City Council

MINUTES OF THE C ITY OF BRISTOL, TENNESSEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING March 8, 2022 CALL TO ORDER: The City of Bristol, Tennessee City Counci l meeting was called to order by Mayor Mahlon Luttrell on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 7:00 P.M. in the Slater Center Auditorium. OATH O F OFFICE: Mary Lee Williams, City Recorder, administered tbe oath of office to new Council member Mark Hutton . ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor Mahlon Luttrell, Vice Mayor Vince Turner, Councilwoman Margaret Feierabend, Council man Mark Hutton, and Councilwoman Lea Powers. Others Present: City Manager William Sorah, City Attorney Danielle Smith, City Recorder Mary Lee Williams, Director of Development Services Tim Beavers, Director of Parks and Recreation Terry Napier, Fire Chief Mike Carrier, Police Chief Matt Austin, Director of Finance Hollie Verran, Director of Economic Development Tom Anderson, and other members of City staff INVOCA TIO AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Luttrell requested a moment of si lence for prayer for the citizens of Ukraine. Jacquelyne Booher, Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church of Lebanon, Virginia, gave the invocation. Jeff Broyles led the pledge of allegiance. Command Sargent Major Broyles retired from the United States Army after serving for 30 years and has received multiple decorations for his service. He now serves as a member of the Bluff City Board of Aldennen and also as vice mayor. AGEN DA ADDITIONS AND / OR CHANGES: None PROCLAMATIONS AND R ECOGNITIONS : Chad Keen - Mayor Luttrell stated the one of the items on the agenda was recognition of former Councilman Chad Keen who served on City Council for over eight years, beginning with nis election in 2013. During his tenure, he served as mayor in 2016 and 2017, liaison to the Bristol Tennessee City Schools, the Bristol, Virginia City Council, the Bri stol , Tennessee Industrial Development Board, the board of NETWORKS Su lli van Partnership, and other boards and comm issions. He is a li felong resident of Bristol, earned a degree in Business Administration fro m King Un iversity, and founded his own business, Keen Promotions, which he has operated for more tha n 20 years. We desire to recognize his service to this community and wish him we ll in his future endeavors. Chad Keen congratulated Mark Hutton on his appointment to Counci l and expressed his appreciation for the willingness serve. He said he was honored to have served on this Council and each member brings a special aspect and their own viewpoint which makes for good deci sions. Mr. Keen said the City has  City Council Meeting March 8, 2022 Page 2 of 11 one of the most professional staffs that are second to none. They get the work done. They have their regular duties and Council would sometimes overwhelm them with additional tasks, but they always rose to the occasion and he expressed hi s appreciation for their work. He is proud of the many volunteers in the City. Fami ly also serves with the Councilmember and he expressed his appreciation to his wife and famil y. One of the most important things is Councilmembers are servants of the citizens and the businesses. Mr. Keen concluded by sayi ng it has been an honor and a privilege to serve and thanked everyone for the recognition . Councilwoman Margaret Feierabend commented that Mr. Keen had represented the citizens well w ith different issues, particularly with the landfill. He was very proactive and spoke with state legislators and environme ntal experts in trying to address that issue. He comm itted the time needed to be a responsible Cou nci l member. He kept focus on marketing and branding which helped to spur the " Bristol ls" campaign. He was also very economic development focused with industria l development, jobs, workforce, and touri sm. She personally appreciates his ability to work with the differences in people and she has always felt respected even on issues where they disagreed. She thanked him and wished him well in his future endeavors. Councilwoman Lea Powers agreed when you serve on Council it is something your whole family goes through. Being on City Council requires you to be willing to put yourself out there and be criticized and you have to be able to take that, keep going, and work toward the greater good, which he has done. He wi ll be missed. She thanked Mr. Keen for hi s service and for the time he has invested in the community. PRESE TA TIONS: None PUBLI C HEARINGS: Ordinance 22-1 - An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Map of Bristol, Tennessee by Designating Certain Property as R-3 (M ultifamily) (Steele Creek Road) City Manager Bill Sarah reviewed that staff recei ved a request for the rezonjng of 23 .8 acres of land located on Steele Creek Road. The property, Parcels 167 and 168 , are currentl y zoned R-IA (Low- Density Single Family Residential). The owner, Steele Creek 237, LLC, is requesting the property be rezoned as R-3 (Multi-Family Residential). The purpose of the R-3 zone is to accommodate moderate density multi-famil y residential use. The owner intends to combine the parcels with property located to the west and north of the subject property to allow for a larger residential development. During their January 241h meeting, the Planning Commission reviewed the rezoning request and voted (7-1 ) to send a favorable recommendation. Council approved this rezoning on first reading. Cherith Young, Planning Services Director, further detailed the request. Ms. Young presented parcel maps showing the c urrent zoning of the subject parcels, the surroundi ng parcels, and the state boundaries since the additional parcels the owner des ires to combine together are in Virginia. She presented pictures of the subject parcels and surrounding area, topography of the parcels, and noted that some of the existing natural features will guide the development of this property. Ms. Young showed a conceptual drawing that was provided by the developer and discussed some of the proposed features. She reminded Counci l that if the rezoning is approved, it approves rezoning of these particu lar parcels, is in no way tied to the proposed project, and would allow any of the uses for these parcels that are defined for any R-3 zone. Ms. Young reviewed the uses in R-lA zones that are curre ntly allowed for these parcels and detailed the uses allowed in areas designated for the requested rezoning of  City Council Meeting March 8, 2022 Page 3 of 11 R-3 . She referenced the Land Use Policy and Map and explained why staff feels the rezoning request is suitable for these parcels. Adjoining property owners were notified by letter of the request and proposed project and public notice signs were placed on the subject property. Thus far, one phone call has been received from someone asking questions and one email has been received from an adjacent property owner who was neither for nor against the project, but requested a fence along the property line he shares with the potential development. ln addition, comment forms were included with the letters to the adjacent property owners and five comment forms have been received. Those responses include one in favor of the rezoning request and four in opposition. One of the four in opposition followed up between the last Counci l meeting and this evening to express concern for the environment and reiterated their opposition. As the City Manager stated earlier, the Planning Commission reviewed the request at their January 24th meeting, and voted (7-1) to send a favorable recommendation of the rezoning request for City Council consideration. Their recommendation was based on that the existing natural elements will provide some buffering for the residential area, rezoning the subject site to R-3 will provide a transition between the commercial and residential zones, and that the rezoning request is in agreement with the Land Use Policy. Ms. Young noted that the project manager for this project was in attendance. Councilwoman Powers asked if fencing is an option for buffering and Ms. Young replied yes. When they get to the site plan application stage there is a buffer required along the property lines where there is a higher intensity use against a lower intensity use. This triggers a landscaping buffer with three options. Councilwoman Powers referenced the concern that was expressed about environmental impact and asked how any negati ve impact would be contro lled. Ms. Young explained that particular request was in relation to the park and the creek along Steele Creek Road which is a flood zone. It is very difficult to build in a flood zone so it would be very unlikely to build in that area and to her knowledge they do not plan to do so. The City wi ll ensure any codes the City has in place would be followed . Counci lwoman Powers asked if there was any specific setback required in a flood zone. Ms . Young answered yes, along a creek, but the flood zone is larger so there would be a great cost to build in that area. While it is not impossible, it is very unlikely they wou ld build in that area. There is a setback from the creek, but not from the flood zone area. If they were to build in the flood zone area it would have to be built to a certain standard which would be very g reat. Councilman Mark Hutton asked how many units are projected for this project and Ms. Young replied the concept plan does not indicate nwnbers, but the developer has stated it could be between 300 and 400 units which could include the Virginia parcels as well . From a zoning standpoint, for their acreage if it is zoned R-3 it could be potentially 300 units. He then asked if they would be rental units or sold and Ms. Young said that is currently unknown. Cow1cilman Hutton asked if there would also be amenities such as a pool or just housing. Ms. Young stated that is also unknown to the City at this point, but deferred those questions to the project manager, Mr. Greg Ellege. Councilman Hutton also asked which school children from this development would attend and it was determined to be Anderson Elementary School. Mr. Greg Ellege introduced himself to Council and addressed some of the questions that had previously be raised . In regard to the creek and flood zone, they do not plan any development in those areas. The terrain does not make it feasible. They would like to have 300 to 400 units, but the slope of the property may make that difficult. There is a lot of engineering to take place before some of the questions can be  City Council Meeting March 8, 2022 Page 4 of 11 answered. The project is being planned in three phases. A commercial area on 11-W, which would lead into an apartment area, and then townhomes on the back side. He is not completely sure at this point, but believes the intention is to sell the townhomes which would make part of the project rental units and part would be privately owned. Councilwoman Powers expressed concern about potential negative environmental impact and asked their plan for dealing with runoff. Mr. Ellege replied they will have outfall points in both states so they will be dealing with both TDEC and VDEQ and they realize there wi ll be challenges, but they are commjtted to getting it developed and they wi ll meet all state and federal dra inage and erosion requirements . There were no public comments and the hearing was closed. APPEARANCE O F CITIZENS: None APPOINTMENTS: None ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: A. First Reading of New Ordin ances: None B. Adoption of New Ordinances (Second Reading): Ordinance 22-1 - An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Map of Bristol, Tennessee by Designating Certain Property as R-3 (Multifamily) (Steele Creek Road) This item was summarized during the public hearing earlier this evening. Vice Mayor Turner motioned to approve and Councilman Hutton seconded. Councilwoman Feierabend reminded everyone a rezoning is based on the zone and property and not the project. Counci lwoman Powers also stated at this point a formal plan has not yet been submjtted for this project and reiterated the vote is on the re-zoning not the proposed project. There was no further discussion and Ordinance 22-1 passed unanimously by roll call vote. C. Resolu tions: Resolution 22-1 4 - A Resolution App roving Tax Equivalent Payments City Manager Sorah stated thjs resolution authorizes the distribution of tax equivalent payments from Bristo l Tennessee Essential Services (BTES). Annually, the C ity goes thro ugh the process of distributi ng tax equivalent payments provided by our tax exempt public utility. The majority of this distribution will come to the City of Bristol, Tennessee with portions also going to the Town of Bluff City, Sulli van County, and other areas served by BTES. The total is $2,445,583.97 and is the aggregate of $2,362,997 .96 for electric facilities, $ 14.45 1.88 for telecommunication facilities, and $68, 134. 13 for cable/ internet facilities. Each payment is based on a statutory formula and is the maximum amount permitted by law. The City of Bristol will receive a total of$ l ,884,936.75 which represents an additional $39,602 .58 over the amount approved during FY 2021 . These payments made by our tax-exempt utility are considered compensation for services rendered to it by local governments hosting its facilities , which is essentially for the use of the right-of-wa y as they conduct their business. Payment is due to be made no later than June 30, 2022.  City Council Meeting March 8, 2022 Page 5 of 11 Vice Mayor Turner motioned to approve and Councilwoman Powers seconded. There was no further discussion and the resolution passed unanimously by roll call vote. Resolution 22-15 -A Resolution A pproving an Amendment to the City of Bris tol Rede elopment Plan Authorizin g Additional Tax Increment Financing and Extending the Ter m of the Southgate Plaza Redevelopment Di strict The City Manager explained that in April of 2021 , the Sullivan Council Property Assessor's Office settled a contested valuation of the Lowe 's property located at 1340 Volunteer Parkway. The appraised value of the property was initially contested by Lowe 's in 2009. The property is located within the Southgate Redevelopment District and as result is elig ible for tax increment financing {TIF) to assist the developer in developing the property. TIF is essentiall y the increment that is generated from the redevelopment of the property from the base property taxes to its final valuation. The developer uses these funds to monetize and cover gaps within that project. The settlement of the contested appraised value of the property resulted in a reimbursement to Lowe 's of property taxes in the amount $358,965. This amount reflected the taxes paid by Lowe's, based upon the higher valuation, from 2009 through 2020. The developer is requesting an extension of the current TIF plan for a period up to an additional three years to allow them to finance or refinance the outstanding debt and also compensate the City for the amount of taxes payed back to Lowe's. This matter was presented to Bristol Housing at their February 23rt1 meeting and the amendment was approved. The developer, Steve Johnson, was in attendance to answer any questions. Councilman Powers motioned to approve and Councilwoman Feierabend seconded. The resolution passed unanimously by roll call vote without discussion. Resolution 22-16 - A Resolution Addressing Recent Actions by VDEQ Related to the Bristol, Vi rginia Landfill Resolution 22-16 was read by City Attorney Daniel le Smith. The resolution acknowledges the continued adverse impact of the Bristol Virginia Landfi ll on the residents of Bristol. Last fall , the City retained the law firm of Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, to provide legal advice on appropriate measures to address the negative impacts of the landfi ll. On December 8, 2021 , the City took the extraordinary step of issuing a Notice of intent to Sue Bristol, Virginia based upon their violations of the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation Recovery Act and increasing concerns over the operation of the landfill. The purpose of fi ling the Notice of lntent to Sue was to force Bristol, Virginia to take concrete steps toward correcting the violations by identifying a plan of action for remediation and a timeline for implementation. To date, Bristol, Virginia has not taken adequate steps to address the deficiencies at the landfi ll. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, which bas the regulatory responsibility for permit issuance, compliance, and enforcement, has announced the appointment of a new director. Director Michael Roi band has taken the initiati ve to form a panel of landfil l experts to develop recommendations for a remediation plan to address the landfil l deficiencies. The expert panel is to convene on March 21 •1 and March 22nd with the development of draft recommendations by March 29th and fina l recommendations by April 7 th_ The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will take the expert panel's recommendations and, by April 30, 2022 , develop a Consent Order directing Bristol, Virg inia to take certain remediation actions to address the landfill deficiencies and the timeline in which the actions are to occur. The City recognizes the actions by VDEQ constitutes a much more aggressive approach in seeking a reso lution of the problem.  City Council Meeting March 8, 2022 Page 6 of 11 The City's outside legal counsel has communicated with Director Rolband regarding his efforts and his stated desire to seek representation from Bristol, Tennessee in the development of both the remediation plan and the timeline for its implementation. Resolution 22-1 6 acknow ledges the City's desire to resolve this matter in a non-j udicial setting. However, the resolution full y authorizes outside lega l counsel to pursue litigation against the City of Bristol , Virginia should it become apparent that no progress is being made toward the development or timely implementation of a corrective action plan . Vice Mayor Turner motioned to approve and Councilwoman Powers seconded. Vice Mayor Turner wanted to be clear that Bristol , Virginia created this problem years ago and have done nothing to fix it up to this point. We have come to the point whe re o ur school system now has a policy a llowing the students who are affected by the landfill to have an excused absence. Realtors are now forced to have people sign a document prior to purchasing a home. This is not a turf political war. This is about doing the rig ht thing and the ri ght thing for the citizens and he hopes Bristol , Virginia w ill follow through with what they have said they wi ll do. Councilwoman Feierabend is very sorry we are where we are both with the terrible emissions that are making people ill and also with our Council needing to be in the posi tion of deciding on a lawsuit. She believes the recent plans and timelines are hopeful for solutions and wi ll begin reducing the odors and fixing the problems and their consequences for the longer term . She is pleased to see early closure is to be investigated and pursued if prudent. She is anxious to get thi s issue behind us so everyone can regain their health and for the community to be able to rebu ild relationships which have become strained. She feels everyone has the same goals of having a thri ving community whe re the needs of the citizens are met for sustainable, producti ve, and fulfilled lives. Mayor Luttre ll reiterated Council is not giving up and are behind the citizens I I 0%. Council has been with the citizens from the beginning and will continue. Please be assured Counci l w ill see this through. Councilwoman Powers thanked HOPE for Bristol as they were the energy behind the movement to get us to this point. Some of the citizens in the audience this evening contacted then-candidate Youngkin who is now Governor Youngkin. Governor Youngkin has appoi nted Director Roi band of the VDEQ to this issue and it is our understanding it is current ly of the highest priority. Council asked for a few things such as for Bristol , Virginia to bring in a toxicologist to reassure residents of the level of carcinogens as health consists of not on ly the physical body, but the mental and emotional state as well. Even though the carcinogens have not been deemed harmful to the body, they have certainly been harmful to the emotional and mental state to those who have had to live in this and are still doing so. Her position was very different prior to Director Ro lband making the statements he has made. Our legal counsel has been in communication wi th Director Rolband so what is in this resolution is a reiteration of what he said to the community and to the state. Councilwoman Powers does not believe Council is telling Bri stol, Virgin ia what they are to do, but are declaring clearly and s uccinctly what we will do should they not do what they have clearly stated. The expectati on of Cow1ci l is what they have said is true and they w ill do what they have said, but to be clear Counci l is voting tonight that should that not happen our attorney will have the full authority to begin litigati on to seek an appropriate resolution to this situation. She is sad it has come to this, but we have extended every opportunity for those responsible to step up and correct the situation. We have exhausted all the options. It is now in the hands of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Director Roi band, and the City of Bristol, Vi rginia as to how we proceed.  City Council Meeting March 8, 2022 Page 7 of 11 Councilman Hutton began by saying he is new to City Council, but not to this situation. His famil y lives in Forest Hills and they deal with the odors on a daily basis. Many times they have walked out the door and been immediately assaulted by that smell. That makes him angry largely because we know why there is a problem and we are waiting on our sister city to make corrections. In the last couple of days he has been brought up to speed about what Counci l has done and as a new person coming in he says they have done amazing work and have been trying very hard to work with our sister city. He emphasized the two Bristols are and always will be sister cities which is the difficult part. He has family that lives in Bristol, Virginia that are assau lted by it, but they are also going to have to pay for it which is heartbreaking. As Bristol, Tennessee tries very hard to make inroads to help, it has been consistentl y rebuffed which is frustrating. Going to court is the only recourse governments have and is the last thing we want to do as we would rather work together. We recognize the impact on the lives of the people Council is called to represent. The new governor of the Commonwealth has stepped up along with the involvement of new director of the VDEQ which makes him hopefully optimistic this wi ll help bring about some resolution. We may still have to deal with the smell for awhile, but it feels like we are going in the right direction. At the same time, this resolution says we are ready to take it to the next step . We will wait to see what they will do, but are prepared to move forward if they do not. He is grateful for the community coming together and for the City of Bristol, Tennessee, the financial assistance from Sullivan County, First Presbyterian, and HOPE for Bristol all of which says a lot about who we are. People from this region who truly care about one another as though the state line is invisible. We have expectations for the leaders on the other side to step up as well. Vice Mayor Turner added the timeline given by Council is not six months from now, but for a consent order to be in place by April 301h. They are going to have to have the ability to fund this by that point in time and there are other benchmarks for them to hit. Just so everyone is clear, if it does not happen this action tonight gives legal counsel fo r the City the authority to move forward . Counci l does not have to meet again or vote on anything else. It is done. He stressed for Bristol, Virginia and VDEQ to please get this handled by the benchmarks and within the specified timeframe. He wanted to move forward and not wait until April 301\ but he feels this is the right path and with VDEQ and the office of the governor we will see some results. He thanked HOPE for Bristol and the community for their involvement. Counci lwoman Powers pointed out the panel that Director Rolband said would be put in place would include eng ineers from across the country familiar with this situation and this City Council has been invited to name an engineering firm to participate. It is also her understanding that HOPE for Bristol will be able to participate. Director Roi band has suggest some very good things. The goal is for things to be corrected which must happen before it can be closed. She is very appreciative to Governor Youngkin and Director Rolband for putting together the plan to date, but it is up to them to determine how this plays out from timing and financial perspectives. Mayo r Luttrell clarified the cost for the engineering firm that Bristol, Tennessee selects for participation on the panel wi ll be paid for by the State of Virginia. They have allocated $ I 00,000 to cover the expense of the panel. Mayor Luttrell then opened the floor for public comment on this agenda item. George Link, 307 Rutledge Street, thanked Counci l for clearl y and concisely explaining what this means going forward and for the proactive efforts of helpi ng get air purifiers into the homes of people in need. He also thanked the City for not only acknowledging the scientific aspects of the odors, but also what it means for people in their everyday life. He gets angry and is concerned about everyone and just wants people to be able to live and sleep w ithout having to worry about the landfil l issues and the impact on  City Council Meeting March 8, 2022 Page 8 of 11 their lives. He agrees with g iving reasonable timelines and benchmarks, but you do need a legal instrument and thanked Council for putting steps in place a few months ago and for following through. Pastor Booher thanked Council as she has famil y members that live close to the landfill which experience nosebleeds and other symptoms. She wished Bristol, Virginia felt like Bristol, Tennessee as things would go better. She tries to he lp her fan1ily and is pushing to get things done because people should not have to live like this. Joel Kellogg, 1204 Maryland Avenue, was representing HOPE for Bri stol. He congratulated Councilman Hutton and thanked him for his willingness to serve the community. HOPE for Bristol appreciates the long hours and hard work the Bristol, Tennessee City Council has contributed to help bring an end to the emiss ions assaulting the neighborhoods. The courage, passion, and love for the community is evident. The tough, but morally correct deci sion is to pursue all available courses of action to bring relief as soon as possible to the residents of both cities. Reside nts know it is not a popular decision, but it is aligned with the oath of office as sworn by Mark Hutton earlier this evening. HOPE for Bristol fully supports Council and the community as we navigate these difficult but necessary next steps. The goals align to bring clean air to the residents and work closely wi th the community to heal the damage that bas been done. He thanked Council for doing the right thing for both cities. Lynn Daugherty, a resident of 414 Poplar Street for 32 years, commented that fellow Tennesseans are rall yi ng to the defense of the citizens of this community. The citizens are sufferin g at the hands of the incompetency of Bristol, Virg inia. He urged Counci l to realize that if not for the rall ies, regional and national social media, and the perseverance and courage of this City Council in pursuing a lawsuit nothing would have occurred. The C ity Manager for Bristol, Virginia recently described this environmental disaster, which was preventable, as unfortunate without accepting any responsibility for what has happened. Mr. Daugherty wanted Council to know that the people of the city, state, and the legislature stand with you. Forward, always forward. Councilwoman Feierabend mentio ned that the Appalachian Independent Center has offered air purifiers to people with disabilities. They have a wa it list and are going to do a social media campaign push. She also wanted to reiterate the leadership that has developed through HOP E for Bristol is phenomenal for remain ing rational and cari ng for each other, and helps to develop relationships that would not have developed otherwise. This community is also learning engagement in community issues which sometimes in this day and age does not happen as it should. She thanked everyone for their involvement. Michael Dean, 401 Maryland Avenue, stated when he first here he did not see a state line between the cities, but the City of Bristol , Virginia has made that state line. He has many friends on the Virginia si de that are fighting alongside him. It is not their faul t, but that of the Bristol, Virginia city government. Not one citizen wanted this mess. Please continue the fight. Thank you for what you are doing and please put an end to this situa tion. Jim Butcher, 120 Skyline Drive, was representing the BTCS. ln add ition to the Council comments earlier concerning the schoo ls, he wanted to add they now have also dedicated two persons each day to be statio ned at Fairmount Elementary and at Bristol , Tennessee Midd le Schoo l to make sure the doors as closed at the first possible opportunity and the n opened at the first possible opportuni ty to help with appropriate air flow. Resoluti on 22-16 passed unanimously by rol l call vote.  City Council Meeting March 8, 2022 Page 9 of 11 CONSENT AGENDA: City Manager Sorah presented the Consent Agenda to Counci l. Vice Mayor turner motioned to approve and Councilwoman Feierabend seconded. The following items were approved by unanimous Counci l roll call vote: • Minutes February I, 2022 City Council Meeting • Minutes February 14, 2022 City Council Called Work Session • Minutes February 22, 2022 City Council Work Session • Minutes Febmary 22, 2022 City Council Called Meeting • Reso lution 22-17 A Resolution Authorizing Payment to Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP for Legal Fees • Resolution 22-18 A Resolution Authorizing Entry into a Commercial Lease for Office Space with City Centre, LLC • Resolution 22-19 A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Software Support for the Financial Software System • Resolution 22-20 A Resolution Approving the Sale of a Tract of Real Property in the Bristol Business Park • Resolution 22-21 A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Fire Suppression Equipment • Resolution 22-22 A Resolution Awarding a Bid for Fencing of Police Impound Lot • Resolution 22-23 A Resolution Authorizing the Submi ssion of a Grant Application to the First Tennessee Development District on Behalf of the YWCA BOARD OF EDUCATION LIAISON REPORT: Jim Butcher of the school board presented the report as Dr. Annette Tudor was ill. The Department of Education visited with the school system several times last week. They teamed up with the Family Resource Center on Thursday and visited Anderson Elementary School. They treated preschool families across the district to at-home decodable books as part of the Reading 360 state initiative. On Friday, Bristol Tennessee Schools were listed as one of the five Reading 360 model districts in the state. There are two students that are National Merit Scholars Finalists. March 14-18 is spring break with the 15th_ 17th as optional days for K-12 and a flexible learning day on March 2 pt_ Mr. Butcher thanked Chad Keen for his service to the community and especially for being an advocate for the school system. He thanked Mark Hutton for stepping up to serve the community. Councilman Hutton expressed bis appreciation to Mr. Butcher for the kind words. He went to Avoca Elementary School last Friday and read to the first grade class. He had the opportunity to visit a couple of other classes while there and he was impressed with how they were teaching and the response of the  City Council Meeti ng March 8, 2022 Page 10 of 11 students. He was also impressed by the leadership there and everyone did a great job. He is proud to be a graduate of Tennessee High School. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: City Manager Sorah reminded Counci l of the called work session on Thursday, March I 0th at 11 :00 A.M. There will be presentations from five of the non-profit organizations that are supported through the budget process. The regular work session will take place on March 22"d at 11:00 A.M ., both of which wi ll be in the conference room at the Annex. He provided an update on the air purifier program which is supported by the City and by Sullivan County. As of the end of last week, the United Way has distributed 297 air purifiers to individuals meeting the criteria for need. There are approximately 60 air purifiers remaining. This is the last City Council meeting that T im Beavers will be attending in his current role. The City Manager and Mr. Beavers have worked together for over 30 years and he considers him a close friend and confidant. He has relied on Mr. Beavers in his various roles throughout the years and he will be sorely mi ssed. He wanted to recognize Mr. Beavers for his service to the community for over three decades and the value he has provided to the staff. CITY COUNCIL COMME TS: Council woman Powers said she will really miss Tim Beavers . He has been here through many, many different projects and he has been a steady presence within our community. She will miss him personally and him professionally, as will the City. She thanked him for everything he has done over the years to get the City to this point. Vice Mayor Turner concurred with the previous remarks. He thanked the County Commissioners that were in attendance for the financial assistance Sul livan County provided for the air purifier program. Councilwoman Feierabend said that Tim Beavers was with the City when she started and she depended on him. She is really going to miss him, hopes to see him around, and that he wil l be involved in some aspect. She welcomed Mark Hutton and mentioned she was appointed to Counci l her first time and things were a littl e tense then as annexation along the Volunteer Parkway was in process. Councilwoman Feierabend acknowledge the Sullivan County Commissioners and former Counci l members in attendance and thanked J im Butcher for representing the school system. She mentioned the situation in Ukraine and requested prayer for them as well as for those in Tennessee and Virgi nia affected by the tragedies involving some of the youth of both communities. She encouraged everyone to be aware of things that need attention whi ch certainly inc ludes our children and youth. She mentioned that COVID has exacerbated some of the issues and stress that previously existed. Please be kind and patient with each other. We have a great community, a great school system, and a lot of good things are on the horizon. Councilman Hutton stated he was ery thankful to be on the Counci l, he is glad to serve, and thinks of this as a calling. He thanked his family and fri ends for their support. He wants to serve the City well. He has received a City cell phone and wants people to call him, email him, or stop him on the street. He see th is as an opportu ni ty to serve and to help the community to move forward. His family has lived many places and wanted to come back here to home. Mayor Luttrell quoted Babe Ruth: ' The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don ' t play together the club won' t be  City Council Meeting March 8, 2022 Page 11 of 11 worth a dime.' The Mayor went on to say City employees, Council, and senior management staff from the City Manager all the way down through the organization is a team that plays together, works very hard, and is determined to be successful for the citizens of Bri stol, Tennessee. This is a team where everyone is always there to pick each other up. There being no further bus iness, the meeting was adjourned at 8:37 P.M. 1)1~~ Mahlon Luttrell , Mayor