Portland City Council discusses budget, approves equipment purchases

Also discussed at the meeting, was Ordinance No. 24-26 — an ordinance of the City of Portland, Tenn. adopting the annual budget and tax rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025.

Several citizens have contacted city hall about the border crisis and the concern that illegal migrants would be brought to the area. Mayor Callis said that he has not been contacted in any way about any people from the border being brought to Portland.

The need for retention and hiring for the city was discussed. Pay and employees not showing up was the biggest concern.

There is a plan to open the convenience center, known as the ‘city dump’ three days a week, but with the transfer center catching on fire this past week, the trash was sent to Robertson County, and the immediate plan is dependent on the report on damage and timeline to repair the facility.

During budget talks, purchases included four police cars to continue to do a routine rotation, a new pick-up truck, two new lawnmowers, and a mini-excavator for the street department, a new truck and a run for animals for animal control, a new lawnmower for the golf course, heating, a sign upgrade, new tables and chairs, and cameras for various areas at Richland Park. The plans for flat dollar raises, bonuses,% raises, or cost of living pay increases for city employees was discussed at length, but those increases will be dependent on the results of the wage study and possible tax increase. No solutions were agreed upon as of now. Paypoint and the city did have a kick-off meeting and the study is still expected to take a few months.

Calton Cobb requested to have an assistant director for public works. This will allow a project manager and liaison between he and the street department, storm water, sanitation and fleet maintenance. This will help him be able to do his planning and director duties while having someone help him with the day-to-day. The request gained approval on first reading, as well as hiring a grant accountant.

Mayor Callis withdrew his request for a civil engineer, and council voted not to hire an assistant HR associate, or permit tech in codes.

The plan is to firm up costs, insurance increase rates, and other specific costs and have a second reading for the budget at the May 20 council.

Discussion ended the meeting with vice-mayor Jody McDowell saying, “I served on this council with Luther Bratman. He used to always — they’d always laugh at him — he reserved the right to change his mind or his position on something. Like Mr. Chaney said earlier, we work for the people, this is not our decision, it’s what’s in the best interest of them, and if I catch a bunch of flack for it, that could change.”

Richland Park is going to be experiencing some upgrades. Both Resolution No. 24-109 — a resolution to authorize the demolition of the Robert Coleman Community Center at Richland Park, and Resolution No. 24-110 — a Resolution to authorize the demolition of the swimming pool at Richland Park passed.

For those who are wondering if the pool will not be open at the current site anymore, there is a plan for a pool to be part of the future splash pad project, but it may take some time and will not be open this summer. Demolition for these two projects will not begin until after the Strawberry Festival.