Crossville Special Census counts 11,564 residents, an increase of 542 residents meaning more tax revenue

The final census count, according to Arnold Harbolt, the contractor hired to perform the census, was 11,564, with an increase of 542 city residents over the previous census in 2016 of 11,022.

The Crossville Special Census has been concluded and will be submitted for verification to the Upper Cumberland Development District.

Harbolt also told the council that the list of 5,909 addresses he was originally given had some problems. He added that the total occupied addresses were actually 5,319. The total population includes 91 occupants in group homes.

Jim Young Reporter is sponsored by:

Small Businesses in need of vehicles can contact

Jeff Dahlberg for the Best Deal! 931-337-2540

or at newcarstn@gemail.com

The amount budgeted for the census was $50,000 and the cost of the census was $35,104 with the cost of certification at $1656.40 for a total cost of $36,760.46. The project came in well under the budget of $50,000 for the census.

The current amount of state shared taxes per person in the City of Crossville is $112.86 and based on the additional population of 542, the first year an additional estimated revenue amount of $61,170.12 is expected. In addition, that amount is expected to continue and possibly rise for the next 4 years. The total increase in revenue is estimated to be around $244,000. Council member J. H. Graham said the census that he had spearheaded was more than worth the cost.  

Tuesday City Council meeting takes up Raw Water Supply, Special Census and BOE Sewer lines

Crossville city council holds their regular February meeting on Tuesday the 13th and will hear the results of the citywide census taken late last year along with making possible decisions on the next move for expanding the raw water supply and taking over the ownership and maintenance of sewer lines to three county elementary schools.

Crossville City Council members L-R J.H. Graham

Danny Wyatt, Mayor James Mayberry, Pamala Harris

and Scot Shanks 

The council's evening starts at 5:15 with the audit committee meeting followed at 5:45 by the beer board meeting with one application for Paparitos Southwest Grill on the agenda. The solicitation board meets at 5:55 PM and the regular meeting agenda starts at 6:00 PM.

The contractor who performed the special city census Arnold Harbolt will be presenting the results of the census count to the council during the meeting. The census may give the city additional funding from the state shared taxes that are distributed to cities on a per capita basis. The city has been successful in gaining additional revenue over the cost of the census for the last 20 years between the regular federal census.

Jim Young Reporter is sponsored by:

Ask Jeff Dahlberg about the FREE Lifetime Warranty

at 931-337-2540 or newcarstn@gmail.com 

Council will also determine a direction for the city's push to increase the raw water supply for the plateau. During last weeks work session, the council discussed the results of a study of previous reports and estimates of demand prepared by engineering firm J. R. Wauford.

Wauford's report recommended looking at 4 options including, Raising Meadow Park Lake Dam and continuing to harvest from Lake Tansi, Raising Meadow Park Lake Dam and harvesting from Lake Tansi and Caney Fork River, Raising Meadow Park Lake Dam and harvesting from Lake Tansi and Holiday Lake and Harvesting water from Watts Bar Lake.

The engineering firm recommends the city plan a meeting with representatives of the US Army Corps of Engineers on the next steps toward the water supply expansion.

The council will also consider the request of the Cumberland County Board of Education that the city take over the responsibility for maintenance of sewer lines that serve North, South and Brown Elementary schools. The lines were built to hook the schools up to the city sewer service and all repairs and maintenance has been done by the school system.

At the work session, Councilman J. H. Graham said he was in favor of the action and felt it was something the city could do for the BOE. City manager Greg Wood said the line to South was about 20 years old and if the city planned to add more capacity to the Brown line at least one lift station would be required. In addition the city would map the location of the line once they take it over.

Special Crossville Census now moving to door to door phase--Workers will have IDs

The Special Crossville census continues and the man hired to complete the work reported to the Crossville city council during the November work session.

According to Arnold Harbolt, the census is about 50 percent complete as of the end of October and he has hired five people to canvas the areas of the city and residences that have not returned the information needed to confirm the city's population.

Arnold Harbolt shows council members what 

the official ID badge census works will carry looks like.

To date, 5,700 copies of the census form and Mayor's letter have been mailed out and a variety of promotional messages have been put out including water bill inserts and other advertising. Harbolt said some 89 reports were submitted through the city's website.

As the census moves into the second phase of going door to door to the addresses that have not returned a form, the city census canvassers will work from 9 AM to 4 PM on Saturdays and noon to 4 on Sunday. In addition, some workers will work a few days during the week from noon to 4 in addition to the weekends.

All canvassers will have an official badge with the city seal on it as well as a clipboard with a letter from the Mayor and the forms. Forms will already have the address on them and all that is needed is the first and last name of residents.

Harbolt explained that he was trying to get a bilingual worker to help with the Hispanic population that does not speak English.

The main work is in apartment complexes according to Harbolt with some 32 apartment complexes with 10 or more units. The estimate is that the new census will add approximately 700 residents to the city's population and the census should be completed by December 17.   

Crossville city council work session set for Tuesday November 7 at 5:15 PM.

The Crossville city council's November work session agenda is shorter than some previous months as the year winds down toward the holidays.

The November work session at 5:15 PM will follow a special called meeting set for 5 PM on Tuesday, November 7 to handle a TOSHA complaint, employee health insurance decisions along with a few other routine items. Link to full story on the special called meeting.

The work session agenda will cover an update on the status of the city special census currently underway, discussion of a date for a January work session meeting, and timber harvesting at Interchange Park.  The meeting is open to the public and held in the conference room on the third floor of city hall.

The contractor for the city census will report on how the project is going. The census takers have just started the door to door portion of the project to visit those who have not already reported the information needed. The city needs the names of residents and the address to get an accurate count of the population inside the city limits for the state to certify the growth that will make the city eligible for additional state funds.

Because the regular January work session date is scheduled for January 2nd and city hall will be closed that day as New Year's Eve is on a Sunday making the city holidays the First and the Second. T the council must decide if they want to change the date of the work session or not have a work session before the regular January council meeting.

Mayor James Mayberry will lead a discussion on timber harvesting at the city's interchange park. Approximately 13 acres is proposed for harvesting and according to Mayberry would make the property more marketable.

A report prepared by the city's urban forester, Seth Harrison estimates the value of the wood at just under $10,000 but he added that he felt companies may not bid to remove the wood because of the low total value. While Harrison said that clearcutting was acceptable, it could cause some short-term flooding. Harrison's recommendation was to do some selective thinning and a prescribed burn to clear out the underbrush.

Council will also discuss a water and sewer line to the Meadow Park Lake treatment plant, renewal of the parks and recreation concession contract and a temporary street closing for the Christmas Fest sponsored by Cumberland Fellowship Church.  

Crossville city census workers start canvassing in the city limits this weekend.

Special Census workers will be canvassing within the Crossville city limits starting Saturday, November 4, going door to door to collect needed census information. Those who have already submitted information should not be visited. 

Crossville City Hall

These workers will have badges from the City of Crossville as well as a letter of authorization from the Mayor. PLEASE give these workers your correct address and the names of all the members of your household. This information will be used for census purposes ONLY and will help our city obtain additional state funding to improve our community.  Additional state funding helps keep property taxes in the city down. 

You can also still fill out the census form online by going to http://www.crossvilletn.gov/index.php/census-2017   

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CENSUS IS FOR CITY RESIDENTS ONLY, those who live within the city limits, not for Cumberland County residents.

City warns public that Special Census Workers will have ID's and will not start canvasing until November.

Information from the City of Crossville:

Calls of people posing as city census workers have been reported to city officials.

The City of Crossville will be sending out census workers door-to-door beginning in November. At that time, these workers will have valid credentials, including a badge and a letter from the mayor so that they will be easily identified. Reports are coming in that people posing as census workers are canvassing the area. Please do not open your doors for anyone who does not have valid identification as an official census employee.

If you want to avoid having census workers visit your home either return the census form you received in the mail of you can report online at this link to the city's website.

Crossville officials are asking residents to return special census form or respond online.

Crossville Aerial (file photo)

If you received a City of Crossville Census letter in the mail and haven't returned it yet, look for a knock on your door in November.

The city must field check residential addresses that do not return the form or submit their information through the online form at this link.  Crossville Census Page

PARK PLACE MOTORS

Near the new car stores; Not near the price!

Check out their inventory at this link!

The census will help the city determine the current population within the Crossville city limits and can help the city receive additional funding from state shared taxes. The state distributes certain tax revenues to the municipalities based on the population. In fact, the amount per year per resident is currently about $113 per person per year. The state funding helps to keep Crossville's property taxes down.

State shared taxes currently make up 7 percent of the city's total budget. City officials are expecting a substantial increase in the population since Crossville last census in 2014. Since that time a number of new apartments and residential areas have been built.

The Census information required by the State of Tennessee includes the residential address and the first and last name of each resident. The information provided with the census form will only be used for this census.
If you need additional information, feel free to contact Arnold Harbolt at Crossville City Hall. The number is (931) 484-5113 extension 5140 or email to census@crossvilletn.gov

Crossville city special census underway. Citizen help can keep taxes down by retuning form.

If you live in the city limits of Crossville, you probably have received a letter in the mail asking you to complete a special census form the city is currently conducting.

The form will help the city determine the current population within the city limits and can help the city receive additional funding from state shared taxes. The state distributes certain tax revenues to the municipalities based on the population. In fact, the amount per year per resident is currently about $113 per person per year. The state funding helps to keep Crossville's property taxes down.

Crossville aerial file photo

State shared taxes currently make up 7 percent of the city's budget. City officials are expecting a substantial increase in the population since Crossville last census in 2014. Since that time a number of new apartments and residential areas have been built.

PARK PLACE MOTORS

Near the new car stores; not near the price!

The Census information required by the State of Tennessee includes the residential address and the first and last name of each resident. The information provided with the census form will only be used for this census.

City officials encourage residents to return the census form in the postage-paid envelope because that dramatically helps reduce the cost of the census as the city must field check residential addresses that do not return the form. If you have misplaced your form or know a city resident who did not receive one, extra copies are available at city hall.

You are asked to return the form no later than October 31. If you need additional information, feel free to contact Arnold Harbolt at Crossville City Hall. The number is (931) 484-5113 extension 5140 or email to census@crossvilletn.gov

Budget hearing and 2nd reading set for June 13 regular council meeting

Crossville city council meets for the regular June meeting on Tuesday June 13 and will hold a public hearing on the city's upcoming 2017-18 fiscal year budget as well as consider the second reading of the three required to approve it.

The meetings get underway with the audit committee meeting at 5:00 PM with the budget public hearing to follow at 5:30 PM and the regular meeting starting at 6 :00 PM.

Most of the council agenda is routine with even the budget and tax rate ordinance approvals in the consent agenda.  The third and final reading on the 2017-18 budget and tax rate is expected later in June with the new budget year starting July 1, 2016 

 Other consent agenda items include a budget amendment for Garrison Park renovations, changes to the tree removal ordinance and an amendment to the agreement between the city and Crossville Aero on the airport operation.  

The changes to the airport agreement increase the fuel flow fee from 5 cents a gallon to 10 cents per gallon and add the lease on the new hanger to the agreement. An additional 20 annual bid approvals for a year of purchases are also expected to be approved with the consent agenda.

Two bids that are not under the consent agenda is the proposed special city census. The low bidder has recently performed a census for the city of Farragut and is the low bidder with an estimate of just under $21,500. The only other bid received came in at $92,000. The city had budgeted $50,000. Catoosa Utility district is seek to purchase 204 water meters with funds left in their budget. The cost would be $29,360.

At the end of the agenda is an item on the development of the industrial site for which the city has received a state grant. In addition to approval of the grant contract, an agreement has been worked out between the city and the county for the joint funding of the matching funds that is on the agenda for approval. Cumberland County has already approved and County Mayor Ken Carey has signed the document.  

Crossville council meetings back on Tuesday evening, discussion on city manager hiring and land for animal shelter

The Crossville city council returns to holding their regular meetings on Tuesday evening January 10, 2017 and will consider the selection of a new city manager, donating land for a possible new animal shelter, and the possibility of a city special census among other items on the agenda.

The council's schedule for the evening starts with the audit committee meeting at 5:15 PM, moves to the Beer Board at 5:45 PM and regular council meeting starts at 6:00 PM. Also for the first time, public comment from the public has been moved to near the start of the agenda.

Several of the agenda items were discussed at last weeks work session and the council was to have a list of their initial top picks from the candidates for city manager for tabulation by the meeting. Three additional candidates submitted resumes late last week. The council is accepting resumes through January 16 but is hoping to get a jump on possible interviews as soon as possible.

At the work session, councilman Scot Shanks said, I really feel like we need to move forward with interviewing for the city manager position.” Mayor James Mayberry agreed saying they could start interviewing finalists before the deadline by having each council member come up with a list of names and see how that narrows down the list.

Councilman Scot Shanks

Initial interviews may be done through the internet and city clerk Sally Oglesby said the city staff was working on setting that up for the council's use. There was some discussion of what kind of questions and how that would be handled. The main thing councilman Shanks felt was that the process needed to be started. He said he had a list of 6 or 7 names he'd picked out and other council members said they also had chosen names from the list.

Council was given a deadline of Monday to send in their lists and a breakdown would be available at the meeting.

During the work session, council also heard from Dr. Mark Hendrixson on behalf of the local group that wants to see a better facility for the city/county animal shelter. The group FOCCAS (Focus on Cumberland County Animal Shelter) is seeking to raise some $500,000 for a new adoption center that will be built next to the animal shelter but they are seeking a better location for the shelter then its current location.

Dr. Mark Hendrixson, standing, talks to the council about FOCCAS plans

for improvements of the city/county animal shelter during a work session.

According to Hendrixson, the county is planning to redo the animal shelter and FOCCAS is attempting to raise additional funds for the adoption center. Hendrixson described what a poor site for the shelter the current location is and is asking that the city donate 3 to 5 acres behind the current city dog park that a new shelter could be built on with the adoption center adjacent to it. The city and county have budgeted $180,000 together for building program of shelter in the current fiscal year.

FOCCAS had asked the county to delay the start of the project as they work to raise the additional funds but the county wants to get the project underway. The project would be in the location of the current shelter that FOCCAS describes as not community friendly while the location near Centennial Park would be more easily accessible and easier to get donations for. Council will consider the group's request at the meeting.

Based on discussion at the work session, it appears likely the council will put off a special census until next year. There are several time lines that must be met for a special census including a January first deadline to notify the state and a March deadline to have the census complete so it can be reviewed for certification. Dave Warner, who managed the last special census recommended that the city wait until 2018 to do the census.

Warner has said he does not want to do the census again and it may be difficult to find a firm to take over that work. The council had approved the first reading of a budget amendment for $30,000 to fund the census at the December meeting. It is unclear what action the council will take at the meeting.

Council will also consider providing sewer service to a property on Deep Draw Road that is out side the city limits and removing lumber on the city's Maryetta Road property being considered for an industrial project.

First Crossville city council work session of 2017 set for January 3 at 5 PM

The first council meeting of the new year comes on January 3 as the council meets in work session in preparation for the regular January meeting a week later.  The meeting will be in room 317, the third floor conference room.

Among the items to be discussed are a proposed special city census, more on the city manager selection process, the shooting sports park and solid waste collection.

During their December meeting the council approved a motion to amend the budget to fund a special census during the coming year. Previous census work has been performed by Dave Warner who previously served on the council and ran for election in November. Warner has been invited to discuss the census with the council and offer some suggestions.

New council member Scot Shanks wants to hire a new city manager sooner rather then later. He will be leading a discussion with the council on a process for interviewing and selecting a new city manager.

With plans for construction to start on the proposed shooting sprots park sometime after March 2017, the council must approve a lease and operating agreement with a non-profit organization that is going to run the operation of the park. That organization is now being formed and the agreements will be on the agenda. A work session on the park was held recently (LINK) with the council and County Mayor Kenneth Carey.

The council will start discussion of the future of solid waste collection for the city. The current contract with Cumberland Waste Disposal expires in August of 2017 and the city has to decide if they want to bid out the contract again or take the collection of solid waste back in-house. There are some issues that need to be resolved before the city can make the decision but a direction will need to be chosen soon so that specs for a contract can be developed or equipment purchased and employees hired.

Also at the work session the council will hear a report on the animal shelter from the group FOCCAS that wants to raise some $500,000 to build a new shelter, a proposal from Butch Smith and Forbus Investments to purchase about 7 acres in the Interchange Business Park for $25,000 an acre and a request for directional signs to Lake Tansi Resort from the property owners association.