An Orlando-based consulting firm has reviewed every aspect of Kingsport’s sanitation services and recently proposed several recommendations to help make the service more sustainable in the near future.

MSW Consultants of Orlando, Fla., conducted a nearly year-long study of Kingsport’s sanitation services in 2022, which included site visits, a review of operations, facilities and equipment, benchmarking against other communities and a cost-analysis of the services.

MSW is a management consulting firm specializing in the waste and recycling industry.

“We enlisted MSW because we wanted to know if we were doing business effectively and efficiently. Are we doing the right things and doing the right things well?” said Deputy City Manager Ryan McReynolds.

Kingsport’s sanitation services have an annual budget of $5.45 million with $3.2 million coming from fees and $2.2 million coming from the general fund. City staff would like to see the services be more sustainable.

To do that, MSW offered several recommendations for the city to consider:

1. If the city does not reinstate curbside recycling due to costs and resources, collect the blue recycling carts or transition them to second garbage carts for a fee.
2. Collect all the non-paying extra garbage carts.
3. Add a full-service convenience center and establish code enforcement rules for curbside trash.
4. Adjust the fees for voluntary customers.
5. Expand to full-time roll-off dumpster service.

If these recommendations are approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and implemented, the city would then reassess the fees associated with city residential sanitation services.

“This process will likely take at least three years to fully implement with the overall goal being to create a more cost-effective, sustainable service in the long term for our citizens,” McReynolds said.

The consultant’s study and recommendations were presented to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen during a day-long, strategic planning session held Monday (March 20) at city hall. The BMA also heard updates from staff on the city’s finances, economic development efforts and budget priorities for the coming year.

To view this presentation, please click here.

To view the presentations from the strategic planning session, visit www.kingsporttn.gov.

Kingsport Parks and Recreation is hosting its first-ever outdoor “glow” pickleball event later this month.

The event will be held on March 25 at the Riverview Park Pickleball Courts located by the V.O. Dobbins Community Center (301 Louis Street). Two sessions will be held that evening – Group 1 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Group 2 from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Players ages 14 and up can participate and the cost is $5 per player. Online registration is required.

To register visit www.kingsporttn.gov and click on the “CivicRec” link, then search for “glow.”

Pickleball is a game similar to tennis but played on a smaller court with a racket much like an oversized ping-pong paddle. Glow events are when participants wear neon or white clothes, the lights are turned off and the black lights are turned on. Everyone then “glows” in the dark while running around and playing a game of pickleball. For more information call 423-224-2489 or visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.

If you love Bays Mountain Park and want to show your support in an artistic and unique way, consider purchasing an official Bays Mountain license plate.

Designed by Cassy Rose, the vivid license plate shows a red and orange sunrise coming over a blue forested Bays Mountain.

Once 1,000 license plates have been ordered, the State of Tennessee will authorize the production of the plates. When production is complete (4-6 months), the plates will be shipped to Sullivan County Clerk’s Office, and you will be notified the plate is ready for pickup.

The cost to pre-order a license plate is $35, and you can do so by going to www.kingsporttn.gov and clicking on the “CivicRec” link, then search for “license plate.”

All funds raised will directly benefit improvements, events, projects and the maintenance at Bays Mountain Park.

For more information visit the Bays Mountain Park Association website at www.friendsofbays.org/license-plates.

The Kingsport Area Transit Service (KATS) is hosting its “Survey Says” survey the week of March 13-17, offering four chances for passenger to win free monthly passes.

Bus passengers can participate by obtaining surveys on the buses, from the KATS station (900 East Main Street) or at the KATS website at www.kingsporttransit.org. Participants who turn in a completed survey will receive 2 free bus tickets and their name will go into a drawing to win a free monthly bus pass.

KATS works every day to serve the community efficiently, safely and affordably. However, there are growing trends and challenges facing transit agencies across the nation, including KATS. These challenges include driver and equipment shortages, fuel prices and continuous pandemic effects which significantly affect several aspects of transportation.

“It is imperative we take the time to not only think outside of the box on how to serve the community, but to gather input from passengers who ride our buses every day,” said Chris Campbell, public transportation manager for the City of Kingsport. “We hope the survey will provide us with good information and insight on how we can address those challenges and improve our services to the community.”

For more information about KATS call 423-224-2613 or visit www.kingsporttransit.org.

The Kingsport Area Transit Service will celebrate Transit Driver Appreciation Day the entire week of March 13-17.

KATS drivers do it all every day from conducting pre-trip inspections, to driving passengers safely to their destinations, to answering trip planning questions from riders. And they do so while safely maneuvering an extra-large, heavy vehicle through traffic, around tight corners and through all sorts of weather.

One such driver we would like to recognize and thank is Sandra Olinger, who has driven 25 years for the City of Kingsport, 22 of which were for KATS.

“We are truly appreciative of Sandra for her service and dedication to excellence,” said Chris Campbell, public transportation manager for the City of Kingsport.

The importance of safety, customer service, skill and attention to detail are demonstrated daily by each of our drivers. Without them, KATS could not exist. As such, our drivers deserve a heartfelt thanks.

Join us in celebrating our hard-working bus drivers by expressing your gratitude and support to them. And be sure to give them a ‘Thanks!’ during the week of March 13-17.

For more information about KATS and its services, visit www.kingsporttransit.org or call 423-224-2613.