Page 8 - Sept-Oct 2024 Vol 42 No 3

KNOXVILLE Provided by Tennessee Municipal League
TML 2024 Achievement Awards

TOWNSEND: Excellence in a 950-acre tract inside the city limits facilities, city leaders took careful
Community Planning as a Border Regional Retail Tourism consideration to ensure projects involve
Development District, designed to keep
environmental resilient and green
Known as the “Peaceful Side of the sales tax dollars in Tennessee by making infrastructure, including the conversion
Smokies,” Townsend officials set goals to border cities more competitive. of 6,000 streetlights to LED bulbs,
preserve the unique character and natural Since the programs’ inception, the city upgrading its wastewater treatment plant,
beauty that both attracts residents and the has seen sales tax growth of nearly $800 LED lighting upgrades at City Hall, and
thousands of visitors who come through million. Those funds have been used to working with TVA to install EV charging
Townsend as a gateway to the Great reinvest in expansion and development, stations downtown.
Smoky Mountains Park. benefiting both East Ridge and The streetlight conversion to LEDs has
Through a community planning process surrounding areas of the state. reduced consumption and maintenance
and the establishment of an advisory costs, resulting in monthly savings. Total
committee, city leaders worked to protect ETOWAH: Excellence in Finance savings to the city’s State Street Aid Fund
and preserve what makes Townsend Proper financial management is exceed $450,000 per year.
special, and to set goals for the future essential for any city to succeed, and the
that will ensure that Townsend remains municipal staff of the city of Etowah have PIGEON FORGE: Excellence in
attractive and economically successful. worked hard to make the city’s finances Police Services
SHELBYVILLE: Excellence in not only meet standards but exceed In a time when police departments
them. In addition to following the state of
Downtown Revitalization Tennessee and Government Accounting across the U.S. are facing challenges
including lack of funding, qualified
Downtowns often serve as the Standards Board (GASB) guidelines, the employees, and public support, the Pigeon
heartbeat of a community, and officials in city of Etowah operates its budget within Forge Police Department is a small-town
Shelbyville have made dedicated efforts to its own high standards to ensure financial department providing yearly services for
ensure their downtown continues to not responsibility for its citizens. an estimated 14 million people who visit
just survive but thrive. Beginning in 2021, This is the result of the entire city staff the area’s many attractions.
the city obtained a Tennessee Department working cohesively and efficiently to The department also is charged with
of Transportation Alternative Program complete both annual audits and the city’s managing a multitude of special events
Grant to place all downtown Shelbyville yearly budget in a timely and efficient on an almost weekly basis, ranging from
Excellence in Downtown Revitalization manner. religious conventions to corporate retreats
utilities underground, construct new to car shows and local festivals. The
sidewalks, and install landscaping, park ALCOA: Excellence in Fire Service department does all of this and protects
benches, and streetlamps. Through a dedication to service and its more than 6,000 full-time residents.
A Downtown Improvement safety, the city of Alcoa and the Alcoa Fire To retain committed, well-trained, hard-
grant obtained in 2023 helped fund Department have worked to achieve two working employees, officers are offered
improvements to facades and businesses of the highest accreditations available to health and fitness incentives, a generous
on the square. Three city-owned fire departments in the country – Class compensation package, and flexible work
dilapidated buildings were sold to 1 status from the Insurance Serve Office schedules.
Grindstone Cowboy coffee for renovation (ISO), a rating that has been earned
and will feature a coffeehouse, restaurant, by only three of the state’s 749 fire RED BANK: Excellence in
entertainment venue, retail shops, departments – as well as reaccreditation
business offices, and short-term overnight from the Center For Public Safety Strategic Planning
rentals. Plans of a new Riverview District Excellence (CPSE). City officials in Red Bank face unique
also are in the works and will connect Earning both a Class 1 ISO rating and challenges when it comes to growth and
the historic square to the Shelbyville CPSE reaccreditation illustrates the Alcoa management. To tackle these situations,
Riverwalk and Overlook. Fire Department’s and the city’s hard work Red Bank leaders have adopted numerous
in meeting the needs of a rapidly growing strategic planning practices to ensure that
EAST RIDGE: Excellence in municipality, while simultaneously the city’s annual budget cycle, citywide
Economic Development working to address public safety and needs, visions for the future, and staff
concerns all are incorporated into making
Located on the Tennessee-Georgia reduce risk. the right decisions.
line, the city of East Ridge has met the COLUMBIA: Excellence in Green The planning process also has led to the
challenge of sales tax leakage across the creation of Red Banks’ new Community
border head on with financial incentives Leadership Development Department, which will be
and investment, revitalizing its downtown As the city of Columbia worked to structured with a director, community
business district. East Ridge designed improve and upgrade various municipal Continued on page 10
8 TPW September/October 2024