Recently in City Government Category

Someone sent me this link and asked me to create a new blog entry for it. Here you go! Charlie

"This is an interesting article about a California town that laid off all city employees ... and are increasing services."

A reader suggested we add this to the blog. 05/21/2010. Charlie

"A good topic for the blog would be asking people what they think of the proposed property tax increase and tonight's special called meeting about it."

NOTE - the concert will take place rain or shine. It will move to Richland Gym if necessary.

Tickets are now on sale for the Strawberry Festival Concert
Saturday May 15, 2010
Richland Park - Wanda Collins Amphitheater

Ronnie McDowell
With T Graham Brown and Billy Joe Royal
6 PM (gates open 5 PM)

Tickets --- $5 each - kids 10 & under FREE
Purchase at the Portland Parks Department ( Mon-Fri from 8:00 - 4:30 )
Or purchase online at www.cityofportlandtn.gov (go to the Parks Department section of the site)

The Buxton Group's study about attracting retail businesses into Portland appears to have been completed. There was a summary of their recommendations in the March 24, 2010, edition of the Portland Leader. The article is on page A5. The Buxton Group is a Houston, Texas-based consulting company. As I recall, the City paid them $50,000 for the study. Any comments on the study's recommendations?

This was originally posted by "taxpayer" as a comment on another thread. I am moving it here so the hyperlink will be clickable. Note that there is also a video associated with the article. Charlie

See article regarding the illegality of the transfer of funds from the utility fund to the general fund.

The January 26, 2010, 6 p.m., Special Call City Council Meeting was televised live. The topic of the meeting was the city's 2009-2010 budget. Does anybody have any comments on what was discussed and/or decided?

Please be aware that the recycling bins that used to be in the H.G. Hill parking lot have been moved.
The three drop-off sites are now located at:
1) Public Safety Bldg (Police & Fire Station) on North Broadway
2) City Mechanic Shop on Morningside Drive
3) Street Department Building on Stevison Ham Road.

[This was posted on another thread by PortlandWatcher. I am creating a new thread here for it. Charlie]

Does anyone have an opinion about the City buying the hospital to use for the city offices? I know we need more information..but just wondering what your first thoughts are about it.

Suppose a child needs an ambulance or a fire truck or the police. She's on the phone trying to describe where she is. She's also on a cell phone that's not giving a GPS location. Time is of the essence, but how long is it going to take to get help to her?

I feel very sorry for the E-911 people, the dispatchers, the delivery people, the people who route school buses, the school bus drivers, the post office, the utility people and everyone else who needs to quickly and accurately identify an address and get there.

Quite frankly, Sumner County and the cities within Sumner County have a mess. A few examples:

Please note that the City of Portland will change the speed limit from 55 to 45 MPH on TN109 [North Broadway] from Kirby Road to U.S. 31W [close to the Kentucky border]. This is effective Friday, November 6, 2009.

Code Red is up and running. Please go and sign up to recieve emergency alerts. The City's Web Site has the info.www.cityofportlandtn.gov
Storm alerts, local situations, etc.

This will be a great help to those within the city limits. Hopefully the program will expand overtime.
Thank you,
mike

[This announcement is posted at the request of the City of Portland. Charlie]

The City of Portland is starting a new recycling program!
The City of Portland, in conjunction with QRS Recycling, is starting a new commercial single stream recycling program. With this form of recycling, city residents will be able to put all varieties of recyclables in one container with NO SORTING! We will start with three initial drop-off sites in the city and expand as the need arises.

Here is a basic list of what can go in the recycling dumpster:
• Cardboard
• Paper / newspaper / soft-covered books
• 1-7 Plastics (no plastic film or bubble wrap)
• Aluminum Cans
• Tin Cans
• NO GLASS

The three drop-off sites will be located at:
1. City of Portland maintenance shops on Morningside Drive.
2. Public safety building on North Broadway.
3. H.G. Hills parking lot.

The City of Portland is very excited about starting a recycling program for the community. Please be considerate and put only the listed recyclables in the containers, and please keep the area free of trash and debris. Thank you.

Note: The bins are supposed to be in place beginning December 23, 2008.

Here's your spot to speak your thoughts on these topics, it has been getting rather heated in other areas and felt perhaps this needed it's own space.

I will keep this topic rolling toward the top of the page as long as there are comments being made. Please remember foul language/and personal attacks will not be permitted, now play fair and go for it!.

Tonight the Main Street Plan was unveiled; and lets just say it was very nice and will look beautiful when finished.

This is currently set as a 4 phase project.

And while it will be a 80-20 grant deal, it does not cover those owners who will need to remodle their back door entry and other things.
I support a tax abatement loan or some kind of tax waiver, so the owners can do some upgrades.
I believe it would right to give some kind of incentive package to mainstreet owners in an effort to fix the back sides of the building.

Hope to have some of the plan up on the city's web site soon, and a copy can be obtained from planning.

Please make an opportunity to see this plan, MainStreet will be transformed for the better.

This will be a multi-year project using grant money to help offset the cost.

Some of the elements will be started on quickly; like moving the trash and grease traps, and place new lighting in the alley ways.
Thanks
mike

As requested by another poster;

What are areas of the town that you think need more police attention?
Whether it be traffic violations, or something else?

UPDATE:
The response to the survey has been great and I appreciate your time.
I will let you know some results after taking some time to go over all the information.
Once again, thank you for participating in our city survey.
Alderman Mike Callis

www.cityofportlandtn.gov

The new hotel going out at I-65 & 52 is a good example of work that has been ongoing by the city of Portland and neighboring Orlinda.
The two have been working on development of the area around the interstate and the restructuring of the planning region on the Robertson County side of 31-W.
Though all of us want quick action, the truth is that many of these plans take years to come together. The city of Portland has desired some development out at the interstate, but we do not have control of the land past 31-W; and Orlinda hasn't had the infrastruture to support major development.
The Mayor along with some others worked to make this new development happen. Portland will be providing the needed infrastucture for this hotel, such as water, gas, and sewer.
We hope this will spur other investment, but it all starts with one company willing to take a chance and locate here.
This is a great opportunity for both cities and hopefully it will lead to development down Hwy 52.
So, as you see this being built, understand that a lot of work went on for a long period before anything was visible.
The officials at Orlinda, our Mayor, and most of all the investor should be given credit for this great opportunity.
Thank you,
Alderman Mike Callis

Post your thoughts about News worthy articles, events, happenings, questions,
garage sales,and general information regarding our town.

Want to talk about something specific, post it here.
One of the blog authors will start the topic for you!

Happy Posting - Judy

Post your thoughts about News worthy articles, events, happenings, questions,
garage sales,and general information regarding our town.

Want to talk about something specific, post it here.
One of the blog authors will start the topic for you!

Happy Posting - Judy

Post your thoughts about News worthy articles, events, happenings, questions,
garage sales,and general information regarding our town.

Want to talk about something specific, post it here.
One of the blog authors will start the topic for you!

Happy Posting - Judy

Is our City saying Don't Ask Don't Tell

This months council meeting included discussions on moving public works to a rented building across the street from city hall which resulted in the issue of the Kerley building (old Farmers Bank Building) on Main Street being brought up. And the fact that the city owns it with 8,000 sq feet of space and it isn't being utilized much by the city.

The issue of that buildings condition quickly became the topic of conversation with the possibility of mold, aspestos, etc, etc being addressed once again and they didn't want employees working in that building not knowing the degree of health issues that could arise.

My concern is not with this being brought up, but the outcome of where it ended.

By request I am starting this thread

Hi all. I was wondering if you could possibly start a thread regarding zoning issues in the city limits. I moved out here from California almost two years ago, and one of my big draws to this area was the land. So I bought a house and 5 acres, with the intention of allowing my children to raise a couple of animals for livestock shows, and for my family to have a handful of chickens for eggs.

We had asked our Realtor to check the zoning, and she claimed she did (my fault completely for not checking myself.) ~ To make a long story short, I have asked our City Council to take into consideration changing the zoning to allow for livestock with limitations (like the zoning for horses that just went into effect) ~ I am just trying to get a feel for what all of you think. Thanks for listening.

Tanya

Mandatory Retirement For Public Safety Employees

Jody has raised an item for discussion and one that we have debated over the last couple of months; and that is mandatory retirement for public safety employees.
There are many particulars to this plan, but the sum is, age 60 would be mandatory for most positions and at age 55 some would be able to retire; the city would have to pick up some of the cost until age 62.