January City Council Meeting agenda includes New Clerk, Handle Mill property and Inn of the Cumberlands.

The Crossville City Council holds their First regular meeting of 2018 Tuesday, January 9, and as part of the agenda, new city clerk Valerie Hale will be sworn in.

With the retirement of long-time city clerk Sally Oglesby, city manager Greg Wood appointed Hale as the new Clerk. Hale has served as the assistant city clerk since 2010.

Valerie Hall, Crossville city clerk

The council's evening starts with the Audit Committee meeting at 5:15, followed by the beer board at 5:45 then a public hearing on the 2018 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The regular council agenda gets underway at 6:00 PM.

In addition to a decision on submitting an application for the CDBG, the council will discuss the possible purchase of the remaining property from the old handle mill next to the Art Circle Library. Councilman Danny Wyatt has proposed that the county help with the purchase of the site and the city would pay for the development the property into parking and a possible park area. The vote would authorize the city manager to begin negotiations with the county and the property owner.

The possibility of a change in the city's charter to add two more council members was also discussed at the council's work session and is on Tuesday's regular agenda. The action proposed by council member Pamala Harris who said the change could give the council a different dynamic. Harris added that it could give more people a chance to be represented as well as giving more women a chance to serve on the council.

Council member Danny Wyatt was less supportive of the proposed change saying, “More ducks in the puddle and the muddier it is.” Wyatt said he would only support the proposal if it would be put on a referendum for voters to decide.

Council will also consider the addition of a part-time fraud examiner position requested by police chief David Beaty. Beaty told the council in last week's work session that the position would help with the increasing reports of fraud cases and the proposed employee is a retired certified fraud examiner who would work part-time with no benefits. The expected annual cost for the position is $17,000.

Condemned Inn of the Cumberlands

Listed under the city attorney's report is possible action on the Inn of the Cumberlands building that the city condemned over 2 years ago and nothing has been done by the property owners. Another item is a lease breach for a hanger at the Crossville Airport.  

Retiring Crossville City Clerk Sally Oglesby honored for 32 years of service.

The December Crossville City Council was the final regular meeting for Crossville City Clerk Sally Oglesby.

Oglesby's 32 years of service to Crossville was commemorated by the presentation of a clock to recognize her retirement and a large flower arrangement. In addition, Crossville Mayor James Mayberry recapped some of the headlines of city news from 1985, the year Sally started working for the city.

Crossville Mayor James Mayberry, left, presents

City Clerk Sally Oglesby with retirement gifts.

1985 was the year a completely new City (then known as) Commission was seated that including Mayor Willis Cox, and Commissioners Dave Warner, Elmo Lewis, Jim Turner and John Dooley.

One of the first commission actions was to dismiss then city manager Ed Potts and appoint a committee to review applications and make recommendations to the commission on the next manager. After a period of work, the committee made three recomendations but the commission ignored those recommendations and instead hired Charlie Akins as manager. Early discussion of the first sections of the Miller Avenue Bypass took place.

Oglesby was initially hired as the Crossville City Recorder as the job was then known when she started in April of 1985. Oglesby has worked in three different city hall buildings over the years and has worked with 11 regular city managers during her tenure plus a number of interim city managers as well.

Oglesby's final working day will be Tuesday, December 19 and a reception will be held for her at Crossville city hall between 1 and 3 PM on the 3rd floor. The public is invited and refreshments will be served.  

Valarie Hale will take over the position as City Clerk.  Hale has served as Assistant City Clerk since 2010.  Prior to joining the city, Hale worked as an accounts payable and payroll clerk and a medical scheduler. 

Sally Oglesby, left, and incoming Crossville 

City Clerk Valerie Hale, right.