Trimble board discusses Three Star economic-development program

This month's meeting of the Trimble Board of Mayor and Aldermen was historical as well as informative.

Historical in the sense that Monday night's meeting was the first time an African American sat on the board as an alderman. That alderman was Trimble resident John Ivie. The board nominated him during a called meeting last month to fill the position left by alderman Jody Hinson, who resigned because he was moving. Mayor James Davis swore Ivie in on Oct. 26.

Also, the board voted to elect a vice mayor since Hinson was also vice mayor. Alderwoman Darlene Biggers received the honor in a unanimous vote.

Alderman Matt Stafford nominated Biggers with alderman Steven Parker providing a second. Alderman Raymond Ballard then nominated Ivie for the position.

Ballard said he didn't vote for Ivie during last month's meeting because he didn't know much about him.

Ivie politely declined Ballard's nomination, citing Biggers has more experience on the board.

"I appreciate the compliment, but I'm a little bit newer to this than she is," said Ivie.

The board then voted unanimously for Biggers.

She was elected in 2003 as Trimble's first alderwoman.

Frankie McCord with the state of Tennessee Department of Economic Development went before the board and spoke to them about the state's Three Star Program. Also, in the audience were Tammy Hall of the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce, and Paul Carson who chairs the local Three Star program committee.

"It is a program that assists communities in being better prepared to compete with larger communities across the state for jobs," said McCord.

She said the thinking of the Gov. Phil Bredesen was "the better prepared a community, the better prepared the state is to compete with other states for jobs."

This past August, Donny Bunton, a principal planner with the Local Planning Assistance Office in Jackson, met with local officials to discuss the county's Three Star Program for economic development. The county needs to complete a land-use plan, which expires this year, and officials agreed to incorporate Trimble into the county plan.

McCord said Bunton would be contacting Trimble for updated information for the plan.

McCord noted that 92 of Tennessee's 95 counties participated in the Three Star Program last year. She said the Three Star Program was a countywide program that includes all of the municipalities.

McCord also said an action plan is developed for the county in a strategic planning session. During the session, the members look at the needs of the county and set short-term and long-term goals and as well as prioritize things that need to happen.

"We really appreciate Dyer County being in the program," said McCord. "I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the county in the program. Because ya'll really are the best of the best."

Hall also told the board that the chamber had contracted with a grant writer who has a vast knowledge of government grant writing. She asked the board to take advantage of the free service.

"That's the possibility of bringing several thousand dollars to your community," said Hall.

Ballard mentioned it would be a good service to use to possibly get money to build a place to keep their fire trucks.

Next on the agenda, Davis said nobody from West Tennessee Communications had contacted them about the tornado siren. They had given the city a quote to fix the siren and Davis said they need to sit down together and make some decisions. It also needs to be decided who would be responsible for turning on the siren.

The board also again tabled the city's price for building permits.

Stafford then asked the board to look over Section 3.07 on page C-14 of the city's charter, which covers the mayor's authority to make appointments, promotions, demotions, suspensions and removal of employees.

He said he wanted to get the board to look over the section and discuss it at next month's meeting.

Finally, Parker said he talked to local businessman, Roger Page, who wanted to know where the board was on rezoning the old Billy Boy garment factory.

Trimble City Administrator David Norsworthy said he also spoke with him and said Page currently didn't know what he wanted the property rezoned to.