Wade Littleton
Grainger County Journal Reporter
Michael Smith, of Local Government Corporation, came to Tuesday’s Bean Station Board and Mayor and Alderman work session to pitch his company’s willingness to work with Bean Station on billing after the city gets the new sewer lines installed and customers signed up.
“The total of the bid is $10,520,” Smith said. “Support is $6,570. Almost every city around here runs LGC. You get full support and training. If you have a new employee, LGC will come in and train that new employee. We have people all around you. We’ve been in business for 47 years. We are a nonprofit (since 1977).”
Smith said that the software, service and support that his company will provide should the city accept, the bid would not be complicated.
“You all are very small and we’re very used to the situation,” Smith said. “We only do business with city and county governments. When you put something on our software, it creates an ‘audit cradle’ if you can’t backup.”
Smith said that with LGC’s software, there is a daily backup of information.
“Every time your city recorder hits that keyboard, that key strokes back up somewhere,” Smith said. “We provide all kinds of services, such as email, payment and credit card services. Once a payment is made, you all don’t have to fool with it.”
LGC is based in Columbia, Tennessee.
Work Session
Among items taken up by the Bean Station Board of Mayor and Aldermen Tuesday, includes a budget amendment to purchase a tractor and lawnmower and availability of personnel longevity pay, especially to allow release of emergency vacation days payouts to employees.
“That’s one thing we found out on the audit,” Mayor Ben Waller said. “Several of our people have quite a bit of vacation time. With the personnel we have, we cannot give a lot of time off because we have people patrolling the streets. Unless we vote to amend our personnel policy, we can’t do that. Two weeks are what we’re supposed to have.”
Bean Station Police Chief John McMurray had written a letter to the town addressing what the town is planning to do about hiring a city recorder and some police officers.
“My concern is that the board chooses to give raises. How are we going to pay for it?” McMurray asked. “We need to look for ways to bring revenue in.”
“When it comes to Christmas Time (bonuses), some of these folks get nothing,” Waller said. “Some of these folks need $25. We want them to feel a little appreciation.”
McMurray said that he researched the going rate for salaries for police officers. He compared it to a hospital looking for an ER doctor, but for the pay of an EMT.
“I feel like that may be one of the problems,” McMurray said. “I’m truly concerned because I like to work here. I want to see it grow and prosper. All we have is the square mileage that we have. It’s time to focus on what we’ve got and look for ways to bring revenue.”
Alderman Eddie Douglas said that some people in the town think that if the town doesn’t grow, it will die.
“Some people in the town don’t want it to grow all that much,” Douglas said. “They want to get the sewer in here and get some businesses. I’m all for that. You get growing pains. You don’t know what your limits are.”
Other aldermen said that when the building inspections were voted down last month, the state would still get the money for building inspections, as opposed to the city.
Waller said that the city will try to get the parking lots that Parks and Recreation use paved before the first sporting event of the season. Timeline for paving will be announced in February. The concession stand will be taken over by the city.
Monthly reports from the police included six accidents out of 352 calls for service; nine arrests and more than 220 citations.
The work session was held on Tuesday due to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The regular meeting of the BMA is Monday at 5 p.m. at Bean Station Town Hall.