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The Board of Mayor and Aldermen earlier this month adopted its 2025 Strategic Plan for the City of Kingsport – a guiding document for operational and capital investments for the next three to five years.
Kingsport’s Strategic Plan came about through months of work by a professional consulting service, the BMA and leadership team, city staff and the community at large. More than 2,000 people participated in a community survey this past winter, offering their opinion on the city’s focus areas and priorities.
“Our new strategic plan will make sure our goals and objectives are in alignment, and we’ll be able to measure our success based on the investments we make,” said City Manager Chris McCartt. “This plan will help keep us on track with the desires of our citizens, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, and city staff.”
Seven focus areas were identified during the creation of the strategic plan – Efficient & Responsive Government, Sustainable Infrastructure, Exceptional Cultural & Recreational Opportunities, Safe & Welcoming Community, Thriving Local Economy, Strong & Vibrant Neighborhoods and a World-Class Education.
In addition, several noteworthy priorities were singled out within these focus areas, such as downtown revitalization, maintaining our sustainable paving program, providing diverse housing options, and quality recreational opportunities for our residents and visitors.
“Now that the strategic plan has been adopted, I look forward to working with the BMA to accomplish the goals and objectives identified within the plan across all forms of our operations,” McCartt added.
To view the entire 2025 Strategic Plan, please visit https://bit.ly/KptStrategicPlan.
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The City of Kingsport would like to provide clarification about an economic development fee being imposed on customers at the new Rural King at the Fort Henry Mall.
The City of Kingsport wants the community to know, this economic development fee is NOT a city-mandated fee, the funds DO NOT go to the City of Kingsport and the city played no part in instituting the fee. The decision to impose this fee falls solely on Rural King.
According to signs posted at Rural King, the business is imposing a 1% economic development fee on all purchases, with the funds from the fee going to help pay for the costs of improvements at the Rural King development.
A screenshot of the sign began circulating on social media over the weekend with many people in the community asking questions about the fee.
“We understand there may be some confusion regarding the “economic development fee” being charged at Rural King. This fee is not a part of any economic development project by the City of Kingsport, rather it is a private fee implemented at the discretion of the business,” said Kingsport Economic Development Director Steven Bower. “We have been in communication with Rural King and greatly appreciate their investment but look to them to add clarification regarding their fee.”
SUBJECT: KPD Searching for Runaway Juvenile (Update: Found Safe)
DATE: May 23rd, 2025
CASE #: 25-004430
GENERAL NARRATIVE
Update: Exenia “Scarlett” Pafford has been found safe and is no longer missing. The Kingsport Police Department would like to thank the public for their assistance.
As previously released:
The Kingsport Police Department is searching for 15-year-old, Exenia “Scarlett” Pafford. Exenia is believed to have left voluntarily from an address on Watterson Street. Exenia is a white female, last seen wearing a white shirt and gray sweatpants. Exenia has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as a runaway Juvenile.
Anyone with information on Exenia’s whereabouts is asked to contact Kingsport Central Dispatch at (423) 246-9111 or the Criminal Investigations Division at (423) 229-9429.
Alternatively, if an individual who can provide information to this or any case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link:
https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us
MISSING PERSON INFORMATION
Name Exenia “Scarlett” Pafford
Age 15
Gender/Race Female/White
Residency Watterson Street in Kingsport TN
Possible Clothing White shirt and gray sweatpants
Last Known Location Watterson Street
RELEASING OFFICER
Corporal Brandon Arnold
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit
Office (423) 343-9866, Fax (423) 343-9749
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City of Kingsport offices will be closed on Memorial Day (May 26).
Kingsport will not be adjusting garbage or trash/yard waste routes for Memorial Day (May 26). Both the garbage routes and the trash/yard waste routes will run on a normal schedule.
The city’s demolition landfill and convenience center will be closed on May 26 and reopen on May 27.
For more information about garbage and trash/yard waste routes, visit www.kingsporttn.gov.
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A section of Crescent Drive – from Watauga Street to E. Center Street – will be closed to traffic beginning May 27 and continuing through July 12.
Both lanes of the road will be closed to traffic during this time and the closure is necessary to allow Thomas Construction to repair and rebuild the road.
Signage and traffic barrels will be in place to direct motorists around the work zone. Motorists are advised to use caution while traveling in this area as workers will be present at the site.
For more information about the project, contact Russell Mays at 423-224-2426.
