Photo: City Manager Kim Foster, left front, reports on projects at last night’s meeting. Shannon McFarlin photo.
By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–At a busy session Thursday evening, the Paris City Commission learned that with the USDA able to submit the city’s application for funds for the construction of the new municipal building before the end of June, over $3.5M was saved from the cost of the project. Because the application was in by the end of June, a 3.5 percent interest rate was locked in.
A pre-design session was held with the TLM engineering/architectural firm June 21 and TLM is now ready to start the design process.
City Manager Kim Foster said the city will be closing on the property on State Route 79S at 10 a.m. July 24. After the adjustments to the property that were previously discussed, the city will be purchasing just over nine acres for project.
At a special June meeting, the city commission unanimously put its stamp of approval on construction of a new two-story municipal building that will contain City Hall, the Paris Police Department and a small fire station. The green light followed a tour of the current City Hall for a first-hand view of cramped and inadequate conditions for the police and fire departments and much discussion over numerous meetings.
Also Thursday evening, the city unanimously passed a new resolution to apply for federal assistance for the project which reflects the new location on Tyson Ave. Previously, the city approved a resolution for federal assistance to build a new facility on the city’s downtown property at 100 N. Caldwell.
“Since that time we have determined that we do not have adequate room at our existing location on which to build a new municipal building as well as a new fire station. We are now in the process of acquiring property on Tyson Ave. on which to build a new fire station,” Foster said.
In other business:
–The city approved a job description for the position of Community Engagement Director, who will serve as a public information officer. Foster noted that Administrative Assistant Jessica Crouch will be moving into Community Development Director Jennifer Morris’ job when Morris retires. She also noted that creation of the position was discussed at the city’s budget workshops “and everyone thought it was a great thing.”
–The city approved an increase in sanitation rates.
Foster explained what she said is a complicated situation with the rates:
“In 2022 our auditors told us that we could no longer account for the landfill and
sanitation functions together as one fund, they had to be broken out and
independently support themselves financially. At that time we looked at each
individual expense in both areas to see where it best fit. We increased some of the
landfill pricing at that time as it didn’t even come close to covering its operations. On
the other hand, our sanitation operations had a strong revenue stream and a healthy
fund balance. Since then we have added services (bulk & cardboard pickup) as well
as a Sanitation Foreman. Additionally, as with all areas of operations, costs have risen
significantly. For the past two years we have operated in a huge deficit ($230,000 –
$240,000) in the Sanitation Department and are budgeted to do so again this year.
Staff feels an increase in sanitation rates, which haven’t been increased since 2008, is
appropriate at this time.”
When considering sanitation rates we need to think of two different categories,
commercial/industrial and residential, she said.
Residential is easier as it is a flat rate of $16/month per household. Raising this fee to $18/month will generate an additional $90,864 per year. Raising this fee to $20/month, the amount that is now charged to County residents by Republic Waste, will generate an additional $181,728 per year.
Foster said, “Commercial / industrial rates are based on a formula that includes three different components, a container rental fee, a collection fee and a disposal fee. Any of these components can be tweaked but the adjustment that seems to make the most sense is to the disposal fee.
“Right now, this portion of the calculation is based on a $35/ton disposal fee. We are currently paying over $39/ton to our contractor who is managing our transfer station. This is obviously out of balance. If we raise the price per ton to $50 it will generate an additional $197,700 per year. At $50/ton commercial rates will increase approximately 25%. For the majority of our customers that translates to $22 per month.
“It is also thought that the landfill price per ton rates at the gate, and tire disposal fees be increased as they have not kept up with the increase in our disposal rates either,” she said.
After discussion and based on the study done, the new rates were approved: $18 per month residential rate, an increase to $50 per ton for disposal for commercial / industrial rates, and an increase at the landfill gate per the table.”
–Long-time Planning Commission Member Gayle Griffith is resigning from the commission and will be replaced with Dickie Mobley. A reception for Griffith was to be held between last night’s city commission and planning commission meetings, but he was not feeling well and did not attend the meeting.