Police Chief Mark Gibson recognized the promotion of Sgt. Evie West, Lt. Scott Bronze and Lt. Matt Jenkins
photo by Gail Perry
The Cleveland City Council on Monday adopted a plan for selecting a new city manager that will replace Janice Casteel. A citizen advisory committee for choosing a new city manager has been created with one representative appointed by each councilman. These seven members will communicate with the consultant to the council, Larry Wallace.
The council also voted to hire an executive search firm in order to “cast a wide net.” The Mercer Group was chosen out of the seven companies that responded to the RFP.
That company provided Tennessee references and has experience working with mid-size cities. The Mercer Group also gave a time-line for the search, which no other company offered. This was the only group that follows up after a search is concluded and will give feedback for why people did or did not apply. The cost of their services will be $16,500. That will be money well spent, said councilman Richard Banks.
Councilman Bill Estes recommended that the Mercer Group also interview the advisory committee to help determine what criteria to look for, and to also write the job description. The search firm will submit all applicants to the advisory committee, which will narrow the list down to five or six names that will be submitted to the council.
The city has been in the process of creating a new pay plan for its 325 full-time employees. City Manager Casteel recommended using a 3.5 step plan and dropping off the first step that is currently being used so that the starting salary would begin three and a half percent higher than it does now. Each grade of classification for future promotions would be 8.2 percent. It was also recommended that, in addition to the pay check, employees be given a dollar amount of what their benefits package is worth. A new HR Department will be created that will set out employee guidelines before voting on the plan.
Approval was given to Lee University to abandon the right-of-ways around 4th and 5th streets, which will give the university the opportunity to continue developing the campus. President Paul Conn said the renaissance of Lee started 20 years ago when it was allowed to develop a campus on Church Street by using private money for the public good.
Updates on several projects in development were presented at the council meeting. Doug Berry, director of the Industrial Development Board, reported on the Industrial Park that is being created jointly by the city of Cleveland, Bradley County and Cleveland Utilities. He said the site is being prepared for construction. Because it is 13 miles from the Volkswagen plant it is considered to be too far away for tier one suppliers, but Mr. Berry said there is a better chance of attracting tier two and three suppliers.
Of the 330-acre site, 125 acres will be included in buffer zones, leaving 200 acres for lot sales. Of that there will be 120 acres of buildable pad area, or around 36 percent of the entire property. The total development costs are expected to be $6 million including the acquisition of the property. An additional $6 million will be needed for infrastructure such as roads and sewer. Part of these costs will be off-set by $155,000 in lumber sales coming from timber off of 140 acres of the property. Applications have also been made for two grants to help with the expenses.
The land sales will be around $45,000-$65,000 per acre. The industrial park is expected to produce 2,300 direct jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs. It will increase retail spending in the area along with the increase of city and county sales taxes, plus residential property tax.
A privately owned site of 100 acres adjoins the property owned by the city and county and will be developed along-side the industrial park as commercial space. A mixed-use development is planned for that site with 70 acres of retail space, six restaurants, four hotels, apartments and condos, all contributing to economic impact in the area.
Mr. Berry also gave an account of the Whirlpool property that is being left as the company transitions into a new plant. This leaves questions about managing the facilities now. Plant #2 is still being used by the company as a warehouse, he said. There is a potential buyer for plant #3. The distribution area of the main plant, #1, is fully occupied now, he said, but the rest of the building is vacant and will be demolished. Another vacant property, the Woolen Mill, is considered to be the best location downtown for a new hotel. The building has enough space for 120 rooms and conference facilities, he said.
The Raider Arena at Cleveland High School is secured now, a representative from the Bradley County School Board told the council. Glass and sidewalks are installed, and the heat and AC are running. Electrical and plumbing are being put in as is the floor. The upper bleachers are in. The track surface will be the last to be finished with that surface requiring two weeks to cure.
A letter from Mainstreet Cleveland regarding property that the city recently bought at 266 Inman St. asked the council to refrain from demolishing the building for 90 days. With a $50,000 grant they hope to receive, the group wants to preserve the old building. A vote was unanimous to wait for 90 days before doing anything to the building.
Two new police officers, Geoffrey Humberd and Michael McCant, were sworn in Monday afternoon by Mayor Tom Rowland. And Police Chief Mark Gibson recognized the promotion of Lt. Scott Bronze, Lt. Matt Jenkins and Sgt. Evie West.
Mayor Tom Rowland swears in new officer Michael McCant
photo by Gail Perry