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H.O.P.E. announces Black History Celebration

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KINGSPORT – H.O.P.E. or Helping Our Potential Evolve would like to invite you to the 2012 Black History Celebration. Come out on Monday, February 20, 2012 from 12pm 6pm at the Kingsport Renaissance Center and help Kingsport Celebrate Black History Month with various workshops and activities which will enrich both youth and adults with a local flavor of black artists and historians.‚  There are so many talented black artists and presenters here in our local city that provide quality of life programs and events for our citizens everyday.‚  These artists have left such a positive lasting impression on both youth and adults today and pave the way for future artists to emerge.

Anyone, and everyone of all ages are encouraged to come out and help Kingsport Celebrate Black History in style.

Workshops will include:

  • Drumming Workshop with Richie Hicks & Jenny Rogers
  • African Cuisine Sampling & Lecture by Gerrie Harrison
  • Face Painting by Boys & Girls Club
  • Art Class by Mark Anthony
  • Michael Jackson Wii Competition with 1st , 2nd, & 3rd Place. Cash cards awarded
  • And Much Much More!

To view the flyer for this event, please click here.

Water service interruption scheduled for Tuesday along Shipley Ferry Road

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KINGSPORT– – Installation of two new main-line water valves will require the interruption of water service on Tuesday, January, 31, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The service interruption will include areas of Lebanon Road from west of Druid Hills Court and running the length of Shipley Ferry Road to Fort Henry Drive, impacting roughly 100 water customers. As always, customers are advised to turn off their water heaters and take other necessary precautions. Also, motorists should be alert for City water crews working in the area.

Phase Four of Gibson Mill Road Project to require partial road closure

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KINGSPORT ‚¬ Phase Four of the Gibson Mill Road Realignment Project will kick off on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, and run through early November. While the work is ongoing, Gibson Mill Road will be closed to through traffic between the Watauga Roundabout & the new Roundabout at Gibson Mill Road and Ravine Road. In addition, Cassel Drive will be closed at Health South, barring access to Gibson Mill from that route. A detour route and map are included with this notice, with all traffic diverted to Ravine Road.‚  Local traffic will be allowed on Gibson Mill Road to Robertson Street for residents in that area and as well as providing access to Holston Florist Shop. Motorists are asked to be considerate in their actions, using the utmost caution in work zones. In particular, this section of the project will eliminate the at-grade crossing of the Greenbelt while also providing improved travel lanes.

Kingsport implementing new medication take-back initiative

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KINGSPORT – The Kingsport Police Departments Community Relations and Crime Prevention Unit is pleased to announce a new prescription drug collection point in the lobby of the Justice Center located at 200 Shelby Street in Kingsport.  Our medication take-back initiative has been named, Project: Drug Drop Zone.

The goals of this program are to keep drugs off the street, prevent overdoses and accidental poisonings, and avoid environmental contamination.  Items that can be placed in our secure drug drop box include non-narcotics, narcotics, over the counter (OTC), herbals, and veterinary medications.

Items that should not be placed in the box include needles or sharps, biohazard materials, and illegal drugs.  The Kingsport Police Departments first attempt at collecting leftover, unwanted, or expired medication was held on September 25, 2010.  At that extremely successful event, held offsite at Rhoten Allstate Agency, 179 pounds of medication were collected and destroyed.

With this new drug collection point in the lobby of the Justice Center, citizens can drop off their unwanted medication 24 hours a day at their convenience, rather than having to wait for a special event.  All medications will be properly disposed of by the Kingsport Police Department. A photograph of the drug collection box as well as an informational flyer are attached to this press release.

For additional information or questions concerning Project: Drug Drop Zone, please contact the Kingsport Police Departments Community Relations and Crime Prevention Unit at (423) 229-9433 or ThomasMPatton@KingsportTN.gov

Changes in the Public Alert System for Kingsport

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KINGSPORT – There are changes coming to the Public Alert System in Kingsport.‚  The sirens that normal sound test on Saturdays at noon will begin sounding every other weekend. There will be no sirens on January 28th. Beginning February 4th at‚  noon Sirens will sound‚  on a biweekly basis. This is the first step in a major upgrade in the way the citizens of Kingsport will receive alerts. Information will be coming in the following weeks on the upgrades to the Public Alert System and how citizens can be better informed during hazardous situation.

Water service to be impacted Friday in Cooks Valley Road area

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KINGSPORT – Water service in the Cooks Valley Road area will be impacted Friday, January 27, 2012 as City crews work to complete new water line connections in the area. Service will be subject to interruption in the vicinity of Cooks Valley Road from Odessa Road to Emory Church Road. As always, residents are reminded to turn off their water heaters during the work period, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. In addition, motorists should expect delays at the intersection on Emory Church Road and Cooks Valley Road. The work is contingent on weather conditions.

The Model City Shootout registration has begun

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KINGSPORT – The Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for the Model City Shootout, an annual youth basketball tournament for local 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.‚  This year’s shootout will be held from February 13-19 at the VO Dobbins Complex, Lynn View Community Center, Civic Auditorium, and the Boys and Girls Club.

All teams must pre-register at the Athletic Office located in the Civic Auditorium (1550 Ft. Henry Dr. ) by no later than 5:30pm on Friday, February 10, 2012. ‚ The fee to register is $60 per team. ‚ No tournament day registrations will be accepted.

For more information please contact the Kingsport Parks & Recreation Department Athletic Office at (423) 229-9459.

Kingsport City Schools Board of Education to Hold Called Meeting

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KINGSPORT – The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education will hold a called meeting on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will take place in the Dobyns-Bennett Field House Alumni Hall (1800 Legion Drive).

The purpose of the called meeting is for the consideration of the employment of a Superintendent.  The called meeting will take place prior to the regularly scheduled Board work session.

For more information, contact KCS Administrative Coordinator Andy True at (423) 378-2130.

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City of Kingsport receives clean opinion on audit for 12th consecutive year

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KINGSPORT – Kingsports city finances received a clean FY 2011 audit opinion for the 12th consecutive year in a row, with no material weaknesses for the third consecutive year.

Receiving a clean opinion for the 12th year in a row is an accomplishment of the entire city staff, Audit Committee Chair and Alderman Ben Mallicote said Tuesday.

Our Finance staff certainly deserves a lot of credit, but you do not earn a clean opinion without a lot of people doing a lot of things right.

In addition, FY 2011 revenue growth was stronger, with General Fund property tax revenues growing from $31.25 million to $32.37 million, while local option sales tax collections grew from $17.06 million to $17.77 million from FY 2010 to FY 2011.

We have the utmost confidence in the financial position of the City, and are pleased that we continue to receive high marks for transparency in reporting on the Citys finances, City Manager John Campbell said Tuesday. The results reflect an available reserve of $12.09 million, with strong revenues and a reasonable debt load. And we have maintained this position while also adding tremendous value in the form of new assets that will help the City continue to grow.

In addition to the $12.09 million undesignated fund balance, the City held another $7.75 million in reserve funds in the Fleet, insurance and health insurance reserve funds.

Auditors Blackburn, Childers & Steagall also found that every City department met its 2011 budget as assigned by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Property values grew at a robust rate, with the assessed value of all residential and farm property moving from $542 million to $576 million, while the value of industrial and commercial property grew from $601 million to $624 million.

Meanwhile, new investment, as recorded by building permits, also picked up, rising from $56.2 million in 2010 to $65.6 million in 2011.

Along with strong reserves, we continue to pay down debt at a fair clip, and are seeing a definitive uptick in economic activity and employment in our city in 2011, Campbell said. At the same time, we continue to do our best to maintain a tight rein on operating expenditures, with our budget office reminding our departments and line managers that we must continue to get the maximum out of each dollar available.

In addition, Campbell also noted that the City recently retained its strong bond ratings, carrying a Moodys rating of Aa2, with a Standard & Poors rating of AA-, both of which are the highest bond ratings ever carried by the City.

The City also achieved its 11th consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association for the 2010 audit and financial report.

While the audit found no material weaknesses, it did find two deficiencies to address, including the water loss percentage for the water system and recommendations to change the way the city books the value of city-owned real estate.

On the matter of water loss, the City noted that the state has adopted the national American Water Works Association standard for 2013 and beyond, with which the Citys water system is in full compliance.

In addition, Public Works director Ryan McReynolds has recommended continuing ongoing water line upgrades as well as possible new measures, including metering fire lines on industrial properties, downsizing certain large meters to eliminate low-flow bypass, and instituting pressure zone metering to ascertain which districts are responsible for major losses.

Tennessee Takes Number One Ranking for Low Taxes and Business Regulation

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Earlier this week, top lawmakers touted the results of a recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce study that says Tennessee is a leading Enterprise State for its remarkable environment of low taxes and navigable regulations.

The Chamber report, available here, notes Tennessees low cost of living, fourth lowest state and local tax burden and manageable budget gap place it first in this years tax and regulation ranking. The State moved up two places from last years ranking.

The report also cites the business-friendly Legislature and the fact the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the Commissioner of Revenue work together to ensure there is a no surprise regulatory environment in Tennessee. Additionally, in profiling the State, the Chamber highlights Governor Bill Haslams Jobs4TN initiative that utilizes existing economic development assets to identify and prioritize growth-ready industry clusters, establish nine regional -jobs base camps and reduce regulations that get in the way of business and job growth.

House Speaker Beth Harwell, House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, and House Majority Caucus Chairwoman Debra Maggart believe Tennesseans can expect a continued focus on sound fiscal policy and common sense reforms to regulations in the new legislative session.

Speaker Harwell stated, We are proud Tennessee has, once again, been recognized as a top State for businesses and families. I look forward to a successful session that will further Tennessees unmatched record of accomplishment by keeping taxes low and further reducing the States regulatory burden.

Tennessee is on solid barting when it comes to tax and regulatory policy. That said, I believe we can do more. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Haslam, we have a guiding vision for transforming Tennessee into a truly competitive State that will be an engine for growth in the coming years, stated McCormick.

Maggart added, This session will be a model for future legislative sessions. We are focused on how to best pave the way for job creation in the private sector, removing government barriers to business growth, and maintaining our States low tax reputation. Tennesseans expect government to serve them and their priorities and we are going to do just that.

Link to: City of Kingsport
City of Kingsport, Tennessee