU.
» WE NOW LIKE TO RECOMMEND OR recognize the 2026 Appalachian League champions,
the Kingsport Axmen. So, you all please make your way up to the podium and join
Vice Mayor Duncan for a very special recognition.
» Well, thanks to you, manager, and Kingsport has a long history
of baseball in our city, and so it dates back to 1921.
And so with a halt there for a few years, so it's it's continued on. It was
the Appalachian League back in 1921. And of course in 2021, that's when we went
to the Wooden Bat League, which I think improved baseball tremendously for the
league. Instead of having such young players, you've got collegiate players.
A lot of them had just finished their collegiate season and then just comes on
board with
with the Axemen. And so it it's really improved baseball. If anybody hadn't
really suggest that they go. So in 2022, won the league championship. And then I
think you came, Caleb, in 2024 as a general manager. And then we've got
McKenzie Tester here, and she's the assistant general general manager. We've
known McKenzie for a long time. But when you bring the hardware, and
that's a 2026, then it makes it official. So congratulations to you
guys. So I know it means a lot, and it does to our city, too. So
people haven't been out, it's a great field with turf, and
and it's just really a fun night, a family night. So Caleb, I'm going to
turn it over to you and let you say a few words.
» Yes, thank you very much. Absolutely. Yes, so like you said, the unique thing
about this is we're the first two-time winner since that's been rebranded in
2021. I'd like to tell this story that if you
look at our standings board this season five games in, I thought it was an error
for the longest time, but we had a zero in the win column.
Turns out it was right, but like we all say, we like the ending a whole lot
better than the beginning. Our young guys turned the season around, and it
was it was a it was a huge success, and the support here in the community has
been great since I've been here. It's like no other any any other stadium we
go to, and uh we look forward to seeing each each and every one of you out at
the ballpark in 2027. Hopefully, we'll bring this back home then as well.
» You got a new scoreboard coming too, right?
» Yeah, and then uh next year we're actually starting construction next
month and we'll be putting up a brand new video board. So, we'll be able to
show uh this thing off real nicely. >> All right, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO RECOGNIZE BOTH THE July and August Keep Kingsport beautiful
beautification awards and Allison is here.
» Yes. >> Walk us through that.
» All right. We're going to start with This is the uh home of Curtis and Debbie
Pickwell at 1501 War Path Drive. Uh the home features window boxes on the front
and side of the house with various flowers in the yard and on the porch. Uh
the property, as you can tell, is very well maintained, nicely kept. Very
pretty house. There's the window boxes.
And this Next home is It's the home of Harold and
Linda Robinson at 105 Boulder Court. Uh this property is decked out with bunting
flags to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. Uh there's seating on the
front porch welcomes visitors while flowers in the yard include hibiscus,
crepe myrtle, and daylilies. We'll see if we can find some of those in the
pictures.
Okay, the next home is Tim and Kathy Jennings at 1001 Allendale Circle. Uh
this property features various plants and flowers along with a water feature
and the window boxes. It's very neatly kept.
This is the home of Sherry Bradley at 738 Hunts Terrace. Uh this property
features uh various flowers including marigolds, day lilies along the
driveway, wave petunias, uh more day lilies, a weeping cherry
tree, crape myrtle, Japanese maple in the front yard, and the rocking chairs
and decorative lights welcome visitors to the porch.
Um all landscaping is lined with white river rock.
The next home, it's the home of Tracy Nguyen at 1025 Norfolk Place. This
home's landscaping features beautiful raised beds with a wide variety of
annuals and perennials. Um various shrubs and pines are planted along with
roses, white gladiolas, Russian sage, purple coneflowers, crape myrtle. Uh
this property also features a wooden trellis with an arbor.
The business winner for July was Texas Roadhouse, uh East Stone Drive.
Beautiful cone-shaped evergreens and box shrubs line the side of the restaurant
while beautiful white rocks line the landscaping.
And next, the church winner for July was Kendrick's Creek United Methodist
Church, 1000 Kendrick Creek Road. Was founded in 1886.
Uh this church features a colorful flower garden,
which is beautiful, that welcomes all visitors to worship.
It's very pretty. Um the redevelopment award
for July was 243 East Market Street, which is now Mama Dee's restaurant. Uh
the owners of this restaurant transformed the downtown storefront into
a vibrant new business bringing new activity to East Market Street.
Extensive interior and exterior renovations
uh were completed to create an inviting space for residents and visitors alike.
This property represents a strong investment in the downtown area
demonstrating how adaptive reuse of existing buildings can support ongoing
revitalization efforts and encourage additional private investment. There you
go. Before and after.
And now for our August winners. Oops.
Whoa. Did I do that?
Adrienne, get me back.
Okay. >> We're good.
» I don't know what happened. Okay.
These are the August winners. On this home, it's the home of John and Kim
Blessing at 2012 East Severe Avenue. Uh this well-maintained property features
several areas of landscaping with lovely shrubs, crepe myrtles, knockout roses,
stargazer lilies. I can't see any more. Yeah. Stargazer lilies,
lantana, uh and other colorful accents. It's beautiful on the corner of Montrose
and Severe.
Our next home is Deborah Price at 800 Carlisle Drive. Uh this home has various
plants and flowers including ferns, uh mandevilla, knockout roses, petunias,
hydrangeas, begonias, impatiens, and geraniums. Uh the owner built terraced
brick walls to prevent erosion on the property. Uh there's several cozy
sitting areas that welcome visitors along with wind chimes that sound very
lovely in the breeze.
Next home is Bob and Jennifer Feathers at 2008 Westwind Drive. Uh this
beautiful home facing Bay's Mountain features loads of different plants, some
of which are the beautiful hydrangea, mandevilla, uh and trees of various
textures. The blue Oops. Let me talk about that blue front door.
The blue front door is flanked by beautiful colorful mandevilla in in the
pots while the backyard features a beautiful pool.
A refreshing pool and lounge chairs. And this is the home of Patrick and
Stephanie Grandelli at 407 Claymore Drive.
Uh the plants along the front include something I've never heard of, Mr.
Bowling Ball Arborvitae. Mr. Bowling Ball.
Purple petunias, white mandevilla, and holly bushes line the front porch. A
beautiful mature sweeping cherry tree anchors the front yard. Along the side
porch are multiple planter boxes with ferns, petunias, creeping jenny, and
various herbs. There's also uh pencil holly bushes, dusty miller, and a mature
Japanese maple on the side of the house, along with azaleas, hosta, and dusty
miller growing on the side. And at the front of the home, I just want to point
out that those um planter boxes, the black planter boxes, are actually file
cabinets. I thought that was a great example of
reuse, reduce, recycle. Just very cool. Lay them on their back
and fill fill them with dirt. Good job.
Uh the business winner is B&H Wealth Strategies
at 1402 East Center Street. The property features nice landscaping around the
company sign in the front yard. Lovely green shrubbery surrounds the business,
along with a decorative bench and yellow daylilies.
Uh small buckets catch rainwater from the roof. Let me find those little
buckets. There they are. Well, which flows onto the landscaping
stones at the side of the building. That looks really nice.
The church winner is Tri-City Worship Church at 121 Jacquet Drive. This
building previously housed Amato's Restaurant. It now serves the community
as a church and houses an onsite pre-K program. The grass is freshly manicured
and the campus is inviting with blooming trees, other greenery, and a fenced-in
playground.
Here is the redevelopment winner for August. It's the Stop and Go Market at
798 West Center Street. Here's your before
and after. This property has been updated with
exterior finishes and side improvements. Renovations included new brick brick
facade, metal roof, refreshed storefront, outdoor seating area.
The improvements provide a clean updated appearance while maintaining the
property's existing use.
And will all the winners that are present please stand up and BE
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU ALL. ALSO WANT TO mention that I'd like to thank our sponsor Bohm
Landscaping for helping with the beautification committee.
» Thank you mayor. There was an honorable mention award that went to the Cooper
family. We've yet to come up with an award that
is fitting for that category, but it felt like they should be
mentioned. All right mayor, we'll now move on to
the citizen comment section. For those of you in the audience
tonight, this is a part of the meeting where you can address us as a board
and we give you 5 minutes to come to the
podium. We ask you sign the register there with your address
and the only requirement we have is that you keep your comments non-personal in
nature and total time for this is 30 minutes.
And again, we do not get into dialogue. We're here to listen at this point in
time. Anyone coming forth?
Come on, sir.
» There are timekeepers in the corner over here.
» Perfect. Thank you so much. And uh congratulations on all your reelections.
That's really awesome. Um so, my name is Jacob Meadows and I
work for a company called Youth Villages. Particularly, I work in the
foster care sector of Youth Villages. We're located in Johnson City. That's
where our local office is, but we cover every county in Tennessee.
Um you can find us off Bristol Highway. We're uh right across from the Shell
station, if you're curious. So, I am here today to address everyone about the
need for more foster parents in this area.
Uh for those of you who don't know, there are at any given point a little
over 8,000 kids in Tennessee who are in foster care. Over 50% of them are here
in East Tennessee. Um
Sullivan County, just to give you guys a little bit of data, um they have over
200 children currently in foster care from Sullivan County. Over half of them
are from Kingsport zip codes. So, around 130 to 140 of those kids are here or
from this area of Kingsport. Um and we're facing a big problem. We don't
have enough foster homes. And that's true for just about every single agency,
every county across Tennessee. And so, what I'm doing is I'm going around
Actually, this is I think the fourth mayor alderman meeting I've attended,
which has been really fun. Um I'm going around and telling a little
bit about what we do and with a call to action that you consider talking to me
later at another time
um about how you can be involved and help with this need. Um as the mayor, as
alderman, alderwomen, um you know, you have connections to the community that I
simply don't. And what you can do without going too far out of your way
are simple things that can help us raise the the awareness for the need for
foster parents. You can connect us to individuals, partners,
other agencies that can further our our cause and help get more foster parents
in this region and be minimally invasive to your
everyday life. I definitely don't want to reinvent the wheel and make you do
extra work. We all know that you're very busy people. But with your help, we can
increase the number of foster parents we have in this region and hopefully get
kiddos the homes they need. Another big data statistic that I feel is very
impactful is to know that over 86% of the children that are from this county
that are in foster care are not actually living here. They are placed elsewhere.
Because again, we don't have the foster homes for them. So out of that 200 plus
statistic, 86% of them are in another county or they're in another state
entirely. I actually have the data if you're ever interested in knowing it,
you're more than welcome to reach out to me. I can tell you counties, states,
things like that. But thankfully, they are doing a lot more tracking of this
data. I'm sure you may have heard of Every Child Tennessee. It's a new
initiative through DCS. They've been around for a few years now
and essentially they are doing a lot more tracking of this information than
it was in the past. So we're able to get this good data.
But simply I will end by, you know, saying that we could really use your
help. You have a big impact on your community and you know, you're very well
known, very well liked obviously. You won your reelections. So
I'll be here afterwards if you don't mind just coming and chatting with me
for a moment and I'd love to meet with you in the future.
» Thank you. Anyone else want to address this?
Seeing no one move, I'm going to close this part down. But also at this time, I
want to welcome newly elected alderman. At this point, alderman elect Byers,
alderman elect Isaacs and alderman elect Clifton.
So this is your last night that you'll be sitting over there.
You'll come and join us here next month. So, look forward to that opportunity to
sit work with you. >> Mr. Manager.
Now move into the approval minutes. First, the work session on August 3rd,
2026 and the business meeting on August 4th, 2026. We'd ask that you approve
these minutes as submitted, please. >> Thank you. You have before you August
3rd minutes and August 4th minutes. May I have a motion for approval?
» So moved. >> Motion for approval by Vice Mayor
Duncan. Is there a second? >> Second.
» Seconded by Alderman Forbes. Any questions? All in favor of approving
the minutes, say I. >> I.
» Opposed, no. Minutes are approved, 6-0. Mr. Manager.
» Mr. Mayor, we have one public hearing on the agenda tonight. This is a public
hearing in consideration of an ordinance setting a property tax rate for the
property within the City of Kingsport, Sullivan and within the City of
Kingsport, Hawkins County. I've asked our CFO, Travis Bishop, if he would
please just give a brief summary of what is before you all tonight before we open
up the public hearing. Travis.
» For to begin. So, each year we're required to set a tax
rate. Normally done during the budget process with the budget ordinance,
except in years when we have a reappraisal in either county, Hawkins
County or Sullivan County. We have to obtain what's called a
certified tax rate from uh the State Board of Equalization.
Last year, we had a certified tax rate or an equalized tax rate, it's also
referred to as since we reside in two different counties.
That was set as Sullivan County went through the process last year. Um
they were reappraised for tax roll year 25 for Sullivan County.
Um Hawkins County was last appraised during 2021. We noticed last year that
we had to set two different tax rates. As we move forward to this year,
Hawkins County is being reassessed this year.
As such, we have to go through the same process. We're going to have to set
equalize tax rate. As both properties have been assessed
within a similar time frame one year apart, we're
going to have to have set the same tax rate for each
Kingsport-Sullivan, Kingsport-Hawkins County.
As we go forward, we're probably going to see this every year, this same
similar type of a process as Sullivan County has moved to a more frequent
two-year reassessment or reappraisal.
We, after multiple multiple conversations with State Board
Equalization, county assessors,
uh we come back and we received a equalize
tax rate for both Sullivan-Kingsport and Hawkins-Kingsport of roughly
$1.798.
While the the goal is kind of remain revenue neutral, that's where State
Board Equalization comes back at this rate.
If we were to adopt that recommended rate, that equalize tax rate, that would
be about a 3-cent tax increase that Kingsport-Sullivan taxpayers would
have to uh
absorb or pay. That's um
not the recommendation that we're pushing before you tonight. Um
We're recommending a tax rate of $1.6773.
That is the same tax rate that Kingsport-Sullivan paid last year. Um
Sullivan County property taxpayers should not see any increase
than what they had last year unless there was a drastic change in their
property or assessment. In doing so,
um the negative side of it is is this is about $480,000
less than what we had projected during the budget
cycle or the budget process. When we went through the budget, we went through
very conservatively and estimated about a 1% increase in growth.
Uh however, through this whole process with the last tax rate, seeing personal
property tax assessments change as they do every year,
um we're going to be negatively impacted by about $480,000.
» Okay. Okay. Uh I'm going to open up the public
hearing. Anyone here to speak on this public
hearing? Sir, is there an ordinance providing for
fixing the tax rate?
Seeing no one moving, I'm going to close public hearing
and ask the Mr. Attorney please publish. >> An ordinance providing for and fixing
the tax rate on all real, personal, and mixed property within the City of
Kingsport, Sullivan County, and the City of Kingsport, Hawkins County, which is
taxable on the basis of assessments made by the County Property Assessor and the
Division of Property Assessments of the State of Tennessee for the tax year 2026
and to fix the effective date of this ordinance.
» Thank you. You've heard the reading of consideration of providing for fixing
the tax rate. Uh may I have a motion for approval?
» So moved. >> Motion for approval by Alderman George.
Is there a second? >> Second.
» Seconded by Alderman Cooper. Any discussion?
Hearing none, all in favor of this ordinance say I. I. Opposed, no.
The ordinance passes 6-0. Receive measure.
» Next item is consideration of a budget adjustment ordinance for various funds
in fiscal 2027. As described to you last night, some of
this is setting uh funds in place for items you've already uh approved and
leased in order of moving forward such as the uh
agreement with Axon for body cameras. It sets up the funding for that. In
addition to that, we're moving dollars around for street resurfacing or other
capital projects. And then within the water fund, uh setting up an account for
future projects uh with initial amount of $100,000 and then moving dollars
around within the CDBG. This comes to you on first reading and we'd ask that
you approve this ordinance, please. >> Thank you. Mr. Attorney, please publish.
» An ordinance of the city of Kingsport, Tennessee amending the 2026-2027
fiscal year budget. >> Thank you. You heard reading of the
ordinance. May I have a motion for approval?
» So moved. >> Motion for approval by Alderman George.
Is there a second? >> Second.
» Seconded by Alderman Phillips. Any discussion?
» Mayor, I I think it's um I think it needs to be said that uh this budget
uh adjustment or ordinance is a result of the tax rate
um that that we set in Hawkins County. And
really the adjustment uh from what we had to do, reducing the
budget uh 400 or 484,000 dollars. And I just uh want to thank the city staff,
uh city manager for uh finding additional cuts. We just went
through the budget cycle and um a lot of reductions was was
um through that process. And so we have
asked city staff and the city manager to reduce the budget more
uh as already in the operational year. So,
um I just want to thank them uh for being creative and figuring out ways to
reduce the budget and avoid raising taxes. So, thank you.
» Thank you. Any other comment or
Okay, hearing none, all in favor of the budget budget ordinance say I.
» I. >> Oppose no.
Ordinance passes 6-0. See manager. >> All right, you have one item for a
second and final reading and that is consideration of an ordinance to amend
zoning of tax map 105 parcel 193 located along Kinder Creek Road from the
R1C residential district to R3 low density apartment district. This comes
to you on second and final reading. We'd ask that you approve the ordinance,
please. >> Thank you. Mr. Attorney, please publish.
» An ordinance to further amend the zoning code text and map to rezone property
located along Kinder Creek Road from the R1C residential district to R3 low
density apartment district in the 14th Civil District of Sullivan County to fix
penalty for the violation of this ordinance and to fix the effective date
of this ordinance. >> Okay, you've heard reading of the
ordinance. May I have a motion for approval?
» So moved. >> Motion for approval by Vice Mayor
Duncan. Is there a second? >> Second.
» Seconded by Alderman Phillips. Any discussion?
» I will be abstaining from this vote.
» Any other discussion? Okay. Mr. Recorder, please take the roll call
vote. >> Alderman Cooper.
» I. >> Vice Mayor Duncan.
» I. >> Alderman Maze.
» I. >> Alderman Phillips.
» I. >> Mayor Montgomery.
» I. >> The ordinance passes 5-0-1.
See manager. >> Next item, moving into other business,
is consideration of resolution to award the bid to Summers-Taylor Inc. for
Kingsport resurfacing project pin number 132587
and authorizing the mayor to sign all applicable documents. Discussed last
night, this is the result of us utilizing funding made available through
the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization. This is for not only
Clinchfield but also Eastman Road. You see the total You see the the bid amount
there, 2.2 million. Total project cost of 2.4 million. Um many of you all
remember several years ago putting these projects in motion,
there is time involved when you're utilizing MTPO
money, but at the same time you're able to only pay 20% of that total cost. And
so we try to take advantage of this when we can, recognizing it takes time for
the projects to move forward. Eastman Road should be paved this fall and we
anticipate Clinchfield being paved in the spring as we wrap up the work there
on the re-decking and rebuild of the Clinch River Street bridge. With that,
Mayor, I ask that you approve the resolution awarding the contract.
» Thank you. Mr. Attorney, please publish. A resolution awarding the bid for the
resurfacing of portions of Eastman Road and Clinchfield Street to Summers-Taylor
Incorporated and authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement for the same and
all documents necessary and proper to effectuate the purpose of the agreement.
Thank you. You've heard the reading of a resolution. May I have a motion for
approval? >> Second.
» Motion for approval by by Alderman Cooper. Is there a second?
» Second. >> Seconded by Alderman George.
Any discussion?
Ready to vote? All in favor of the resolution, say I.
» I. >> Opposed, no.
The resolution passes 6-0. Mr. City Manager.
» Next item is consideration resolution to purchase two F-550s with 6-yard rear
loader refuse truck utilizing the Sourcewell contract. These are two rear
loader refuse trucks that we are purchasing off the Sourcewell contract.
As you see there in the action form, we estimate about 6 months upon the receipt
of these. Both of these items are coming in
considerably more than what they were originally purchased at several years
ago. This is something that we have been
watching and been having conversations with you all about for a variety of
vehicles simply from a small pickup all the way to some of our more complex
vehicles such as a a fire truck. But again, we're also making adjustments as
we discussed last night. This is a little bit more efficient vehicle. We're
moving away from diesel to gas. The goal here is not only
can be cheaper to operate, but also hopefully easier for us to build and
maintain. And I know all of them George always
wants to see a picture what we're buying.
And one last time, there it is. I've been told it will not have the
snake on the side. It cost more money
and so
» We can have somebody paint that. >> Mayor?
» Thank you. Mr. Attorney, please publish. >> Resolution authorizing the city manager
to execute a purchase order to Municipal Equipment Incorporated utilizing
Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement number 11023-NWY
for two 2027 Ford F-50 refuse trucks with six-yard rear loader for use by
Public Works. >> Thank you. You've heard reading of the
resolution. May I have a motion for approval?
» Second. >> Second.
» Motion for approval by Vice Mayor Duckett, second by Alderman George. Any
discussion? >> Once I'm off the board, you're going to
let me drive some of these, right? >> Yeah, you can talk to Bart about that on
your way out. >> It's been a life It's been a life long
dream, man. I collect >> I would love to do the forklifts, but
some of these look pretty good. >> Okay.
Okay. Any other discussion? All in favor of the resolution, say I.
» I. >> Opposed, no.
Resolution passes 6-0. Mr. Manager. >> Next time is consideration of resolution
authorizing an economic development contribution to the Industrial
Development Board of Kingsport and authorizing one or more agreements
pertaining to the same. As you all know, and and definitely this board over the
last several years has been spent a tremendous amount of time focusing on
economic development. You've asked your city staff uh to do the same and we have
uh tried to respond in in various different ways to try to work with uh
folks who were tasked with recruiting, but also at the same time property
owners to ensure that we are making sound investments. One of the things
that Tommy Altman taught me early in my career when it came to economic
development was that every single project stood on its own. And that is
definitely true with what you see here. Uh there were two uh cash incentives
that were provided. Uh the first was for Kingsport Pavilion. Uh we were at a
point in time several years ago where the occupancy had dropped off
dramatically. We're now at over 98% occupancy rate. In fact, I think we're
very close to being 100% uh occupied at that center. And that was due to a
reinvestment that you all made in the into that center that brought Academy.
Second one is one that we continue to work towards and and a great uh
announcement uh last month with the opening of V-Max. Uh we worked very
closely with NCG, all properties, and through the economic development board
to make a very uh a very targeted investment here that is
one that provides destination retail and definitely sets us apart within the
region. Uh with that uh we asked the economic development board a couple
years ago to pursue this and pursue the funding for that. They're bringing this
back to you all today. A very good interest rate of 4.15%.
They're Eastman Credit Union uh setting that fixed for 7 years and and the our
ability then to pay these uh two loans back. Uh again, I appreciate the
willingness of the board, the economic development board, to be aggressive. Uh
it's fair to say that our return on investment in both of these has exceeded
expectations and uh definitely made a significant difference in Kingsport.
So, with that, Mayor, we'd ask that you approve the resolution authorizing this
contribution. >> Thank you. Mr. Attorney, please publish.
» A resolution approving a financial contribution to the Industrial
Development Board of the City of Kingsport, Tennessee for economic or
industrial development purposes relative to the Kingsport Pavilion redevelopment
and improvements and the NCG Cinema improvements authorizing the mayor to
execute such agreements as may be needed to effectuate the purpose of this
resolution expressing the intent of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to establish
one or more project accounts and ordinance appropriating funds to
effectuate the purpose of this resolution if needed and to fix the
effective date of this resolution. >> Thank you. You've heard a reading of the
resolution. May I have a motion for approval?
» So moved. >> Motion for approval by Alderman
Phillips. Is there a second? >> Second.
» Seconded by Alderman Mayes. Any discussion?
» Now, is this a pop-up IMAX theater that's just open for a month or will it
It's It is reopening? >> Yes.
» Oh, so it's not just a pop-up. >> Yes, so uh
for those wondering what James is talking about, um
» It's in the paper today. >> A lot Yeah, a tremendous amount of uh
construction's going on right now to renovate all the theaters, the lobby. Uh
this was work we had really hoped to get done uh prior to IMAX opening, but all
effort was on IMAX to get that open for the a film called The Odyssey, and uh
we're excited here. Hopefully in a couple weeks, maybe a little bit more,
we'll have all that reopened, new seating,
uh new interior design, be a great great addition to this already very popular
theater. Oh, yeah. Thank you, James. >> Mhm.
» Any other discussion? Any other questions?
Hearing none, all in favor of the resolution say I.
» I. >> I. All opposed, no. The resolution
passes 6-0. Mr. Manager. >> Next item is consideration of a
resolution awarding the bid for the Lynn View Community Center demolition and
partial site development for the new elementary school project to
Construction Partners. Uh I stated this last night and very very true with the
previous item. I think it's very fitting for both uh Betsy and Collette to be at
their last meeting and voting on this. I said last night, I remember the meeting
that we were at where I think both of you all said we really need to focus on
elementary based upon the occupancy numbers that we were seeing and Board of
Education shifted in that direction and and we're getting ready to finally act
on one of those and tonight with your approval
as a recommendation from the Board of Education, this sets in motion the
demolition of the community center as well as beginning some of the initial
site development that will put in place the
the necessary road network and other site requirements
that will lead the way for the construction of the new school which we
anticipate being kicking off probably this time next year
with an opening of August of 2029. You see the the the bids that are
submitted here and we ask that you all move forward with the award of the bid
as well as the necessary construction administration and contingency
associated with it. >> Thank you.
Mr. Attorney, please publish. >> A resolution awarding the bid for the
Lynn View Community Center demolition and partial site development for the new
elementary school to construction partners and authorizing the mayor to
execute all documents necessary and proper to effectuate the purpose of the
agreement in this resolution. >> Thank you. You've heard reading of the
resolution. May I have a motion for approval?
» I moved. >> Motion for approval by Alderman Cooper.
Is there a second? >> Second.
» Seconded by Alderman George. Any discussion?
» I think when we first were talking about focusing on the new elementary school, I
think all those students that were in it at that time have now graduated high
school. A few of them may be teachers coming
back to the new school, but I'm glad some of this is it's You stay
on the board long enough, you actually get to finish the first projects that
you voted on. >> Okay.
» Um >> Very good. Any other comment or
question? Okay, hearing none, all in favor of the
resolution say I. >> I.
» I. Oppose no. Resolution passes 6-0. Mr. Manager.
» Our next item is consideration of resolution to apply for and receive a
Tennessee State Museum Capital Maintenance and Improvement Grant for
fiscal 27. Total amount that we are asking for is
$100,000. There is no matching requirement. The funding, should we
receive it, would go into repair and accessibility upgrades at Allandale for
the restrooms, as well as painting and siding repair to the Wheeler barn and
Harvey's barn. We hope the announcements to be made uh sometime around
mid-October. Uh we remain optimistic. It is a very competitive grant, but as
always, I greatly appreciate the work the staff does to pursue these grants
for these projects. And Mayor, with that, I ask that you
approve the resolution authorizing the application.
» Thank you. Mr. Attorney, please publish. >> A resolution authorizing the mayor to
execute all documents necessary and proper to apply for and receive a
Tennessee State Museum Capital Maintenance and Improvement Grant for
for fiscal year 2027. >> You've heard reading of the resolution.
May I have a motion for approval? >> So moved.
» Motion for approval by Vice Mayor Dockins. Our second.
» Second. >> Seconded by Alderman George.
Any discussion?
Okay. Hearing none, all in favor of the
resolution say I. >> I.
» I. Oppose no. Resolution passes 6-0. Mr. Manager.
» Next item is consideration of resolution to approve the new and revised personnel
policies for the City of Kingsport. As stated last night, Tyra Coe, Assistant
announcing a job as our Human Resources Director,
to do a complete and total evaluation of our personnel policies. It was uh
definitely something that was needed. She and I talked last year about
beginning this journey, utilizing the resources of MTAS, which is a very
valuable tool for all cities across the state. And then to be able to put in
place policies that we believe would be needed in terms of just how we govern
and our operations on a daily basis. But then also to make sure that we do a very
good job of pushing this out to our employees, utilizing technology to make
it easily accessible. And then maybe the most important thing is to come back in
every 2 years and do an evaluation of this, work with MTAS to determine if
there's changes in state law that we need to incorporate that possibly we had
missed. Or or if there are other best practices out there. Your leadership
team has also vetted this over the course of about a month. Presented it
here on Friday of last week and yesterday to the management team. On
your approval, we will move forward with getting these put in place. But again,
just really want to say thank you to Tyra, thank you to Bart who also spent a
lot of time on this, the leadership team who
had us spend quite a quite a few hours reviewing this and then discussing this
to make sure that what we put in place was what was best for our operations and
ultimately for the employees of the city of Kingsport. So, thank you to all of
those folks. And with that, Mayor, we ask that you approve the resolution,
please. >> All right, thank you. Mr. Attorney,
please publish. A resolution adopting personnel policies for city employees as
required by Tennessee Code Annotated 6-54-123
and repealing all of the resolutions in conflict herewith except resolution
number 2027-011. Thank you. You've heard the reading of
the resolution. I have a motion for approval.
» So moved. >> Motion for approval by Vice Mayor
Dockery. Is there a second? >> Second.
» Seconded by Alderman Phillips. Any discussion?
» Uh I'm kind of agree with what the city manager
said. I mean, this is a living working document that'll go for a
long time. It's just shows and reflects the amount of work that's gone into
this. So,
we appreciate it. We really do. >> Okay.
Other comments? Hearing none, all in favor of the
resolution say I. >> I.
» Opposed, no. The resolution passes 6-0.
» Mr. Mayor Andrew. >> All right.
» We'll now move into the consent agenda. We have seven items on the agenda. If
you'd like any one of those removed for additional discussion, please let me
know. First is consideration of resolution to
authorize the mayor to execute an SCSEP host agency agreement with First
Tennessee Human Resources Agency for Bays Mountain Park. Second item is
consideration of resolution to approve a memorandum of understanding with the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives
with the Kingsport for the Kingsport Police Department to designate sworn
task force officers. Third item is consideration of
resolution to approve a memorandum of understanding with Bays Mountain Park
caretaker. Fourth item is consideration of
resolution authorizing the purchase of student transportation for
Dobyns-Bennett High School band at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Fifth item is consideration of a resolution authorizing the purchase of
16 box lights for Kingsport schools from Central Technologies utilizing the TIPS
USA cooperative purchasing agreement. Sixth item is consideration of
resolution to apply and accept a grant from FM Global.
And the seventh item is consideration of resolution approving a release agreement
with RM Media Limited.
Mayor, with that, we'd ask that you approve seven items as presented in the
consent agenda. I'd want four for additional discussion.
» You've heard the reading of the seven consent agenda items.
May I have a motion for approval. >> Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to
accept all items on the consent agenda as presented.
» Motion made by Vice Mayor Duncan. Is there a second?
» Second. >> Second by Aldermen George. Any
discussion?
Hearing none, Mr. Recorder, please take the roll call vote. Aldermen Cooper.
» Aye to all. >> Vice Mayor Duncan.
» Aye to all. >> Aldermen George.
» Aye to all. >> Aldermen Maze.
» Aye to all items. >> Aldermen Phillips.
» Aye to all. >> Mayor Montgomery.
» Aye to all. >> The consent agenda items are approved
6-0. See Mayor Asher. >> All right. We'll now move into
communications, and I'll kind of focus on this side of the table here. You
know, I think I've I've had the pleasure of knowing you all literally my entire
career. I first met Gary early 2000. We were working with our
sense of development district on air quality issues in the region, and
got to know Gary, and of course work with Gary through the pandemic. I would
later meet Betsy, and and Betsy, much like Colette, kind of adopted me into
their home, and of course knew Colette then. First through Valerie, who was
serving on the board, and and really just
could not say enough about the service and dedication you all have given to the
city of Kingsport. You'll be missed. But know this, you made a difference
in your time with the city, whether that was the stint years ago, Gary, or your
time with the Board of Education and then the BMA, your time on the Planning
Commission and the BMA. You guys have left a significant mark on
the city. I know when when I was hired in in 2019
and we sat in a strategic planning session, and a lot of the things that
you all said you wanted to do, we've been able to accomplish or we have in in
motion, and the staff has just absolutely enjoyed working with
you all. You've been so so respectful, and and really just been champions of
every single city employee. It's been reflected each and every year in our
budget. Been reflected in just the respect that you all show them. So, we
thank you. You guys are going to going to be missed by your seats on the board,
but we recognize that you're going to continue to be active in various things.
I know here in a few months Betsy's going to be putting trees up out for
Christmas. And
and so that that will live on and and but we just really appreciate your your
service and everything that you all have done.
So, thank you. And congratulations.
» Thank you. >> Could have said we made a good
difference instead of just a difference. >> It's all on the record. I don't want to
have to take it back on that. >> A positive difference.
» That's right. >> Yeah, thank you.
» Move the meeting along there. >> Well, thank you. Thank you to each one
of you for saying yes. More importantly, you made me a better person for being
working with you, serving alongside you. Uh
I have campaigned I started this journey campaigning with you. Two of you when we
were at the Civic Auditorium campaigning in May at a better time of the year.
And got to know you a little bit better then
and and over the last 5 years getting to know you
individuals but also your contribution to the board. Gary, you are I've known
you for quite a long time cuz you and I have served as parents,
baseball parents as our sons played ball together.
Watched you develop and grow and and lead this
community during a pandemic. You guys did a fantastic job
and thank you for your service. Thank you for saying yes
to the board and we appreciate each of you. And I I know we're not saying
goodbye, we're saying what's going to happen next in your lives. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Vice Mayor?
» Uh well, appreciated and so just really appreciate y'all's friendship
over the years and so it's been great. Uh Gary, you came to the to the board 2
years ago and but you brought a very thoughtful voice
and you was you've always been so well prepared and detailed and your questions
that you've asked is always been spot on. I think you've made our board a
better board member and so it's been really good to know you and
Tammy and and I know as you go forward you've got other aspirations and we'll
be uh filling your time board. Betsy,
your perspective of schools, daycare, and all the nonprofits,
I don't know will ever be replaced on a board here.
And so you bring a just a different outlook and different
insight on so many things that we've really appreciated. I've
appreciated over the years and and I know that you've probably got another uh
nonprofit lined up somewhere. I don't know what it is, but I guarantee it's
cooking in there somewhere. But we really do just appreciate friendship and
everything you brought and uh and then Clate, you and I we we first
you didn't, I did, back in 2015 when I first come to the board in 2015. And so
you have a special gift of asking the right questions at the right
and it certainly has makes me think when you ask you know different questions
that's a different way of maybe what I'm thinking and I've truly appreciated
that. Uh the budget and how you look out for the citizens and then the ripple
fact that it does you know for all through our budget has always been
appreciated and you'll be missed on our budget meeting that we have. So it's
last like an hour and you have to go through all the pages, but Um, I know
that you've got uh
a grandbaby on the way. And so since way before that, always
heard is I need a grandbaby. And so it is coming. And so we uh but I really do
appreciate Thank you. And all three of y'all are considered
friends and look forward to uh to see more of you in a different light. So
thank you. >> Thank you.
» Alana Phillips. >> I've got a bunch of notes here on the
road paving situation. Uh no, I'm just kidding. Um I I I will
gush over these three as well. We're losing the whole right side of the room
and we'll be very unbalanced here for a
couple weeks. But uh Gary, I didn't know you well
before this started, but I I think the way you've jumped in, you fit right in
with the board and and your heart and your caring for Kingsport. And I've
really appreciated your the diligence you go through everything. I mean, I
think you read word for word everything that's put in front of you. And
I think that has been very valuable to this board and I've been I've enjoyed
getting to know you better. Um I've enjoyed working with you where
there's not a big crowd behind us yelling to send the students back to
school and you up there talking about what we should and shouldn't do. So this
has been a much more more enjoyable environment. So um thank you for your
service for these last 2 years for sure. >> Thank you.
» Uh Betsy and Collette, I'll I'll talk about you individually, but they've both
been on the board the entire time I've been on. So they are all I've ever known
on this board. Um for for Betsy, I I do work with now
and I continue and will continue to work with on Christmas in Kingsport. Um we
love to do that and that is just really enjoyable. And what I like about Betsy
is every time we're in a meeting, um if
Betsy has an idea, just like today in a Christmas meeting, um she will stop at
nothing to see it through. And it's not just that she sees it through, it's just
she doesn't say, "I want this done." Betsy says, "This is what I would like
to see happen and let me know when and where and I will help." And that has
been Betsy on this board the entire time. I I have learned so much from
Betsy, but I have also learned most importantly she's the only person on
this board that was teaching when I went to Washington Elementary. So I'm very
excited that those stories will go with her.
Uh so but uh
Betsy really does love and care for Kingsport and I am very excited to keep
working with regular citizen Betsy on Christmas going forward.
Um and then Colette um
she also, like I said, been on the whole time and Colette was a big reason why I
ran for office uh the first time. Um I cannot thank her enough for her
support uh during that time and since. Um when you get elected, you think, "I I
got this. I know what I'm getting into." Um this you all will understand this.
It's like drinking from a fire hose for the first year and uh Colette was
extremely instrumental in on helping me get up to speed and uh along the way I
watched her as somebody like me who owns their own business and um tries to
understand how to be a small business person and manage that, but also manage
your time given to the city um and serving in what essentially is a
volunteer role um and and continuing to make Kingsport
better. And so the one thing I personally always admired about Colette
is that um you always know where she stands on an issue and um
and she always has the facts to back that up. And a lot like my dad, if you
are ever have the opposite opinion of Colette on a subject, usually 6 months
to a year from now, you will realize that she was right about it the entire
time. So um I I made a comment about Colette my my first board meeting on I
thought it was very interesting and so I'll I'll end with this.
Um I really thank you and so much for everything you've done for Kingsport,
for your friendship, but I think it's a very interesting fact that Colette and
her mom are the first mother-daughter to ever serve on the Board of Mayor and
Aldermen. So, I think that's a really interesting fact. So, thank you all.
» Okay, from my side room. >> Alderman May.
» Oh, wow. Well, excuse me. Thank you, city manager
McCartt, and Mayor Montgomery, and all the board members. And
thank you for voting me to serve
for 2 years. I've I've made friends and I've certainly
cherished the last 2 years. It's been wonderful to
serve on the board. It's a true honor and
really impressed with the city and the city staff. All the city employees are
are amazing. And I think this is this is a good board. We've spent a lot of time
together grulling over different difficult and different
subjects and we value one another's input and we
agree, we disagree and we learn from each other. So, that's my takeaway is
new friends and I've learned a great deal. So, thank you for the for the
honor to serve. I appreciate it very much and I want to congratulate the the
new elect alderman as they as they take on their new roles. I know they're going
to do a great job and the board is going to continue to to be to be great for the
city of Kingsport because there's good things going to happen and I'm I'm
really convinced of that. So, thank you.
» I didn't mean to I have some prepared remarks, but since
people took the opportunity to say personal things, I would like to say
a few things. James, I remember you at
Washington when you were in the first grade. The thing I remember about James
is one day he had I think he had Miss Crowley
and he sprayed she was letting him spray the tables clean the tables off and he
sprayed it in his face and she came over cuz he we were trying to clean his face
off. But I never every time I meet his mom or
dad I always tell them that they raised a wonderful person.
Uh I never lose that I'm never pass an opportunity cuz I think his parents need
to hear that. He's he's uh first class and I said I'm so excited to
con- continue to work with him. We met today
uh for Christmas in Kingsport and uh continue to work with him.
Uh he has the same love for Christmas that I do.
But Daryl Daryl and Sharon uh my husband goes way back with Sharon working at Of
course I remember Daryl and Sharon from way back. Uh
I invited Daryl and Sharon to come eat Christmas dinner at our house this year.
We have a very uh we have chili and baked potato very low-key Christmas
after every all the festivities and I made him sit on the floor and eat
because we were running out of space at the table. So
if you have a friend that you invite over and you you sit on the floor with
them they eat chili and baked potato you know that's a special kind of friend. Uh
Paul when I I got to know Paul really I guess
when we were campaigning and someone came up to me and was talking about the
the results of the election I said Paul Montgomery is going to be the top
vote getter and they said oh yeah I'm not sure about that. I said I sit there
and watched I sit there and watch everybody come by his tent out in the
heat and he did and he won. Colette and I um
are family now. >> Yeah.
» Colette's my uh daughter's
husband is Colette's
daughter-in-law's brother. >> So
» So we we're we are going to all the same family events and we will not
» Okay. >> we will not lose contact because we we
we go we're in the same family now. Gary came the first time I really got to
talk to Gary he came at Friends in Need to talk to me before he was appointed on
the on this board. And the one of the first things I told him, I said I
remember I was at at uh First Broad Street uh as a director of the child
care center during COVID. And I said I called you a lot. He said, "Oh, I hope I
was nice." But anyway, he he was very nice because
I we I had a thousand questions a day about child care and what we could open,
what we could do, what was close contacts. And he I I called him
uh his office regularly. But um I've enjoyed working with with everyone
here. Chris, um you I I I saw as soon as I saw him Well,
I started texting Cleary. I said, "I think we're the last we're the last two
that that uh
» hired him. >> hired him. And she said So I looked back
and we were. So I But uh Chris Chris >> Good hire.
» Good hire. One of that one of my our our positive uh
» We didn't I hear he's a good hire, too. >> Good.
Um but >> This may be why.
» Renee and Chris have become just good friends. Uh so
uh uh I will cherish every all the
friendships that I've made here. Yet today marks my last BMA meeting
after 9 years of serving the citizens of Kingsport. I'm thankful for the
opportunity to work with three mayors, two city managers, and been able to hire
one city manager. I'm leaving you all in wonderful hands with our hire. Uh
countless city staff and wonderful board members.
Through good times and difficult times, including the loss of two board members
that we served with. Two of the our board members that in the last 9 years
have passed, which um you know, kind of puts the everything in
perspective. We survived COVID and Zoom meetings.
I'd never That was my our first I never heard of Zoom before, and we we were
Zooming. And I remember uh Pat was the was the mayor, and he made a
comment about what was in my background, and I had to very quickly
move some things out of the background of my our Zoom meetings.
Um For 9 years we brought we've had special
memories, friendships, ribbon cuttings, completed projects, and opportunities to
make a difference. One of my greatest joys, and it knows no
surprise here, has been Christmas in Kingsport. It's amazing that this going
to be in its fifth year this year, and there's it's growing every year. There's
two or three very exciting things that that that you need to be looking out for
for this year. Um
and Chris has been very I said I He he knows when he I he gets a message
from me about Christmas in Kingsport. I'm sure he shakes his head and wants to
hit delete. Um But thank you for the the the citizens
for trusting me and giving me the privilege of serving. I may be leaving
the BMA, but I'll never leave my love for Kingsport. Uh I look forward to
watching our city continue to grow and prosper and remain a wonderful place to
live, work, raise a family, and call home. So thank you, Kingsport, for 9
unforgettable years. Uh
lastly, I want to mention Lamplight Theatre. I always mention something
about our downtown. Foggy Valley is on for two more
weekends. If you haven't been to Lamplight, be sure to go down there.
Foggy Valley is one of the one of their better shows. It's a it's a comedy show,
so um be sure to support our downtown businesses, and um
thank you for the last 9 years.
» Gosh. Y'all are just gushing on everything,
and you know I really do appreciate everybody up here.
I really I I really I mean I said that this is it's been it has been an honor
and a privilege to serve Kingsport for 13 years. And I have done four mayors,
three city managers, so I got to hire two. But but I still think it's sort of
I did a good job. Two locations,
and I should have counted all the different aldermen I've served with, but
I didn't. And then I said I really I really enjoyed most all of them, and I
really like everybody up here, and I've enjoyed you all. It um
it really this is an honor and I think everybody that serves realizes this it's
it is a a blessing. We have such a wonderful board. Um I really have
appreciated getting to know the the staff and the employees of Kingsport.
I mean, wonderful individuals, great leadership team, all of y'all that have
to sit here every single twice a month and listen to us. Um
but the thing you know and I'm like a total bad a person and I know when I
from the time I first got on the board that staff probably at times could have
strangled me. Um and now as Betsy said last meeting, I think a lot of these
reports we got now have enough where I could get up and give the report. Um but
the amount of time and to and just information and the
professionalism that this staff puts to to provide us the data that we need to
make informed decisions. You know, I think a lot of times when
you when people watch this meeting and we're really just voting, they have no
idea what started years ago, what went through the work
session, how much how many presentations, how much data, how much
re-explaining things to us, how much the city has given us the all the right
information and I and they're nice about it to make sure that we can make an
informed vote. And I know when I kept things on the agenda for year after year
after year that that Carissa and even Jeff Fleming before that and probably
Don Campbell were like, "Can we not get this off this thing?" you know, but but
we got a dental school. So, that was one you know, there's you know, there's a
lot of things that it as a small business owner,
you know, when I want to make a change and I want to do something, I can make a
decision, I can spend money, I can make things happen. And
when the hardest thing for me with government is the things that
when I first got on the board like Main Street, 13 years since I That was one of
my first votes. And I think it took 12 before we got that built.
And it's it's like we vote on things and we
start the procedure and go through it and we vote on things. And by the time
they start moving dirt, somebody says, "What's going on over here?" And I'm
like, "I don't remember." I mean, you know, what is that? And I think that's
as small business that's so hard to learn government and to also try to
explain it to the public. And we have a great public. I mean, I think you will
really as new people coming in, you will really appreciate that. You get a lot of
emails, you have a lot of people stopping and ask questions. They are
polite. They listen to your answers. They
Most of the time I mean, we get a couple that, you know, they're probably
foreigners, but I mean, from other states that have moved here.
But, you know, people are very nice and and it is really it it it does connect
you to the citizens. We get to do great things and I have
really really really appreciated my time on this board. And I really do love all
the people I work with and and appreciate more what the city does,
staff does. And I want to just, you know, really say
thank you for giving me this opportunity. And um
I said but it is it is really cool and good and
all that all that stuff, so it I will I will still I told Chris I'll
probably still come up here and and you know, on the things I love, I will
probably still have an opinion. Hard to imagine.
And uh it is uh
it is I will still be involved as the you know, once you're in it, you I mean,
we love Kingsport. Everybody that serves loves Kingsport. So, I really just thank
you for the opportunity. Thank you for the friendships. Thank you for
tolerating me and putting up with me and the grace you have shown when I didn't
necessarily agree. And yes, I always have a strong opinion.
But, I do appreciate all of y'all. Thanks.
» Thank you. Thank you all, and we thank you all for being with us tonight, and I
will say this means adjourned.