The Collinwood City Commission met in regular session on Monday, March 13, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the conference/courtroom of Collinwood City Hall.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Glenn Brown. All commissioners were in attendance, including Mayor Brown, Vice Mayor Jeremiah Stults, Commissioner Debie Pigg, Commissioner Kim McFall, and Commissioner Shaundale Hanback. City Manager Gary Victory and City Recorder Cindy Kephart were in attendance as well.
The invocation was offered by Commissioner Hanback, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Commissioner Pigg made a motion to approve the agenda for the meeting, and Vice Mayor Stults seconded. The agenda was unanimously approved.
Vice Mayor Stults made a motion to approve the minutes of the February meeting. Commissioner Pigg seconded, and the minutes were approved as well.
The commission then reviewed current department reports. There were no questions or comments concerning the reports.
The second reading of the water/sewer rate ordinance was next on the agenda. The recent rate study conducted by the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts outlined needed increases in both water and sewer rates in the city. The new rates will go into effect on July 1, 2023, and will be reviewed yearly to consider additional increases. Vice Mayor Stults made a motion to approve the second reading of the ordinance, and Commissioner Pigg seconded. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
Next on the agenda was a discussion regarding the possible location of a new mural that will be paid for by the Tennessee Arts Commission. City Manager Victory said that he had spoken with a couple of artists who may be interested in painting the new mural, each of whom created one of the existing murals in town. Locations mentioned were on the side of the former Games & A Movie building, and the building close to the Welcome Center. Vice Mayor Stults said that he would like to see the Tennessee Tri-Star symbol incorporated into the next mural, and the other commissioners agreed.
A brief discussion regarding a new electronic sign was next. City Manager Victory said that he had gotten some names of sign companies that had put up other signs in the area, including different churches’ electronic signs. The cost of a new sign is expected to be either partially or completely funded with grant funds. The city manager said that he would put out a bid notice for the sign.
Next was the second reading of the ordinance for utility adjustment agreements and payment agreement forms. City Manager Victory went back over the ordinance, which states in part that utility bill payments are due by the 5th of each month, and if not paid by the 15th, utilities are subject to being shut off and will require that a $50 fee be paid before service is restored. Utility bills may be adjusted one time per year if there is a leak of which the customer is unaware. In the future, a non-refundable service fee will be charged for new hookups instead of the previous refundable deposit fee. Commissioner Pigg made a motion to approve the second reading of the ordinance, and Vice Mayor Stults seconded. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
A resolution to approve the application for a CDBG grant to fund improvement to city streets was next on the agenda. The total amount of the grant, if awarded, would be $300,000, with the city’s match amount being 10%. Commissioner Pigg made a motion to approve the resolution. Vice Mayor Stults seconded, and the resolution was unanimously approved on roll call vote.
Mayor Brown then read the Wayne County Welcome Center report for the month of February. There were 293 total visitors at the Welcome Center, from not only the United States but other countries including Germany, Belgium, Poland, and Canada. Steve and Sharon Wright were Volunteers of the Month.
Under “other” on the agenda, City Manager Victory said that he had been contacted by Jason Rich of My Team Insurance regarding possibly taking over the city’s insurance renewals and filing of claims. A brief discussion followed, but no decision was made at this time.
With no further business to come before the commission, Vice Mayor Stults made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Pigg seconded, and the meeting was adjourned.
